7 Networking Strategies That Will Get You Funded, Validated, and Seen

A strong professional network can be the engine that propels your healthcare startup forward. The right connections can help you raise capital, attract talent, navigate regulatory pathways, and validate your science. Networking consistently creates visibility that puts you on the radar of investors, clinicians, partners, or the media. 

“Networking is part of your startup’s DNA,” said Laura O’Neill, partner and New York health media lead at FINN Partners. “Sharing your vision early builds momentum, sharpens your pitch, and creates the roadmap for future opportunities.” Over time, networking can also build trust, add to your credibility, provide access to expertise, and open doors for collaboration. Fortunately, all you need to start is a thoughtful approach and a willingness to put yourself out there. 

Cure consulted with a public relations professional, a scientific expert, and an entrepreneur, all of whom shared actionable tips to help you build a professional network that supports your startup’s mission and goals. 

1. Make Networking a Priority From Day One

“Healthcare networking starts many years prior to the introduction of any product,” said David Ghozland, MD, a physician entrepreneur and pioneer of the fractional CO2 laser procedure for Bartholin cysts. “The doctors who had confidence in my innovation in Bartholin treatment were familiar with my clinical expertise during residency training 15 years ago.” 

Healthcare and life science innovation can be a slow process due to the necessity of patient safety and requires careful consideration, said Ghozland. “It takes time to build relationships in which your colleagues are willing to trust your decision making to take the hardest cases. So start early and build connections five to seven years prior to commercialization.”  Ghozland said when he proposed his laser treatment in 2018, his colleagues weren’t terribly hopeful. “By 2021, after reading my published findings, and attending my workshops, the same physicians were now referring patients and requesting training. Their support was more influential…because they were aware of my character and competence due to firsthand experience.”

2. Attend Annual Meetings, Conferences, and Summits

There is no better place to network than annual meetings for professional associations and medical societies, where innovators in the healthcare field can meet, said Ghozland. “The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists annual meeting allows me to meet with 3,000 prospective users, collaborators, and advisors in a single destination.” These events provide the opportunity to build close relationships with other physicians and researchers, he said. “They will also be your best advocates and referral partners when it comes to clinical validation.”

These events also bring together an audience of people you're likely looking to network with, added Ozama Ismail, PhD, director of scientific programs for the Alzheimer’s Association. While there are many different types of conferences out there, both small and large, finding that niche and very specific area of interest is important so that you can connect with likeminded people, he said.

“We have the Alzheimer's Association International Conference (AAIC) for anyone who's working in dementia, Alzheimer's disease, and all related diseases that cause dementia,” said Dr. Ismail. “AAIC has become a flagship event for [people in this space] because it brings together such a large contingent of people. The most recent one brought together over 11,000 people in Toronto, Canada.”

Once at the conference, you will also find curated spaces specifically designed for networking, he said. “For example, most conferences will have a networking reception or two, that allows people to get together and informally learn about each other's areas of interest or sub-specialties and connect. These sessions feel less loaded or less charged and don't have that time pressure.” 

Even attending summit-style gatherings like Cure’s Power of X Summit, HLTH, or ViVE can serve as a platform for networking through panels and workshops. No matter your choice, seeking out these opportunities can help you turn meetings and summits into launchpads for future partnerships and long-term relationships.

3. Do Your Research Before Knocking On Doors  

Making yourself known is important, said Ismail. It helps you form genuine relationships with people who can empathize with what it means to be a founder of a startup. But being mindful of how you do that is equally important. 

Before reaching out, Ismail recommended doing a quick Google search to see if the expert you’d like to connect with has an email listed online and if they do, send a short, polite email, he said. “If they don't have visible contact details, it's probably best not to reach out, and not to do a cold call, because if you do it wrong it can have bad results.”

Also, when reaching out to experts, keep your correspondence short, very polite, and formal, said Ismail. “Let them know why you’re contacting them and what you have to offer. And do your research beforehand, so it's clear that you're not reaching out to the wrong person or wasting their time.”

4. Build Your Brand On Social Media

Because we are living in a digital world, Ismail suggested building your online presence. “It can be as basic as sharing your professional updates on your social media accounts. Or it can be your own website where you have curated your personal branding even further.” 

Often, people go to Google first when they want to get to know someone or to find experts in a certain area, he said. “Even if you don't have your own website, there are platforms like LinkedIn, or emerging platforms like Bluesky, where a lot of professionals are and they curate their profiles specifically to make themselves known. If done properly, it can really foster some genuine connection.”

Make sure you are sharing your research, milestones, awards, and other updates online. Not only are you building awareness for your startup, but you also are getting your name in front of potential partners, advisors, and even investors.

5. Volunteer for Projects, Speaking Events, and Initiatives

Sometimes one of the best ways to gain visibility and build authentic relationships is by contributing to a working group, speaking at a meeting, or helping to organize an industry event that is connected in some way to your research. Volunteering demonstrates that you’re engaged and passionate about the topic you are researching. 

These opportunities may also lead to deeper connections because you’re interacting with likeminded people and collaborating toward a shared goal. It also puts you in front of potential stakeholders like investors, clinicians, and other researchers, who you might not have access to otherwise. Your volunteerism could even build future partnerships or lead to invitations for pitches and other opportunities.

One volunteer opportunity that not only gives back to the community but also connects you with other entrepreneurs, scientists, and researchers is Life Science Cares. This organization, which operates in New York, Boston, Philadelphia, San Diego, and the Bay Area, partners with nonprofits to break the cycle of poverty and inequality. The goal is to bring an immersive educational program to high school students interested in life sciences and biotech.

6. Look for Opportunities to Collaborate and Learn Alongside Others

When it comes to building a startup, finding ways to collaborate with others should be part of your growth strategy. One way to do that is to look for opportunities to build meaningful relationships with other people through cohort-based programs, accelerators, incubators, training programs, bootcamps, and more.

These programs provide a level of peer-to-peer support from people who are going through the same thing, said Ismail. “That's valuable networking when you can learn together as you're pursuing a specific field or researching or studying a particular [topic]. From our end, we bring students and post doctoral researchers to a forum like AAIC and put them front and center at the conference. And, by bringing them together through this program, it has transformed a lot of the participants' trajectories.” 

For instance, you may want to look into Life Science Sherpas, which not only creates meaningful events but also provides a number of networking and collaboration opportunities. Meanwhile, digital health bootcamps or programs like NIH I-Corps offer intensive and hands-on experiences that can help you build relationships and form bonds with other researchers, scientists, and founders. Participating in these cohorts may lead to future collaborations, such as joint grant applications, pilot programs, or co-hosted research initiatives. 

7. Spruce Up (and Practice) Your Elevator Pitch

When networking, your first impression is important. But because time is often limited, you need to prepare a clear, concise way of introducing yourself and your research, said Ismail. Planning your message ahead of time not only makes your interactions more impactful but also helps you stay focused and leave a lasting impression.

One way to do that is having an “elevator pitch” ready to go that allows you to quickly introduce yourself, explain your background, tell them where you’re from, and highlight your expertise. Ismail said. These short pitches might spark an idea for someone who responds with: “I've been looking for someone in this exact space, so we should talk.” 

But, if you don’t have those details about yourself honed—and you have not practiced them—you may end up in a “jargon spiral” and people very quickly disengage, said Ismail.

Meanwhile, if you’re nervous about networking, he suggested setting small goals for yourself. For instance, you could tell yourself: “I’m going to enter this reception and introduce myself to at least three new people.” And then, you can scale that to five new people and share your area of research.

“Starting slowly and layering makes it an easier way to network, especially if you're someone on the introverted side,” he said. “Networking is a skill like any other skill. It gets better with time, and it is one of those skills where you have to practice to make it perfect.”