Life-science challenges: Attracting capital, keeping top talent

BOULDER — The venture-capital and government-funding landscape has changed for life-sciences companies, making commercial biotech companies and university research institutions rethink where to look for their next round of financial backing.

Equally vexing is the ongoing competition to hire and retain top talent, said participants of BizWest’s CEO Roundtable on Life Sciences held Tuesday, April 18, at the Jennie Smoly Caruthers Biotechnology Building on the University of Colorado Boulder’s East Campus.

“Funding for life-sciences companies has experienced negative growth since the third quarter of 2013, and that’s tough,” said David Traylor, senior managing director of Centennial-based…