Lisa Thomas is a Director at Forge Genetics, a biotech spin-out from the University of Nottingham working to commercialising a CRISPR alternative. In her wider portfolio career, she is life science business coach and is currently Director of the Innovate UK ICURe Launch Programme at the Pioneer Group, specialist life science investors. Her career started with a Regenerative Medicine PhD from the University of Nottingham, before training with PwC as a chartered accountant specialising in R&D tax and innovation grants. She has over 15 years of hands-on and advisory experience working with startups and scaling companies, including establishing her own innovation consultancy supporting R&D intensive companies with setup, investment and growth activities. She is passionate about helping life science ventures, ensuring that new entrepreneurs have a pragmatic account of what to expect in a startup. She draws from her own venture experiences, including as CFO of an alternative protein startup, helping to raise over £15m in Series A investment and non-dilutive funding. In addition to her Pioneer Group and Forge roles, she maintains several grant consultancy and startup advisory roles.
Lisa will discuss the challenges and rewards of developing a portfolio career, including the transition from academia to industry.
