Exciting Partnership Milestone!

Convergence Medical Secure $5 Million From Global Investors for World-First Surgical Robot

Life Science Nation is thrilled to announce a remarkable achievement within our ecosystem. Avicella Capital (Listen to the Interview with Dr. Gennady Bratslavsky, Co-Founder & Partner at Avicella Capital), a valued member of our Global Partnering Network, and Convergence Medical, a standout from the LSN Entrepreneurial Education program cohort sponsored by Brisbane Economic Development Agency, have joined forces in a $5M funding round.

This accomplishment underscores the power of collaboration and the impact of the resources and opportunities provided through the LSN Partnering Ecosystem. We’re proud to see these connections driving innovation and fueling growth in the life sciences sector.

Congratulations to Avicella Capital and Convergence Medical on this successful partnership—we can’t wait to see the incredible advancements that emerge from this collaboration!

Brisbane MedTech company Convergence Medical has secured AU$5 million from global investors, closing out its successful Series A funding round.

US investor Avicella Capital has backed the company’s world-first arthroscopic surgical robot – named VO1 – which will support plans to commercialise the robot, expand into the US and disrupt the $6.1 billion global arthroscopic industry.

The funding milestone elevates the company to a valuation of over AU$30 million, setting the stage for significant expansion and innovation in the global healthcare sector. It also delivers a significant return on investment to angel, pre-seed and seed investors who have backed the company since its inception three years ago.

Arthroscopic surgery is used to treat over 50 million injured wrists, elbows, shoulders, spines, hips, knees and ankles each year globally. The V01 robot is designed to reduce the physical and cognitive burden on surgeons while enhancing operative precision and dexterity and is set to transform arthroscopic operations.

The funding follows the VO1’s acceptance into the US Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Breakthrough Devices Program in December 2023, expediting its path to market. Less than 3% of devices submitted to the FDA are accepted into this program.

Convergence Medical founder and CEO Chris Jeffery, a medical doctor with an extensive history of orthopaedic innovation, and seasoned entrepreneur behind other notable MedTech ventures including Field Orthopaedics and Audeara, said the investment would help accelerate growth. 

“We’re thrilled to achieve this important milestone in our journey to commercialisation and excited to be working with Avicella Capital, who are seasoned investors with a great track record in the global MedTech industry,” said Dr Jeffery.

“This funding enables us to accelerate our growth and bring our transformative technology to hospitals and surgeons around the globe.

“Our mission is to create more efficient, effective solutions that support medical professionals and improve patient outcomes worldwide.”

Dr. Gennady Bratslavsky, co-founder and Partner of Avicella Capital is excited to partner with the Brisbane-based MedTech company. 

“We recognise the potential of Convergence Medical as they look to transform arthroscopic surgeries for physicians and patients globally. Convergence Medical, under the leadership of Chris Jeffrey, is a pioneer in MedTech innovation,” said Dr. Bratslavsky.

The funding will be directed toward scaling production, expanding global partnerships, and advancing research and development efforts in preparation for the Company’s soon anticipated soft launch of the V01 World First Arthroscopic Surgical Robot.

With its headquarters in Brisbane, Convergence Medical is also committed to fostering local talent and solidifying the city’s reputation as a leader in medical technology.

Brisbane Economic Development Agency CEO Anthony Ryan said the investment reflected the opportunities in Brisbane’s MedTech industry. 

“Brisbane’s MedTech sector is experiencing remarkable growth, unlocking incredible opportunities for innovation and investment,” Mr Ryan said.

“We’re delighted to see Chris and the Convergence Medical team continue to grow and attract investment on their journey to commercialisation.

“Brisbane has a proud history of pioneering world-firsts in health, driven by our exceptional talent and world-class health and research institutes.

“At BEDA, our mission is to foster a collaborative and supportive business community that empowers this momentum, ensuring Brisbane remains at the forefront of global health advancements.”

For more information, please contact: Dr Chris Jeffery
E: chris@convergenceortho.com
M: +61 401249783.

About Convergence Medical: Convergence Medical is a Brisbane-based MedTech innovator developing world-first robotic solutions for surgical precision and efficiency. Founded by Chris Jeffery, a medical doctor with an extensive history of orthopaedic innovation and experienced entrepreneur, the company is dedicated to transforming medical practices globally through advanced technology and a commitment to excellence.

Super Early Bird Rates for RESI Europe 2025 End January 31

By Greg Mannix, VP, EMEA Business Development, LSN

RESI Europe 2025 offers an exciting opportunity for life science professionals with Super Early Bird registration rates ending on January 31, 2025. Attendees can save €400 by registering before this deadline for the conference taking place in Barcelona.

The event will feature an in-person conference on April 1, 2025, at The InterContinental Barcelona, followed by two days of virtual partnering on April 2-3, 2025. Hosted by Life Science Nation (LSN) in collaboration with Biocat, the conference aims to connect healthcare innovators with global investors and strategic partners.

With over 250 global investors and 250 life science innovators expected, RESI Europe provides a critical platform for companies in drugs, devices, diagnostics, and digital health to secure capital, explore partnerships, and negotiate potential licensing deals. Professionals interested in taking advantage of the significant savings should register before January 31, 2025, to benefit from the Super Early Bird rates


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Hot Investor Mandate: Investment Firm With China Headquarters Invests Up to $8M in Therapeutics, Devices, and Diagnostics Companies

An investment firm headquartered in China with offices in the US, is focused on early-stage investments in life science and healthcare sectors. The firm typically engages in pre-A to series B financing rounds, with initial investment sizes ranges from $500k to $8M, and potential for follow-on investments. The firm looks for opportunities mostly in Europe, and in the US and UK as well. The firm is open to both leading and co-investing.

The firm is interested in therapeutics, medical devices and diagnostics. The firm is open to looking at digital health, AI -related companies but has not invested in one yet. The firm is opportunistic in terms of subsectors and indications. Some areas of interest include immunology, immuno-oncology, CNS disorders and kidney-related diseases. For therapeutics, the firm is open to looking at companies from phase I to beyond, particularly those with proof of concepts or clinical data validating their technologies. For medical devices and diagnostics, the firm tends to look for more mature companies, with product or prototype ready and as well as plans for regulatory approvals.

The firm does not have specific requirements for a company’s management team but prefers to work with founding teams that have entrepreneurial experiences previously.

If you are interested in more information about this investor and other investors tracked by LSN, please email salescore@lifesciencenation.com.

Hot Investor Mandate: Western Europe-Based VC Seeks Therapeutics Investment Opportunities Across All Indications and Modalities in US and Europe

Founded by entrepreneurs with deep sector experience, a venture capital firm headquartered in Western Europe, focused on novel therapeutics. The firm is an early-stage investor, investing from seed through late stage pre-clinical. The firm will typically stay with the asset until after clinical proof-of-concept, at which point they will exit. The firm is currently investing from a Europe-focused fund, and plans to invest in more USA-based companies with their next fund. The firm makes initial investments of $3M – $5M in equity and occasionally convertible loans. The firm can make follow-on investments, up to a total of $15-20M per investment.

The firm is solely focused on therapeutics. The firm is indication- and modality- agnostic. The firm’s larger focus is on stage of development and that there is a large unmet need with high commercial value.

The firm will both lead and co-invest. They do not have strict team requirements, though prefer for teams with previous experience.

If you are interested in more information about this investor and other investors tracked by LSN, please email salescore@lifesciencenation.com.

Hot Investor Mandate: Strategic Investment Fund of Global Conglomerate Invests in Therapeutics, Diagnostics, and Enabling Technologies in Series A and B

A multinational conglomerate with multiple business areas including healthcare has been an active investor and strategic partner in areas that complement their core businesses, such as regenerative medicine, cell therapy, drug discovery enabling technologies, etc., through means of strategic investment, in-licensing, M&A, research collaborations.

The firm manages a life sciences strategic investment fund that seeks to invest in life science companies developing cutting edge technologies with high growth potential across the globe. Initial investment sizes will start with in the few hundred thousand range, and the firm focuses on Series A and B investments with potential for follow-ons.

The firm’s strategic investment fund is actively seeking new opportunities in life sciences. While mainly opportunistic towards specific sectors, technologies, and indications, the firm prioritizes investment opportunities that complement their core business areas including diagnostics, therapeutics, R&D enabling technologies and platforms. The firm seeks early-stage opportunities, and are open to those that are in pre-clinical stage / in development.

The firm will generally participate as a co-investor. The firm has no specific company or management team requirements.

If you are interested in more information about this investor and other investors tracked by LSN, please email salescore@lifesciencenation.com.

Hot Investor Mandate: USA-Based VC Invests in Therapeutics, Devices, and Digital Health/Wellness Companies Targeting CNS, Mental & Behavioral Diseases, and More

A venture capital firm based in the US is actively investing from their second fund. The firm is actively investing in the intersection of science, technology, and neurology, and has invested in over 30 companies to date. The firm invests primarily in Seed to Series A rounds. While the firm has mostly invested in USA-based companies, the firm is open to opportunities beyond.

Within life sciences, the firm is interested in drug development and drug development-enabling tools and technologies, medical devices with a software component, and wearables. Relating to therapeutics, the firm is particularly interested in psychedelics and plant-based therapies. The firm is most interested in technologies that target mental & behavioral health and CNS/neurodegenerative disease. The firm is open to early-stage, pre-clinical companies.

The firm has no specific company or management team requirements, and is open to acting as either lead or co-investor, seeking board representation when leading rounds.

If you are interested in more information about this investor and other investors tracked by LSN, please email salescore@lifesciencenation.com.

Hot Investor Mandate: Global VC Fund Seeks First-In-Class, Best-In-Class Innovations in Microbiome, Phage Therapy, Gene Editing, and More

A global venture capital fund headquartered in Asia has a strong focus in the microbiome and adjacent fields. Atypical for a VC, the firm has multiple mechanisms to support early-stage innovators and entrepreneurs. In addition to equity investments, they have a sponsored research function that provides grants for academics or startups conducting fundamental research, which may lead to future pipelines or newco. They are also involved in developing a deep phenotyping platform that follows changes in the microbiome of healthy participants for an extended period of time. 

For capital investments, the firm is stage and country agnostic but tends to prefer earlier stages (Seed and Series A). Their interest within the microbiome field is diverse and not limited to therapeutics.  As scientists, entrepreneurs, and operators themselves, the firm fundamentally values the underlying science, team, as well as potential synergy with their mission and existing portfolio companies. Moreover, for startups looking to enter Asian markets, the firm provides additional value through their extensive networks and track record of launching businesses in these geographies. 
 
The firm is looking to partner with groups addressing complex challenges with the potential to impact society globally, with a preference for first-in-class or best-in-class innovations. While not exclusive, their current areas of high interest are: 1) skin microbiome/gut-skin axis, 2) women’s and infant microbiome, 3) gut-brain axis, 4) phage therapy, gene editing, and virome. That said, the firm is open to any promising opportunities, even if they are not directly focused on the microbiome, provided they include amazing teams with a global vision to positively impact society. 
 
The firm is looking for companies and technologies that can move its mission forward and have multiple options for funding, including equity investing and non-dilutive funding. They usually prefer syndicate investments with a smaller cheque size as an initial investment but may lead with substantial follow-on investments once the relationship is established.

If you are interested in more information about this investor and other investors tracked by LSN, please email salescore@lifesciencenation.com.