News and Insights
Countdown to the J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference: A Checklist for Success
December 10, 2024
The J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference (JPM), held each January in San Francisco, is a cornerstone event for healthcare and life sciences industry leaders, drawing innovators, investors, and executives from around the globe. While the main conference provides a platform for publicly traded companies to share updates and insights in high-stakes presentations, the true energy of the week pulses through the myriad satellite meetings happening nearby.
These side events, ranging from private equity roundtables to networking mixers and 1:1 meetings with companies not presenting at JPM, often serve as the breeding ground for collaboration, investment deals, and strategic partnerships. For newcomers, navigating this dual ecosystem of structured conference sessions and impromptu meetings can be daunting but it’s immensely rewarding, as it reflects the dynamic and interconnected nature of the healthcare industry itself.
JPM sets the tone for the health ecosystem for the year to come. Whether you’re a seasoned attendee or preparing for your first visit, don’t wait to arrive in San Francisco to initiate your efforts; start immediately. Here are four tips for your action checklist:
1. Define Your Meeting Goals and Craft a Compelling Narrative that Catalyzes Action
Capturing attention in a crowded field can be challenging, but setting clear objectives for your meetings can make your company memorable.
- Are you seeking funding? Create an investor deck that conveys your unique value proposition.
- Looking to build partnerships? Research potential collaborators and create tailored outreach messages that resonate and dovetail with their goals.
- Promoting a new product or milestone? Design an omnichannel communications plan that builds excitement for this achievement. Share information on clinical trial milestones, funding success, or market traction.
2. Strengthen Your Digital Footprint
Elevating your online and social media presence is crucial for maximizing visibility before, during and after the conference. Remember your digital presence brings your brand to life.
- Post updates on LinkedIn, X and Bluesky announcing your attendance and share key areas of interest or your goals for the event.
- Update your website with your latest achievements, making it investor friendly.
- Create buzz by engaging in discussions online, before and during the event.
- Engage with industry hashtags like #JPM2025 to signal your presence and participate in the conversation.
3. Build a Productive Schedule
JPM is as much about reconnecting with long-time colleagues as it is about forging new relationships, so plan your time at the conference to ensure maximum efficiency. By now, your schedule should be taking shape using a strategy like this:
- Identify must-see targets: Research attending companies and investors who align with your goals.
- Book meetings: Confirm your appointments with key contacts.
- Prioritize events: Determine which networking events and parties are most relevant to your goals and RSVP early.
- Come prepared: Bring high-quality marketing materials to share with potential connections.
- Stay flexible: Leave room for unexpected opportunities that may arise during the event.
4. Prioritize Follow-Up
The real impact comes after the conference. Immediate follow-up is critical to make yourself more noticeable to key stakeholders.
- Send personalized follow-ups to new contacts within a week.
- Share additional materials, such as white papers, business proposals, or demo invitations.
- Schedule post-event meetings to solidify relationships and advance deals.
Maximizing your presence at JPM requires strategic planning and impeccable execution. FINN Partners staff have attended this San Francisco conclave since it was first called the Hambrecht & Quist (H&Q) Healthcare Conference almost three decades ago. Between the agency’s floor of conference rooms for investment meetings near the central JPM hub, our investor relations, media and social media relations teams will be working with life science and med tech leaders from around the globe to help you navigate the complexities of the conference and give you the edge you need.
Our mission has always been to champion healthcare innovation so that it can achieve its greatest potential in improving people’s lives. But to make that possible requires investment and partnerships to advance pipelines and clinical programs. If you have questions, reach out. The FINN team is here to help you advance your business goals right now.
POSTED BY: David Carey,
