BEGIN:VCALENDAR
VERSION:2.0
METHOD:PUBLISH
CALSCALE:GREGORIAN
PRODID:-//WordPress - MECv7.26.0//EN
X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://steven-kantor.com/
X-WR-CALNAME:Steven A Kantor
X-WR-CALDESC:
X-WR-TIMEZONE:America/New_York
BEGIN:VTIMEZONE
TZID:America/New_York
X-LIC-LOCATION:America/New_York
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0500
TZOFFSETTO:-0400
TZNAME:EDT
DTSTART:20260308T030000
RRULE:FREQ=YEARLY;BYMONTH=03;BYDAY=2SU
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0400
TZOFFSETTO:-0500
TZNAME:EST
DTSTART:20261101T010000
RRULE:FREQ=YEARLY;BYMONTH=11;BYDAY=1SU
END:STANDARD
END:VTIMEZONE
REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H
X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H
X-MS-OLK-FORCEINSPECTOROPEN:TRUE
BEGIN:VEVENT
CLASS:PUBLIC
UID:MEC-6dff2291fe2e822de2e8068a182c4759@steven-kantor.com
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261009T080000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261009T180000
DTSTAMP:20261009T182214Z
CREATED:20261009
LAST-MODIFIED:20261009
PRIORITY:5
SEQUENCE:3
TRANSP:OPAQUE
SUMMARY:September 2026 Recap: Innovation, Venture Capital, AI, and Leadership Across Our Business Communities
DESCRIPTION:September 2026 brought meaningful connections, insightful discussions, and collaboration across the technology, life sciences, and investment communities.\nFrom exploring venture capital opportunities in New Jersey to discussing the growing role of artificial intelligence in life sciences and celebrating leadership in the medical device industry, September brought together founders, investors, executives, and industry leaders committed to advancing innovation.\nThrough the Technology Leaders of the Delaware Valley, Life Sciences Collaborative, and MDG Boston, we exchanged ideas, strengthened professional relationships, and learned from experienced leaders.\nTechnology Leaders of the Delaware Valley: Strengthening New Jersey’s Innovation Ecosystem\nAt our September meeting of the Technology Leaders of the Delaware Valley, held at Merchantville Country Club, we welcomed Michael Connallon, Jr., Managing Partner at Garden State Venture Partners.\nGarden State Venture Partners is a New Jersey-based venture capital firm focused on accelerating innovation, research commercialization, and economic growth.\nMichael shared insights into the importance of connecting entrepreneurs with investors, universities, healthcare systems, and other organizations that support emerging companies.\nThe discussion highlighted an important challenge facing early-stage businesses: turning innovative ideas and research into commercially successful companies requires more than funding alone.\nAccess to experienced leadership, strategic partnerships, and a supportive entrepreneurial ecosystem can play an equally important role.\nThese conversations reinforce the value of bringing together technology executives, venture capital investors, founders, and business advisors to strengthen New Jersey’s innovation economy.\nLife Sciences Collaborative: Our First All-Chapters Meeting Explores AI in Life Sciences\nSeptember also marked an important milestone for the Life Sciences Collaborative (LSC).\nFor the first time, our Executive Committee brought together the Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Boston chapters for a joint meeting focused on the rapidly evolving role of artificial intelligence in life sciences.\nRather than holding three separate regional meetings, we created an opportunity for members across all chapters to participate in one conversation.\nThe event attracted nearly 60 participants, reflecting strong interest in how AI is influencing biotechnology, medical technology, and healthcare innovation.\nIndustry Leaders Share Perspectives on Artificial Intelligence\nThe panel discussion was moderated by Kathleen Brunner of Acumen Analytics, who guided a conversation featuring three experienced life sciences leaders:\n\nGreg Ambrara, Oral Biolife Inc.\nGregory Fischer, AiM Medical Robotics\nMichael Behr, Prolifagen\n\nThe discussion explored the opportunities AI presents for life sciences companies and the importance of maintaining human expertise in an increasingly technology-driven industry.\nOne central message emerged:\nAI makes experts faster, but the expert still makes the decision.\nAs artificial intelligence becomes more integrated into research, development, and business operations, its greatest value may lie in helping experienced professionals work more efficiently and make better-informed decisions.\nThe meeting also demonstrated the strength of connecting our regional life sciences communities. Bringing together founders, investors, scientists, executives, and advisors from multiple markets creates opportunities for collaboration that extend beyond individual chapter meetings.\nOur regional Life Sciences Collaborative meetings will resume in October.\nMDG Boston: Innovation, Leadership, and the Road Less Traveled\nSeptember also provided an opportunity to support the MDG Boston event, Innovation, Leadership & the Road Less Traveled: From Engineer to Medical Device CEO to Private Equity Investor.\nI was personally pleased to support this event featuring my friend Michael Magliochetti, Ph.D., whose professional journey spans engineering, medical device executive leadership, and private equity investing.\nMichael shared valuable perspectives on entrepreneurship, leadership, and the decisions that shape both careers and companies.\nHis experience offered an interesting look at the challenges and opportunities involved in building businesses, leading organizations, and navigating the investment landscape.\nEvents like this create opportunities for professionals across the Boston life sciences, medical device, and investment communities to exchange ideas and develop meaningful relationships.\nI’m always happy to support a good friend and a worthwhile initiative that encourages learning, collaboration, and professional connections.\nBuilding Stronger Communities Through Relationships\nAlthough September’s events covered different industries and topics, they shared one important theme:\nInnovation doesn’t happen in isolation.\nSuccessful companies and thriving industries depend on relationships, shared experiences, access to capital, and individuals who are willing to support one another.\nThat philosophy is central to the communities we’ve built through Technology Leaders of the Delaware Valley and Life Sciences Collaborative.\nWhat makes these communities particularly interesting is that they operate without sponsors, with an emphasis on bringing together experienced professionals who genuinely value exchanging knowledge, building relationships, and helping others succeed.\nWhether discussing venture capital, AI in biotechnology, or leadership in medical technology, the goal remains the same: creating an environment where meaningful conversations lead to stronger connections and new opportunities.\nLooking Ahead to October 2026\nSeptember was another reminder of the value of bringing talented people together.\nI’m grateful to our speakers, panelists, moderators, organizers, and everyone who participated in these events.\nAs we move into October, I look forward to continuing these conversations, reconnecting with our regional Life Sciences Collaborative chapters, and creating more opportunities for founders, investors, executives, and industry leaders to learn from one another.\nThe strongest business communities are built on relationships—and those relationships are what make continued innovation possible.\n\n
URL:https://steven-kantor.com/events/5249/
CATEGORIES:Recap 2026
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://steven-kantor.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/September-2026-recap-with-original-portrait.png
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR