Hot AI Mandate: Japan-based VC with Big Pharma LPs Invests Globally in First-in-Class Therapeutics

A cross-border venture capital firm founded in 2014 is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, with USA offices in Cambridge, MA and Seattle, WA. The firm recently closed its second fund at $95M. Its LPs includes some of the largest Japanese pharmaceutical companies. The firm has also launched a new life sciences incubator through which the firm seeks to nurture and advance early-stage therapeutic concepts and technologies with the goal of bringing them to a more mature stage of development. Typically, the firm makes an initial investment ranging from under $1 million to $3-6 million dependent on the company’s stage of development. The firm can allocate up to $16 million over the lifetime of a company. The firm invests in early-stage therapeutic companies worldwide.

The firm only invests in therapeutics, and are primarily focused on companies with preclinical or clinical assets. Within therapeutics, all modalities are of interest. The firm may invest up to 18 months prior to IND, however require that a company has a lead asset that has been characterized. The firm will consider opportunities in any indication area.

The firm invests in teams with experienced, highly motivated teams with a strong background in either life science research or industry. The firm only invests in companies with technology that has the potential to be first in class.

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

Hot AI Mandate: Health System Subsidiary Make Strategic Investments in Technologies Related to Hospital Care

An investment group based in New York is a wholly-owned subsidiary of a health system. The firm engages in strategic investments across a wide variety of sectors to benefit the health system. The firm invests at a set pace with ~2 surgery centers being invested in per year and are currently looking to diversify their portfolio. The firm tends to invest in seed and pre-revenue rounds as their allocation size is on the smaller side, but is interested in revenue generating opportunities with smaller rounds. The firm is currently in the process of diversifying their portfolio and prefers investing in companies that are related to the health system in some way such as companies that the health system is a customer of, companies that have done clinical studies within the health system, etc.

The firm is particularly interested in technologies that can help them increase the quality of care, decrease the cost of care, and increase the access of services to populations which have been historically denied. Beyond that though, the firm is rather opportunistic within the healthcare IT, medical

The firm requires that companies have some sort of relationship with the hospital system or have the endorsement of the senior management of the health system.

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

Hot AI Mandate: India-based VC Invests Globally in Life Sciences/AI Opportunities

Founded in 2011 and based in Mumbai, India, a venture capital firm makes Seed to Series B investments across several key sectors including healthcare, fintech, consumer, AI, and life science services. The firm manages $200 million, and is investing from its second fund. While IvyCap focuses on India, the firm is looking for opportunities worldwide and has recently made an investment in the USA.

The firm will consider a wide variety of life science opportunities. The firm’s past investments have included pharma supply chain, AI, and healthcare services.

The firm seeks a strong and experienced management team, with a focus on entrepreneurs from elite educational institutions. The firm focuses on India and has a strong connection with the Indian Institutes of Technology, but looks worldwide for novel technology breakthroughs to invest in. The firm has also launched a Unified Innovation and Entrepreneurship Platform to incubate new startups.

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

Hot Investor Mandate: China-Focused VC Fund Invests Up to $25M, Most Interested in Therapeutics in Oncology and Metabolic Disorders

A sector-exclusive life sciences venture and growth equity fund focused on Asia has offices in USA, Hong Kong, and China. The firm is investing from its fifth fund closed in 2019. The firm is stage agnostic, investing as early as seed, growth, and up to pre-IPO opportunities. The firm has a team of investment professionals all with healthcare background. Investment size is USD $5-25 million per company. The firm prefers to lead or co-lead a financing round. The firm focuses on China but also considers opportunities from USA.

In life sciences, the firm is focused on therapeutics with an emphasis on oncology, metabolic disorders, cell therapy, and biologics, etc. The firm is also interested in medical devices and diagnostics. The firm is opportunistic to the indication and the phase of development and will consider products in pre-clinical up to NDA.

The firm is seeking experienced management teams that are going rapidly and emerging as market leaders.  The firm is seeking companies developing technologies that are truly based on high quality science, but also aligned with the potential of attractive financial return. Because the firm focuses its activities in China, the firm will prefer companies outside of China to have a strong China angle. The firm typically requires a board seat or observation rights post investment.

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

Hot Investor Mandate: Experienced Family Office Invests in USA-Based Therapeutics and Medical Device Companies, Can Invest Up to $30M

A family office with over 30 years of investment experience invests in many different sectors including early-stage biotech companies. The firm is based on a network of high-net worth individuals who invest in companies that identify to be of interest. Size of investment can largely vary based on the stage of the company; the firm has invested up to $30M, but initial investments typically range between $5-10M. The firm only considers USA-based opportunities.

The firm is interested in therapeutics and medical device companies, but will not invest in diagnostics or healthcare IT. The firm has several medical device and drug development companies in their portfolio and has no specific preference in terms of stage of development or indication.

The firm seek to work with experienced management teams with strong expertise in their field. The firm usually does not take a board seat or lead financing rounds.

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

Hot Investor Mandate: Venture Capital Arm of a Large Company Invests in Medical Devices, Diagnostics, Digital Health, and Life Science Tools in Underserved Geographies

A venture and expansion capital arm of a large company is currently seeking new opportunities in the life science space. The firm’s initial equity investments range from $5-15M, and increase up to $20M total through subsequent rounds.

The firm is currently most interested in the following Healthcare subsectors: Analytics & Interoperability, Diagnostic Tools, Digital Health, Medical Devices, Pharma Services/IT, and Research Tools.

The firm generally invests in Series B rounds, with some flexibility to go earlier or later in stage. The firm typically looks for companies with up to $10 million of trailing revenue, 50%+ annual growth rate, and visionary management teams with entrepreneurial mindsets. The firm is particularly interested in companies located in underserved geographies with an emphasis on the mid-country.

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

Hot Investor Mandate: Strategic Healthcare Venture Arm Seeks New Investment Opportunities in Medical Devices, Diagnostics, Digital Health

A strategic healthcare venture investment subsidiary makes equity investments into early- to late-stage companies of approximately $3 million to $10 million initially, with additional capital reserved for follow on financings. It generally invests $4 million to $15 million in a company over the life cycle. The firm only invests in companies that are based in the US.

The firm is currently looking for new opportunities in the Medical Device, Diagnostic, Healthcare IT and Healthcare Services spaces. The firm considers all classes of medical devices and focuses on device companies in the pre-commercial stage. In terms of diagnostics, the firm has a preference for platform technologies and companies whose products are already commercialized. The firm’s Healthcare IT and Healthcare Services investments are typically in the commercial or growth stages.

The firm invests in privately held healthcare companies. The firm looks to invest in companies with a strong management team who can demonstrate relevant experience, depth and capability to build and scale the business and attract customers. The firm typically requests a Board seat or Board observation rights for each portfolio company.

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