Ropes & Gray Sponsors Event Series Focused on Private Equity’s Role in Advancing Scientific Innovation

Ropes & Gray is proud to be the exclusive sponsor of “Private Capital and Discovery: Strategic Investing in Scientific Innovation,” a virtual discussion series jointly organized by the New York Academy of Sciences and the Private Capital Research Institute.

Private equity investors have a unique role to play in scientific ventures and innovation—an area poised for investment opportunity. Over four roundtable discussions, this series will delve into recent scientific and technological trends and their implications for private capital investors.

Entrepreneurship in Artificial Intelligence: Mission Impossible?

Thursday, September 25, 2025

12:00 p.m. –1:15 p.m. ET

Does artificial intelligence represent a fundamentally different kind of technological revolution—one that could reshape not only industries but also the structure of global markets? In past waves of innovation, from social media to e-commerce, technological booms spurred widespread entrepreneurship. Startups flourished, and many evolved into dominant firms, but they emerged from a competitive landscape where new entrants had room to grow. Artificial intelligence may chart a different path. Some analysts argue that AI’s steep economies of scale, vast computational requirements, and the adaptability of its systems could concentrate power in the hands of a few organizations—more akin to the era of mainframe computing in the 1960s, when one firm largely defined the field.

Moderator:

• Josh Lerner, The Jacob H. Schiff Professor, Harvard Business School; Director, Private Capital Research Institute

Panelists:

• Dr. Jianying Hu, Director of Healthcare and Life Sciences Research, IBM
• Ravi Kumar, CEO, Cognizant
• Daniel Feder, CFA, Senior Managing Director of Investments, University of Michigan
• Maya Frutiger, Minnow Venture Partners

Find out more about the event and register for free.

Future events in this series include:

• When the Research Lab Meets Change Capital. As new technology and clinical innovation accelerate the evolution of the life sciences, can private equity play a role in helping life sciences firms better position themselves for success?
• The Roller Coaster of ClimateTech Investing. Despite the urgent need for innovation in decarbonization, doubts remain as to whether we are seeing the development of economically viable new ventures or just another boom and bust.
• The Public Sector and “Tough Tech.” This session will explore some of the most interesting experiments in long-run innovation, from supporting incubators to direct funding at a massive scale.

Check this page throughout the series for the latest schedules, event registration, and more.