Hot Investor Mandate: USA-Based VC Firm Seeks to Invest in Medical Devices and Smart Manufacturing Technologies With Strong IP, Includes Strong Expertise in Asian Markets

September 1, 2022 ~ Next Phase Admin ~ Leave a comment

A venture capital firm headquartered in USA currently manages 3 funds, and also has an advisory business that is solely dedicated for companies trying to enter the Asian market. The firm has a focus on early-stage investments (pre-Series A to Series B) and has portfolio companies spread over the USA. The firm’s initial investment size varies, but typically falls under the $250K – 2.5M range and is dedicated to follow-on financings of existing portfolio companies. The firm invests only in USA and Canada.

Within life sciences/healthcare, the firm is most interested in medical devices and smart manufacturing in life sciences, and is much more selective when it comes to biotech or therapeutics investments. Most importantly, the firm is focused on assessing the company’s patent status and the degree of novelty. While the firm is agnostic to stage of development, ideally the companies should have a working prototype and significant key data that validates the high potential of their technology. In terms of different types of technologies or diseases areas/indications, the firm is opportunistic.

The firm has no specific management team requirements, but considers patent strategy key in reviewing potential investments. Companies should have key patents issued or a clear strategy on improving their IP portfolio. The firm has great expertise in helping USA/Canada-based companies enter Asian markets (i.e. greater China) and extend their IP coverage. The firm can act as either lead or co-investor and will seek a board seat if they come in as a lead investor.

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

Hot Investor Mandate: VC With Offices in Canada Most Interested in Early-Stage Digital Health Companies, but Seeks to Invest in Devices and Diagnostics With Digital Component

September 1, 2022 ~ Next Phase Admin ~ Leave a comment

A venture capital firm with offices in Canada is looking to participate in the Seed to Series B financings of early-stage companies with typical investments between USD 0.5 million and USD 5 million. The firm is currently operating out of its second fund in which it has made three investments after making thirteen investments out of its inaugural fund. The firm participates in equity investments including SAFEs and convertible notes. The firm invests primarily in companies based in Canada, the United States, Europe, and Israel.

The firm is primarily interested in investing in companies in the digital health sector but will also consider the medical and diagnostic devices sectors that have a digital component to them. The firm is open to all modalities within the digital health but requires that the technologies be patient facing or have a patient component. The firm will not consider investments in biotech or pharma but will consider digital therapeutics. The firm is phase agnostic and will invest in development as well as on the market technologies. The firm will only invest in Class I and Class II (510k) medical devices, avoiding Class III (PMA). The firm is disease agnostic and will consider companies across all indications but prefers that there is ample market size for the technology to be revenue generating.

The firm prefers to work with experienced management teams. The firm looks to invest in companies in which the founder has a significant stake in the business. The firm is an active and strategic investor and will take a board seat as determined by check size on a case-by-case basis. The firm will participate both as a lead and co-investor.

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

Building a Recession-Proof Company

August 25, 2022August 25, 2022 ~ Next Phase Admin ~ Leave a comment

By Rory McCann, Director of Marketing & Conference Producer, LSN

Fundraising in 2022 looks different than it has over the past decade in life science and healthcare. Navid Alipour, JD/MBA, is the Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Analytics Ventures and CEO of CureMetrix and CureMatch. We spoke recently about how local governments and organizations can set up startups to successfully navigate an economic downturn while fundraising. We also discuss, from an investor- and founder-perspective, how entrepreneurs can build and maintain a “recession-proof” team and fundraising process. Listen to our conversation and register for the upcoming RESI Boston partnering event, September 21-23.

Brisbane Talent Takes the Global Stage

August 25, 2022September 1, 2022 ~ Next Phase Admin ~ Leave a comment

By Alexander Vassallo, Manager of Business Development West Coast (US), Entrepreneurial Education Lead, LSN

Brisbane, Australia has a long and successful history leading world-class innovations, including the world’s first cancer vaccine – Gardasil. Now, Life Science Nation (LSN) is partnering with the Brisbane Economic Development Agency (BEDA) to deliver a new accelerator program to help ten promising MedTech companies connect with early-stage investors from around the world. The entrepreneurial education program will include a three-day immersion course, industry mentorship, and content delivered virtually over an eight-week period, concluding with a final in-person pitch event in San Francisco during JP Morgan Healthcare Week.

The syllabus includes:

Telling your company story in a compelling way
Developing powerful marketing collateral for partnering
Myths and realities around fundraising
Input from industry leaders
A “Shark Tank” style rehearsal and participation in the Innovator’s Pitch Challenge at RESI JPM

This course will equip them with the skills and tools needed to take their fundraising campaigns and partnering initiatives to the global competitive landscape.

The program builds on LSN’s continued partnership with Life Sciences Queensland to help up-and-coming startups connect with our community of investors. We’re excited to grow our cross-border collaboration with this booming region in Australia.

Crossing Virtual Borders for Global Business Education

August 25, 2022August 25, 2022 ~ Next Phase Admin ~ Leave a comment

By Joey Wong, Investor Research Analyst, Hong Kong BD, LSN

Life Science Nation (LSN) has successfully concluded a two, half-day education workshop in collaboration with the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) PI Centre. This has been the debut of a newly developed entrepreneurial education program. With over 75 participants signed up for the event, the diverse audience group included students, researchers, entrepreneurs, and delegates from other incubators and tech hubs.

This two-day workshop provides aspiring scientist-entrepreneurs the tools and tips needed to successfully launch a life science company and begin interacting with target partners. The first day was led by LSN CEO Dennis Ford, covering fundamental entrepreneurial concepts and a list of tactical to-dos when launching a startup. During the discussion, Dennis emphasized the importance of cross-border partnerships and understanding cultural differences in business, as well as the key to success in a highly competitive global realm being both knowledge and adaptation.

On day two, we discussed the practical side of business development. Lectures covered executing a global partnering campaign, developing effective branding and messaging, and debunking common myths about fundraising. Many insightful questions and comments were posted during the sessions, most commonly on startup valuations, estimating financial needs, timeline for fundraising, and the negotiation process with investors. The presentations offered insight, but the audience participation and questions made the content come alive with real-world problems and practical solutions.

Many thanks to the CUHK team for promoting the event, hosting the gathering, and ensuring the delivery of the workshop, despite local severe weather conditions. We anticipate that participants will use the experience to enhance their future endeavors in the global life science and healthcare arena. We look forward to working with more Asian and Hong Kong-based organizations, bringing LSN’s unique network and expertise to the local life science and healthcare startup ecosystem.

For any inquiries, please contact Joey Wong, Investor Research Analyst, HK Business Development at j.wong@lifesciencenation.com.

Hot Investor Mandate: USA-Based Investment Firm Actively Seeks to Invest in Therapeutics Companies or Devices/Diagnostics With a Therapeutic Component

August 25, 2022 ~ Next Phase Admin ~ Leave a comment

A venture capital investment firm founded in 2020 by experienced investment professionals and headquartered in the USA is currently operating out of its inaugural fund and is actively looking for deal flow. Typical investment size ranges from USD 0.5 million to USD 2 million. Investment strategy at the firm is evolving but currently the firm participates in equity investments only. The firm looks to partner with early-stage companies and is open to global opportunities but will typically focus on opportunities in the United States.

The firm is interested in investing in therapeutics companies, or companies in other sectors that have a therapeutic component. Within therapeutics the firm will consider assets from pre-clinical to pre-IND filing and generally prefers to see some type of proof-of-concept data. Within medical devices and diagnostics, the firm invests in technologies that are pre-commercial and is open to all classes of medical devices including Class II (510k) and Class III (PMA). The firm is disease agnostic and will invest in companies throughout all indications including those in orphan diseases.

The firm is open to working with experienced management teams. The firm looks to work with management teams that are ambitious and able to work together and execute well. The firm takes an active role in the companies in which it invests; however, the firm currently only looks to co-invest.

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

Hot Investor Mandate: Private Investment Firm with Healthtech-Focused Fund Invests in Early-Stage Digital Health Technologies Dedicated to Better Healthcare Delivery

August 25, 2022 ~ Next Phase Admin ~ Leave a comment

A private investment firm launched a healthtech-focused fund to invest in early stage companies that are developing innovations that can significantly reduce healthcare costs. The firm makes equity investments where the investment size is highly variable depending on the stage of development and particular need of each company. The firm invests in companies that are based in the US and is actively seeking new investment opportunities.

The firm focuses on early-stage digital health projects that could substantially lower the cost of healthcare delivery in the United States. Examples of good candidates include projects that help consumers make more informed decisions when selecting local service providers (cost transparency); use remote monitoring technology to help patients better manage illness; that provide more meaningful tracking of health metrics for patients (health and wellness analytics); or initiatives at the intersection of molecular diagnostics and bioinformatics that comb genetic blueprints for clinically-relevant patterns (precision medicine).

The firm is an active and engaged investor, and can act as either a lead or co-investor. The firm prefers to lead investments in seed rounds.

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