Tag Archives: Digital Health

First Coast Tech Hubs Gather @ RESI Boston

16 Aug

By Dennis Ford, Founder & CEO, Life Science Nation; Creator of RESI Conference Series

The First Coast Innovator’s Gathering is a new component of the Redefining Early Stage Investments (RESI) Conference Series which was requested by the investors and strategic channel partners who routinely attend RESI. Many of these partners wanted LSN to bring the “earliest stage” companies so that they can identify them and get them on their radar screens in order to start a dialogue that can result in a future partnership. The First Coast Innovator’s Gathering focuses on tech hubs and companies from the First Coast of life sciences: DC, MD, PA, NJ, NY, RI, CT, and MA. Dozens of tech hubs will be attending RESI to take a spot in the exhibit hall and showcase the new technologies being developed at their institution or facility. This fall, RESI will expand to include the earliest stage companies from the discovery stage through venture stage: companies seeking grants, seed, angel, series A, and series B funding.

This RESI event offers exhibit tables to the incubators, accelerators, tech transfer offices, university translation initiatives, hospitals, research labs and their constituents, with space for incubator members’ poster boards (5 poster boards for each tech hub). LSN’s network of early-stage global investors will have access to all the key players in one place to learn about the iterative, breakthrough, and transformative technology coming out of the First Coast region.

Stetson Family Office, a Title Sponsor of RESI and a supporter of the Innovator’s Gathering, is pioneering new global funding initiatives and platforms to help the early stage players move faster through the development cycle. See below for the tech hubs that are confirmed to be part of the First Coast Innovator’s Gathering. Tech hub members are also eligible to apply for free to the First Coast Innovation Challenge to pitch in front of a panel of investors. The deadline for applications is Friday August 17th – that’s tomorrow! If you’d like to make a 7-minute pitch to investors at RESI, it’s not too late to sign up. We hope you will join us at RESI Boston on September 6th to see more. Click to see the confirmed First Coast Innovator’s Gathering participants

Massachusetts

Connecticut / Rhode Island

New York City / New Jersey

Pennsylvania

Maryland

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China PE Firm Invests Up to $40M Per Company In Medtech, Diagnostics, and Digital Health

19 Jul

A private equity firm headquartered in China with additional offices throughout China and Hong Kong provides venture capital and growth capital to growth-stage companies across various industries, including life sciences, Internet, consumables, software, and high technology sectors (i.e. drones). The firm is interested in all types of life science companies except drug development. The allocation size will vary, but the firm has the capability to allocate up to $40 million per company, depending on the opportunity. The investment is typically in form of equity, but convertible loan will be considered as well. The firm has an emphasis on technologies and products, and it is currently seeking new investment opportunities globally. Companies with a China angle will be a big plus.

The firm is currently seeking to invest in medical device, diagnostics, biotech R&D services and healthcare IT sectors. The firm is very opportunistic in terms of subsectors and indications. Currently the firm will not invest in companies targeting drug development. The firm will consider companies at all stages of development, from pre-clinical stage all through to commercial stage; however, the firm prefers companies in the business proven stage, where the product is on the market and may already have customer feedback.

The firm primarily invests in growth-stage private companies. The firm does not have specific requirements for companies’ management team or revenues. The firm will take 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.

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Global Funding Insights for Digital Health Initiatives in 2018

12 Jul

By Ashley Durrer, Marketing Manager, LSN

This week I interviewed Colin Widen, the CEO of Boston Innovation Capital (BIC), Life Science Nation’s (LSN) wholly-owned broker-dealer arm, to learn where investors are allocating funds, and the current focus on healthcare advancement within the digital health space.

BIC works alongside LSN and our network of investors to support early-stage companies in forging connections with investors, major pharma firms, and other strategic players in the life science world. By managing clients’ fundraising campaigns and connecting them to investors who are a good fit, BIC is able to address its, and LSN’s, mission of advancing new and innovative technologies to the clinic.

Interview with Colin Widen moderated by Ashley Durrer

AD: With billions of dollars being poured into digital health, why the sudden increase?

CW: “Healthcare needs to find a way to pay for digital health now that value-based care and hospital incentives are aligned to support lower costs in healthcare with improved patient care. There are new potentials for change within the telemedicine space in light of ongoing healthcare reforms and debate.”

AD: How will that turn out for those seeking funding?

CW: “Digital health initiatives will be the least impacted by changes to the American healthcare system, making them prime opportunities for investment this year.

“There is a much lower cost to creating software, virtual platforms, compliance tools, etc. than creating advances in biologics, drugs, and other life science advancements, making digital health an increasingly popular space for investors. Successfully investing in therapeutics or medical devices requires a great deal of expertise, not to mention the increased risk due to the potential failure in clinical trials. On the other hand, software is a recognizable, lower cost, and scalable business model that is often also easily adaptable when regulations change.”

AD: Where does BIC fit into global funding from client perspectives?

CW: “BIC is working tirelessly to support digital health technologies that will have a real impact on the healthcare system for our doctors, nurses, and hospitals. This year BIC is focused on digital health technologies, assets, and virtual tools, which can support doctors’, hospitals’, and nurses’ efforts with patients. However, this currently excludes consumer-based products and electronic medical record (EMR) initiatives.”

AD: What are some examples of potential best-fit clients?

CW: “Some examples recognized in the market are pill dispensers and medicinal tracking for patient compliance, health portals for patients and doctors, mental health apps, medication tracking, patient monitoring and more.”

AD: What kind of client are you seeking now? Can you share a potential client profile?

CW: “Within our LSN network of investors, feedback clearly shows there is an increasing appetite to invest in niche digital health opportunities.

“Investors are seeking companies within the top-tier of their specialization, and a proven business model within the market. Often these investors want to see that the product, software, tool, etc. are viable, which means it’s already being used within the market e.g. hospitals. This also includes an accompanying value proposition for payors and the company is receiving ongoing revenue for that service.”

BIC Global Network of Digital Health Investors are focused on:

  • Funding of $10M-50M
  • Min $3mm+ ARR
  • Niche companies within the top-tier of their specialization
  • Currently avoiding pure EMR focused and consumer-based products

The Future of Digital Health

There are innovations happening every day to help improve access to healthcare. 2018 has already seen an increase in the debate over healthcare reform, rising insurance costs, and uncertainty of coverage for millions of Americans. Advancements in technologies and virtual tools for doctors and hospitals could really help to streamline processes and reduce overall costs for themselves as well as the patients they serve.

We can’t wait to hear what new innovations are entering the digital health space.

About Colin Widen, CEO

Colin Widen, registered representative, is a seasoned executive with 25 years of sales, trading and portfolio management experience in major investment banks. Colin joined Deutsche Bank where he led a team providing consulting services about alternative asset allocation strategies to family offices and smaller endowments and foundations. In creating BIC, Colin has combined investment skills with the robust investor network of LSN to offer a unique platform. Colin is a registered representative and holds Series 7, 24, 63 and 82 registrations. His specialties include reconstructing hedge fund portfolios. analyzing private equity holdings and helping with strategy and execution of capital raise initiatives across the spectrum of today’s life science assets.

About Boston Innovation Capital

Boston Innovation Capital (BIC), a wholly owned subsidiary of Life Science Nation Holdings, became a FINRA-registered broker-dealer in 2016. BIC works alongside LSN’s other two divisions (LSN’s Investor Platform and Company Platform, and the RESI Conference Group) to support early-stage companies in forging connections with investors, major pharma firms and other strategic players in the life science world.

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Hot Investor Mandate: VC Firm Seeks to Invest in Medical Device, Scientific Instrument, and Digital Health Technologies in the Midwest and Southern California

12 Jul

A venture capital firm located in the midwest USA with several offices nationwide. The firm has 3 funds, the third of which they are investing from. The third fund has a vintage year of 2016. The firm currently is looking to make investments from this fund typically in the $.25-1M range with 2x that amount saved for follow on investments. The firm is looking to make 10 investments a year through 2019. The firm typically invests in companies raising Seed Investments, Seed Extensions, or Series A investments. The firm tends to lead 30-40% of their investments and co-invests in the rest. The firm looks at companies primarily in the Midwest, but is also interested in companies in Southern California.

The firm looks for investments primarily in the healthcare IT, medical devices, scientific instruments, and agriculture technology spaces. For the healthcare IT, agriculture technology, and scientific instrument companies, the firm prefers for the companies to have demonstrated product-market fit, some decent revenue traction, and a good revenue trend-line. For the medical device companies, the firm prefers to invest in companies that are just prior to FDA approval or are going through the FDA approval process. The firm’s focus on IT is much broader than just healthcare IT and is willing to consider IT companies beyond the healthcare sector.

The firm looks for companies with experienced management teams. When leading the investments, the firm requests a board seat and when co-investing, the company requests board observer rights if possible.

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

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Hot Investor Mandate: Newly Established VC Fund Invests in Innovative Digital Health and Medtech/Diagnostics Technologies with Software Components

12 Jul

A new venture fund started investing in pre-seed, seed and Series A rounds. The firm’s main investment areas are in companies that advance and improve human health through novel models of care delivery and in companies that are at the cutting-edge of frontier technology, such as neurotech, brain/machine interfaces, genomics and AI. The firm will consider digital health companies as well as diagnostics and medical device companies, as long as they have a software component. The firm will only invest in companies with disruptive technology, not incremental innovations. The firm will invest between $.1-1.5M in the initial investment, with the possibility of participating in following rounds. The firm is willing to lead or co-invest, has made 7 investments to date and is looking to invest in 4-6 companies a year.

The firm will consider digital health companies that are focused on improving patient care. Ideally, companies will already have a pilot with some outcomes-based data indicating traction. The firm is also interested in medical device companies, but will only invest if there is a significant software and/or radical innovation component. The firm will also consider diagnostics, such as genomics-based technologies, but not in vitro diagnostics. The firm will not invest in traditional therapeutics (i.e. small molecule or biologics) companies but will consider software-as-medicine and bioelectronic medicine.

Due to the firm’s preference for cutting-edge technology, the firm prefers that there be at least one technical expert in the company leadership. If acting as a lead investor, the firm will take a board or board observer seat. The firm prefers to be an active investor, providing multi-faceted support to portfolio companies.

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

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Hot Investor Mandate 4: USA-Based Investment Firm Can Invest Over $10M in Innovative Medtech and Digital Health Companies Based in Texas or Southwestern USA

5 Jul

A venture capital firm that was founded in 2006 and is based in the Southern USA has managed $400 million in total assets, and recently closed its sixth fund. The firm typically makes equity investments into enterprise software, medical devices, and healthcare IT companies in the seed, series A, series B and series C stages. The typical investment size ranges from $3 million to $10+ million per company. The allocation numbers will vary over the next 6-9 months. For early-stage investments, the firm primarily invests in companies based in Texas, but they will also consider opportunities in the Southwest of the US.

The firm is currently looking for new investment opportunities in enterprise software, medical devices, and the healthcare IT space. The firm will invest in 510k devices and healthcare IT companies, and it is very opportunistic in terms of indications. In the past, the firm was active in medical device companies developing dental devices, endovascular innovation devices, and women’s health devices.

The firm generally seeks to invest in private companies. The firm will consider pre-revenue companies and has no specific requirements for the company’s management team.

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

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Hot Investor Mandate 1: Global VC Firm Headquartered in Asia Invests in All Parts of Therapeutics, Medical Devices, Diagnostics, and Digital Health

28 Jun

A venture capital firm founded in 2005 has multiple offices throughout Asia, New York, and San Diego. The firm has closed its fifth fund in 2017 and is currently raising a sixth fund, which the firm is targeting to be the largest fund to date. The firm continues to actively seek investment opportunities across a wide range of industries. 1/3 of the fund is dedicated to global/USA-based life sciences and healthcare investments, while the rest of the fund will focus on investing in Asia-based companies. On average, the initial size of investment is in the $2-5M range but the firm has the capacity to invest more in companies they identify as a strong fit. The firm can participate anywhere from Seed to Series B, but Series A is their sweet spot.

The firm is an opportunistic investor and will consider therapeutics, medical devices, diagnostics, and healthcare IT companies. However, the firm will generally avoid single therapeutic assets and those that are pre-clinical or earlier. The firm is open to novel medical devices of all FDA regulatory pathways, including 510k and PMA. The firm is strongly interested in platform plays, or technologies that have implications in multiple disease areas or indications. Examples include novel drug delivery platforms, drug discovery platforms that leverage AI or machine learning, regenerative medicine, etc.

The firm considers the management team’s character and entrepreneurial spirit – more so than the team’s experience – as one of the most important factors in the investment screening process. Each partner of the firm will dedicate their time to become acquainted with the management team and determine their degree of fit. The targeted market and the company’s competitive edge are also important considerations. The firm prefers to act as the lead investor and will seek board representation, but is also open to co-investing.

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

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