DIA 2026 Global Annual Meeting: Full Schedule

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10:15am EDT

#510: The Trials and Virtues of Founder Led Selling: Rapid Discovery and Validation of Product-Market Fit for ClinTech

Tuesday June 16, 2026 10:15am - 11:30am EDT

Component Type: Session
Level: Intermediate

Many clinical research technology founders rush to build and fundraise before understanding how sponsors and sites make buying decisions. This session explores how to perform streamlined customer discovery to build a winning go to market strategy.

Learning Objectives

Design and execute a streamlined customer discovery process to validate unmet needs, buying triggers, and budget ownership before finalizing a go-to-market strategy; Translate insights into a sales learning roadmap that tests positioning, pricing, compliance, and objections to reduce commercial risk before raising capital; Align GTM and fundraising with validated demand to present a credible revenue story.

Chair

Dan Sndyer

Speaker

Panelist
Peter Schaeffer, MBA, PMP

Panelist
Laura Hilty

Panelist
Jeff B Lee, MBA

Speakers

Laura Hilty

Principal, HealthX Ventures, United States

Jeff Lee

Board Director, Medstar Health Research Institute, United States

Jeff Lee is a seasoned entrepreneur, angel investor, and venture partner with a strong background in business development and entrepreneurship. He successfully founded/exited mProve Health and held leadership roles in several other startups with successful exits. Jeff also serves... Read More →

Peter Schaeffer

Digital and Process Optimization Leader, GlaxoSmithKline, United States

Pete Schaeffer has worked in the Pharmaceutical industry for approximately 20 years in both the Pre-Clinical and Clinical areas. During this time, he has worked in roles to improve performance and decision making, led continuous improvement programs and collaborated with teams to... Read More →

Dan Sndyer

The Playbook, United States

Dan Sndyer

The Playbook, United States

Tuesday June 16, 2026 10:15am - 11:30am EDT
103A The Pennsylvania Convention Center 1101 Arch Street Philadelphia, PA 19107 USA

02: ClinicalTrialOps-Innovation, Session | 03: Data-Tech-AI, Session | 18: Lift-Series, Session

Audience Intermediate
Area Biotech-ClinTech-Pathway, Digital Enablement and Modernization, Cross-Functional Collaboration
Level Intermediate
format csv
Interest Area Data Management & Data Standards,Biotechnology & Investors
Feature Topics Biotech-ClinTech-Pathway,Digital Enablement and Modernization,Cross-Functional Collaboration
Tags Session

1:45pm EDT

#534: The Best Pitch Advice I Ever Got: How to Nail Main Stage Talks, Pitch Decks, and Any Talk of a Lifetime

Tuesday June 16, 2026 1:45pm - 3:00pm EDT

103A

Component Type: Workshop
Level: Intermediate

In this interactive workshop, coach Jeff Smith shares essential building blocks – Prep as Empathy, the Impact Wave, Visuals on Purpose, and Dynamic Delivery – used to shape “talks of a lifetime,” from founding pitch decks to keynote and TED stages.

Learning Objectives

Use preparation as an empathy tool to align with enterprise/pharma stakeholders; Structure pitches using the “Impact Wave” to guide audiences from problem recognition to urgency to action; Design clear visuals that increase trust and decision velocity; Elevate delivery using the “Dynamism Checklist” to project confidence and persuasive presence.

Chair

Jeff Smith

Speakers

Jeff Smith

The Curator, Smith and Jones Innovation, United States

Tuesday June 16, 2026 1:45pm - 3:00pm EDT
103A The Pennsylvania Convention Center 1101 Arch Street Philadelphia, PA 19107 USA

03: Data-Tech-AI, Workshop | 06: ProfDevelop-Program-PortfolioMgmt, Workshop | 18: Lift-Series, Workshop

Audience Intermediate
Area Biotech-ClinTech-Pathway
Level Intermediate
format csv
Interest Area Biotechnology & Investors
Feature Topics Biotech-ClinTech-Pathway
Tags Workshop

4:15pm EDT

#554: Reverse Pitches: How Pharma Actually Buys

Tuesday June 16, 2026 4:15pm - 5:15pm EDT

103A

Component Type: Session
Level: Advanced

Founders pitch to pharma expecting a straightforward evaluation, but pharma doesn't buy the way VCs do. Led by Whale Tank judges and biopharma thought leaders, this session flips the script—showing how pharma actually evaluates, negotiates, and commits to partnerships with innovative companies.

Learning Objectives

Identify the hidden criteria and decision-makers that determine whether a pharma deal moves forward; Understand MSAs, compliance requirements, and relationship dynamics that shape biopharma partnerships; Recognize common deal-stoppers and structure early conversations to align with how pharma actually evaluates and buys.

Chair

Ligia Kilinski Kilinski Cevasco

Speaker

Panelist
Mindy Gruba

Speakers