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Call for Pitch Decks Extended - Pitch Day Boston

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Morrison Foerster’s Life Sciences and Emerging Companies and Venture Capital practices are excited to host an in-person Pitch Day...

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Morrison Foerster’s Life Sciences and Emerging Companies and Venture Capital practices are excited to host an in-person Pitch Day at the Cambridge Innovation Center in Cambridge, MA on October 23, 2024.We invite companies across the life sciences field to submit their pitch decks for consideration. Finalists will have the opportunity to pitch to and network with a panel of local investors and attorneys.Prior to Pitch Day, MoFo will also offer company finalists mentoring sessions where we will provide strategic advice and feedback on pitch delivery and supporting materials.To submit your pitch deck for consideration, please send a non-confidential deck and any relevant questions to <a href="mailto:PitchDayBoston@mofo.com">PitchDayBoston@mofo.com</a> by Friday, September 13, 2024.<h5>Timeline (Exact Dates and Times are Subject to Change)</h5><table><tbody><tr><td>Wednesday, August 14</td><td>Call for Pitch Day decks opens</td></tr><tr><td>Friday, September 13</td><td>Call for Pitch Day decks closes</td></tr><tr><td>Week of September 16</td><td>Finalists selected</td></tr><tr><td>Week of September 23</td><td>Contact finalists and schedule mentoring sessions</td></tr><tr><td>Weeks of September 30 and October 7</td><td>Pitch Day mentoring for finalists</td></tr><tr><td>Friday, October 11</td><td>Final pitch decks due</td></tr><tr><td>Wednesday, October 23</td><td>Pitch Day</td></tr></tbody></table><h5>Participant Criteria and Guidelines</h5>We are looking for life science companies that are positioned for and actively seeking investments. We welcome companies from across the life sciences ecosystem, whether or not your company is a client of MoFo. There is no fee to participate. Our goal is to provide networking opportunities and to make connections to the emerging company ecosystem.<h5>Pitch Deck Guidelines</h5>Please submit a non-confidential pitch deck (20 MB max.). Note that while these presentations are not subject to confidentiality agreements, they will not be shared with anyone outside of MoFo except potential investors.We recommend that you use the following outline for your pitch deck:<ol><li>Problem – What unmet need does your company address?</li><li>Solution – How does your company's product/service fill this unmet need?</li><li>Market Potential – Target market, market segments, and potential market size/growth rate</li><li>Management Team – Senior management and quick overview of relevant experience</li><li>Go to Market Strategy – Channels that will be used to deliver your company's product/service to target markets</li><li>Competition – Current or potential competitors and competitive outlook/dynamics of the relevant market</li><li>Financial Projections – Five-year forecast, including revenue and EBITA</li><li>Funds Requested & Use of Proceeds – How much is your company raising and how will funds be allocated?</li></ol>Keep in mind that if your company is selected, you will have about four to seven minutes to present, with an additional two to three minutes set aside for investors to ask questions and provide feedback.<hr>

Call for Pitch Decks Extended - Pitch Day Boston

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Michael (Mike) Ward is co-chair of the firm's Life Sciences + Healthcare Group and Food + Agriculture Group.Life SciencesFor his work across the life sciences sector, Mike was named San Francisco Biotechnology Lawyer of the Year by Best Lawyers in America in 2020 and is recommended for his patent strategy and prosecution practice in LMG Life Sciences. He also led the team that was named 2022 Patent Management and Strategy Firm of the Year at the 2022 LMG Life Sciences Americas Awards.Food + AgricultureRecognized as “one of the world’s foremost plant and agriculture IP lawyers,” Mike manages a wide range of intellectual property issues related to plants and plant products. He and his team advise clients on plant and plant utility patents; licensing agreements for plant IP; litigation in U.S. state and federal court and before the International Trade Commission; and regulatory approvals from the USDA, FDA, and EPA for gene edited and genetically engineered plants.Patent Strategy + ProsecutionMike is a Legal 500 US Hall of Fame lawyer for patent prosecution and is consistently named one of the leading IP lawyers by Managing Intellectual Property, Chambers USA and Chambers Global, and IAM Patent 1000.Mike works closely with many clients to develop and manage their patent portfolios. He helps clients identify, monitor, and assess the infringement risks of third-party patents. He also assists clients in preparing both offensive and defensive patent portfolios, with a particular emphasis on drafting patent applications that will be utilized in licensing and in litigation efforts.IP Due DiligenceFor venture capitalists seeking to invest in early- and mid-stage companies, underwriters involved in IPOs, and companies seeking to acquire or merge with other companies, Mike has managed extensive IP diligence. His work includes assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of patent portfolios, evaluation of freedom to operate issues, and strategic recommendations for maximizing the value of patent portfolios going forward.Mike also works closely with the IP Litigation Group on various litigation matters including patent interferences to determine the first-to-invent and patent re-examination work and actively participates in both mediation and arbitration proceedings on behalf of clients in the life sciences and food and agriculture areas.He is a frequent lecturer and speaker. Among numerous speaking engagements, Mike is the IP instructor at the UC Davis Licensing Academy and founded Morrison Foerster’s annual Harvard Biotechnology Club Fall Patent Law Course.Mike holds a Ph.D. in plant physiology (biochemistry) and an M.S. in agronomy from the University of California, Davis; a B.S. in biology from the University of California, Berkeley; and a J.D. from Golden Gate University School of Law. He was a post-doctoral fellow in plant molecular biology at the Harvard Medical School and the Department of Molecular Biology at Massachusetts General Hospital, where he worked on the Arabidopsis genome project.

Michael Ward

Partner

Matt Karlyn has 25 years of experience in working with companies in the healthcare, pharmaceutical, medical device, and technology industries on a wide range of commercial life sciences, licensing, and technology transactions. His clients range from Fortune 100 companies to start-ups, and he regularly advises companies on matters involving IP commercialization, complex collaboration transactions, licensing initiatives, subscription-based economics, and business transactions related to the procurement, development, commercialization, and use of technology and life sciences products. He has also worked with a number of clients on corporate transactions including mergers and acquisitions, as well as private equity and venture capital financing.Matt is ranked Band 1 by Chambers USA for Intellectual Property: Licensing in Massachusetts. Clients in Chambers describe Matt as: “accessible and engaged, and he is really focused on getting the right answer for us."<h4>Life Sciences</h4>Life sciences clients, including pharmaceutical, medical device, and healthcare companies, rely on Matt for his breadth of knowledge in licensing, collaboration, and commercialization strategies across a wide range of transactions designed to strengthen operations and maximize value. Matt’s clients come from sectors across the global economy and include emerging companies, privately held companies, and many of the world’s biggest brands.Matt has broad experience with commercial transactions and agreements in the life sciences space, including:<ul><li>Intellectual property and technology licenses</li><li>Collaboration and development transactions</li><li>Commercialization agreements</li><li>Supply and manufacturing transactions</li></ul><h4>Technology</h4>Matt regularly advises on the use of technology in business, pricing strategies, and market terms across a wide variety of technology transactions that benefit clients both large and small. He has extensive experience negotiating a wide range of transactions, including:<ul><li>Enterprise resource planning and customer relationship management licensing and implementation transactions</li><li>Cloud-based transactions including software-as-a-services, platform-as-a-service, and infrastructure-as-a-service.</li><li>Software licensing</li><li>Supply chain and procurement deals</li></ul>Additionally, Matt has worked on many of the largest outsourcing transactions in the United States, representing numerous Fortune 100 companies on information technology, business process, finance and accounting, facilities services, and other outsourcing transactions.Matt is a frequent author and speaker on topics pertaining to drafting and negotiating commercial technology, outsourcing, and licensing transactions. He has published over 25 articles (including chapters in two books), given over 175 presentations on licensing, technology, outsourcing, and data security, and is the co-author of A Guide to IT Contracting: Checklists, Tools, and Techniques.Matt is currently co-chair of the Legal and Regulatory policy group at the Massachusetts Biotechnology Council. He served as chair of the New England Chapter of the International Association of Outsourcing Professionals, and served for five years on the board of directors of Julie’s Family Learning Program, a wellness program for mothers and children in South Boston. Matt has also been elected as a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation.

Matt Karlyn

Shannon Sibold is the Managing Partner of Morrison Foerster’s Austin office and a partner in the firm’s Emerging Companies and Venture Capital Group. Her practice focuses on corporate finance and securities matters, including private financings, mergers and acquisitions, corporate restructurings, and corporate governance. Shannon advises emerging-growth and venture-backed companies throughout their entire lifecycle, from formation and early architectural and governance decisions through seed, growth, and later-stage financings, strategic partnerships, and liquidity events. She also regularly counsels management teams and boards of directors on matters of corporate governance and shareholder relations. In addition to representing companies, Shannon works closely with angel investors, venture capital funds, and strategic corporate investors in connection with their investments in high-growth companies. Her experience spans hundreds of venture capital and growth equity transactions, including complex financings and strategic deals involving technology and innovation-driven businesses. Drawing on deep experience across corporate, securities, and M&A matters, Shannon is known for her practical, business-oriented approach and for guiding founders, executives, and investors through the legal and strategic challenges that arise at every stage of growth. Before beginning her legal career, Shannon competed internationally as a member of Canada’s long-track speed-skating national team, an experience that shaped the results-oriented mindset and collaborative work style she brings to her practice.<h4>Representative Experience</h4><h5>Company-Side Representation (including financings, M&A transactions, restructurings, and corporate governance) </h5><ul><li>Lennar Corporation, one of the largest homebuilders in the U.S. </li><li>Zoox, Inc., an autonomous vehicle developer </li><li>AgVend, Inc., the leading provider of digital solutions that help agribusinesses operate and engage with customers </li><li>Optain Health, Inc., a healthcare technology company using AI and imaging to detect eye and systemic diseases earlier </li><li>Ascertain Systems, Inc., an agentic AI platform that delivers end-to-end automation across care management and revenue cycle workflows </li><li>Spektion, Inc., a company helping clients control their software supply chain security and manage third-party risk </li><li>EcoCart Sciences, Inc., a sustainability platform that helps e-commerce brands measure their environmental impact and offset order emissions </li><li>Propmatic, Inc., an AI-driven PropTech platform optimizing real estate marketing and digital lead generation </li><li>Fastn, an AI-powered orchestration platform for developers to connect any data flow </li><li>All Day Kitchens, a kitchen platform enabling restaurants to expand reach </li><li>Eat. Learn. Play. Foundation, a nonprofit corporation founded by Stephen and Ayesha Curry committed to unlocking the amazing potential of every child </li><li>DPR Construction, one of the top 50 general contractors in the United States </li></ul><h5>Venture Capital Funds and Corporate Venture Capital Investors </h5><ul><li>Base10 Partners, an early-stage venture capital firm partnering with entrepreneurs who are bringing automation to traditional sectors of the economy </li><li>Fifth Wall Ventures, the largest asset manager investing at the intersection of real estate and technology </li><li>LenX, the venture capital arm of Lennar Corporation </li><li>EJF Capital, a global alternative asset management firm specializing in regulatory event-driven investing across financial services and real estate </li><li>Adverb Ventures, an early-stage venture capital firm </li><li>Gradient Ventures, a venture capital firm focused on investing in early-stage artificial intelligence (AI) startups </li><li>Frameworks Venture Partners, an early-stage venture capital firm.</li></ul>

Shannon Sibold

Managing Partner, Austin

Lawrence Gallick is a partner in the firm’s Austin office and a member of the Technology Transactions Group.Lawrence focuses his practice on technology transactions and licensing matters. His diverse experience includes advising on SaaS agreements, cross-licensing agreements, research and collaboration agreements, development agreements, and distribution agreements. He counsels a broad range of companies across the software, hardware, life sciences, biotech and FinTech spaces, as well as other entities including universities.He advises clients in connection with general corporate matters including contract negotiations, and leasing and technology placement agreements.In 2023, Lawrence seconded at Amazon Lab126, where he led the negotiation of high-profile licensing deals for a variety of Amazon device teams. The secondment was an immersive opportunity to gain additional insights and experience from the perspective of in-house counsel. Lawrence also serves as co-editor of <a href="https://www.sociallyawareblog.com/" target="_blank">Socially Aware</a>, the firm’s award-winning newsletter and blog devoted to the law and business of social media, and regularly publishes on various IP and technology-related topics.Prior to joining the firm, Lawrence was counsel at another major law firm. Before earning his law degree, Lawrence was a web consultant, project manager, and web developer in Portland, Oregon, where he managed and consulted on projects using industry methodologies and performed custom development and integration of content management systems.Lawrence was named a Super Lawyers “Rising Star” in 2015 and 2018–2022, and is licensed in California, New York, and Texas. Lawrence earned his J.D. from the University at Buffalo School of Law, where he was the electronic systems editor for the Buffalo Law Review and awarded the ABA-BNA Award for Excellence in the Study of Intellectual Property Law.

Lawrence Gallick

Michael Glaser is a partner in both the San Francisco and Seattle offices. He serves as Co-Head of the Emerging Companies + Venture Capital Practice and is the Seattle Office Managing Partner. Described as “one of the finest venture capital lawyers I have ever worked with” by a client in Chambers USA, Michael brings more than two decades of experience advising entrepreneurs and investors in starting and scaling technology companies in the San Francisco Bay Area. With the 2026 launch of Morrison Foerster’s Seattle office, Michael splits his time between the two regions. Michael represents startups from formation through exit across a wide range of industries, including consumer e-commerce, artificial intelligence, interactive entertainment, digital media, consumer products, sharing economy, cloud services, enterprise software, fintech, and digital health. His work spans the full lifecycle of a company, from early architectural decisions through growth financing, strategic partnerships, and liquidity events, allowing him to advise clients with a systems-level perspective on risk, governance, and long-term value creation. He has represented startups in hundreds of venture capital transactions with pre-money valuations ranging from the millions to the billions, and his clients have been backed by leading venture capital firms including Sequoia Capital, Greylock, Benchmark, Accel, Andreessen Horowitz, Kleiner Perkins, and Khosla Ventures. Michael also advises companies in mergers and acquisitions, including numerous high-value exits with repeat acquirers across the technology sector. In addition to client work, Michael is an active industry thought leader. He has served on the Model Document Working Group of the National Venture Capital Association (NVCA), the Corporate Committee of the Business Law Section of the State Bar of California, and the ABA Working Group on Legal Opinions. Michael helped Standard Capital in developing their unique closing process and streamlined financing agreements. He also brings significant management experience to his role at the firm. Prior to joining Morrison Foerster, Michael co-chaired another international law firm’s largest practice group, overseeing ten subgroups, more than 300 lawyers, and a practice with a P&L in the hundreds of millions. Michael serves as a trustee for two independent schools in the Bay Area and sits on the board of the National Center for Learning Disabilities. Michael is consistently recognized by leading legal publications, including Chambers USA, The Legal 500, Best Lawyers in America, and Martindale-Hubbell, where he is rated AV Preeminent®. <h4>Selected Exit Transactions </h4><ul><li>Represented AddLive in its sale to Snap (NYSE: SNAP). </li><li>Represented Applifier in its sale to Unity Technologies (NYSE: U). </li><li>Represented Amino Health in its sale to Judi Health / Capital Rx. </li><li>Represented Candywriter in its sale to Stillfront Group. </li><li>Represented Cloudup in its sale to Automattic. </li><li>Represented CourseRank in a merger with Chegg (NYSE: CHGG). </li><li>Represented Fictiv in its sale to MISUMI Group. </li><li>Represented Freeverse Inc. in its sale to ngmco. </li><li>Represented GlobalMotion Media Inc. (publisher of EveryTrail.com) in its sale to Trip Advisor (Nasdaq: TRIP). </li><li>Represented Hackpad in its sale to Dropbox (Nasdaq: DBX). </li><li>Represented Jambool in a merger transaction with Google Inc. (Nasdaq: GOOG). </li></ul><ul><li>Represented Liquid Audio (Nasdaq:LQID) in its sale of technology assets to Microsoft (Nasdaq:MSFT). </li><li>Represented Originator in its sale to Spin Master (TSX:TOY). </li><li>Represented PullString in its sale to Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL). </li><li>Represented Rupture.com in an acquisition by Electronic Arts (Nasdaq: ERTS). </li><li>Represented Snapcentric in its sale to Verisign (Nasdaq:VRSN). </li><li>Represented TenMarks in its sale to Amazon (Nasdaq: AMZN). </li><li>Represented Wondery in its sale to Amazon (Nasdaq: AMZN).</li></ul>

Michael Glaser

Co-Head of Emerging Companies + Venture Capital Practice

Murray Indick is a corporate partner in the Emerging Companies + Venture Capital Group.Murray represents fast-growing innovative businesses, catering to a diverse range of clients that span from visionary entrepreneurs to well‑established companies in later stages of development. With almost forty years of experience in corporate law, investment funds, and related fields, Murray has garnered extensive expertise through private practice as well as his roles as partner and general counsel to Blum Capital Partners (1997 – 2004) and partner and general counsel to Prides Capital Partners (2004 – 2010). Throughout his tenure with these firms, which collectively raised and deployed approximately $6 billion, Murray successfully made strategic investments across the globe.In recognition of his exceptional client service, Murray was honored as one of only twelve attorneys from the Bay Area named to BTI Consulting Group’s prestigious list of “Client Service All-Stars” in 2015. Notably, he has also been consistently recognized by Chambers USA and Legal 500 as a leading national lawyer in the field of Startups and Emerging Companies. Legal 500 US has also acknowledged Murray’s exceptional capabilities in M&A/Corporate work since 2017.Murray’s transactional experience encompasses a broad spectrum of corporate matters, including venture financings, acquisitions, mergers, fund formation, PIPE investments, corporate restructurings, corporate governance, and compliance programs. His clients, regardless of their size, rely on his ability to provide practical, innovative, and insightful advice to navigate legal challenges and pivotal transactions successfully.A substantial portion of Murray’s practice is dedicated to the formation of investment funds, with a particular focus on venture capital funds. He consistently provides transactional and advisory services to these funds, often serving as their trusted outside general counsel.Murray routinely collaborates closely with senior management teams and board of directors of various businesses. He brings valuable expertise to the table, having previously served on corporate boards of esteemed public companies. He also actively contributes his insights as a board member to start-up companies and private businesses, leveraging his extensive experience in this capacity.In 2014, Murray took on the role of outside counsel for the Los Angeles Clippers, supporting the team during the transitional period after the NBA suspended their owner, Donald Sterling. His expertise played a crucial role in facilitating the smooth transition to new ownership. Murray attained his Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree with honors, magna cum laude, in 1984 from Georgetown University Law Center and his undergraduate degree in 1981 from the University of Pennsylvania, where he studied history and English and graduated magna cum laude. Following law school, Murray clerked for Judge Walter E. Black, Jr., in the U.S. District Court in Baltimore, Maryland.

Wednesday, August 14	Call for Pitch Day decks opens
Friday, September 13	Call for Pitch Day decks closes
Week of September 16	Finalists selected
Week of September 23	Contact finalists and schedule mentoring sessions
Weeks of September 30 and October 7	Pitch Day mentoring for finalists
Friday, October 11	Final pitch decks due
Wednesday, October 23	Pitch Day

Call for Pitch Decks Extended - Pitch Day Boston

06 Sep 2024

Timeline (Exact Dates and Times are Subject to Change)

Participant Criteria and Guidelines

Pitch Deck Guidelines