A showcase for innovators, by innovators. We’re not doing “Innovation Theater” here. We’re making game-changing connections between startups/tech companies, investors and industry experts (navigators).
Our Mission
The WhaleTank supports novel solutions in reaching the market faster—because patients are waiting.
We aim to forge powerful connections between emerging solution companies and their ideal partners, whether they are customers, investors, strategic advisors, or industry collaborators.
The WhaleTank is not a one-off pitch event. It is a curated stream built to create momentum before, during, and after the Innovation Network Gathering. Every participating company should walk away with something tangible: actionable insights, meaningful connections, and practical steps forward.
Our mission is to help promising solutions move closer to real-world use in clinical research and life sciences.
What is the WhaleTank?
WhaleTank is not just a pitch competition. It is a curated experience for emerging solution companies building, launching new solutions in clinical trials and life sciences.
WhaleTank brings together innovators, pharma leaders, investors, service partners, customers, and expert navigators to help participating companies refine their market fit, pressure-test their message, and build meaningful relationships with the people who can help them move forward.
The WhaleTank ING 2026 Cohort
Companies can join the WhaleTank 2026 cohort by applying, which allows access to the full ING experience and WhaleTank program. The program is designed to create value for all WhaleTank cohort companies, and everyone will get an opportunity to pitch to WhaleTank judges.
In order to provide a curated experience, the capacity of the cohort is limited. Apply early to maximize your chance of being accepted.
Who should join?
The WhaleTank is designed for emerging solution companies in Clinical Trials, especially for the early-stage companies.
The WhaleTank is looking for solutions that are novel, valid, impactful and adoptable.
October 5-8 // West Chester, PA
Why WhaleTank?
Customer-Centric Approach
We start with real industry needs. WhaleTank helps companies focus on problems that matter and solutions the market can actually use.
Diverse Stakeholder Involvement
We bring together the right people into the conversation: pharma representatives, investors, strategic advisors, providing participants a broader view to their solutions and more practical feedback.
Evaluation and Feedback
The program is built around thoughtful review, meaningful conversation, and actionable insight. The goal is for every participant to leave with clearer next step and stronger connections.
WhaleTank started with a simple question:
What’s a startup program we’d actually want to be part of?
Something that doesn’t feel like a waste of time. Something you walk away from with real takeaways—where participation itself feels worth it, not just winning.
That’s why we think of it as a tune-up workshop, not a competition.
So how do we do that?
We bring together the right people. Our steering committee and judges are made up of sponsors, investors and startup founders, who are actively exploring new ideas, and participate with the intention to help and guide, not just evaluate.
And we design every part of the experience to be useful. For the companies pitching, for the judges, for the mentors, and even for those observing. Each session is intentionally curated to encourage participation, meaningful feedback, and well-matched conversations.
“This kind of course guidance, driven by a thirty-minute conversation with people who’ve built and funded companies through these exact inflection points, is something very hard to get as a first-time founder. So thank you for doing what you do!”
The ING2026 Cohort Experience
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Discounted rate to access the full ING experience
Companies receive access to the ING at a dedicated innovator rate (50% discount).
Participants will have access to full ING experience including Main Stage Talks, Conversational Lunches, networking with the Innovation Network Community.
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Founder and solution-focused programming
The stream includes activities designed to help companies refine their message, strengthen their positioning, and prepare for meaningful conversations with stakeholders.
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Intentional Networking
Participants connect with judges, pharma leaders, investors, navigators, and other people who care about helping new solutions move forward.
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Pitch to WhaleTank Judges
All companies get a chance to pitch to the WhaleTank judges. WhaleTank is committed to making sure all companies who participate receive value.
What you receive by joining the WhaleTank ING 2026 cohort:
Exclusive discounted rate for startups that provides access to the by nomination- and invitation-only Innovation Network Gathering (ING) 2026. (We do not want cost to be a barrier. Please contact us if your company needs additional support.)
Full ING experience
Main Stage Talks, conversational lunches, attendee formal reception, and the broader ING community.
WhaleTank application review and feedback
All applicants will receive feedback on their application form from WhaleTank judges
Pitch Workshop with experienced founders (if you apply before 8/28)
Intentional networking with the WhaleTank judges including pharma leaders, investors, and industry experts who are exited founders or have experience at a pharma company.
Pitch opportunities
All companies get to pitch to WhaleTank judges through cohort programming on Day 1 (On Main Stage with full production!)
A select few companies will get to pitch on Main Stage on Day 2 to the full ING audience
We select for quality.
In the past we have had 6 companies pitch. We recognize the importance for the startups to pitch. This year, we have opened up additional slots to pitch on the stage in front of the esteemed WhaleTank judges consisted of biopharma leaders, investors, and navigators (exited founders, or formerly pharma). And some select companies will even have the chance to pitch twice onstage.
How it works
How to join the WhaleTank Cohort
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The WhaleTank Review Committee will evaluate applications on a rolling basis.
All applicants will receive feedback from the Review Committee.
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Companies accepted into the WhaleTank cohort must register for the Innovation Network Gathering (ING) to participate.
Startups receive a ~50% discount, we don’t want cost to be a barrier so please let us know if you need additional support.
Rolling Admissions
WhaleTank applications are reviewed on a rolling basis until all available cohort spots are filled. Applying earlier gives you the best chance of securing a spot.
Every Friday at 5:00 PM ET, we close that week’s application group and send it to the WhaleTank Review Committee. Applications received after 5:00 PM ET will be included in the following week’s review. Applicants will receive an acceptance decision during the following week.
Want to participate in WhaleTank pitch prep?
Apply by August 28 to ensure you are included in the pitch preparation programming.
Wave Application Deadline
1st Wave: ~Aug 14
2nd Wave: ~Aug 21
3rd Wave: ~Aug 28
→ Startups must apply by Aug 28 to receive pitch prep
4th Wave: ~Sep 4
5th Wave: ~Sep 11
6th Wave: ~Sep 18
7th Wave: ~Sep 25
Pitch Opportunities and Intentional Networking:
Accepted companies will prepare a two-minute pitch and a four-minute pitch prior to the event.
We recommend developing the four-minute version first and then refining it into a focused two-minute pitch. This process is designed to help you clarify your message and communicate the value of your solution more effectively.
Day 1: Every accepted company will deliver a two-minute pitch during the WhaleTank breakout program. These pitches will take place in front of WhaleTank judges, including biopharma leaders, investors, experienced founders, former industry executives, and strategic advisors.
Day 2: Based on the Day 1 pitches and judge review, select companies will be selected as WhaleTank finalists. The finalists will deliver their four-minute pitches during an ING Main Stage session in front of the broader Gathering audience.
Every company will participate in curated programming designed to create meaningful conversations and connections.
2026 WhaleTank Judges & Review Committee
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Peter Schaeffer
Digital and Process Optimization, GSK
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Sean Lynch
Clinical Innovation Head, Novartis
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Sarah Tremethick
Global Program Lead, Roche
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Bryan Hansen
Senior Director, Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine
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Joe Dustin
Senior Director, Sanofi
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Ligia Cevasco Kilinski
Head of Clinical Data Management | Revolution Medicines
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Tony Fantana
Global Regulatory Affairs Innovation & Technology Lead | Eli Lilly
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Max Kanevsky
Venture Partner, Excelerate Health Ventures
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Philip Johnston
Venture Partner, Excelerate Health Ventures
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Justin Kirkpatrick
Partner, Questa Capital Management
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Adam Besvinick
Founder and Managing Partner | Looking Glass Capital
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Dan Snyder
Founder, The Playbook // Former CEO, MolecularMD
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Deirdre BeVard
Life Sciences R&D // Former VP, CSL Behring
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Ian Greenfield
Co-Founder & CEO, Siftr // Exited founder
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Jeff Lee
Board of Directors, MedStar Health // Exited founder
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Joan Severson
CEO, HumanTrue // Exited founder
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George Kramb
Co-founder & CEO, PatientPartner, WhaleTank ING2025 winner
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Ralph Lanza
VP, Strategic Initiatives & Partnerships, RealTime eClinical Solutions
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Laura Hilty
Principal, HealthX Ventures // Chief Strategy Officer, IgniteData // Review Committee & Steering Committee
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Bill Illis
Executive Director, Technology & Scientific Computing, Advanced Quantitative Sciences, Novartis // Review Committee & Steering Committee
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Rachel Ovens
Executive Director, Global Head of Feasibility & Planning, Boehringer Ingelheim // Review Committee
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Mindy Gruba
Clinical Systems Lead, Astellas Pharma // Review Committee
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Kevin Hudziak
Senior Director, Eli Lilly and Company // Review Committee
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James Wabby
VP, head of regulatory strategy, Abbvie // Review Committee
Organizations Represented by Past Whale Tank Judges
What Founders Loved
“It has proven transformative”
Angela Holmes, OmniScience
The insights and advice on our messaging and G2M by our advisors and judges, and the subsequent follow up meetings has been incredibly valuable. The messaging that evolved from Whale Tank has helped us achieve significant milestones — being accepted into life science accelerator program, generating numerous active sales leads and winning a showcase competition at another industry conference. The media coverage and our recent wins have sparked growing interest from investors. I am grateful.
“We felt the team’s love and passion for the industry”
Brad Pruitt, Kenosha AI
All the feedback and prep sessions were very helpful and appreciated. The group feedback session after the pitch was excellent. The feedback form was also very helpful as well as getting the contacts of those interested in followups. We all felt the love and passion for the industry and willingness to help startups. Thank you!
“Great opportunity to pitch directly to customers”
Hannah Sieber, Artyc
The production value, coaching, and support for Whale Tank was awesome - all the coaches were incredibly supportive and thoughtful in their commentary. The TedX style production value made it easy to present and created a valuable digital asset. Whale Tank is a great opportunity for founders building in the clinical space to pitch their idea directly to buyers!
Past Presenting Companies
Turn your idea into market-proven success
October 5-8, 2026
at the annual Innovation Network Gathering
PatientPartner: Connecting clinical trial patients with experienced mentors that have been through the journey — improving enrollment, retention, and trust.
Connecting clinical trial patients with experienced mentors that have been through the journey — improving enrollment, retention, and trust.
PatientPartner is a patient engagement platform designed to improve patient enrollment and retention for pharma study teams. The technology fosters meaningful, peer-to-peer connections between new patients (mentees) and experienced patients (mentors), offering firsthand insights into the clinical trial experience. These personalized interactions empower patients to take a proactive role in their healthcare journey, resulting in increased enrollment, stronger retention, and greater confidence in treatment decisions.