Laura Strong, PhD
Founder & CEO, Valency Fund
Laura is available for speaking engagements, panels, and podcast interviews on growth capital, operations, and entrepreneurship in Wisconsin and the Midwest.
SPEAKING TOPICS
Alternative capital structures for growth companies
Risk assessment and economic development
Financial readiness and capital strategy for founders
Building entrepreneurship infrastructure
Operational experience in biotech and manufacturing
BACKGROUND
Founder & CEO, Valency Fund
25+ years in biotech, health tech, and venture capital
Former strategic advisor, radiopharmaceutical and health tech companies
Clinical evidence strategies, Exact Sciences
Drug discovery and clinical trials, Quintessence Biosciences
Co-founder, Forward Fest
Co-founder, Capital Entrepreneurs
Former Board President: BioForward Wisconsin, StartingBlock Madison
Board member: Total Water
Adjunct faculty: UW-Madison Masters in Biotechnology
Mentor: MERLIN, Creative Destruction Labs
PhD, Organic Chemistry, UW-Madison
19 publications, 10 U.S. patents
RECENT SPEAKING
WEDC Wisconsin Economic Summit: "Broadening Risk Perspectives to Encourage Innovation and Growth"
Judge: Elevator Pitch Olympics, Wisconsin Early Stage Symposium
Judge: Healthcare/Biotech Track, Summerfest Tech
Host: Capital That Fits educational series, Forward Fest
CONTACT
Reach out to schedule Laura Strong for conference panels, chamber events, and podcast interviews to discuss growth capital, operations, and Wisconsin's entrepreneurship ecosystem.