'Spark' is a collaborative effort between the Crick Science Entrepreneur Network and LocalGlobe, designed to foster innovation in the life sciences and biomedicine sectors by creating a monthly forum for engaging discussion.

For this event, join us for a discussion with a very exciting investor panel - Karolina Zapadka (life science investor at Parkwalk advisors); Kerstin Papenfuss (Pharma director at Deep Science Ventures) and Ala Alenazi (Investment Principal at Ascension VC).

Karolina has nearly a decade of experience in building life sciences and healthcare companies within the Cambridge Cluster. She played a pivotal role in securing pre-seed and seed investment from a stellar syndicate of investors. In 2018 she co-founded and successfully delivered the first life sciences startup accelerator with a portfolio of 20 early-stage ventures in Cambridge. Please find more info at - https://www.linkedin.com/in/karolina-zapadka/

Kerstin has spent almost ten years in leadership roles at impact-driven organisations advancing medicine and therapeutics, while also securing an executive MBA and a women in business award. Before joining Deep Science Ventures to design novel therapeutics companies using DSV’s outcome focussed company creation process, Kerstin was transforming ideas for cutting edge cell and gene therapies into investable propositions at UK’s Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult.

Ala is responsible for sourcing, screening and performing due diligence on investment opportunities for Ascension’s Life Fund. Ala also assists across the investor relations and fundraising functions of the business.

Before joining Ascension, Ala was the regional Accelerator Manager for EIT Health, a pan-EU HealthTech Accelerator backed by the European Union. Ala's passion in this space stems from her background as a Molecular Geneticist.

The driving force behind Spark is the community's desire for a recurring platform that unites a diverse network of professionals, including scientists, doctors, lawyers, operators, VCs, and others, all with the shared goal of nurturing new ideas and supporting the startup process.

All welcome, no ideas or entrepreneurship experience needed.