Mastering the Biotech Investor Pitch: From Science to Secured Funding

EY's 2025 Biotech Beyond Borders report recently predicted a challenging funding environment for biotech this year, following below average IPOs, mixed VC trends including a shift towards larger rounds, and increased royalty deals in the past year (1).

In this environment more than ever, securing funding in biotech isn’t just about having groundbreaking science—it’s about telling a compelling story, demonstrating a clear path to value, and building investor confidence. In an industry where risk is high and timelines are long, the right pitch can make all the difference.

Investors want to know not just what your innovation can achieve, but how it fits into the broader landscape, why it’s needed, and what steps you’re taking to mitigate risk and ensure success. A winning pitch does more than outline your science; it paints a picture of your company's potential and articulates a clear strategy for how that potential will be realized. Whether you’re presenting to angel investors, venture capitalists, or other funding sources, crafting a pitch that is both clear and compelling is key to gaining the support you need to turn your vision into reality.

Mastering the Art of the Pitch

When preparing for an investor pitch, it's crucial to not only present your idea but to do so in a way that resonates with potential investors. A compelling pitch goes beyond the numbers and highlights the value of your business, your team’s capabilities, and the opportunity for growth. Preparation is key to ensure your pitch captures attention, builds trust, and sets the stage for securing the investment you need to move forward.

Make sure to also tailor your pitch to each investor type and their investment focus (disease areas & modalities of interest to their portfolio, typical stage or cheque size, or other key driving factors like global health or environmental impact) to catch their attention and demonstrate value to them directly.

Different sources of funding are also appropriate for different stages of development for a biotech. While basic discovery research is funded primarily by grants from government and philanthropic organizations followed by angel investors, late-stage development is funded mainly by pharmaceutical companies or venture capitalists.

Here are some key best practices to keep in mind when developing your pitch:

• Make Your Science Investable

Investors don’t need to grasp every technical detail; they need to understand why your innovation is revolutionary and commercially viable. Break down complex science into clear, impactful messaging that highlights the real-world impact of your technology. Especially for academic founders, this might mean a mindset shift and constantly reminding yourself of what is important to your target audience.

• Show a Clear Development & Commercialization Path

Funding is just one milestone on the journey. Investors want to see how you’ll advance through clinical phases, navigate regulatory hurdles, and drive market adoption. A well-defined roadmap builds confidence in your long-term strategy. Any traction that you have had to date should be presented boldly. Don’t let the fact that a particular research study is not complete or perfect yet stop you from mentioning the progress you have reached to date on proof-of-concept. This can clearly demonstrate validation and get investors excited about the potential of your innovation, bringing them on board for the next stage.

• Address Risk & Differentiation Head-On

What sets your approach apart from others in the space? Investors need to understand not only the opportunities but also the challenges. Proactively address technical, regulatory, and commercial risks while showcasing how your team is best positioned to mitigate them. To some investors, showing that you have thought about things like productization, CMC, process scale-up, and optimizing CoGs will be critical. This will assure them that your early-stage project won’t be held back by unexpected roadblocks when it reaches clinical or commercial stage.

• Know Your Numbers

Be precise when it comes to funding needs, allocation of resources, and expected value inflection points. Investors will ask tough financial and strategic questions—be ready with data-driven responses that reinforce your credibility. They will also likely ask to see your detailed projection spreadsheets, CAP tables, sources for market sizing data, and reasoning for any assumptions made in calculations. Prepare and organize all your data well in advance to avoid any delays or last-minute stress when you are trying to close a potential deal. Setting up a data room ready with all the documents investors typically ask for in the early stages of your fundraising is also a good practice.

• Leave Them Wanting More

The best pitches don’t just inform; they spark curiosity and open the door for deeper discussions. Keep your pitch concise, compelling, and focused on securing that next meeting. A well-crafted narrative can turn initial interest into long-term commitment. Even after an investor says yes, the process of securing the deal is generally at least a few months long, so start thinking about fundraising early and don’t get discouraged if it takes a little longer than expected, just keep thinking one step ahead.

A strong close should create excitement and a sense of urgency. Highlight what makes your opportunity time-sensitive—whether it’s a breakthrough development, a key milestone on the horizon, or a competitive advantage that won’t last forever. Leave investors with a clear next step, such as a follow-up discussion, additional data review, or site visit.

Engage them with a powerful call to action. Whether it’s asking for their insights, inviting them to a demo, or offering an opportunity to be part of a transformative biotech journey, make sure they leave the conversation eager to learn more and take the next step. Receiving a lot of “no’s” is always expected when fundraising, but investing the time to create a strong and compelling pitch can significantly increase the odds.

Opening Doors to Investment

A strong investor pitch isn’t just about securing funding—it’s about building strategic partnerships that drive your biotech forward. It won’t always start with a meeting, but maybe with crafting an engaging cold email, giving a short elevator pitch, or sharing a deck or one-pager. Preparing for fundraising should always start with creating collaterals for sharing with potential investors that clearly present the investment opportunity, key differentiating factors, and the value for investors.

At Omnium Global, we have a growing track record in developing investor pitch collaterals and fundraising strategies for life science companies. If you’re refining your pitch, let’s connect! We are always excited to hear more about new biotech innovations and explore ways to support your growth. References:

1. EY Americas. (2025). EY 2025 Biotech Beyond Borders Report: Biopharma. Retrieved from https://www.ey.com/en_us/newsroom/2025/06/ey-2025-biotech-beyond-borders-report-biopharma