"For the past three decades, emerging life science firms have relied on venture capital for R&D funding or commercial expansion. Venture's dependency on liquidity and the public markets has resulted in a dangerous course of action (including filing early to catch an IPO window and forcing exits to accommodate a venture firm's fund cycle). Today, new sources of capital and financing models represented by this panel allow greater flexibility for emerging life science firms and present an evolution for existing venture capital."

Objective1:Explore drawbacks in the traditional venture funding model.

Objective2:Define and differentiate alternative sources of financing.

Objective3:Apply alternative financing sources to entrepreneurs, explaining how companies would be affected by the strengths and weaknesses of each.