Next Phase Newsletter

A foundation that focuses on funding for core, academic research in oncology is actively seeking opportunities in the early stage landscape. As one of the leading funders of academic oncology research in the United States, it has funded 60 scientists, generating 57 scientific innovation and invention disclosures, 16 spinoff companies of which 1) five were acquired, 2) one went public, and 3) five licensed their technologies to larger companies – an outstanding track record at the very earliest stages of investment.

The foundation also operates a $25 million fund focused on capitalizing translational opportunities – that is, the commercialization of academic technologies / financing the first round of commercialization. The fund provides funding to early-stage translational companies via $1M – $5M recoverable grants which are essentially structured as convertible notes with 1) no expiration date and 2) no liquidity preference. Such grants do not reflect as debt on the investee’s balance sheet, and are converted to equity at very reasonable terms only in the event the valuation of the company increases about a pre-determined level.

The foundation has also helped to organize, and is a General Partner of a $350 million fund focused on pre-clinical, Phase I, Phase II, and Phase III investments. The foundation expects to execute a first close by June 2018, and a second close by early 2019.

The foundation issues grants primarily within the United States, and via another subsidiary fund throughout Asia. The aforementioned funding vehicles invest primarily within the United States, but have a small allocation for foreign investments.

Sector interests include drugs, medical devices, and novel approaches. The firm is also open to funding technologies designed to accelerate cancer research and drug development, such as novel drug discovery tools or algorithms. By using its 3 funding vehicles, the firm finances projects from the early discovery stage through to Phase III clinical trials. The foundation considers projects in any type of cancer.

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

A USA-based international investment group is looking to make equity investments into early stage companies in the life science and technology sectors. The firm makes investments generally ranging from $50,000 to $1,000,000 into companies and is generally involved in 2-4 deals per year. The firm is willing to consider companies around the globe.

The firm is generally open to all areas within the life sciences industry. The firm generally makes investment in the seed and series A stages and as such they are generally looking for companies with pre-clincal or early prototype technologies.

The firm is looking for private or publicly held companies with motivated management teams. The firm looks to take board seats into companies on a case by case basis.

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

A venture capital firm allocates capital sourced from family offices based in Europe and is also raising a seed fund focusing on investments in the biopharma space. The firm’s principals generally participate in seed to Series A financing rounds, making equity investments in the range of € 0.1-2 M. The firm invests globally with a focus on North America and Europe.

The firm seeks early stage biotech companies in Europe and North America that develop first or best in class therapeutic agents, currently in pre-clinical and phase I, across all indications. The firm is also considering select later-stage opportunities in medical devices, diagnostics, or healthcare IT as requested by family offices for direct investments.

The firm looks for startups that will be highly attractive for large companies after proof of concept in man. The firm is open to working as early as the time of technology transfer, with academic founding teams that demonstrate strong technical expertise in their field and the willingness to embark complementary management, including a proven CEO.

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

A corporate venture capital firm with global offices is looking for investments that are focused on financial returns as well as bringing strategic value to the corporate. The firm makes equity investments in seed through growth rounds ranging from €1-5M for typical investments and may invest up to €10-12M over the life of the investment. The firm will lead, co-lead or follow and typically seeks a 10-25% stake in the company. The firm is currently investing out of its second fund of €150M with a total of €350M AUM and makes 4-6 investments per year. The firm focuses on USA, Europe, and Israel-based companies.

The firm is only interested in diagnostics and monitoring devices with a particular interest in point-of-care diagnostics. Recent investments include an autonomous, mobile robot with delivery tracking software and a PCR-based diagnostic instrument for rapid pathogen detection, a connected blood glucose monitor and an enhanced PCR technology (laser PCR). The firm does not invest in traditional biopharma therapeutics and/or medical devices which require FDA approval.

The firm will work with all management teams, including first time entrepreneurs, and requires at least an observatory board seat with most investments requiring a standard board seat with voting rights.

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

A large USA-based venture capital firm is currently investing from its eighth fund, which raised $400 million in 2014. The firm is open to investment opportunities globally.

The firm is currently interested in novel concepts and platforms across the life sciences. The firm invests in therapeutics, devices and diagnostics, and has a lesser interest in technology-led companies in the healthcare IT space (not interested in service-based/SaaS healthcare IT businesses). The firm prefers early stage opportunities; in therapeutics, the firm focuses on pre-IND technologies. Due to the firm’s emphasis on new platforms, the firm generally does not invest in single asset companies.

While the firm invests across many areas, one focus at present is immunology assets that aim to treat infectious diseases (viral and bacterial), with a focus on immune priming or changing the immune system. Any immunological therapeutic modality is of interest, including vaccines. The firm is interested in reviewing immunology assets at any stage of development.

The firm only invests in privately held companies that have not previously raised a Series A round or a significant seed round. The firm is a highly hands-on, active investor.

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

A venture capital firm with offices in Europe and USA manages over $230M investing in medical technologies and healthcare IT companies with a stage agnostic strategy. The initial investment size ranges from $0.4 million for seed stage companies to $2.5 million for later stage ventures, and the firm reserves significant capital for follow on investments. The firm is primarily focused on Europe, but has also done investments in the USA and Israel.

The firm is currently looking for new investment opportunities in medical devices, diagnostics and digital health sectors. The firm has a sector focus on selected therapeutic areas including cardiovascular, neurology and oncology although the firm is opportunistic in other areas. For digital health, the firm prefers to invest in companies developing platforms, solutions and software.

The firm seeks to invest in both public and private companies and will consider pre-revenue companies.

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

A Hong Kong-based conglomerate has global interests in real estate development and investment, financial investment, hotels and shipping. The group continues to diversify its business and growth globally with interests in a diverse range of business partnerships, including life sciences.

The group has a global investment platform that focuses on life sciences. Leveraging on the group’s strong capital base and long-term commitment to the area, the company is aimed to become the ideal partner for scientists, entrepreneurs, corporations and investors in the life science space. Through direct investments and fund investments covering full spectrum of the industry (including therapeutics, medical devices and diagnostics) and across different development stages, the platform is starting to build significant presence in the USA and Greater China.

Within healthcare, the group looks at cutting-edge biotech therapeutic technologies across small molecule, biologics, and novel therapies. The group focuses on oncology, brain diseases, as well as drug delivery platforms and genomic diagnostics. In terms of development stages, the group focuses on pre-clinical to early clinical stage assets that are seeking series A/B/C financing.

The group looks for experienced and competent teams with sector expertise and track record of success. The firm prefers opportunities where they have already identified a healthcare-focused lead investor. The firm typically requests board representation post-investment.

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