Informing Innovation Presents: Information That Powers Startups

Don’t let overlooked insights stall your progress as a startup.

Join Informing Innovation for a panel presentation to learn what information really matters. Not all information is equal. 

For life sciences startups, knowing what data to prioritize and what to ditch can be the difference between stalled progress and reaching the next milestone. Attend and gain a better understanding of what data to prioritize, what to let go, and how to align your messaging with what funders and partners care about most.

Event Speakers:

Emil Runge 
Director, Launch Chapel Hill

Emil Runge has the phenomenal pleasure of working with entrepreneurs and ecosystem partners on an array of efforts to improve the probability of success for early-stage startups. Launch Chapel Hill is a startup accelerator and community of innovators that values and supports all people to encourage innovative thinking, individual empowerment, community outreach, economic development, and impactful change that lifts us all. For over three decades, Emil has consulted, advised, and assisted elected and appointed officials at the federal, state, and local levels, as well as in academia. Since 2001, he has focused primarily on improving his region, state, and nation through innovative public policy solutions and strategic initiatives in the political, governmental, innovation, and entrepreneurial arenas. Since 2010, he has focused on growing Startup Communities and improving Innovation & Entrepreneurial Ecosystems.

Juliana L. Blum, Ph.D.
Entrepreneur, Executive Strategist, Global Expert in Cell and Tissue Biotherapies

An executive strategist and catalyst for entrepreneurial and established biotechnology organizations, Dr. Blum has demonstrated success in advancing innovations, setting strategic visions, and translating research concepts into viable commercial product opportunities in the regenerative medicine and biotherapeutics space. She has a proven reputation for sourcing, developing, and managing partnerships and key business relationships critical for organizational growth and portfolio development. As Co-founder of Humacyte, Blum spent over 20 years leading the development, management, and execution of a commercial-scale bioengineering platform, eventually transitioning the start-up to a public company in 2021. Currently, Blum is the CEO of BioAesthetics, an early-stage company developing novel tissue grafts that are transformed with various drug-eluting polymers to treat and repair multiple types of wounds, surgical injuries, and soft tissue reconstructions.  She is also an Executive in Residence at the North Carolina Biotech Center, where she provides entrepreneurial mentoring and coaching for the early-stage companies in the Center’s loan portfolio.  Blum sits on the Board of Directors of inSoma Bio. Dr. Blum received her doctorate in Molecular Biology from Loyola University Chicago with a focus in cardiovascular gene therapy in 2003 and completed her BS at Carthage College in Wisconsin in 1998.
 

Karen Barnes
Ecosystem Development Officer, RegenMedEngine

Karen Barnes is the Ecosystem Development Officer for RegenMedEngine, a North Carolina-based NSF-funded initiative accelerating the translation and commercialization of regenerative medicine innovations. Karen leads ecosystem development, startup engagement, and strategic partnerships, working closely with NC Biotech Center, Innovation Quarter, and regional accelerators. She specializes in connecting entrepreneurs with resources, investors, and collaborators, and has helped launch and scale dozens of startups. Karen is passionate about building a thriving entrepreneurial community and advancing North Carolina’s leadership in regenerative medicine. She's a serial startup founder, avid hiker, and golden retriever mom.