2026 BU Health & Life Sciences
Big Tree ACORN Summit
Driving Innovation, Investment, Policy and Access
AI • Cardiology • Oncology • Reproductive & Women’s Health • Neuroscience
200+ ATTENDEES | 4 KEYNOTES | 3 PANELS | INNOVATION SHOWCASE | NETWORKING |
200+ ATTENDEES | 4 KEYNOTES | 3 PANELS | INNOVATION SHOWCASE | NETWORKING |
October 30, 2026 | 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Boston University Questrom School of Business
595 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA 02215
The Big Tree ACORN Summit— presented in partnership with Boston University Questrom School of Business— brings together healthcare and life sciences leaders, investors, and innovators to explore how innovation, investment, and policy are shaping the future of healthcare.
ACORN = AI • Cardiology • Oncology • Reproductive & Women’s Health • Neuroscience
One Day. Five Critical Sectors. 200+ Healthcare Leaders & Innovators.
FEATURED SPEAKERS
Keynotes
Dr. Melissa Gilliam President Boston University
Jake Auchincloss U.S. Congressman Massachusetts
Allison Byers Founder & CEO Scroobious Author- Fundraising for the Rest of Us
Liz Powell Founder G2G Consulting & Women's Health Advocates
Investor Panel
Jeff Berman (Moderator) Managing Partner & Co-Founder Big Tree Innovation Fund
Claire Jin Vice President JP Morgan
Vinit Nijhawan Managing Director MassVentures
Victor Lanio Partner Flare Capital Partners
John Pennett Partner EisnerAmper & Mid Atlantic Bio Angels
AI Panel
Giovanni Abbadessa Chief Medical Officer ModeX Therapeutics
Dave Whelan (Moderator) Executive Fellow in Residence Big Tree Innovation Fund
Qiuyan Xu (AI) CEO & Founder FinePoint
Yannis Paschalidis Distinguished Professor & Director, Hariri Institute for Computing Boston University
Prithvi Tanwar (Moderator) Partner Polsinelli
Dr. Mark Clapp Physician Investigator & Assoc. Professor Mass General Hospital & Harvard Medical School
Maria Wendt Global Head of Preclinical Computational Innovation Sanofi
Innovation Showcase & Founder Panel
Joseph Hoffman (OncologyI) CEO & Founder Liseva Bio
Jessica Reed (Cardiology) CEO & Founder Diapin Therapeutics
Dr. Reza Hosseini Ghomi (Neurology) CEO & 4x Founder MedFlow
WHAT TO EXPECT
Executive Networking
Connect with leaders, investors, founders, researchers, academics, and policymakers.
Keynotes & ACORN Spotlights
Hear influential perspectives and explore opportunities across the five ACORN sectors.
Investor & Founder Perspectives
Gain insights from both sides of the innovation and investment ecosystem.
Innovation Showcase
Discover breakthrough companies and technologies addressing important unmet healthcare needs.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND?
Healthcare & Life Sciences Executives — exploring emerging technologies, partnerships, and opportunities.
Investors & Strategic Partners — seeking innovative companies and emerging opportunities.
Entrepreneurs & Founders — building the next generation of healthcare and life sciences companies.
Researchers & Academic Leaders — translating scientific and clinical innovation into impact.
Healthcare Professionals & Policymakers — shaping healthcare delivery, access, and innovation.
Students & Emerging Leaders — connecting with the people shaping the future of healthcare.
Agenda
9:00 -10:00| Arrival & Networking
10:00 -10:30| Welcome & Opening Remarks
Jeff Berman Managing Partner & Co-Founder Big Tree Innovation Fund
10:30 -11:00| Keynote | The Future of Healthcare Innovation: Connecting Academia, Industry, Policy & Capital
Elizabeth Sweyer (Introduction) MBA/ MPA Candidate Boston University
Dr. Melissa Gilliam President Boston University
11:00 -11:30| Keynote | From Innovation to Impact: Policy & Healthcare Access
Sehyr Khan (Introduction) MBA/ MPA Candidate Boston University
Jake Auchincloss U.S. Congressman Massachusetts
11:30 -12:00| Keynote | Fundraising for the Rest of US
12:00 -1:00| Lunch & Networking
1:00 -1:45| ACORN Spotlight Panel - Investor Perspective
Jeff Berman (Moderator) Managing Partner & Co-Founder Big Tree Innovation Fund
Claire Jin Vice President JP Morgan
Vinit Nijhawan Managing Director MassVentures
Victor Lanio Partner Flare Capital Partners
John Pennett Partner EisnerAmper & Mid Atlantic Bio Angels
1:45 -2:30| ACORN Spotlight Panel - AI, Policy & the Future of Healthcare
Giovanni Abbadessa Chief Medical Officer ModeX Therapeutics
Abbe Berman (Introduction) Vice President Women's Health Big Tree Innovation Fund
Liz Powell Founder G2G Consulting & Women's Health Advocates
Dave Whelan (Moderator) Executive Fellow in Residence Big Tree Innovation Fund
Qiuyan Xu (AI) CEO & Founder FinePoint
Jessica Reed (Cardiology) CEO & Founder Diapin Therapeutics
Joseph Hoffman (OncologyI) CEO & Founder Liseva Bio
Allison Byers Founder & CEO Scroobious Author- Fundraising for the Rest of Us
William Keenan (Introduction) MBA Candidate Boston University
Yannis Paschalidis Distinguished Professor & Director, Hariri Institute for Computing Boston University
Prithvi Tanwar (Moderator) Partner Polsinelli
Dr. Mark Clapp Physician Investigator & Assoc. Professor Mass General Hospital & Harvard Medical School
Maria Wendt Global Head of Preclinical Computational Innovation Sanofi
2:30 -3:00| ACORN Spotlight - Reproductive & Women’s Health
3:00 -3:30| Break & Networking
3:30 -4:45| ACORN Innovation Showcase & Panel - AI, Cardiology, Oncology, Women’s Health and Neurology
Dr. Reza Hosseini Ghomi (Neurology) CEO & 4x Founder MedFlow
4:45 -5:15| Wrap Up & Networking