Family Office Perspectives on Early-Stage Investments

August 15, 2024August 15, 2024 ~ Next Phase Admin ~ Leave a comment

By Dennis Ford, Founder and CEO of Life Science Nation

Family offices are emerging as influential investors in the early-stage life sciences sector, leveraging their unique position to support innovation while seeking promising financial returns. Register for our free virtual family office panel. These investment entities align their strategies with personal values, contributing to healthcare advancements and enhancing their families’ legacies. As the life sciences sector evolves, the collaboration between family offices and early-stage companies is expected to grow, potentially leading to significant societal impacts. Life Science Nation curates one of the largest databases of family offices that focus on the healthcare arena, with over 700 offices. The most prominent family offices have the potential to distribute allocations exceeding $100M, though most, a remarkable 95% fall into the Seed, Series A, and Series B with mandates to allocate between $250K to $50M, which bodes well for the early-stage companies.

Family Office Panel at RESI Boston

Several Family Offices will share their insights on early-stage investments at the upcoming RESI conference on September 25th at the Westin Copley, Back Bay, Boston. Notable speakers include Michael Langer, Co-Founder & Managing Partner of T.Rx Capital; Sunil Shah, Co-Founder of o2h Group and CEO of o2h Ventures; John Parker, Founder of Springhood Ventures; John Abeles, General Partner at Northlea Partners; and David Prim, Senior Associate at Broadview Ventures. This event will provide an opportunity to learn about investment themes and strategies from seasoned family office investors.

Michael Langer Co-founder & Managing Partner at T.Rx Capital	Sunil Shah Co-founder of the o2h Group and CEO of o2h Ventures	John Parker Family Member and Trustee of the Charles Hood Foundation and Founder of Springhood Ventures
John Abeles General Partner of Northlea Partners	David Prim Senior Associate of Broadview Ventures

The Appeal of Life Sciences

Investing in early-stage life sciences is attractive for several reasons. The sector is marked by rapid innovation and growth, offering the potential for substantial financial returns. Breakthroughs in biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, and medical devices can increase significant valuation for successful startups. With market volatility affecting traditional investment avenues, family offices are turning to life sciences to diversify their portfolios. The healthcare sector often behaves differently from other industries, providing a buffer against economic downturns. Many families have personal connections to healthcare, whether through family members who are healthcare professionals or personal experiences with illness. Thus, investing in life sciences offers financial rewards and allows families to contribute positively to society by supporting innovations that can improve health outcomes.

Family Office Strategies for Investing

Family offices employ various strategies when investing in early-stage life science companies. Some invest directly in startups, providing capital, strategic guidance, and mentorship, allowing them more control over their investments and the opportunity to influence the direction of the companies they support. Others invest in specialized venture capital funds focusing on life sciences, leveraging the expertise of experienced fund managers to identify high-potential startups and provide the necessary support for their growth. Collaboration with other investors or family offices is common, as they share resources and insights to reduce risk and enhance opportunities, leading to joint ventures or co-investments in promising life science enterprises.

Investor Fireside Chat – Strategies for Family Office Investments

Join our free Family Office webinar on August 20th at 1PM ET to hear how to find and approach family offices, and what assets are most interesting to them.

August 20, Family Office Webinar – Free Sign Up
1 PM	Investor Fireside Chat – Strategies for Family Office Investments – Claire Jeong, VP of Investor Research, LSN (Moderator) – Katherine Hill Ritchie, Founder, Private Capital Investments, LLC – Ron Paliwoda, Founder and President, Paliwoda Group – Shubhra Jain, Principal, Head of Healthcare Investments, Tarsadia Investments – Bryan Grulke, Partner, Volcano Capital

Why Life Science CEOs Should Seize the Opportunity at Redefining Early Stage Investments (RESI) Events

August 15, 2024August 15, 2024 ~ Next Phase Admin ~ Leave a comment

By Claire Jeong, Chief Conference Officer, Vice President of Investor Research, Asia BD, LSN

In the ever-evolving landscape of life sciences, fundraising is not just an option; it’s a necessity. CEOs in this sector must navigate a complex environment where access to capital can define the trajectory of their innovations. One of the most effective strategies for maximizing fundraising success is participating in global events that bring together key investors and decision-makers. The Redefining Early Stage Investments (RESI) events are premier platforms for life science startups. With RESI Boston on September 25, RESI London on December 4, and RESI JPM on January 14, 2025, this series presents a unique opportunity for CEOs.

The Importance of Global Reach

In the life sciences, the competition for funding is fierce, and operating within a confined regional market can limit opportunities. By expanding your search beyond local investors and tapping into the global arena, you significantly increase your chances of finding the right fit for your stage of development and innovative products. The RESI events are strategically designed to allow CEOs to engage with a diverse spectrum of investors from various geographic locations.

Attending both the Boston and London events and culminating with JPM in January allows you to cover critical markets—the East Coast of the U.S., Europe, and the West Coast—all within five months. This geographical breadth means you can connect with 50-60 qualified investors actively seeking investment opportunities in early-stage life sciences, increasing your chances of success.

Fundraising as a Numbers Game

At its core, fundraising is indeed a numbers game. The more potential investors you meet, the higher the likelihood of securing funding. The RESI events are structured to make sure you engage your outreach. With each event attracting a fresh group of investors, your networking efforts compound over time. This is unlike traditional fundraising approaches, where outreach may be static or limited to a single region.

Life Science Nation, the owner of RESI, has a proven track record of delivering diverse investors, ranging from angels and family offices to venture capitalists, private equity firms, and industry-specific players such as pharmaceutical and med tech investors. These investors increasingly leverage LSN’s global events to source new technology assets for their portfolios and product pipelines.

A Unique Lineup of Investors

The alignment of these three events within such a short period extends your reach and introduces you to an audience of investors tailored to your specific needs. The unique lineup of seasoned professionals at these events is precisely what early-stage companies require. This carefully curated access can distinguish between a successful fundraising round and an uphill battle.

CEOs in the life sciences sector must take advantage of the opportunities presented by the RESI events. Engaging with a global network increases visibility and access to critical funding sources. The following five months could very well determine the future trajectory of your company; make it count by attending RESI Boston, RESI London, and RESI JPM. The world of life science investment is waiting, and your next significant opportunity might be one conference away. Don’t miss your chance to take your innovations to the next level!

Partnering Opportunities at RESI Boston: Platform Opens August 19

August 15, 2024 ~ Next Phase Admin ~ Leave a comment

By Caitlin Dolegowski, Marketing Manager, LSN

As RESI Boston approaches, excitement is building for this hybrid conference taking place on September 25 at The Westin Copley Hotel, followed by virtual partnering on September 26-27. The partnering platform will open on August 19, allowing attendees to schedule both in-person and virtual meetings.

What distinguishes RESI is its focus on the life sciences sector. The Life Science Nation (LSN) Partnering Platform facilitates connections between startups and investors through a curated environment. Unlike traditional conferences where information about potential partners is limited, RESI provides detailed profiles derived from personal interviews with investors in the LSN network. This ensures that startups can engage with investors who are genuinely interested in their specific sector and stage of development.

The platform allows startups to filter their search based on various criteria, enabling efficient identification of the right investors. However, success in partnering requires proactive engagement. Companies that excel typically send over 100 meeting requests and follow up consistently, making a strong effort to establish connections.

To assist attendees, RESI will offer a free partnering tutorial next week, providing strategies to maximize their time at the conference:

Thursday, August 22, 2024 1:00 PM-2:00 PM – Partnering Tutorial – Sign Up

As the partnering platform opens on August 19, startups should prepare early by crafting a thoughtful strategy and sending out meeting requests promptly. With the insights gained from the tutorial, attendees can enhance their chances of forming valuable partnerships.

In summary, RESI Boston is a unique opportunity for life science startups to connect with investors who can help propel their projects forward. Mark your calendars for August 19 and get ready to unlock new possibilities at RESI Boston.

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Hot Investor Profile: New Venture Fund Invests in Early-Stage Therapeutics Companies in North America, Europe, and Israel

August 15, 2024 ~ Next Phase Admin ~ Leave a comment

A newly established venture fund is currently fundraising for their newest fund and actively pursuing new investment opportunities that they can invest through their new fund. Typical check size is $2-5M, and the firm invests exclusively in therapeutics. The firm focuses on opportunities based in North America, Europe, and Israel. About 20% of their investments to date have been in Europe and Israel, while the rest have been in North America-based companies.

The firm invests exclusively in therapeutics companies, and does not pursue medical devices, diagnostics, or digital health opportunities at this time. Within therapeutics, the firm is most interested in advanced therapeutics including genetic diseases, oncology/immuno-oncology, autoimmune, cardiovascular, ophthalmology, fibrosis, and rare/orphan diseases. The firm is least interested in neurodegenerative, infectious diseases, oligonucleotide, and epigenetic drugs, and does not consider reformulated or repurposed drugs. In terms of stage of development, the firm’s sweet spot is between late pre-clinical stage (after animal data) and Phase II.

The firm seeks to invest in technologies backed by strong IP protection. To date, the firm has mostly led or co-led investment rounds, prefers to take an active stance in their portfolio companies, and requires a board seat. However, the firm is open to co-investing.

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

Hot Investor Profile: Corporate Venture Fund of Large Pharmaceutical Seeks Global Opportunities in Therapeutics and Platform Technologies

August 15, 2024 ~ Next Phase Admin ~ Leave a comment

A strategic corporate venture fund of a global pharmaceutical company actively invests in early-stage biotech companies that are of strategic interest to the parent pharmaceutical. The firm invests in global opportunities, but focuses primarily on North America and Europe.

The firm invests in early-stage therapeutics and platform technology companies. The firm’s main areas of interest include immunology and inflammation, kidney disease including transplant, serious diseases treated in hospitals, neurodegenerative disease, and rare disease. Regarding platform technologies, the firm is interested in drug discovery technologies for small molecule, peptide, nucleic acid, and other novel modalities, delivery systems (CNS, kidney disease), and cell therapies (excluding those targeting oncology). The firm invests primarily in pre-clinical opportunities, and can consider those as early as discovery stage. The firm does not actively seek opportunities in medical devices, diagnostics, or digital health at this time.

The firm has no specific company or management team requirements. The firm can help support companies beyond capital. The firm can offer scientific expertise, and is able to collaborate on early stage proof-of-concept experiments and projects with emerging companies.

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

Hot Investor Profile: Europe-Based VC Firm With New Fund Invests in Digital Health, AI-Enabled Medtech, and Other Digital Technologies

August 15, 2024 ~ Next Phase Admin ~ Leave a comment

A venture capital firm with offices in Western Europe is currently making investments out of its newest fund that had an initial close recently. The firm looks to make equity investments into early stage companies up to €4M, with a focus on Seed to Series A investment rounds. The firm is actively reviewing new opportunities, with a focus in Europe. About 5-10% of the investments will be made in the US.

With the newest fund, the firm is looking for technologies leveraging AI, digital therapeutics, and digital health platforms (i.e. data aggregation). The firm will consider medical device or diagnostics applications that have a AI component, but is most interested in investing in digital health. The firm is open to investing in companies in the earliest stages of development, pre-pilot.

The firm is looking for privately held companies with experienced management teams. The firm is very open to working with incomplete management teams to help them fill out any gaps in management. The firm looks to be a strong value adding investor providing companies with its access to its network of other investors and strategic partners as well. The firm prefers to act as a lead or co-lead, especially in companies based in Spain, but will prefer to syndicate in opportunities outside of Europe.

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

Hot Investor Profile: Impact-Driven Venture Fund Invests in Pre-Seed to Series A Digital Health Software Startups Across Europe

August 15, 2024 ~ Next Phase Admin ~ Leave a comment

An impact-driven venture fund with offices in US and Europe focuses on investments that improve the quality of Life and wellbeing of individuals and for medium and long-term relief of the ever-increasing strain on (public) healthcare, social welfare, and the planet. The firm invests in tech startups using Emerging & Disruptive Technologies (AI, Data, Blockchain, Iot, AR/VR, and Digital Security) to solve social and environmental challenges within the 4 following SDGs: Health & Wellbeing, Quality Education, Sustainable City and Climate Action. The firm participates in Pre-Seed to Series A rounds with Seed being their sweet spot. The Fund invests across Europe. The firm also has an excellent coaching program to support its portfolio teams.

In terms of Healthcare, the firm is interested in digital health software that helps with disease prevention, optimized recovery and improved quality of life. The firm purely invests in software and is not interested in hardware or devices.

The firm does not have specific company requirements. The firm can act as a (co)lead investor and typically takes a board seat.

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