RESI Innovation Challenge: LSN’s Scientific Review Team Selects 30 Top Life Science Startups

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By Christine A. Wu, Senior Research Analyst, LSN

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We are pleased to announce our thirty finalists to compete in the Innovation Challenge at Life Science Nation’s (LSN) first-ever RESI in San Diego. From a pool of approximately 100 applicants, the LSN Scientific Review Team has selected a diverse group of life science startups: three healthcare IT, three diagnostic, thirteen therapeutic, and eleven medical device companies.  These startups will showcase themselves in the exhibit hall display spaces at RESI on June 19th. The quality of these companies should not go unnoticed, as we have seen nearly 50% of Innovation Challenge finalists from previous RESI’s receive funding within one year of their debut.

From personalized cancer immunotherapies to digital pathology imaging, these companies cover a diverse range of life science technologies. Coming from all over the world, the companies will be competing based on scientific merit and investment potential, pitching to RESI attendees and showcasing their innovations. Be sure to catch them and make your “investments” at the RESI Exhibition Hall in just a couple weeks!

Therapeutic
 
Diagnostic
Medical Device
 
Healthcare IT
 

RESI San Diego: Biotech & Medtech Angels Discuss their Strategy

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By Cole Bunn, Senior Research Analyst, LSN

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Angel investors are a major force at the earliest stages of financing for life science companies, and can have a great influence in startup development. As many of these individuals have been entrepreneurs and often take an operational role along with an investment, their capital, network and know-how is crucial for energizing a new venture and ensuring that the company has all its ducks in a row as it goes on to grow as a business and raise more capital.

Given the significant differences in the development and financing needs of biotech vs. medtech companies, LSN has two separate sessions which showcase active angles in each space separately.

The Biotech Angels panel will be moderated by Bernie Rudnick, Founder, Mid Atlantic Bio Angels and will feature the following panelists:

The Medtech Angels panel will be moderated by Brian Frenzel, Member, Band of Angels and will feature the following panelists:

These panel sessions will explore general topics such as how angel groups approach an investment opportunity and how best to pitch to/work with an angel investor as well as more specific topics such as how they work with other angel groups and VCs, what to expect in the diligence process, cap table issues and more.

RESI San Diego Panel: Corporate Venture Capital

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By Lucy Parkinson, Director of Research, LSN

Corporate venture capital funds have been a key pillar of the life science investment community for some time, and at LSN we’ve seen these groups evolving on strategy to keep up with an increasingly competitive investor marketplace. While many pharma firms still use corporate VC as a strategic vehicle for filling pipelines, these firms are increasingly collaborative and keen to be seen as aligned with the interests of entrepreneurs and other investors, as well as those of their parent companies.

At RESI, a panel of 5 top corporate VCs from around the world will explain how their group makes strategic investments in early stage companies, and how a corporate VC relationship can help a startup company get ahead in development and strategic relationships.

Moderated by Rajeev Dadoo (Partner, SR One), the participants are:

Hot Investor Mandate 1: Family Investment Trust Invests in Novel Early Stage Healthcare

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A family investment trust based in the Boston area invests in early-stage healthcare and life sciences startups. The firm makes seed investments usually in the range of $50K-$250K initially and typically participates in future financing rounds. Investments may come in the form of straight equity or convertible notes depending on the deal. In addition to capital, the group looks to leverage years of experience in the biotech and healthcare industry and add value to portfolio companies through clinical and regulatory strategy, product launch and commercial strategy as well as corporate governance. The group may lead or syndicate rounds and is open to companies on a global basis.

The firm is fairly agnostic in terms of sectors and indications and is interested in therapeutics, medical devices, diagnostics and healthcare IT. As for therapeutics, the group is only interested in first-in-class / best-in-class compounds and does not evaluate iterative or repurposed assets (such as 505(b)(2) regulatory pathways). The group is also interested in medical devices and diagnostic technologies and has specific expertise in the orthopedic space, where several of the groups investments lie. Healthcare IT is also a focus area with most interest in consumer-oriented digital therapies, as opposed to enterprise software solutions.

The firm places a large emphasis on the management team / founders and looks to completely understand the company’s business prior to investment. The group often seeks a board seat along with an investment, but it is not necessarily required

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: Major Life Science Investment Firms form New Venture Vehicle, Seeking China Angle

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In 2017 a new investment vehicle was launched by a healthcare focused venture capital firm and a major global strategic player in the life science industry. The firm generally seeks to make equity investments into emerging life science companies in seed and venture stages; however, the fund also considers commercial-stage companies, depending on the opportunity. The investment size of the USD fund ranges from $5 – $25 million. For the RMB fund, typical investment size is RMB 30- RMB150 million. The firm currently focuses on China-based companies or overseas businesses with a China angle.

The firm is looking for new investment opportunities across a wide spectrum of life science sectors, including Therapeutics, Diagnostics, Biotech R&D Services, Medical Technology and Healthcare IT. The firm is agnostic to disease indications but is most interested in areas with large market potential, including Diabetes, Cardiovascular, Musculoskeletal System and Connective Tissue, Diseases of the Eye and Oncology. Rare diseases are generally less of interest. The firm is open to invest in both small molecules and biologics, and it looks for all classes of devices. The funds are most interested in companies in preclinical and early-clinical stage, but they are open to companies in late-clinical and growth stage, on a case-by-case basis.

The firm will invest in both private companies and public companies. The firm is looking to be an active investor, sometimes taking a board seat 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: Pharma Firm Licenses High Potential Early Stage Assets and Therapeutic Platforms

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A pharmaceutical company based in Shanghai, China is actively engaged in R&D, sales, and manufacturing of pharmaceutical products. The company has recently developed a strategy to expand its current pipeline of generics by in-licensing of high-potential assets and developing global partnerships and strategic alliances with companies developing innovative medicines. The company is very interested in early therapeutic assets and is actively seeking partnering opportunities.

The firm is actively seeking all innovative products in the therapeutics space including platform technologies. While the company generally takes an opportunistic approach, the 3 main areas of interest are gastrointestinal diseases, respiratory diseases, and oncology. The company has strong domestic expertise in these specific fields and can act as a strong partner to help their assets of interest move through the pipeline and enter commercialization.

The firm seeks to partner with companies that would be interested in entering the China market, and deemed to have the strong potential to do well in China. The company will strongly seek distribution rights for in-licensed products.

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: Global VC Invests Early in Novel Biotech and Medical Device Platforms

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A venture capital firm with offices across the US, Europe and Asia is currently looking to make new investments into biopharmaceutical and medical device companies from its two funds. The firm looks to invest in early stage companies and can provide up to about $17 million to a company over the lifetime of the investment. The firm is most interested in companies based in the US, Canada, Ireland, Singapore and will also consider exceptional opportunities elsewhere in Europe and in Asia. The firm plans to make approximately 8 new investments over the next 6-9 months.

The firm is interested in companies developing either biopharmaceuticals or medical devices. For biopharmaceuticals, the firm is interested in all modalities including small molecules, biologics, and cell and gene therapies. The firm is primarily interested in platform companies with the potential for multiple assets and strongly prefers technologies to be 1st in class or best in class, often originating from breakthrough chemistry or biology discoveries. The firm is looking for companies with assets in discovery through Phase 1 clinical trials. For medical devices, the firm is primarily interested in companies working on devices that have the ability to treat drug-like markets, as well as devices for self-pay markets. The firm is indication-agnostic in both biopharmaceuticals and devices.

The firm can both lead and co-lead investments, with a preference for taking a board seat. The firm prefers working with management teams with positive track records; however, they are open to working with incomplete or non-permanent management teams as well, especially for very early stage opportunities. The investment team has extensive operating experience and deep networks, which they can leverage to support companies as needed.

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