Tag Archives: LSN

Hot Investor Mandate 1: Subsidiary of Large USA and China-Based Biotech Seeks Investment and In-Licensing Opportunities in Cell & Gene Therapies, Invests Up to $10M

19 Apr

An emerging company with China headquarters is focusing on the development of the best-in-class immunotherapy technology for cancer cure. Teamed up with outstanding immunologists and molecular biologists, the firm has generated a strong pipeline of Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) product candidates to treat a wide variety of liquid and solid tumors. The firm is a subsidiary company of another established public biotech company with offices in USA and China. The firm is actively seeking investment, partnering and licensing opportunities to expand the pipeline of therapeutics and offerings. Typical allocations are $1-10 M.

The firm’s sectors of focus are cell and gene therapies, cell engineering, processing and manufacturing technologies and tools.

The firm may seek a board seat depending upon size of investment. They are open to working with all stages of management teams. The firm can either lead or co-invest.

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 2: VC Arm of Japanese Pharma Invests in Early-Stage Therapeutics and Platform Technologies in a Wide Range of Indications, Including CNS

19 Apr

A corporate venture subsidiary of a Japan pharmaceutical is looking to provide equity capital to seed and venture stage companies in the life science space, and invests across North America & Europe. The firm is looking to provide companies with $5 million over the lifetime of the investment and plans on making 2-3 investments over the next year.

The firm is currently looking for companies developing Therapeutics and Platform Technologies. The firm is looking for companies in this sector working with small molecules, vaccines and biotherapeutics. Indications of interest include nephrology, cardiovascular, immunology, metabolic disease the firm is especially interested in companies working with therapies for CNS disorders such as ALS, inflammation, fibrosis, NASH and orphan indications. Ideal companies will have assets in preclinical stages of development.

The firm strongly prefers that the company has a strong management team with experience in the industry. The firm historically has only invested as a co-investor although they are capable and looking to take a lead position if the correct opportunity arises. The firm is looking to allocate to companies that will eventually be able to partner long term with its parent company.

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 3: Corporate Venture Arm of Leading Netherlands’ Telecom Service Provider Looking for Data and Software-Based Healthcare Technologies

19 Apr

Established in 2015, a corporate venture capital investment arm of a leading telecom and ICT service provider has interests in a variety of sectors in relation to their corporate activities, one of them being Digital Health. The firm manages a €70M revolving venture fund via which the firm invests in fast growing technology companies (Series A-C). In addition, the firm selectively invest in venture capital investment funds that complement the firm’ direct investment strategy and provide broader access to new technology companies and partnership opportunities. In January 2018, the firm for example initiated an early stage (seed) investment fund with multiple Dutch investors.

The firm aims to create value-creating partnerships with innovative technology companies providing access to capital, industry expertise, professional network and customer channels. The firm mainly focuses on opportunities based in Europe but is also interested to get in touch with companies which are located in USA and Canada, as long as they have an interest in expanding their commercial activities to the Netherlands. The firm’s initial ticket size typically ranges from €0.5M to €3M for minority stakes, building long-term partnerships, ultimately aiming for external exits, not acquisitions. The firm is open to both leading and co-investing, depending on the proposition. While the firm does not aim for a specific number of investments, the firm has made 6 investments per year since establishment.

The firm is highly interested in B2B/B2C software-based technology companies. The firm will only consider medical or diagnostic hardware companies that have a strong data or software component. The firm is especially interested in technologies that enable easier and smarter health management for patients and or medical professionals (i.e. self-monitoring devices for chronic disease management with real-time data accessibility, preventative healthcare, etc.). The firm is also interested in propositions that focus on (cyber) security solutions and or propositions that create efficiencies/cost-reductions within health organizations.

The firm seeks technologies that have a strategic fit or enough potential for a future collaboration with the firm’s health business, that fall under the firm’s sectors of interest. The firm prefers to work with management teams with a proven track record and wants to see market traction/validation, with at least €0.5M in annual revenues.

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: Toronto-Based Global Firm Seeks to Invest Early-Stage Medical Device, Diagnostics, and Digital Health Companies

19 Apr

A firm based in Toronto that has offices worldwide manages a variety of different investment vehicles including private equity and multi-strategy funds. In the life sciences, the firm makes equity investments typically at Series A; initial investments range from $100,000-$1 million with follow on capital available of $1-3 million. The firm focuses on companies based in North America but has the capacity to invest worldwide.

In the life sciences, the firm focuses on medical devices, diagnostics and digital health companies. The firm prefers to invest in companies that are close to commercialization or which are already generating revenue (for example, device companies must ideally be ready to file for a CE Mark, 510k or Health Canada application).

The firm prefers to invest in experienced entrepreneurs who have deep knowledge of their sector. The firm only invests in companies developing products that have a clear path to market, and which serve a clear need; the firm prefers to invest in companies that are no more than a year from obtaining revenues. As the firm has offices globally, the firm is well placed to help portfolio companies make international distribution or license/royalty agreements. The firm invests in both public and privately-held 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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RESI Lands on MaRS in 5 Days – Check out the Program Guide

5 Apr

By Nono Hu, Director of Marketing, LSN

In 5 days, The Redefining Early Stage Investments (RESI) Conference will return to MaRS Discovery Centre, Toronto for the third time during the Toronto Health Innovation Week. So far, we have over 700 meetings booked through the RESI Partnering Platform, and have registered over 250 early stage investors.

If you’re planning your day at RESI on MaRS, check out the program guide now to find the full lineup of speakers, innovators, exhibitors and sponsors.

See you at MaRS on April 10th!

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Why MaRS Toronto for an International Early Stage Investor Conference?

5 Apr

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

There is a rich diversity of technology assets being developed in Toronto, as MaRS Discovery District and Johnson & Johnson’s JLABS have convened to create one of the most dynamic centers for life science technology innovation in North America. However, not to use an old cliché, Toronto’s real value in life science is in the people, from its visionary leaders to its extraordinary scientist-entrepreneurs, all striving (and succeeding) to move the needle and create the next generation of healthcare innovation.

When I first launched the Redefining Early Stage Investments (RESI) Conference in Toronto in 2016, my network of global early-stage investors were initially open to seeing what was up in the north country. Just two years and three Toronto RESI conferences later, I am witnessing unprecedented signups from the global investor community. Much to my amazement, this upcoming RESI conference (April 10th at MaRS Discovery Centre) has seen a 25% increase in investor and strategic partner registrations. We expect 300-350 qualified investors (all with vetted investment mandates) to peruse the lineup of hundreds of early-stage biotech, medtech, diagnostics and digital health startups. But one quite compelling factor is that we expect that almost 60% of the investors and partners will be from outside of Canada.

But I digress. Back to the people factor. What I learned from discussion with investors who have attended RESI on MaRS in the past was actually quite startling. The main takeaway from a majority of the investors I chatted with was that the caliber of the fundraising CEOs and scientist-entrepreneurs was the main differentiator. It was their genuineness and their lack of inflated value of their technology that impressed the investors. In contrast, the Boston, NYC and CA players had elevated expectations regarding the amount of time it takes to get a deal done, and the valuations of their assets were off the charts. The investors implied that if they find a deal they like in Toronto, the valuations and executive teams in Canada are much more realistic, which translates into getting contracts signed quicker. These perceptions impact and ignite the global investor community and have heightened interest in Toronto, which proves out the adage that if you build it, they will come!

 

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Hot Investor Mandate 1: Large VC Firm Focused on Data-Driven Life Science Technologies, from Devices to Computational Drug Discovery

5 Apr

A venture capital firm with offices in California backs entrepreneurs applying deep and differentiated technology to transform giant industries. The firm focuses on seed and series A investments and has raised multiple funds to date, with over $1B AUM. The firm usually makes seed investments in the range of $250K – $1M and venture-stage investments from $1M-$4M and may use both convertible notes or straight equity. The firm may lead or co-invest in a syndicate and looks to add unique value to entrepreneurs with a strong Equity Partner network, operational experience and technical background.

The firm invests in several verticals and is focused on deep technologies such as AI, advanced materials, quantum computing, etc. In the healthcare space, the firm is focused on the entire continuum including computational drug discovery, AI-driven diagnostics, better/faster clinical trials and technologies used by payers and providers to better understand and manage risk and drive better outcomes. The common theme is that the startup’s underlying technology be novel and data-driven. The firm is also interested in synthetic biology. The firm does not invest in biopharma or traditional medical devices/diagnostics with a standard regulatory pathway.

The firm requires that startups have some type of proof-of concept and traction. The firm prefers experienced/proven management teams and entrepreneurs that are introduced through the firm’s network. The firm typically seeks a board seat when leading an 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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