Hot Investor Mandate 2: Insurance Firm Launches Strategic Fund to Invest in Disruptive Health Technologies

A leading global insurance company based in the UK launched a corporate venture capital arm in 2015. The fund will invest £100M over the next 3-5 years and will generally allocate £1-5M for up to 20% equity stake, and selectively does convertible financing as well. The firm does not invest strictly for financial returns and seeks a strategic relationship with the companies they invest in. The firm will typically participate in Series A and B rounds. The firm anticipates 4-5 investments per year, although this number is subject to fluctuate depending on deal flow. The firm will invest in technologies that will impact regions where the parent company has a footprint.

In the life sciences space, the firm seeks innovative technologies that can disrupt and transform the future of insurance. The firm will not consider therapeutics or biopharma opportunities. Any technology with implications to the insurance industry will be considered, including smart diagnostics, genomics, etc. The firm has expressed interest in technology that helps with chronic disease management and considered telemedicine companies as well. In terms of diagnostics, the firm expects the technology to be undergoing promising clinical trials that contribute to its validation. For companies that fall into the healthcare IT sector, the firm expects some ongoing traction and key partnerships to be in place.

The firm seeks to work with companies backed by a full management team with strong industry expertise. Ideally, the team will have a strong life sciences background and an experienced advisory team, with good understanding of how their product or technology works. The firm can act as the lead or co-investor and will most likely take a board seat if they were to lead.

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

Hot Investor Mandate 3: New Venture Fund Invests Early in Therapeutics and Research Tools

A global innovation incubator and investment group based in San Francisco, CA focuses on biomedical R&D technologies and therapeutics. In addition to an incubator for early-stage life science companies, the group has assembled a senior team of investors and executives and had their first close of a new, early-stage venture fund at $80M and is expecting a second close at $200M in Q2 of 2018. The firm will invest in seed and series A rounds in companies in the U.S. and China, and targets initial investments of up to $5M. The firm usually participates as a co-investor in a syndicate, but going forward looks to lead more priced financing rounds. The group is flexible with deal structures and may employ convertibles, straight equity, etc. depending on the needs of the company.

The firm is primarily focused on therapeutics and research tools (ex. CRISPR) and is open to most modalities, but has the most interest and expertise in antibodies and immune modulator drugs. As for therapeutic areas, the group is most interested in oncology and cognitive disorders, but will also consider therapeutics in other indications and looks to broaden their portfolio going forward.

The firm has no strict requirements for companies or management teams and is comfortable working with first-time or novice entrepreneurs as the firm’s leadership team has deep experience in the life sciences space and looks to provide guidance and strategic direction to portfolio companies.

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

Hot Investor Mandate 4: Venture Capital Firm Focuses on Preclinical Stage Treatments for Aging and Age Relate Diseases

A venture capital firm founded in 2016 with headquarters in Germany makes 2-4 equity investments in the range from $1-5M per year. The firm has completed their fundraising in April 2017 and is actively seeking new investments globally, with a focus in USA and Europe.

The firm invests in technologies that can treat age-related disease and damages associated with aging, such as altered protein homeostasis, cellular senescence, stem cell exhaustion, etc. The firm will consider companies working in therapeutics, diagnostics, nutritional products and advanced therapy medicinal products (gene therapy, cell therapy, tissue engineering) as long as they are relevant to the firm’s mission in targeting the basic mechanisms contributing to age-related disease. However, medical devices are currently not an area of focus. In therapeutics, the firm looks mostly at pre-clinical technologies with a validated proof-of-concept. The firm will consider companies in their later stages but prefers working with early-stage companies to provide company building and strategic support.

The firm can work with all types of management teams. The firm places higher importance in the actual science or technology in development as well as solid IP position. The firm seeks to work closely with their portfolio companies and can assist with building and structuring a full management team. As the firm generally comes in as the first institutional investor, they prefer to lead rounds and take a board seat.

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

Hot Investor Mandate 1: Australia Family Office Looks Worldwide for Phase II Biotech Opportunities

A family office based in Australia focuses on late stage therapeutics. The firm manages a $2.5 billion evergreen fund, and typically invests between $1 and $10 million. The firm normally makes co-investments in the USA, Europe, Middle East, and Australia.

The firm is currently looking for new investment opportunities in therapeutics space. The firm is only interested in later stage technology at Phase II or later. The firm is open to all subsectors and indications in therapeutics, though is not interested in lab equipment and drug development enabling technology. The firm does not invest in pre-clinical products, and only seeks products that are either in clinical trials (Phase II or later) with human data or on-the-market.

The firm seeks companies with an established management team with experience in the field. The firm does not typically take a board seat after an investment. The firm seeks distribution rights for Australia and Southeast Asia from international companies.

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

Hot Investor Mandate 2: Cross-Border VC Interested in Early Stage Life Science, Focused on CNS Drugs

A healthcare-focused venture capital firm based in Taiwan is investing from its new fund that is set to close in Q3 2017. The firm seeks to lead or co-invest in Pre-A to Series A rounds. Typical allocation size ranges from US$500 K to 1 million. The firm is looking for companies across the world with a focus on North America and Europe.

The firm is most interested in therapeutic projects, especially in the CNS space. The firm prefers assets with preclinical or early clinical validation. The firm is open to all modalities. The firm also considers medical devices and diagnostic technologies.

The firm is looking for experienced teams and 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

Hot Investor Mandate 3: Strategic Oncology Fund Invests in New Drugs from Discovery to Preclinical Stage

A $50 million strategic corporate venture capital fund formed by an oncology-focused pharmaceutical company seeks to make equity investment in startup companies that discover and develop innovative therapeutic products and/or drug-enabling platform technologies that demonstrate a clear potential to benefit cancer patients. Investment size can be flexible depending on the deal. The firm will also consider the option-type of investments and spin-outs, in addition to pure equity investments. The fund is currently seeking opportunities in the U.S., Europe and Japan. and opportunities mainly in US and Europe.

The firm considers a wide variety of modalities (both biologics and small molecules) within the oncology field. The firm focuses on programs from drug discovery to preclinical development.

The firm is looking for teams with strong sector expertise. With the support of the parent company’s established expertise in the field of oncology product discovery and development, the firm will provide financial resources and company outreach to build strategic alliances to help translate novel research and high potential drug candidates into cornerstone products. The firm may request regional option or rights 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

Hot Investor Mandate 4: Corporate VC Invests in Diagnostics and Imaging

A corporate venture capital fund based in Europe with offices worldwide invests in medical technology companies that are strategically relevant to its parent company. Investments in equity rounds range from $1-5 million, and are made worldwide.

The fund’s primary focuses within healthcare are medical imaging (including both equipment and software) and diagnostics (particularly point of care diagnostics and molecular diagnostics). In these sectors, the fun focuses on products used in a hospital setting. The firm also invests in healthcare IT solutions that add value to imaging and diagnostics, such as data-as-a-service products. The fund is potentially interested in medical robotics. The fund will invest in any medical indication area, and only invests in companies that have attained proof of concept data for their product, with a preference for companies that have a product on the market that can demonstrate traction and revenue.

The firm generally does not attach strategic rights to an investment other than the right to be informed if the company is seeking a buyer. The firm requires a board seat or a board observer in each portfolio company.

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