By Philippa Clark, Director of Business Development, One Nucleus

Pitching is often treated as something founders do only when they are raising money, yet in life sciences it has become far more than a fundraising exercise. It has turned into one of the most adaptable tools a company has, influencing how it is perceived, supported and championed long before any investment round begins.

As we head towards Genesis 2025 and the launch of the new Company Showcase stream, I’ve been thinking about how much broader the value of pitching has become. Securing capital will always matter, it is what moves ideas into evidence and takes innovations closer to patients, but the route to investment is rarely tidy. Progress usually depends on the network that forms around the company, the people who understand the science, see the potential and choose to help in ways that are often quiet but pivotal.

Founders pitch for far more than funding. They pitch for collaborators who can expand their technical reach. They pitch for clinicians who can test ideas in real settings. They pitch for early regulatory guidance that helps avoid missteps. They pitch for strategic partners who can open up markets. They also pitch for those informal allies who believe in what they’re building and are happy to make introductions or offer the kind of honest advice that can influence the company direction. In many cases, those contributions prove just as valuable as investment itself.

The five-minute format used at One Nucleus BioWednesdays and now Genesis has been designed with this in mind. Without an immediate Q&A, companies can concentrate on delivering a clear, focused and memorable story that invites deeper conversations throughout the day. Those conversations are often where founders receive the insights they need most, a thoughtful observation, a contact they hadn’t considered or a practical suggestion that sharpens the next phase of their development.

Pitching is also an exceptionally effective way to refine strategy. Sharing your narrative with different audiences shows very quickly what lands and what requires more work. It highlights assumptions that need unpicking and exposes areas where clarity is missing. Our sector is incredibly supportive but often tends towards polite feedback, a well-structured pitch, delivered with openness, tends to encourage far more candid and useful responses.

Communicating effectively to a mixed audience is part of the skill. Ecosystem events such as Genesis naturally bring together investors, researchers, industry leaders, advisors and people simply curious about what’s emerging next. Crafting a pitch that speaks clearly to this range means striking the right balance, enough scientific depth to be credible, enough commercial clarity to make sense of the opportunity and enough focus on need, impact and ambition to resonate with anyone in the room.
Looking ahead to next week, Genesis 2025 brings all of these dynamics together at scale. It offers visibility for those looking to raise capital, but it also creates space for companies seeking partnerships, advice, data access or simply a fresh perspective. It provides an environment where founders can build the relationships that underpin both scientific progress and commercial success.

Investment may be one of the goals and an important one, but pitching is what builds the conditions for that success. A strong pitch creates confidence, invites collaboration and draws the right people towards your mission.

Those five minutes on stage could do far more than introduce your work; they might be the moment that sets the next phase of your journey in motion.