BioArbor April 2026

Fueling Innovation: A Founder’s Guide to Life Sciences Debt Financing

Every equity round costs founders' ownership. But what if there were other ways to fund growth? Debt financing has quietly become a powerful tool for life sciences companies - from venture debt to equipment financing and cash-flow lending. When used strategically, these instruments can extend runway, fund critical infrastructure, and preserve founder control. Experts will explain how debt financing really works in the life sciences sector - when founders should start thinking about debt, how lenders evaluate companies, and the most common use cases - from purchasing lab equipment to bridging the gap between equity rounds. The session will also highlight examples of debt deals and the lessons founders can learn from them.

Who You'll Meet

• Startup teams in biotech, medtech, diagnostics, digital health, and therapeutics
• Researchers exploring translation and commercialization
• Entrepreneurs transforming discoveries into products
• Early-stage investors, strategic partners, and ecosystem builders
• Local service providers that can help with a wide range of early startup needs
  
  

Why Attend

• Build connections that matter
  Meet the people who open doors in life sciences—investors, mentors, collaborators, and supporters.
• Get actionable insights
  Gain practical guidance you can use immediately: formation strategy, capital planning, regulatory pathways, IP essentials, clinical roadmapping, and more.
• Tap into Michigan’s innovation engine
  Join the community powering Michigan’s next generation of venture-backed life science companies.