Hot AI Mandate: Venture Arm of Global Genomics and Sequencing Company Invests in Therapeutics, Diagnostics, and Life Science Tools

5 Oct

A $230 million VC fund was established in 2016 and is based in San Francisco, CA. The fund is independently managed in a strategic partnership with the parent company. The firm invests in early-stage disruptive life science tools, therapeutics, and diagnostic companies. Typical allocations range from $2-10 million initially in a Series A or B round and can be up to $15-20 million over the life span of the company. The firm seeks to syndicate with other leading institutional and strategic investors. The firm expects to make 4-5 new investments over the next 12 months and considers opportunities globally with a focus in the US.

The firm is interested in areas where its expertise and special relationship with the parent company can add value. This includes therapeutics, clinical diagnostics, and life science tools. The firm focuses on applications of genomics including sequencing, assay development, agriculture and environmental science, industrial biotech, digital health, public safety and personal wellness, proteomics and other ‘omics’ areas. The firm prefers pre-revenue companies that have achieved proof-of-concept.

The firm seeks to work with experienced management teams with sector expertise. The firm’s team members have decades of entrepreneurial experience in genomics and may request a board seat depending on the deal.

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

Hot Longevity Mandate: US-Based Corporate Venture Fund

5 Oct

The firm is the corporate venture arm of a diversified business based in Tokyo focused on three primary sectors: Materials, Homes and Healthcare. The team is based in offices outside Boston, MA and Menlo Park, CA. The fund has an evergreen structure looking to allocate between $1-$3 million per deal initially and up to $5 million over the life of the investment. They are seeking to invest in approximately 2-4 companies over the next 12 months and are open to investing in companies across the globe.

Sectors of interest include: pharmaceuticals, medical device and digital health. Therapeutic and product areas of interest include: Pain, critical care, musculoskeletal disease, kidney disease, DDS, patient monitoring technologies, bioprocessing technologies, digital therapeutics. The firm is open to all stages of investment, with a general preference toward companies with at least some early clinical data.

The firm invests in private companies and is willing to work with all types of management teams including incomplete teams. The firm generally requests at least an observer seat following investment.

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

Hot Longevity Mandate: West Coast-Based PE Fund

5 Oct

The PE firm was founded in 1996 and has offices in California, China, Hong Kong and Taiwan. The firm is currently making investment from its USD 1.4B fund into promising private healthcare companies and from its $635M Opportunity Fund into promising public healthcare companies, invest in promising early-stage healthcare companies from its Innovation Fund. The firm invests exclusively in the healthcare sector; the firm invests primarily in the USA and Greater China but will also invest in other regions such as Europe and ASEAN countries. Within China, the firm makes growth investments in companies but also find some companies with interesting and innovative product in recent years there; in the USA and other regions, the firm makes both venture and growth-equity stage investments in both pre-revenue and revenue-stage companies. The firm’s allocations are highly varied. From the main fund, investments typically range from $20-50m, though larger investments are of interest as well; the firm’s Innovation Fund makes investments of typically $5-20 million. The firm is open to syndication. The firm is also particularly interested in working with companies that are open to or actively interested in seeking partnerships or opportunities in China.

The firm invests in therapeutics, medical devices, diagnostics, healthcare services, and clinically-oriented healthcare IT, and will consider investing in any indication area or technology subsector; however, orphan indications, dermatology/aesthetics, oncology, gene therapy, cell therapy, are of particular interest in the biopharma space; general surgery, neurovascular, cardiovascular, minimally invasive technologies, women’s health, respiratory care, novel diagnostics and orthopedics are of particular interest in the device space. Healthcare AI is an area we are interested and exploring. The Innovation Fund focuses on early-stage opportunities in biotech; from the main fund, the firm in most cases makes investments in products that have obtained market approval or are very close to commercialization, but earlier investments may be considered for highly innovative products or products that can demonstrate strong efficacy signals at an earlier stage (such as anti-infectives). For

devices and diagnostics, the firm only invests in commercial-stage companies. Generally, the firm does not invest in imaging.

The firm is flexible regarding management teams and works with both serial entrepreneurs and entrepreneurs who lack industry experience. In addition to investing in private companies, The firm is able to invest in public companies by means of PIPEs or public market placements. The firm is interested in investing in companies with products that can demonstrate cost-effectiveness.

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

Hot Longevity Mandate: Europe-Based Venture Fund

5 Oct

The firm is a venture capital firm founded in 2021 and located in Basel, Switzerland. The firm is currently investing out of their first fund and looks to invest in early-stage life science companies in the therapeutics space. The firm focuses on Seed investments in the form of equity. Typical allocation is up to $5M for the first ticket. The firm invests in European companies.

The firm is interested in therapeutics, with a focus on oncology, immunology, rare diseases, fibrotic diseases and CNS. The firm will invest in pre-clinical therapeutic companies.

The firm has no specific company or management team requirements and is willing to work with all early-stage companies globally, with promising technologies. The firm prefers to lead investments and seeks board seat representation.

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

RESI Partnering Week November Preliminary Agenda

30 Sep

By Karen Deyo, Director of Investor Research, Israel BD, LSN

Registration is now open for RESI Partnering Week, November 16-18! Super early bird rates end next week, so check out our preliminary agenda below, featuring investor panels specific to life science and healthcare, as well as AI and age-tech applications. Sign up by Friday, October 8 to save $200 on registration!

Register-now-button-new
Tuesday, November 16

11:00 AM EDT – Oncology Innovation Panel

The Search for New Approaches to Diagnosing & Treating Cancer

This panel is a discussion on topics relevant to investment in current innovations in the oncology space. Topics the panelists might consider discussing include:

  • The technologies/approaches that investors find the most compelling
  • Whether platform technologies or single assets are preferred for investment/partnerships
  • What criteria do investors use when assessing companies for their portfolio or pipeline

Panelists can discuss the industry-wide changes currently seen, including the rise of new therapeutic approaches (CAR-T, oncolytic viruses etc.), and how that is affecting the investing landscape.

12:00 PM EDT – Fireside Chat: The Future of Aging in Place

The Covid-19 global pandemic has highlighted the need for safe, accessible remote care, particularly for seniors and vulnerable populations, making aging in place no longer merely a preference for older adults, but also a priority for healthcare providers. Hear the latest industry news on how home-based care has improved in the past couple years and the miles still to go.

2:00 PM EDT – AI-Assisted Remote Care & Chronic Disease Management Panel

Mobile and Home-Based Patient Support

Millions living with chronic disease are often tasked with being their own caregivers in addition to being patients. AI-assisted tech can ease some of the burden of day-to-day management, enabling users to live happier and healthier lives without compromising care. Learn from investors working with early-stage tech to tackle the challenges, risks, and the potential of the latest innovation connecting patients with their care more efficiently.

3:00 PM EDT – Medtech Strategics Panel

Large Corporations Seeking External Innovation in Medtech

In the medical technology sector, major corporations are increasingly looking to external startups and inventors for innovative new technologies. In addition to traditional M&A, these major strategic players are exploring innovative strategies to partner with early-stage startups, and our speakers will explore topics such as:

  • How do major corporations find new device technologies that are fit their pipelines?
  • What can an early-stage startup do to find the right partner?
  • How do partnerships work, and what conditions might a major partner have?
  • What kind of technical and commercial validation will be required to secure a partnership?

The panelists will explore these topics with reference to the technology areas that they are looking at for their future pipelines.

4:00 PM EDT – Tales from the Road: Age-Tech Innovators on Their Fundraising Journey

Age-tech entrepreneurs are pounding the pavement, seeking funding to enable seniors to live longer, healthier lives. Learn the strategies they’ve implemented to stand out to investors, book meetings, make deals, and work effectively with investors and strategic partners.

5:00 PM EDT – Angels & Family Offices Panel

How Do Family Offices & Angels View Seed & Series A Rounds?

Angel investors are a mainstay in the earliest financing rounds, and many consider Family Offices as the holy grail of investors. These groups share many similarities and can work in synergy to help their portfolio companies advance. This panel will cover topics such as:

  • What are the similarities and differences between Angels and Family Offices?
  • What are the benefits of working with each group?
  • How does investing personal money change the way Angels and Family Offices act from the traditional VC?

A startup looks to different types of investors when fundraising and understanding the fundamental differences between groups can improve the success of their approach. Angels and Family Offices frequently invest early on and can shape the way a company develops. Panelists will discuss how best to approach them and engage their interest.

Wednesday, November 17

11:00 AM EDT – am Cognitive Care Panel

Advancing Treatments in Matters of the Mind

Cognitive decline in the aging population includes several signs and symptoms. Studies show that most experience a slowing in cognitive skills around the age of 60. These conditions can range in severity, from decreased processing speed, loss of memory, social withdrawal and increased anxiety. Cognitive decline feels vast and inevitable but learning from investors in this sector on the ideas and advances they’re seeing in the industry, toward treatment options reveals exciting opportunities to improve this side effect of aging.

12:00 PM EDT – Fireside Chat: The CRO Impact on Drug Development

Clinical Research Organizations (CRO) are integral to the development of therapeutics, however, connecting with the right ones for an early-stage company’s needs isn’t always straightforward. Learn how successful companies are connecting with the right CROs for them and how they can optimize the relationship to advance drug development.

2:00 PM EDT – Investing in Precision Medicine Panel

Improving Outcomes through a Patient-Tailored Approach

This panel discusses current trends in precision medicine. Topics may include:

  • How investors assess precision medicine technologies and applications in diagnostics, drug discovery and treatment plans
  • Which indications investors believe are showing the most promise – genetic disorders, orphan diseases, oncology, etc.
  • Investing in individualized treatments (such as CAR-T) and the scalability challenges of autologous vs allogeneic/xenogeneic off-the-shelf treatments
  • The regulatory challenges some of these technologies face, whether to ensure individual privacy from genomics databanks or to prevent potential harmful side effects from therapeutics such as CRISPR technologies

Precision medicine has proven to produce more effective treatments in multiple indications by tailoring medical treatment to the individual and their disease. Additionally, early detection of disease has improved outcomes for many patients. Panelists will discuss where the field is heading and what unique challenges companies in this area will face.

3:00 PM EDT – Clinical & Research Data Panel

Engaging AI in Collection, Application, and Targeting Bias

AI technology has enabled countless technological breakthroughs in the healthcare arena, but one area in which it is still limited is through data. Like gas to a car, the right data is necessary for AI to truly help clinicians and patients. Investors focused on targeting this challenge through their early-stage deal flow meet to discuss these challenges and how they work with companies seeking to eliminate bias and error.

4:00 PM EDT – Tales from the Road: Biotech and Medtech Innovators on Their Fundraising Journey

The industry has quickly adapted to a “new normal” – entrepreneurs and investors meet virtually over digital platforms to discuss potential investment opportunities, and it is not uncommon to see entrepreneurs raise capital from investors they have never met before in person. That said, there is no doubt that the fundraising journey continues to be challenging for many. In this panel, you will be able to hear fellow entrepreneurs share their experiences, from successes to challenges.

This panel will discuss the following topics and more:

  • What are some of the greatest challenges entrepreneurs have faced, especially during the pandemic, and how were they overcome?
  • How did entrepreneurs identify investors that fit their technology?
  • What are some misconceptions entrepreneurs had about the early-stage investment landscape?

Furthermore, entrepreneurs will share unique tips and insights they have gained from their fundraising experiences, and how others can work their way towards a more successful campaign.

Thursday, November 18

11:00 AM EDT – Digital Health Panel

Leveraging Software to Lower Costs and Improve the Quality of Care

This panel focuses on investing in innovative digital health products that bring new efficiencies to the healthcare system, change how care is delivered or managed, and how patients are involved in their own care. Panelists will explore topics related to investing in digital health, including:

  • In what kinds of digital health technologies are they interested in investing?
  • What metrics and evidence do you look for in a digital health startup?
  • How can an early stage digital health company demonstrate the value of their products?
  • What are the main challenges for startups raising capital in this space?

The moderator and panelists will discuss this rapidly evolving field of healthcare investment, and will introduce the audience to the key fundraising opportunities and challenges facing digital health entrepreneurs today.

12:00 PM EDT – Fireside Chat: AI-Assisted Imaging in Diagnosis

Few areas of healthcare show more promise through AI applications than radiology. Through AI-enabled imaging, clinicians are able to work harder and smarter, as well as provide more accurate and detailed information crucial to patient care. Learn about the future of AI in pathology and imaging and where the industry is headed next.

2:00 PM EDT – Women in Age-Tech

Investing in Strategy and Success

Women remain the majority of caregivers in 2021 and the difference between male and female caregivers providing more hours of unpaid care is much greater. Hear from healthcare investors working with age-tech entrepreneurs to bridge the care and equity gap in senior care.

3:00 PM EDT – Impact Investors Panel

Life Science Investors Looking for More Than Financial Returns

This panel features four speakers and a moderator from firms that make equity investments into early-stage companies and organizations with the intent to generate a positive social or environmental impact alongside a financial return. Some of these firms focus on impacting a specific patient population, whereas others have broader goals in creating an impact for their local region, or the world. Topics may include:

  • What is impact investing?
  • How is the investment mandate affected by the impact goal? • How do investors measure and increase the impact of their capital?
  • How should startups approach impact investors for fundraising, and what criteria do they use to evaluate opportunities?
  • What separates an impact investor from a traditional VC?

Panelists will discuss how impact investors provide capital to address challenges in life sciences and healthcare sectors worldwide. While impact investing market is a relatively new trend, panelists will also discuss how companies can successfully fundraise from impact investors and the best way to develop a relationship with relevant investors.

4:00 PM EDT – Tales from the Road: AI Innovators on Their Fundraising Journey

Hear from fundraising entrepreneurs on their processes researching, pitching, and working with investors. AI technology has incredible potential in healthcare, but also raises unique challenges. Hear from founders on how AI fits into their story and solutions, and how they sourced the right investors for them.

RESI-NOV-Banner-3050x-1050

Stories from the Innovator’s Pitch Challenge

30 Sep

By Claire Jeong, Chief Conference Officer, Vice President of Investor Research, Asia BD, LSN

claire

Since going digital in 2020, RESI conferences have been able to grow and meet the unique needs of virtual partnering in many ways, but few more exciting than the Innovator’s Pitch Challenge (IPC). The IPC is an opportunity for early-stage companies to gain additional exposure to conference attendees, pitch directly to a panel of relevant investors, and participate in a live Q&A session. Participating companies pay registration and a $500 pitching fee to host their company materials on the Live Agenda and participate in the live pitch session.

Applications are due October 22, but those who apply by October 8 save an additional $200 with super early bird registration rates. Hear from past participants about their experiences pitching at RESI conferences and how their experiences contributed to their global fundraising efforts.

RESI-NOV-Banner-3050x-1050

Scrappy, Strategic, and Starting Million-Dollar Conversations: The Sonavex Story

30 Sep

By Rory McCann, Marketing Manager & Conference Producer, LSN

Sonavex makes ultrasound accessible for non-sonographers through its technologies designed to improve imaging and detect issues. Their work is meant to create better clinician experience and better patient outcomes. In a conversation with Sonavex CEO, David Narrow, it’s clear that there’s so much more that goes into early-stage success than a great idea. It takes strategy and understanding how to use the tools available to you. One such tool Sonavex has used is the Redefining Early Stage Investment (RESI) conference series. Check out a recent interview to learn more about the Sonavex story and how the team made RESI work for them.

RESI Partnering Week, November 16-18 registration is open! Sign up today and save $200 on super early bird rates.

Register-now-button-new

RESI-NOV-Banner-3050x-1050

← Older Entries
Newer Entries →