​Second annual summit attendees left informed and inspired to build a brighter future.

On Nov. 7 and 8, more than 130 thought leaders came together in Cambridge, MA, for the second annual BrightEdge Summit on Impact Investing in Cancer. Bringing together scientists, philanthropists, academics, and thought leaders from across the cancer ecosystem, the event focused on leveraging the power of impact investing and innovation to accelerate our mission of ending cancer as we know it, for everyone. 

The summit consisted of three components:

• Impact Showcase, which looked at deepening cancer impact through novel scientific innovations and business models
• Cancer Impact ESG-Investing Think Tank, which highlighted the role and opportunity of impact investing, and
• Advancing Diversity and Health Equity Programs, which examined those topics in relation to cancer care and included additional steps that can be taken to ensure everyone has an equal opportunity to prevent, detect, treat, and survive cancer.  

Thank you to the BrightEdge, Marcom, and Development Principal Philanthropy teams for their work organizing and promoting this important event! ACS Executive Team members who participated and/or spoke, included Chief Scientific Officer Dr. Bill Dahut, Chief Patient Officer Dr. Arif Kamal, ACS CAN President Lisa Lacasse, Chief Finance and Strategy Officer Kael Reicin, and Senior Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer Tawana Thomas Johnson. Chief Executive Officer Dr. Karen Knudsen offered a video message for summit attendees echoing the importance of leveraging BrightEdge’s position and strength as ACS’ innovation and impact investment arm. ACS Board members Brian Marlow, Dr. Asif Dhar, Dr. Mark Goldberg, Dr. Ed Liu, and Ken Stoll were also in attendance.

Managing Director for BrightEdge Alice Pomponio shared the importance of this convening this dynamic community, saying, “BrightEdge is a differentiated investor because of its ability to combine financial and intellectual capital from the American Cancer Society and our Founders Circle to drive intentional cancer impact through our integrated model. Convening our diverse ACS BrightEdge ecosystem helps us raise awareness and adoption of our mission priority investment areas, identify top startups at the earliest stages, standardize impact measurement and reporting through Cancer Impact Investment Framework, and accelerate and deliver ACS mission through novel business models. This is how we work together to build the impact marketplace and economy."

This year’s summit would not have been possible without the support of amazing and generous sponsors who were recognized at the Founders Circle & Friends Sponsor Dinner. Thank you to Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, Apex Group Ltd, WuXi AppTec, Innovatus Capital Partners, Third Rock Ventures, a16z Bio + Health, Greenberg Traurig, LLP, and Real Chemistry for believing in the ACS BrightEdge mission. In addition, two Founders Circle members (individual donors who have gifted more than $500,000 to BrightEdge), Dr. Steve Klasko, and PDB Foundation participated in the Annual Summit. Together, with our growing base of support, we are fighting for a world without cancer. 

BrightEdge is the innovation, impact investment, and venture capital arm of the ACS with a vision to defeat cancer and advance health equity for all communities through patient-centric innovation and intentional, mission-aligned investing in for profit, cancer-focused startup companies. BrightEdge leverages ACS’ unparalleled knowledge base to catalyze impact innovation in areas of greatest need and build a more sustainable health future. Discover more on the BrightEdge website and keep up with everything happening on LinkedIn.