ACG San Diego BrownBag | Secrets to Navigating the Funding and Exit Landscape for Life Sciences and Healthcare Companies in 2023

David has +25 years buy- and sell-side expertise of M&A, partnering and investments within the life sciences and healthcare sectors working within strategic biopharmaceutical companies, private equity, investment banking and venture capital. He serves as Managing Partner for Cardiff Advisory LLC, a boutique mergers & acquisitions investment banking and strategic advisory firm focused on M&A and partnering collaborations for life sciences and healthcare companies.

In parallel to his investment banking activities, David is an emerging fund manager and raising capital for Coast BioVentures, a life sciences fund focused on the Southern California market.  He is also a venture partner for Suncoast Ventures and a limited partner for Mesa Verde Venture Partners, two life sciences venture funds focused on incubator through growth-stage companies.

Ken Weixel, the former Managing Partner of the San Diego, California, office of Deloitte LLP, brings decades of experience working with life sciences and healthcare companies of all sizes and in all stages of growth as a trusted advisor on corporate governance, effective controls, mergers and acquisitions and transparent financial reporting. During his seven years leading Deloitte’s San Diego office, Weixel helped to expand its operation from 200 to more than 450 professionals, guiding it to become the largest accounting firm in San Diego. He took the reins of the San Diego office in 2014 tasked in part with growing its Life Sciences practice, given his decades of work with that industry, having previously served in leadership positions with Deloitte’s Life Science and Healthcare industry practices.

Weixel received his B.S. in Accounting from Capital University in 1980. He is also a graduate of the Columbia University Graduate School of Business Leadership and the Wharton School of Executive Leadership. Weixel has served on the Boards of Biocom, the California Chamber of Commerce and the Century Club of San Diego, and also served on the Executive Committee of the United Way of San Diego County. He previously served on the Board and the Executive Committee of Capital University, where he chaired the Audit, Finance and Human Resources Committees. Since 2016 Weixel has been recognized as one of San Diego’s top 500 Influential Business Leaders in the San Diego Business Journal SD 500.

Derek R. Brunelle is the founder and managing director of Synthase Capital Partners and has worked in the venture backed technology, healthcare, and life science ecosystems for over fifteen years in senior leadership roles at Silicon Valley Bank and J.P. Morgan. Derek has structured and placed over $500 million in debt capital to private and public companies in the hardware, software, biotech, med. device, and pharma sectors.

Derek earned his B.S in Business Administration from the University of Vermont. 

Helen Goldstein is an associate on the firm’s Business & Technology team. She maintains a general cross-industry practice, but has experience advising companies that transact in highly regulated or intellectual property rich environments, such as life sciences and healthcare. Helen is a trusted advisor to her clients providing support whether it is “business as usual” or when executing key transactions including financings, acquisitions, exits, and leadership transitions.

Overall, Helen has a reputation for building creative transactional structures, prioritizes a collaborative approach, and drives her client’s agendas forward efficiently and effectively.