Join us in celebrating a milestone year for Women In Bio Chicago as we proudly present our 10th Annual Start-up Challenge—a premier pitch competition! Over the past decade, the incredible growth and innovation of women-led startups in the Chicagoland biotech ecosystem have been a testament to the unwavering dedication of our leaders, partners, and the vibrant Chicago biotech community that has supported us every step of the way. As we do annually, we are thrilled to spotlight women-founded and women-led startups from across Chicagoland at our prestigious challenge, where groundbreaking ideas and visionary leaders come together to shape the future of biotechnology.

Start-ups can showcase their innovative business in this pitch competition and compete for the grand prize and the audience choice award while gaining invaluable feedback from our esteemed panel of industry-leading judges committed to fostering the next generation of biotech innovators.

Through our Start-up Challenge, Women In Bio Chicago remains dedicated to investing in the dynamic and integrative biotech landscape of our city. Join us in celebrating a golden decade of women-led start-ups and be part of the journey toward a brighter, more innovative future!

This event can be attended in-person or virtually.

To apply to compete in the pitch competition, check out our LinkedIn post for details. Applications close August 19, 2024.

Program

5:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.  Check-in, Welcome, Networking
6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.  Pitch Competition
7:00 p.m. – 7:15 p.m.  Judge Deliberation
7:15 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.  Presentation of Winner, Audience Choice, Event Close

 

Speaker Bios

Cheryl Rucker-Whitaker, MD, MPH, President of CINQCARE

Dr. Cheryl Rucker-Whitaker is a distinguished physician-entrepreneur and board director with over 25 years of experience in implementing innovative value-based care solutions for underserved communities and promoting economic inclusion for such businesses. As the President of CINQCARE, she spearheads the Illinois region of a rapidly expanding national network dedicated to providing comprehensive and coordinated care for black and brown populations within the value-based care environment. Dr. Rucker-Whitaker's extensive career is marked by her ability to build and lead high-performing teams, effectively leveraging data and technology to transform medical practice. She has developed platforms that facilitate opportunities for equitable care within the business sector. Her commitment to advancing healthcare innovation is reflected in her roles as an advisor and board member for several prominent organizations, including Health2047, Inc., Health2047 Capital Partners, Equality Health, and MyBexa. Drawing from her early entrepreneurial experiences, Dr. Rucker-Whitaker mentors and advises new companies and founders, sharing her expertise in navigating existing business structures to enhance the quality and accessibility of healthcare. Her leadership and dedication have made significant strides in improving healthcare outcomes for underserved communities and fostering a more inclusive healthcare landscape.

Anna Lisa Somera, MS, CEO of Rhaeos

Anna Lisa is a serial entrepreneur with deep experience in startups, venture capital, technology transfer, biomedical research, and life science consulting. She specializes in early-stage, cutting-edge technology businesses and has been a part of the entrepreneurial community for 20 years. She helped drive the formation and raised angel and venture funding for several start-up companies while also serving as top management for many of the ventures. She is currently a Co-Founder, Chief Executive Officer, and employee #1 at Rhaeos, Inc., a digital health and medical technology company born out of the Rogers Research Group at Northwestern University, developing a non-invasive wearable flow sensor for various chronic medical conditions for hospital and home use. In less than 4 years, she has led the company through multiple value inflection milestones including bringing in >$19M in funding including venture financing and major NIH and NSF grants, achieving FDA breakthrough designation, collaborating with major hospitals across the country for clinical studies, and winning MedTech Innovator, the largest medical device competition in the world beating out >1000 companies globally.

Pricing Information

Ticket prices reflect in-person or virtual attendance.

• Members: $15
• Non-Members*: $35

*Not a Member? Click here to learn about the benefits of a WIB Membership — access to our video library, mentorship groups, and more. 

Please read WIB's Code of Conduct, In-Person Event Waiver, and Refund Policy

Note: A confirmation email will be sent after registration has been completed. 

Maximum Capacity (in-person)
150

Parking Information
Street parking is available. For other options, use the SpotHero app.

Public Transit Information
CTA , "L" (Green, Red, Brown, etc)

Sponsors