The Founder Survival Kit for JPM Week

If you’re heading to San Francisco for the J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference, you already know it’s not a conference—it’s a citywide sprint. The best conversations happen in hotel lobbies, the most important meetings take place in crowded coffee shops, and your calendar will shift every hour.

Here’s your Founder Survival Kit: a tactical, field-tested guide to help you stay sharp, make real connections, and get actual ROI from the most chaotic week in healthcare.

1. Your JPM-Ready Meeting Script (Short, Clear, Memorable)

Founders get 30–90 seconds to earn the next meeting. Keep your intro tight and repeatable:

30-Second JPM Pitch Script

• Who you are: “I’m the founder of [Company], and we’re building…”
• What you solve: “The problem is…”
• Why now: “Recent changes in [reg/regulatory/clinical/tech] make this the right moment.”
• Your traction: “We’ve already…”
• Your ask: “This week, I’m meeting with investors/operators who want to learn about…”

Quick tips:

• No charts, no jargon, no deck unless they ask.
• Lead with momentum, not the full scientific deep dive.
• End with a simple question: “Does this align with what you’re looking at right now?”

2. Walking Routes That Save Time (And Stress)

JPM Week is a global gathering… happening on about six blocks. These are the routes founders actually walk:

1. Market Street → Union Square Corridor

   For: investor meetings, quick coffees, drop-ins.

   Time: 5–12 minutes.

2. Westfield → Yerba Buena Gardens Loop

   For: quiet calls, breathers, or meeting someone outdoors.

3. Post Street → the “Lobby Circuit”

   Hits the main lobbies where everyone gathers:

   St. Regis → W → Marriott Marquis → Palace

Founder tip:
Always leave 10 minutes between meetings to get through lobby crowd traffic. It’s real. Also if it rains you will not be able to catch an Uber - it gets nuts! 

3. Backup Spots to Regroup (When You Need to Think, Call, or Recharge)

Because Starbucks lines hit 45 minutes and hotel lobbies get loud:

 Best quiet-ish corners:

• The Grove (Yerba Buena): always space, good food, longer tables
• 50 Post Street (inside the mall): surprisingly empty mid-day
• Salesforce Park: great for walking calls
• W Hotel 2nd-floor mezzanine: calmer than the lobby
• Hotel Zelos lobby bar: excellent fallback meeting spot

 Best places to recharge devices:

• W Hotel (near the bar seating)
• Westfield Mall (food court pillars with outlets)
• SF MOMA Café (outlets under community tables)

Founder tip: Bring two battery packs. You will run out.

4. Follow-Up Email Templates That Actually Work

Your follow-up is your ROI. Here are cut-and-paste versions:

A. Investor Follow-Up (Short & Strong)

Subject: Great meeting at JPM

Hi [Name],
Great connecting at JPM. As mentioned, we’re building [1-line company description]. Given your focus on [their thesis area], I’d welcome a deeper conversation.

Attaching a short overview.
Would you be open to a 20-minute follow-up next week?

Best,
[Name]

B. Corporate/BD Follow-Up

Subject: JPM intro – exploring alignment

Hi [Name],
Thanks for the discussion at JPM. I’d love to explore how our work in [area] could align with [their company], particularly around [specific use case].

Are you available for a brief follow-up call?

Best,
[Name]

C. “Almost Meeting” Follow-Up

Subject: Missed you at JPM — let’s reconnect

Hi [Name],
Looks like we missed each other during JPM—no surprise with the pace of the week!
Still hoping to connect about [topic].
Open to a short call next week?

Best,
[Name]

5. The Founder JPM Packing List (Trust me on these)

• Battery pack × 2
• Portable hotspot (WiFi gets crushed)
• One-pager on your phone
• Snacks (you won’t have time to eat)
• Comfortable shoes (non-negotiable)
• Refillable water bottle
• Note-taking app ready (Notion, Apple Notes, etc.)

6. The Mindset That Wins JPM Week

The founders who get the most out of JPM are not the ones with the fullest calendars—they’re the ones who stay flexible. The biggest meeting of your week will often come from a spontaneous conversation in a hotel lobby.

Hold your schedule lightly.
Stay open.
Say yes.

Join Us: ULP Drop-In Lounge – January 13

Just two blocks from the JPM venue, our ULP Lounge is designed to foster meaningful, high-value conversations throughout the week. Enjoy light refreshments and access to a relaxed, elegant space where you can recharge, meet partners, or reflect between sessions.

The atmosphere is intentionally crafted to deepen connections and grounded in ULP’s mission of advancing innovation and accelerating the growth of life science and medtech startups.

👉 Register here for the ULP Drop-In Lounge on January 13, 2026

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By Charla Triplett, Director of Venture Acceleration, University Lab Partners