You Have One Shot at JPM. Is Your Story Ready?
On clarity, alignment, and the nine weeks you have left to get it right
JP Morgan Healthcare Conference is nine weeks away. Take a deep breath. I’m here to help.
You’ve got meetings lined up. Maybe you’re presenting. Maybe you’re just networking like me. If so, I’ll see you there! Either way, you’re about to have conversations that could change your company’s trajectory. If this is your first big conference, buckle up. You’re jumping into deep waters, my friend.
In hotel lobbies. In fifteen-minute blocks. With people who’ve heard every pitch before.
And at JPM, you don’t get a second chance.
If your story doesn’t stick in that first conversation, there’s no follow-up email that fixes it. They won’t remember you as the company that couldn’t explain what they do. They just won’t remember you at all. Ouch.
Nine weeks is enough time to get your story right. So let's begin.
Why JPM Is Different
This isn’t another pitch competition or demo day. It’s not even a normal conference.
The people you’ll meet at JPM are sophisticated. They’ve seen hundreds of biotech companies. They know the space. And they have very sensitive BS detectors.
What they’re evaluating in those fifteen minutes isn’t just your science. It’s whether you can explain your science. It’s whether your team is aligned without giving a canned response from Chat-GPT, lol. It’s whether you actually know what you’re asking for, and why.
They’re assessing coherence. Can you tell a clear story about what you’re building and why it matters?
Because if you can’t, why would they bet on you? I wouldn’t.
The companies that stand out at JPM aren’t necessarily the ones with the best science. They’re the ones who can talk about their science in a way that makes sense to people outside their lab.
Clarity is the differentiator. Clarity is your moat.
The Mistake Teams Make
Dishonesty. Let’s call it what it is.
Everyone going to JPM for the first time makes the same mistake.
They try to sound like the companies announcing billion-dollar deals. This year, they will force AI language that they don’t fully understand. They will position themselves as bigger, more sophisticated, and more ready than they actually are.
And they all sound exactly the same.
This year, every company will mention AI. Drug discovery. Precision medicine. Personalized therapeutics. We are entering a bubble.
If you’re not deeply technical, the temptation is to learn the buzzwords. To sound sophisticated. To fit in.
Don’t. Just don’t.
The investors and pharma execs at JPM have heard “AI-powered drug discovery platform” five hundred times. Probably more. It means nothing to them anymore.
What they see less of is someone being honest about what they actually do and why it matters. If you can look someone dead in the eye and tell them why you exist, it will move them to work with you, to WANT to work with you, to HAVE to work with you.
Signals That Your Story Isn’t Ready
Most founders know their story has issues long before they admit it. I can always tell becuase they will look up and to the side to explain what they do. I can tell they haven’t embodied what they do, so it feels hollow. Minor shifts in body language. Extra blinking in the eyes. Subtle, subconscious tells. Here’s what that usually looks like:
Your co-founder explains the company differently than you do.
You’re in another meeting. Your co-founder starts describing what you’re building. You wince a little and think, “that’s not wrong, but that’s not how I’d say it.” You emphasize the patient impact. They lead with the data. Neither of you tells the whole story, and certainly not a good one. The investor hears a team that hasn’t figured out what they actually are yet. You don’t know why you exist.
Your one-sentence explanation takes three sentences.
Someone asks what you do. You start with context. Add qualifiers. Explain what you’re not. By the time you get to what you actually are, they’ve stopped listening. If you can’t explain it in one sentence, your story isn’t clear yet.
Your materials look like they’re describing a different company.
You made that deck six months ago. And you didn’t hire a designer. It was accurate, but still unclear. And you’ve evolved. You’ve learned things. Your positioning has shifted. You realised how important good design is to convey your impact on humanity. And now every time someone sees your one-pager, you want to explain “that’s not really us anymore.” You’re embarrassed. Eventually, they stop answering your emails.
You’re avoiding certain questions.
“What makes you different from so and so therapuetics?” makes you uncomfortable. Not because you don’t have an answer. Because your answer is vague. And you probably feel it in your body. “Better technology” or “more focused” or “different approach.” These aren’t differentiation. They’re placeholders for the differentiation you haven’t articulated yet. You don’t know your story. You don’t know why you exist other than to make a buck. You don’t know why it matters to YOU.
You’re not aligned on the ask.
What’s your plan for the conference? What do you actually want from these JPM meetings? Funding? Partnerships? Strategic advisors? Introductions? If you asked everyone on your team, would they give the same answer? Because if they wouldn’t, your conversations are going to feel scattered, and unfruitful.
These aren’t failures. They’re signals. Signals that your story needs work before you get to San Francisco. Check-in at the Westin starts at 3pm, but checking in to your story should start long before you arrive.
What Actually Happens If You Show Up Unclear
Real talk: The stakes are high. This is not the time to FAFO.
JPM isn’t a practice run. It’s not a place to “test messaging.” The people you meet there are the people you need. Investors who will fund your next round. Pharma partners who will validate your approach. Strategic advisors who will open the right doors, not just any door, the right door.
And you get fifteen minutes with them. Maybe less if the conversation doesn’t go well.
If your story doesn’t land, here’s what happens:
They’ll be polite. They’ll take your card. They’ll say “Ohh, that’s interesting! Please send me more information.”
And they’ll forget about you.
Because they met thirty other companies that week, and played golf with a friend who introduced them to your competitor. And the ones they remember are the ones who could explain what they do clearly. Who knew what they were asking for. Whose team was aligned and had their shit together.
You don’t get a follow-up meeting because you sent a good email later. You get a follow-up meeting because you looked someone dead in the eye and told them exactly why you are on this planet and how they can be part of your story. The first conversation was crystal clear, and they want to know more.
The brutal truth: Most JPM conversations die in the first three minutes. Not because the science is bad. Because your story is shit.
The Authenticity Advantage
Here’s what nobody tells you: being early-stage isn’t a weakness.
Being clear about being early-stage is a strength. You’re the new kid on the block.
If you’re a clinical trial operations consultant, say that. Not “clinical trial optimization platform.” Just “I help biotech companies manage [specific part] of clinical trials so they don’t [specific problem].” Tell the damn truth.
If you’re working on mushroom-based PFAS remediation while using AI for data analysis, say that. Not “AI-powered environmental solutions platform.” Just “we use mushrooms to break down PFAS contamination and AI models to help us make better decisions.” You are human—please—talk like one.
If you’re a two-person team, say that. “We’re a two-person team specializing in [specific thing]. We work best with [specific type of client]. We can handle [specific capacity] right now, with plans to scale based on demand.”
That’s not weakness. That’s clarity. And clarity builds trust faster than false sophistication.
The companies that get remembered at JPM aren’t the ones trying to sound like everyone else. They’re the ones who are crystal clear about what they actually are and why they exist.
What You Can Actually Fix in Nine Weeks
The good news? Nine weeks is enough time to get clear. You’re not rebranding. You’re not starting over. You’re refining what already exists. You're perfecting the pitch, aligning the deck, and teams, and vision. All doable things if you get started now.
Get your one-sentence explanation right.
Can you explain what you do in one sentence? Not two. Not “well, it depends.” One actual sentence that makes sense to someone who doesn’t know your field. I’ll share first as an example:
- Company:
”We are a creative impact studio helping early-stage biotech teams bring the most promising ideas to life through values-led brand strategy and design.” - Individual:
”I am a values-led brand strategist and designer helping early-stage biotech teams bring the most promising ideas to life.”
I work across biotech, clean energy, and social impact. I tailor my sentence to the people I serve. But it’s the same sentence every time. And it’s grounded in working with the smartest, most badass, heart-centered, caring, and committed people I can find. It’s grounded in my “why.”
So, test it. Say it out loud to someone outside your field. If they can’t repeat it back, it’s not clear yet. Keep refining until they can.
Align your team on the pitch.
Everyone who’s going to JPM needs to pitch the company the same way. Not word-for-word memorized. But the same emphasis. The same structure. The same core message.
Run a practice session. Have each person deliver a two-minute pitch. Record it. Watch them back. Notice where they diverge. That’s where you need alignment.
Update your materials to match your reality.
Your deck. Your one-pager. Your website. Do they reflect where you actually are right now? Or are they still describing who you were six months ago?
You don’t need to rebuild everything. Just make sure nothing is actively contradicting your current story. Update the outdated parts. Remove the stuff that no longer fits.
Crystallize your differentiation.
“What makes you different?” is the question you’ll get asked most. Your answer needs to be specific. Not “better technology.” What specifically about your technology? Not “different approach.” What specifically is different and why does that matter?
Write it down. One paragraph. Get everyone on the team to agree to it. Practice saying it until it feels natural, not rehearsed.
Know exactly what you’re asking for.
Every conversation at JPM should have a clear ask. Not vague. Not “exploring opportunities.” Specific.
Are you looking for Series A lead investors? Strategic partnerships with specific pharma companies? Advisors with regulatory expertise? Scientific collaborators?
Different asks require different conversations. Know what you want before you get there.
What You Can’t Fix (And Don’t Need To)
Nine weeks isn’t enough time for everything. The end of the year can be a madhouse with the holidays and scheduling. Here’s what you should not try to do:
Don’t attempt a complete rebrand.
I repeat! DO NOT ATTEMPT A REBRAND! You don’t have time. And you don’t need it. JPM isn’t about looking perfect. It’s about being clear and honest about who you are. Refine what you have. Don’t rebuild from scratch.
Don’t pivot your positioning.
If you’ve been talking about yourselves one way for months, don’t suddenly change it two weeks before JPM. That’s how you end up with a team that’s not aligned. Refine the positioning you have. The fundamental pivot can wait until we meet after ;)
Don’t force AI positioning if that’s not what you actually are.
JPM 2026 has major AI themes. That’s putting it lightly, lol. Half the conference is about AI. But if AI isn’t actually core to your science, don’t force it. You’ll sound desperate and inauthentic. There’s zero chance I’ll work with you if I get even a whiff of bullshit. That’s a big ol red flag for me. Better to be clear about what you actually are than to chase the trend badly. After the start of the year, we can schedule time to discuss the technology and explore potential product roadmaps for your company. In the meantime, for fuck’s sake, start exploring AI. Don’t read about it, explore it. Your company’s future depends on it.
Don’t try to perfect everything.
Your website doesn’t need to be flawless (but it helps). Your deck doesn’t need to win design awards. It just needs to be clear and current. Good enough is actually good enough.
Focus on the things that matter: story clarity, team alignment, and knowing what you’re asking for. You need to know why you exist. It is your North Star when things start to feel unclear.
How to Use the Next Nine Weeks
Weeks 1-2: Get honest about where you are.
Audit everything. Your pitch. Your materials. Your team’s alignment. Your differentiation. Your ask.
What’s working? What’s not? Where are the gaps?
Don’t sugarcoat it. You can’t fix what you won’t acknowledge.
Weeks 3-4: Align and refine.
Get your team in a room. Work through the one-sentence explanation together. Agree on the differentiation. Align on the pitch. Update the materials.
This is when you do the hard work of getting everyone on the same page. I help teams hold space for these conversations. Trust me, they are critical.
Weeks 5-7: Practice and polish.
Run practice pitches. Get feedback. Refine based on what you learn. Practice again.
By the time you get on the plane, the pitch should feel natural. Not memorized. Just clear.
Weeks 8-9: Final prep and logistics.
Confirm meetings. Review materials one last time. Make sure everyone knows the schedule. Get mentally ready. Relax.
The Question You Need to Answer NOW
Does your story hold together under pressure?
Not “is it good enough?” Not “is it perfect?” But: does it hold together?
Can you explain what you do in one sentence? Is your team aligned? Do your materials match your current reality? Do you know what makes you different? Do you know what you’re asking for?
If the answer to any of those is no, you have work to do. And you have nine weeks to do it.
JPM is coming whether you’re ready or not. The only question is how you want to feel when you walk into those conversations.
You can show up hoping it goes well. Or you can show up knowing your story is clear, your team is aligned, and your ask is specific.
Nine weeks is enough time to get from the first to the second. But only if you start now.
Getting JPM-Ready
If your story isn't where it needs to be, I can help—fast.
I'm offering two options for biotech founders preparing for JPM or other investor conversations leading into 2026:
Materials Review | $500 — Send me your deck or one-pager. I'll give you detailed video feedback on what's working, what's not, and exactly what to fix. 48-hour turnaround.
Breakthrough Session | $1200 — 90-minute working session where we'll clarify your story, align your team, and create a concrete action plan for the next 9 weeks.
Both options are designed to get you clear, confident, and ready for high-stakes conversations.