From Lab to Lasting: Building Life Science and Biotech Companies That Endure

Britain is home to some of the world's best biotech and life sciences research. But turning groundbreaking science into a venture-backed company is a challenge all of its own.

From Lab to Lasting is an evening event in London for biotech founders, researchers, investors, and operators, hosted at White City Place, one of London's most vibrant life sciences and innovation campuses. Together we'll explore what it really takes to bridge the gap from lab to lasting company: IP strategy, patents, grants, early-stage funding, and the financial foundations investors expect.

About the event

Hosted by Lightbringer, Novabook, and WilbeLabs: three companies built to support the journey from research to company. The evening covers IP strategy for science-led startups, the landscape of grants and early-stage capital in the UK, and the financial and operational foundations that separate the university spinouts that scale from the ones that don't.

What to expect

The biotech funding stack: Innovate UK grants, SEIS/EIS, and venture capital — and how to use each at the right moment

IP strategy for biotech founders: how to protect intellectual property, when to file a patent, and how early decisions shape your commercial future

What investors actually look for in a science-led company at the earliest stages — including IP due diligence and what makes IP matter for fundraising

How to build the financial foundations that keep a biotech startup investor-ready

What the right lab and innovation environment unlocks for a science team trying to move fast

Honest stories from biotech founders who have made the journey from research to real company

Who should attend?

Founders and teams building biotech, medtech, diagnostics, digital health, and other science-led startups; researchers and clinicians considering a spinout; and the investors and operators who back them. Whether you're pre-incorporation or post-seed, if you're turning research into a company, this event is for you.

Agenda

18:00 - Doors open. Grab a drink and meet the people in the room.

18:30 - Panel discussion begins, followed by Q&A (bring your questions!)

19:30 - Food is served. Keep the conversations going.

20:30 - Event closes.

Meet your hosts

Lightbringer is the AI patent platform, reimagining how tech companies protect their innovations. By combining agentic AI with expert patent attorneys, Lightbringer makes patent filing faster, more affordable, and more strategic. Trusted by 100+ founders across 20+ countries, including biotech and life sciences startups, Lightbringer helps science-led companies go from breakthrough to protected innovation in days, not months. Learn more at lightbringer.com.

Novabook is the accountant for startups, supporting science-led and high-growth companies from spinout to scale-up. Novabook provides founders with access to expert chartered accountants, alongside software that automates the finance admin founders hate, giving them more time to focus on research and product development. From bookkeeping, payroll and VAT to R&D tax relief, EMI valuations and investor-ready financials, Novabook helps founders build strong financial foundations as they grow.

WilbeLabs creates and runs laboratories and innovation spaces designed for science and deep tech ventures. By providing the physical infrastructure and operational environment that biotech companies actually need, WilbeLabs removes one of the most overlooked barriers on the journey from research to fundable company. Learn more at wilbelab.com.