About ACI
We Leverage Our Experience And Network For You
Advise Connect Inspire (ACI) helps international life sciences startups and emerging companies with their U.S. market entry.
This high-end life sciences consulting firm runs programs for governments, accelerators, and industry organizations but also offers support directly to companies that seek access to the prime global life sciences innovation hub.
We are based in the heart of Kendall Square and have access to talent and to a vast network of industry leaders, investors, and other relevant stakeholders.
We Help Life Sciences Companies Win
We provide tailored support for young life sciences companies ranging from high-level strategic guidance to operational and tactical assistance. On the strategic side we offer guidance in four main areas:
- Business Plan
- Regulatory/ FDA
- Fundraising
- Business Development
Our operational assistance encompasses everything needed to get started in a new environment:
- Office Space
- Access to the best service providers
- Introductions within our vast life sciences network
Everything we do is focused on the success of the companies we support.
Our Model Works
Our team of experienced industry leaders has a proven track-record of helping companies succeed.
We are convinced that the complexity of building and growing a life sciences company calls for programs that are flexible and built around the needs of each company.
We also understand the unique challenges of international companies that are trying to navigate a new ecosystem, and we know how to best help them.
If you would like to learn more about us and how we can help you, please contact us to set up a meeting or a conference call.
Meet The Team
Christoph Lengauer, PhD, MBA | Co-founder & CEO
Christoph Lengauer is a partner at Third Rock Ventures where he has been instrumental in several of Third Rock’s Discovery projects and launched companies. Christoph was part of the founding advising team for Relay Therapeutics and currently serves as the chief scientific officer of Celsius Therapeutics. In addition, he is playing active roles in two Discovery projects that are due to emerge as launched and funded companies within the next six months.
Christoph has a proven record in cancer drug discovery, including contributing to the development of more than 20 drugs that reached first-in-human clinical trials and four FDA-approved medicines. Prior to joining Third Rock, Christoph was chief scientific officer and chief drug hunter at Blueprint Medicines. He joined Blueprint Medicines from Sanofi, where he was vice president and global head of oncology drug discovery and preclinical development. Before joining Sanofi, he was executive director and senior unit head of oncology discovery at the Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research. Christoph contributed to the approval of several novel cancer drugs that now save patients’ lives (Odomzo - Smo inhibitor approved for basal cell carcinoma; Kisqali - CDK4/6 inhibitor approved for HR+/HER2- metastatic breast cancer; Jevtana - cytotoxic approved for hormone refractory metastatic prostate cancer; Zaltrap - VEGF trap approved for metastatic CRC).
Prior to Novartis, Christoph was an associate professor at the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. He was involved in the identification of several cancer driver genes including BRAFand PIK3CA. As part of his research, Christoph discovered that all cancers are genetically unstable, whichexplains the molecular heterogeneity of cancer and why cancers develop resistance to cancer drugs.He has authored more than 100 scientific articles published in top-tier scientific journals, including Cell, Nature and Science.
Over the last three years, Christoph built several life science accelerators which provide both high-end consulting and hands-on operational support to startups and young European biotechs so they can more easily succeed in becoming strong companies and introduce their products to the U.S. and global market.
Christoph studied human genetics in Salzburg, Austria, and received his Ph.D. from the University of Heidelberg in Germany. He received his MBA with a focus on medical services management from the Johns Hopkins Carey Business School. Christoph holds an adjunct associate professor position at the Johns Hopkins University and at Harvard University. He has received numerous awards, including the Boveri Award in Cancer Genetics, the Benjamin Baker Scholar award, Novartis Oncology’s President’s Award for Top Innovator and has been elected to membership in the Johns Hopkins Society of Scholars.
Christophis a strong and outspoken advocate of patients’ rights and is featured in the New York Times bestseller and HBO movie “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks.”
Annika Pierson, M.A. | Co-founder & COO
Through various roles in the German and the US healthcare industries, Annika has extensive experience building strong global networks by bringing together investors, entrepreneurs, and senior industry executives.
As Chief Operating Officer of ACI, she facilitates the successful US market entry of emerging companies from Europe and connects US-based startups with European investors and industry groups. Prior to joining the German Accelerator Life Sciences (GALS) and founding ACI in Cambridge, MA, Annika headed the innovation and entrepreneurship programs of Charité Foundation in Berlin, including the highly successful international healthcare industry conference, Charité Entrepreneurship Summit.
Annika is an outspoken advocate for innovation-friendly policies and frequent speaker on how to foster entrepreneurship on a global level. She continues to serve on the Advisory Board of the Charité Entrepreneurship Summit and has been active as advisor and mentor to startups throughout her career. Driven by her passion for startups and innovation, Annika collaborates with numerous organizations in Europe, the US, and beyond to continue building the global innovation ecosystem.
Annick Bay, PhD | Program Director
Annick joined ACI from the Munich-based management consultancy h&z, where she advised businesses in various high-technology sectors including life sciences. She obtained her PhD in Physics at the University of Namur (Belgium) studying light propagation in bioluminescent insects and how nature can inspire us to create more efficient lighting devices. Annick continued her biomimetic research as a postdoc at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography (San Diego), working on marine organisms.