Next Phase Newsletter

Interview with Sunil Shah, CEO of o2h Ventures | Co-founder @ o2h Group By Claire Jeong, Chief Conference Officer, VP of Investor Research, Asia BD, LSN

Sunil Shah

Claire Jeong

Sunil Shah is a dedicated entrepreneur with over two decades of experience in fostering early-stage biotech innovation. He has focused on building the biotech ecosystem to support fledgling biotech innovations through investment, mentoring, and network building. As Co-founder of the o2h Group and CEO of o2h Ventures, he has led initiatives like the Kickstarter competition and ChaiTime webinars, supporting global biotech startups with integrated drug discovery services and virtual networking. Sunil’s efforts have impacted over ten early-stage companies across five countries and facilitated successful fundraising for o2h Ventures portfolio companies through ChaiTime Portfolio Pitch Day to leverage o2h’s syndicate investor network.

Outside of work, he enjoys biking, running, and competing in Ironman events.

Claire Jeong (CJ): Can you please describe your history in the life science arena?

Sunil Shah (SS): I am a biochemist by training, and I have subsequently spent most of my life in the life sciences arena. Started my career in the life sciences team at PA Consulting gaining early experience working with large Pharma and eventually co-founding a discovery services business that was later sold for a significant multiple. Building on this success we started o2h Discovery to continue to support biotech companies with chemistry and biology, o2h CoWork Labs to provide the biotech companies with the space that they need to start up and o2h Ventures to provide seed capital to biotech companies helping them accelerate their growth journey. I started all these businesses along with my brother Prashant Shah.

I love working with such exciting start-ups and struggle to say ‘no’ when they need support, hence I get involved in every working aspect of a biotech company from finance, business, and strategy and when we are really desperate for science! I am currently either Chair or Non-Executive Director in over ten biotechnology companies at various stages from Preclinical to Phase II and am serving second terms on the Board of Cambridge Angels and the British Biotech Industry Association (BIA).

I am proud to have been recognized by the OBN with a ‘Special Recognition Award’; CEO of the year by the Cambridge Independent Science and Technology Awards and UKBAA Angel of the Year, all in the last five years.

CJ: Can you tell me about how you started your family office, o2h Incubator, o2h CRO, and your o2h venture fund?

SS: Well, I was quite poor after my first start-up (I had a .com and saw the boom-and-bust cycle), I was working as a part-time business development director for a biotech start-up in Cambridge, UK. This was in 2003 and the chemists at CBT were complaining about outsourcing chemistry and we thought there is a market that exists, we just need to do it better. So, we started Oxygen Healthcare in India, with 2 FTEs from Amicus Therapeutics… It was a long slog after that but that was the beginning of the journey. We had already started angel investing in the biotech sector in 2005 with Acacia being one of our first. Through the ‘lens’ of a discovery service provider we were able to speak to big pharma and find out what technologies they were interested in investing in and at the same time connect this to many of the fledgling biotech companies that we were supporting.

The angel investment turned into a Pre-Seed fund ‘o2h Ventures’ and we built our own ‘flywheel’ where we could incubate and mentor start-ups from our own incubator that we bought and developed in Cambridge, UK ‘o2h CoWork Labs’ and we had discovery support on tap as ‘o2h Discovery’ in India/UK continued to flourish. We have made pre-seed investments into 35 biotech companies, mostly over the last 5 years.

CJ: What is your venture funds investment thesis? How many startup investments have you made?  How many exits?  

SS: The UK has an amazing science base, having worked with biotech companies in the UK and USA I would say the industrial and academic talent base is equivalent, and in fact, the UK punches well above its weight bringing in over 40% of all biotech investments across Europe as geography.  Despite these facts, there is a significant and well-understood valuation gap between the UK and the USA. This is largely due to the quanta of seed capital available.

o2h Ventures has built this ‘flywheel’ to incubate and support early-stage companies, despite being a small $10M fund, we have amazing access to new science through our CRO business, o2h Discovery or many of the other organisations (Milner, Start Codon, Wellcome Trust, Cambridge Angels etc..) or Tech Transfer Offices (Cambridge, Nottingham, Oxford, Dundee, Sussex, Manchester, etc..) that we have already spun companies out from.

o2h Ventures invests from two funds, these are not normal fund structures, as they have been set up as tax efficient for UK taxpayers, under what is known as the ‘Enterprise Investment Scheme’. We have now invested in over 35 companies and already, over $400M of capital has been invested into our portfolio that we have developed. Already some of the earlier angel investments have exited such as Acacia and Privitar and now Small Pharma is the first company from our portfolio to be acquired by NYSE-listed company Cybin.

We now seek to raise a more traditional growth fund under a typical GP/LP structure to co-invest in 10-15 of our best companies.

CJ: Are you mostly UK-centric in your investments?

SS:  We think the UK represents huge value for investors given both the science and technology base that we have here. We know the UK landscape very well having grown up in the biotech sector in the UK and hence we think it makes a lot of sense to focus on UK biotech investments for our next phase.

CJ: Do you have LPs in your fund from other regions or just the UK?

SS: Our Pre-Seed funds have investors which are all HNWIs from the UK.

CJ: What is your international strategy, and how do the North American and APAC markets play in your worldview?

SS: We see the USA market as being ‘the bridge’ at a certain stage in the company’s growth; we always seek to bring in US directors onto the boards of our companies which can open the door to US growth capital and potential public market exits. The APAC region represents a massive, fast-growing market with immense potential. While we prioritize the US for now, APAC remains on our radar.

CJ: You have attended and participated in many RESI events over the years. What do you see as valuable to you?

SS: I have been attending the RESI Conference since the very early days, I can’t even remember how many but I go back several years. I always thought that it was amazing that I could meet early-stage companies and other investors who were ALL interested in early-stage biotech companies. No one at a RESI Conference is going to tell you that we don’t work with or do early stage! That’s what really appealed to me. The streams, panels and therapeutic focus areas are so tailor-made for people like me, which is why I love going to the conference and am always willing to support Dennis and his team in expanding his presence or appearing on a panel where possible.

Interview with Silvia Raga Founder and CEO of DyCare By Caitlin Dolegowski, Marketing Manager, LSN

This interview features Silvia Raga of DyCare discussing ReHub, their innovative telerehabilitation platform. Raga explains how ReHub uses advanced technology to enable remote physical therapy, making rehabilitation more accessible and efficient. She highlights DyCare’s recent success at RESI Europe’s Innovator’s Pitch Challenge, attributing it to ReHub’s potential to address key issues in digital health. Raga also discusses the unique networking opportunities at RESI Europe, DyCare’s future expansion plans, and offers advice for entrepreneurs attending similar events. The conversation underscores DyCare’s mission to improve lives through technology and their strategic approach to growth and innovation in the digital health sector.

Silvia Raga

Caitlin Dolegowski

Caitlin Dolegowski (CD): DyCare’s mission is to improve lives through science-based technologies. Can you introduce us to ReHub and explain how it’s revolutionizing digital rehabilitation?

Silvia Raga (SR): ReHub is our flagship product, designed as a comprehensive telerehabilitation platform. It leverages advanced camera detection technology to digitize the rehabilitation process, enabling remote therapies. This innovation provides professionals with a powerful tool to monitor patient progress remotely. At the same time, it offers patients the convenience of executing their highly personalized physical therapy from the comfort of their homes. By bridging the gap between clinicians and patients, ReHub is revolutionizing the way rehabilitation is delivered, making it more accessible, efficient, and effective for everyone involved.

CD: Congratulations on your third-place finish at RESI Europe’s Innovator’s Pitch Challenge! What do you think was the key to your success among over 40 competing companies?

SR: We believe the key to our success lies in addressing critical issues within the rapidly growing digital health market. Improving people’s lives is a priority for many, and the rehabilitation market is enormous. We have identified significant pain points such as the burnout of physical therapists and long waiting lists for patients. Our solution, ReHub, directly addresses these challenges by offering an efficient, accessible, and effective way to deliver personalized rehabilitation remotely.

This innovative approach and the high level of adoption to date resonated with the judges, highlighting the impactful potential of our technology.

CD: How did your experience at RESI Europe differ from other conferences you’ve attended? What aspects of the event did you find most valuable?

SR: Our experience at RESI Europe was unique compared to other conferences we’ve attended. The primary difference lies in the event’s focus on investing. Startups attend with the goal of fundraising, and investors are there specifically to scout for promising startups. This clear alignment of objectives made our interactions more targeted and productive. We found the networking opportunities to be incredibly valuable, as they facilitated meaningful connections with potential investors who were genuinely interested in our technology and vision. Additionally, the structured environment of the Innovator’s Pitch Challenge provided us with a platform to showcase our solution directly to a receptive and relevant audience.

CD: Your team is described as multidisciplinary. How did this diverse expertise contribute to your pitch and overall performance at RESI Europe?

SR: Our team’s diverse expertise was crucial to our success at RESI Europe. Our team includes developers, QA and regulatory affairs specialists, product specialists, physical therapists, and sales and marketing experts. This broad range of knowledge and dedication has enabled us to deliver top-notch medical software. As CEO, having such a well-rounded team behind me instills confidence when pitching in front of anyone. Each team member’s unique perspective and skills have contributed to creating a robust and innovative product, which undoubtedly resonated with the judges and investors at the event.

CD: Following your success at RESI Europe, what are DyCare’s goals for the rest of 2024 and looking into 2025, particularly in terms of market expansion and fundraising?

SR: RESI has been a spectacular platform for showcasing our product to new investors. Moving forward, our primary goals for the rest of 2024 and into 2025 are focused on market expansion and fundraising. We are particularly excited about entering new markets such as LATAM and Italy. In these regions, ReHub has already demonstrated its potential to improve processes for hospitals and insurance companies, delivering better care to patients. We aim to build on this success by establishing a stronger presence in these markets and continuing to refine our product based on user feedback. We are seeking further investment to support our expansion and enhance our technology to meet the evolving needs of the rehabilitation sector.

CD: ReHub is already trusted by prestigious hospitals and insurance companies. How did your participation in RESI Europe help in furthering these partnerships or opening new opportunities?

SR: Participating in RESI Europe significantly boosted our efforts to further existing partnerships and explore new opportunities. The event provided us with a valuable platform to present ReHub to a wide audience of investors and industry leaders in Europe, and it also gave us exposure in a new market such as the US. This exposure has not only enhanced our credibility but also opened doors to new potential partnerships with hospitals and insurance companies that were previously out of reach. Additionally, the feedback and interest we received at RESI have helped us to better understand the market needs and refine our approach to meet the demands of prestigious institutions more effectively.

CD: Based on your experience, what advice would you give to fellow entrepreneurs about making the most of events like RESI Europe?

SR: When attending events like RESI Europe, it’s crucial to be proactive and strategic. Set clear goals and pursue them with determination.

Start by doing your homework: research the key people attending the event and reach out to them beforehand to schedule meetings. This preparation can significantly increase your chances of making valuable connections.

Leverage social media to inform your network that you will be attending. Posting about your presence not only boosts your visibility but also lets potential partners and investors know that you are open to discussions.

Seek an active role at the event, whether as a speaker, a participant in a pitch competition, or in another capacity. Active involvement not only enhances your visibility and credibility but also helps maximize your return on investment.

Don’t underestimate the importance of practicing your pitch. Take the time to refine and rehearse it thoroughly. Show how your product solves a problem and demonstrate its value in action.

Lastly, embrace networking opportunities fully. Events like these are prime opportunities to connect with industry peers and decision-makers. Don’t be shy—engage actively to make the most of your time there.

Interview with Dennis Ford, Founder and CEO of Life Science Nation (LSN) By Caitlin Dolegowski, Marketing Manager, LSN

Dennis Ford

Caitlin Dolegowski

Life Science Nation (LSN) is elevating RESI JPM 2025 by moving to the San Francisco Marriott Marquis on January 14, 2025. This super-central venue, just minutes from Union Square, offers a spacious area with all activities on one floor. The new location allows for significantly expanded capacity, enhancing networking opportunities for attendees.

As the 50th RESI conference, this milestone event during JP Morgan Healthcare Week promises enhanced networking opportunities, great food, and the unique RESI format of equal representation between early-stage companies and investors/partners. RESI JPM continues its tradition of fostering crucial connections in the life science industry, building on its legacy of helping companies secure substantial funding and partnerships.

In an interview with Dennis Ford, CEO of Life Science Nation, he shared insights about this exciting location update for RESI JPM and its implications for the event’s future.

Caitlin Dolegowski (CD): What motivated the decision to move RESI JPM 2025 to the San Francisco Marriott Marquis?

Dennis Ford (DF): Forgive me, but let’s dial in the time machine and go back a decade to the third RESI event LSN had in 2014 at the iconic Baseball venue of Fenway Park, Kenmore Square, Boston. We had just launched Life Science Nation (LSN) and the Redefining Early Stage Investments (RESI) conference series and were two years in. My son Patrick worked at Fenway as a chef and introduced LSN to the catering folks who agreed to let RESI take over two of their big restaurant venues and stage an investor event complete with beer, hot dogs, and Boston clam chowder. At the RESI Fenway Park event, I met Ray Briscuso of AdvaMed, and we immediately hit it off. Ray is a well-known change agent in the life science arena and has created one of the world’s most dynamic MedTech partnering events. Ray loved what we were doing, connecting investors with startups, and he suggested bringing RESI to the JP Morgan event in San Francisco in January 2015.

With Ray’s encouragement, off I went to San Franciso, and I found one venue, the Marine Memorial Hotel, a few blocks away from Union Square. This is a small hotel, but it did have enough space to scatter a RESI event around the different floors with all the various nooks and crannies that this venerable older hotel offered us. RESI took over two floors connected by a stairway and launched the first RESI JPM, which we promptly sold out. At the inaugural RESI JPM event in that crowded hotel, the “collision factor” at RESI was born.

Our first RESI JPM was a packed house. The tight quarters had an exciting effect in that half the attendees were startups, and the other half were investors, and licensing partners kept literally bumping into each other as they traversed the hallways and staircases from scheduled meetings to panels and workshops. As the day went on, this collision prompted on-the-spot ad hoc meetings, which many reported were the best meetings of the day.

Typically, a partnering event has scheduled one-on-one meetings throughout the day. Still, at this event, the ad hoc meetings were equal to the number of scheduled meetings, which created a very different vibe because of the crowded facility. People were more open, friendly, and willing to chat and, if not a direct fit, make some referrals, and that aspect has carried over to every RESI event to this day.

Anyway, to make a long story short, we continued at the Marine Memorial for ten years, unable to find anything with more capacity, and stuck with our friends at the Marine Memorial, eventually taking over the entire hotel for the RESI event year after year. RESI JPM was limited in capacity to 1200 attendees, and most years, we were sold out because of a lack of capacity. RESI JPM developed a reputation as the place to find a capital investor and licensing partners; investors bump into other investors and find syndicate partners, and the relaxed community atmosphere came to define the community that supports our RESI events to this day. Fast forward a few weeks ago, and the Marriott Marquis had an opening this year with a 20,000 sq ft venue, and LSN felt we had to make a move and expand the RESI JPM partnering event. As it turns out, this RESI JPM will mark our 50th RESI event, and I still vividly recall an animated conversation with Ray overlooking the Fenway Park ball field telling me to get my ass to SF, CA, and find a hotel!

CD: How do you think the new Marriott Marquis location will enhance networking opportunities for attendees?

DF: JP Morgan Healthcare week has morphed into the most significant global partnering event in the world. The main reason many people travel to San Francisco in January is to participate in the numerous meetings and parallel events across the city’s downtown. These meetings start before the main JPM events and run throughout the week, offering diverse discussions and presentations from various organizations. LSN’s RESI JPM is one of the parallel events and is considered one of the go-to events of the week. The JPM gathering is still one of the premier global industry events and still fosters collaboration and innovation.

CD: Can you discuss the advantages of hosting the conference during JP Morgan Healthcare Week?

DF: Everyone who is anyone is at the JP Morgan week, and if you want to play in the life science arena, it is an opportunity to meet and network with the -players you need to be connected with.

CD: How do you anticipate the new venue will impact attendance numbers, particularly in terms of early-stage investors?

DF: LSN is about helping early-stage seed, 250k-2M, series A, 2M to 10M, and Series B 10-50M. RESI events cater to the buyers and sellers in this part of the life science landscape and is the place to be if you are an early-stage company seeking capital or licensing opportunities. At RESI JPM, attendees are equally divided between buyers and sellers. So we expect around 1500-2000 participants, equally divided between early-stage companies and investors and licensing partners seeking technology assets for their portfolios and product lines.

RESI conferences are unique because they are equally divided between early-stage life science companies across drugs, devices, diagnostics, and digital health and the investors and licensing partner entities.

CD: As RESI JPM 2025 marks the 50th RESI conference, how do you see this milestone event reflecting the growth and evolution of RESI over the years?

DF: RESI has helped over 400 companies raise over 5 billion dollars over the years. If any of these company’s technologies make it to a patient’s bedside and improve a patient’s outcome, then we will have done what we set out to do—make a difference.

Interview with Afreen Allam, Founder & CEO at SiNON Nano and Laura Gunter, President at NC Life Sciences By Caitlin Dolegowski, Marketing Manager, LSN

Afreen Allam

Laura Gunter

Caitlin Dolegowski

The next opportunity to participate in the Innovator’s Pitch Challenge will be at RESI Europe and the deadline to apply has been extended until May 15th.

The IPC increases companies’ visibility by giving them the opportunity to pitch to a select investor panel and live audience, present a poster in the RESI Exhibition Hall, and get featured in the RESI Program Guide and Newsletter. Finalists in the IPC make more investor connections at RESI thanks to this additional visibility. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, and you can apply here.

Caitlin Dolegowski (CD): Afreen, please introduce us to SiNON Nano Sciences and the company’s technology.

Afreen Allam (AA): SiNON has pioneered a revolutionary approach with our patented tunable carbon nanoparticle, serving as a ‘Trojan horse’ drug delivery platform. This innovative technology facilitates the passage of drugs across the blood-brain barrier, unlocking new possibilities in treating a myriad of neurological diseases. Our platform empowers pharmaceutical companies to encapsulate their therapeutics, enabling precise drug delivery to targeted sites within the brain. As the nanoparticle traverses the barrier, the drug payload is released, offering a potent solution for enhancing treatment efficacy while minimizing side effects and toxicity. This breakthrough holds the potential to significantly enhance the quality of life for millions of patients worldwide.

CD: Laura, please introduce us to North Carolina Life Sciences. There is exciting technology coming from your state. Four companies were presenting at RESI South from North Carolina. What stands out for you about the technology in North Carolina and SiNON Nano Sciences in particular?

Laura Gunter (LG): North Carolina has tremendous universities and early-stage companies doing exciting research in so many areas. The companies that presented at RESI from NC are working in diagnostics, drug delivery, AI, infusion devices, and neurological conditions, including sleep monitoring and Alzheimer’s. SiNON Nano Sciences is particularly exciting as a platform technology that has the potential to change how we can treat CNS diseases. The ability to take a drug across the blood-brain barrier is a game changer.

CD: What were your experiences at the conference? What worked well for you both at RESI South?

AA: Attending the RESI (Redefining Early Stage Investments) conference was an enriching experience for me. It provided a unique platform for networking with investors, fellow entrepreneurs, and industry experts. The event offered valuable insights into the latest trends, innovations, and opportunities in the life sciences and healthcare sectors.

One of the highlights was participating in the Innovator’s Pitch Challenge, where we had the opportunity to showcase our company’s vision and technology to a panel of esteemed judges and investors. Winning the first-place prize in the pitch competition was a significant achievement for us and served as validation of the potential impact of our work.

Moreover, the conference sessions and panel discussions were highly informative, covering a wide range of topics such as fundraising strategies, regulatory considerations, and market trends. Engaging with other attendees and hearing their perspectives provided valuable learning opportunities and helped us refine our business strategy.

Overall, the RESI conference provided a conducive environment for fostering collaborations, exploring partnerships, and gaining visibility for our venture. It was an invaluable experience that has contributed to the growth and advancement of our company in the life sciences ecosystem.

LG: I thought it was a great first opportunity to bring investors to the Southeast and see the breadth and depth of technologies in the SE. While several of the NC companies were from the RTP area, we also had a company from Wilmington, NC, so it was nice to highlight the geographic diversity as well. The feedback from our participating companies was good and it sounded like several made some relevant connections.

The panels were also informative and gave entrepreneurs a chance to hear from investors, in addition to pitching to investors. The quality of the presenting companies was impressive as well.

It was, of course, very exciting to have SiNON win the pitch competition. When I first talked to Afreen about the company, I could tell it was special, so was glad to be able to bring them to RESI and have others learn about the company as well.

CD: What stage of fundraising is SiNON Nano Sciences in and what are your goals in 2024?

AA: SiNON Nano Sciences is currently in the seed stage of fundraising. Our primary goal for 2024 is to successfully secure funding for our seed round, which will enable us to advance our research and development efforts. Specifically, we aim to conduct the two main studies necessary to determine whether we are positioned as a platform or an asset company. Additionally, we plan to continue building strategic partnerships, expanding our network within the life sciences and healthcare sectors, and further refining our technology to address the unmet needs in treating neurological diseases. Our overarching goal is to advance our innovative drug delivery platform to improve the lives of patients suffering from debilitating neurological conditions.

The terms for our upcoming seed raise entail a $3 million SAFE (Simple Agreement for Future Equity) agreement with a 20% discount and a post-money valuation cap of approximately $15 million.

CD: Congratulations on your first-place finish at RESI JPM’s Innovator’s Pitch Challenge (IPC)! There were 43 companies in the IPC. What do you think was the key to your success and standing out at RESI JPM?

AA: Thank you! Winning the RESI JPM’s Innovator’s Pitch Challenge was an incredible achievement for us. I believe the key to our success and standing out at RESI JPM was our ability to clearly articulate the unique value proposition of SiNON Nano Sciences. Our focus on developing a patented carbon nanoparticle drug delivery platform, specifically designed to overcome the challenges of crossing the blood-brain barrier for treating neurological diseases, resonated strongly with the audience and judges. Additionally, our ability to highlight compelling data supporting the efficacy and potential impact of our technology played a crucial role in distinguishing us from other companies. Finally, our team’s passion, dedication, and clear vision for the future of SiNON Nano Sciences also contributed to our success at RESI JPM’s IPC.

CD: What advice would you like to give to fellow entrepreneurs about RESI conferences?

AA: For fellow entrepreneurs attending RESI conferences, I would offer the following advice:

1. Prepare a compelling pitch: Craft a concise and engaging pitch that clearly communicates your company’s value proposition, market opportunity, and traction. Highlight what sets your company apart and why investors should be interested.
2. Network strategically: Take advantage of the networking opportunities at RESI conferences to connect with investors, industry experts, and potential partners. Be proactive in initiating conversations and building relationships that could benefit your company in the future.
3. Showcase data and results: Investors are often interested in seeing tangible evidence of progress and potential success. Make sure to showcase any compelling data, results, or achievements that demonstrate the viability and scalability of your business.
4. Be open to feedback: Embrace feedback and use it as an opportunity to learn and improve. Investors may provide valuable insights and perspectives that can help refine your business strategy and pitch.
5. Follow up promptly: After the conference, follow up promptly with investors and contacts you met to express gratitude, provide additional information, and continue the conversation. Building and maintaining relationships is key to long-term success in fundraising and business development.

LG: I am not sure I can improve upon Afreen’s assessment and advice. Preparation is key and having a succinct message that clearly articulates the technology, its stage, its value proposition, etc. will win the day. Investors are trying to cut through a lot of noise and pitch, like SiNON’s that told the story in an easy to follow but highly competent and technical manner can really make the difference.

Follow up to networking and developing relationships is also key. The investor who is not necessarily interested today may be interested in the future as further development takes place or that investor may know others who would be good fits for the technology.

Lastly, while the pitch competition is a terrific opportunity, I would suggest that companies attend to network and learn, even if they choose not to do the pitch competition. That way, they can get a feel for partnering and using the system to be successful.

By Rikki Piccirillo, Marketing Manager, LSN

We are excited to introduce RESI Barcelona 2024, where innovation converges with investment in Europe’s thriving life sciences ecosystem. Join us as we explore the dynamic opportunities highlighted by Greg Mannix, VP International Business Development at Life Science Nation.

RESI Barcelona 2024 combines in-person networking with a hybrid digital format, offering unparalleled access to over 300 early-stage companies. From the Innovators Pitch Challenge to engaging panels and workshops, RESI Barcelona promises a platform for startups to showcase cutting-edge technologies and connect with investors seeking the next big breakthrough.

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Interview with Erika Tyburski, CEO at Sanguina and Maria Thacker-Goethe, President & CEO at Georgia Bio By Caitlin Dolegowski, Marketing Manager, LSN

Erika Tyburski

Maria Thacker-Goethe

Caitlin Dolegowski

Caitlin Dolegowski (CD): Please introduce us to Sanguina and the company’s technology (and curious about the naming of your company).

Erika Tyburski (ET): Hi Caitlin. Sanguina means blood in Latin and is also derived from the English word sanguine- or relaxed. I co-founded Sanguina to make accessible tools to learn more about your health. We have a focus on blood health, and making tools that tell you something about blood. We are passionate about blood because it often changes first in response to a stress on the system- a cold, a deficiency, or a chronic disease. This is why blood testing is often used for diagnoses. Our first platform is called AnemoCheck for accessible and rapid anemia management. We recently received FDA-clearance on a home test for hemoglobin level determination and have a complementary smartphone application for determining likelihood of anemia based on the paleness of fingernails via a fingernail selfie.

CD: Maria, please introduce us to Georgia Bio. RESI South took place in Atlanta and there were many companies from Georgia represented RESI. Tell us about the life sciences ecosystem in Georgia and exciting companies emerging, such as Sanguina.

Maria Thacker-Goethe (MT): Georgia Bio is the life science association focused on enhancing the innovation environment in Georgia. Our main goals are advocating for favorable policies, linking members with funding and partners, and supporting workforce development in the state.

Sanguina is one of our standout companies, but it’s not alone. At the RESI conference, we also had Andson Biotech, Aruna Bio, and Emtherapro presenting to the 350 attendees. These companies represent our growing ecosystem. The life sciences sector in Georgia has seen significant growth, with a 20% increase in jobs since 2015, totaling 11,225, and generating a total economic impact of $50.2 billion, according to Biopharma Reporter. Georgia is emerging as a prominent life science hub.

CD: Maria, I know you have been to RESI before, Erika, this was your first conference. What are your experiences at RESI? What worked well for you both at RESI South?

ET: The event was very efficient. The networking platform enabled meetings to be made ahead of the event and the rapid 20-minute meetings allowed me to meet with many parties in a short amount of time. Talk about bang for buck! I found myself re-connecting with people that have seen me grow locally and meeting new people in the southeast region. I particularly enjoyed the pitch session and constructive questions given to me by the digital health panel.

MT: First off, I had a great experience at the RESI South event last month. My team and I had more than a dozen meetings with life science companies in the state. Although Georgia has all the seeds needed to grow a robust ecosystem, one of the big gaps is venture funding. That is why the state associations partnered with Life Science Nation. We are excited about our partnership and look forward to even stronger future events.

CD: Erika, what stage of fundraising is Sanguina in and what are your goals in 2024?

ET: We have closed our first priced round. Sanguina is fortunate enough to have completed our raise and we are looking to go to work and generate recurring revenue this year and next. Sanguina is primarily a B2B company, so I am aiming to onboard several new customers and execute contracts for custom versions of our products. I look forward to profitability, with my next round focused on growth.

CD: Congratulations on your second-place finish at RESI JPM’s Innovator’s Pitch Challenge (IPC)! What do you think was the key to your success and standing out at RESI JPM?

ET: I’ve pitched a lot. I’ve been given thousands of questions on Why? How? When? And I’ve learned in that time to be as honest as possible. I’m not afraid to say: “I’m working on that answer”, while also acknowledging that “I’ve faced many challenges, and know how to overcome” I think investors and experts in my industry appreciate my candor. Additionally, I learn by doing, so throughout the years, I haven’t been afraid to Just Do It. I’ve learned how to run clinical studies, how to execute a regulatory strategy, how to raise money, how to close that first customer.

CD: What advice would you like to give to fellow entrepreneurs about RESI conferences?

ET: Have confidence in what you do and know. Be humble and talk to everyone, you never know what one new connection will lead to. And use the networking platform, of course!

MT: My biggest piece of advice is to use the partnering system to meet investors. Over 200 investors attended RESI South, either in person or virtually, which the Southeast has never seen. These investors want to meet with you to get to know you and your business.

If you’re interested in the next upcoming Innovator’s Pitch Challenge, you can apply for the RESI Europe 2024 IPC taking place June 17-19 with a 1-day in-person conference follow by 2-day virtual partnering at Hilton Diagonal Mar Barcelona in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, so get your application submitted today!

Interview with John Schindler, CEO at Liquet Medical and John Newby, CEO at Virginiabio By Caitlin Dolegowski, Marketing Manager, LSN

John Schindler

John Newby

Caitlin Dolegowski

Caitlin Dolegowski (CD): Please introduce us to Liquet Medical and the company’s technology. How did Liquet Medical come to be?

John Schindler (JS): Liquet Medical is a development stage medical device company. Our first product to market is the Versus™ Catheter – a localized drug delivery catheter to treat blood clots in the lungs, a condition known as Pulmonary Embolism, or PE. This device has the ability to track the patient through real-time biometric data monitoring, allowing the physician to optimize the delivery of medication and the duration of the therapy. It will speed up time-to-treatment, lower hospital costs, and has the potential to reduce procedural complications and readmission rates.

The genesis of our company is rooted in a long-term business relationship with the inventor of the Versus Catheter, Dr. Patrick Kelly. Dr. Kelly is a serial inventor and practicing Vascular surgeon in Sioux Falls, SD who has routinely treated patients suffering from PE and decided there was a better way. I have worked closely with Dr. Kelly on several projects over the course of a 30+ year career in the medical device industry. This one being very personal to me in that my own mother passed from a Pulmonary Embolism shortly after the birth of my sister. As you can imagine, this has had a profound impact on my career and is what drives my passion to bring this particular innovation to the market.

CD: John, please introduce us to Virginia Bio. Virgnia had four companies participate in the Innovator’s Pitch Challenge at RESI South, what technology in the life sciences are you excited about coming from Virginia?

John Newby (JN): Virginia Bio is our Commonwealth’s life sciences trade group, representing and supporting a diverse group of med tech, diagnostic, pharmaceutical, digital health and other companies. We partner with regional and national coalitions to bring capital and impactful partnerships to our biotechs to grow Virginia’s $8.4 billion life sciences industry. In addition to exciting technologies like Liquet’s medical device, we are also particularly excited about our growing advanced pharmaceutical manufacturing capability that is a national leader in the onshoring of essential medicine production.

CD: John Schindler, this was your first RESI conference. I’d like to ask both of you about your experience at RESI? What was effective for you at RESI South?

JS: What I enjoyed most was how intimate this meeting felt despite the large number of attendees. The poster session gave attending companies a great opportunity for investors, fellow entrepreneurs, and ecosystem partners to understand and spend time together in an easy informal way. The pitch sessions were also a nice opportunity to share our innovation and coupled with a QA session led by panelists to help guide the conversation, provided opportunities for us to expand the audience understanding of the innovation. Also, providing opportunities for us to engage with investors in the partnering platform and also over breakfast, lunch and during the evening reception was outstanding. I managed to connect with many of the investors I was interested in meeting, and we’ve been able to follow up with them since. And lastly, I took a lot of notes listening to the curated panels and found the Seed Fund and VC panels particularly interesting. You all did a great job of attracting a lot of high-quality panelists for us to learn from.

JN: This was the first time that a coalition of seven southeastern states partnered to bring this well known investor conference to our region. RESI South brought over 200 investors into contact with a nearly equal number of life sciences companies, allowing scores of new connections and (ultimately, we hope) investments. The pitch competition that John competed in allowed our Virginia companies to both showcase their technologies and gain broader view into the work being done across our region. Our coalition’s goal in bringing RESI to Atlanta was to showcase all of our companies and increase investor visibility of our region. To this end, RESI South was more than effective.

CD: John Schinder, what stage of fundraising is Liquet Medical in and what milestone are you working toward currently?

JS: We are in the midst of closing our Seed round prior to a Series A offering early next year. And the major milestones ahead of us are our submission for our FDA 510(k) in the next few months and our expected FDA clearance later this year. We have an open convertible note and if any of your readers are investors interested in joining this round, let’s find some time to connect and discuss.

CD: Congratulations on your third-place finish at RESI JPM’s Innovator’s Pitch Challenge (IPC)! What do you think was the key to your success and standing out at RESI JPM?

JS: Thank you! It was great fun to share our innovation. I think the big key to our pitch success was having the opportunity to spend time with the meeting attendees around our poster before the pitch presentation. It made it easy to get them excited about what we are working on. I would encourage future companies to invest in the quality of their content. It’s a great tool and opportunity and I think what made the RESI meeting so interactive and successful for us. So, I’d give the credit to RESI for providing the additional visibility that ultimately contributed to our success.

CD: Another question for both of you. What advice would you like to give to entrepreneurs about RESI conferences?

JS: My advice would be not to fret about the 4-min time allotment for your pitch presentation – it’s plenty of time to share your innovation and ample available time in the QA to clarify your story further. Also, there is plenty of time to meet investors during the poster sessions, over lunch, and during the reception.

JN: An entrepreneur’s time an energy is very limited, and not every investor conference is likely to yield the results sought in terms of investor contact. RESI South was a unique opportunity for our entrepreneurs to attend an event that aimed for and achieved a nearly 1:1 ratio of investors to companies, and offered numerous opportunities to either pitch or present their technologies to those same investors. We understand that RESI conferences, generally have the same aims as RESI South in terms of opportunities for happy “collisions” with investors. Accordingly, for entrepreneurs looking to maximize their available time, RESI conferences may be a great choice.

If you’re interested in the next upcoming Innovator’s Pitch Challenge, you can apply for the RESI Europe 2024 IPC taking place June 17-19 with a 1-day in-person conference follow by 2-day virtual partnering at Hilton Diagonal Mar Barcelona in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, so get your application submitted today!

RESI Europe registration opens at super early bird rates. Register now to save $500 by Tomorrow, Friday, April 12.