Business leaders and investors met at BioCap 2026 for two days dedicated to investment, innovation and scaling business growth. The programme began on 30th September with the pitching competition, hosted live and in-person for the first time at Alderley Park, where 14 shortlisted companies presented to an expert judging panel after being selected from a strong field of applicants. An evening investor mixer then provided additional opportunities for founders and investors to connect before the main event.
One of BioCap’s strengths is its ability to attract some of the UK’s most exciting and innovative businesses as they seek investment to advance their technologies and support future growth. During their eight-minute pitches, companies combined world-class science with clear commercial propositions, outlining how their innovations could improve patient outcomes alongside the potential market, use of capital, key milestones, exit strategies and prospective returns for investors.
The conversations continued on 1st October, when more than 130 delegates gathered for the BioCap conference, bringing together investors, life sciences companies and sector experts from across the UK. The agenda explored the key issues shaping company growth and investment decisions, with sessions covering the state of life sciences investment in 2026, company journeys, funding and commercial success stories, boardroom dynamics, scaling beyond the UK and and of course, the results of the pitching competition, with the top three finalists delivering their presentations at BioCap before the winner was announced.
Read the full event summary here
BioCap 2026 was sponsored by Appleyard Lees, Mills & Reeve, RSM UK, Digital Quality Associates, Bruntwood SciTech and Withers & Rogers.
Agenda highlights:
Investor Insights
- Kath MacKay, Managing Director, Innovate UK
Company Journeys
- David Solomon, Chief Executive Officer, Thalia Therapeutics
- Chris Allen, Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer, Broughton Group
- Tiffany Thorn, Founder & Chief Executive Officer, BiVictriX Therapeutics plc
The State of Life Sciences Investment in 2026 Panel
Chair: Laragh Jeanroy, Audit Partner and Location Lead, RSM UK
Speakers
- Paul Stott, CEO, Seda Pharmaceutical Development Services
- Marie Labus, CEO, Inoviv
- Martin Turner, Director of Policy and External Affairs, BioIndustry Association (BIA)
- Amy Morgan, Head of Health Tech and Life Sciences, Barclays
- Gareth King, Life Science Partner, Catapult Ventures
Company Funding Fireside Chat
Speakers
- Laragh Jeanroy, Audit Partner and Location Lead, RSM UK
- Bernard Ross, Founder, Sky Medical Technology
Boardroom Dynamics Panel
Chair: Kate Hickinson, Partner, Appleyard Lees
Speakers
- James Haddleton, CEO, Haddletons
- Nicholas Duggan, Founder, Zuas
- Kelly Morton, CEO & Founder, The Fractionals
- Sim Singh-Landa, Investment Director, PXN Group
- Andrew Round, Senior Investment Director, Deepbridge Capital
Scaling Beyond the UK: Capital, Customers and Commercialisation Panel
Chair: James Fry, Partner, Head of Life Sciences, Mills and Reeve
Speakers
- Dave Simpson, CEO, Iksuda Therapeutics
- Neil Murray, CEO, ReNewVax
- Viney Chauhan, Managing Director, Inventya
- Chris Golden, Managing Director – Healthcare & Life Sciences, Peel Hunt
- David Witty, CSO, Sygnature Discovery
- Caroline Phillips, CSO, RedX Pharma
CEO & Investor Fireside Chat
Speakers
- James Reston, Investment Manager, DSW Ventures
- Dan Todd, Founder & CEO, InvenireX
Pitching Competition Results
Live in-person presentations from top 3 companies in the Pitching Competition
Winner announced by Matt Jones, CEO, DQA
Spin Out Commercial Successes Fireside Chat
Speakers
- Rachel Mercer, Senior Associate, Appleyard Lees
- Prof Iain Hennessey, Founder & Director of Innovation, Alder Hey Innovation
