Ecphora Capital

"How can you use a patent to force an acquisition?" This question came up during the Q&A at the NoVa BioHub Beer & Bio, hosted by JLL in Tyson’s Corner, and sponsored by Virginia Bio, the Prince William County Department of Economic Development, and George Mason University's Institute for Biohealth Innovation. It followed a delightful discussion with Bibhash Mukhopadhyay, Managing Partner at Sound Bioventures, and Kevin O’Connell, Senior VP at IQT (In-Q-Tel), moderated by Amy Adams from GMU. Now about patents being a critical component in the M&A process. Here’s the truth—no one is going to acquire your company just because you’re brilliant or have a great smile (even though you are and you do)! They acquire for one reason only: because they have to. Here’s why patents are critical in the M&A process: 1. Patents protect a strong foundation. A patent alone doesn’t guarantee success, but it protects your commercially viable product. What’s your unique value proposition? What differentiates you? That’s what your patents need to cover. At my firm, Ecphora Capital, we focus on product-market fit, technical feasibility, exit strategy, and a solid patent portfolio from day one. 2. Patents raise the stakes and give you legal leverage. With AI getting smarter, there is growing concern that patents could be circumvented—but a strong portfolio is much harder to crack. Patents give you the legal muscle to stop competitors from copying your innovation. This makes acquiring your company (and your patent portfolio) the better—and less risky—option for a larger player. 3. Patents keep you competitive in the race for market dominance. Without strong patents, competitors can quickly knock you off. It’s tough being a first mover, as many of our portfolio companies know. Patents keep you protected as you scale. When you start taking market share, patents not only get acquirers' attention but also incentivize them to act fast before their competitors do. This boosts your valuation and gives you leverage in any negotiation. At Ecphora Capital, we support medtech companies with a strong foundation that combines product-market fit, technical feasibility, and, of course, patents to fuel growth and attract acquisitions! #Innovation #Patents #MergersAndAcquisitions #MedTech #Startups #Entrepreneurship #Strategy #TechInnovation #VentureCapital #HealthTech #IPProtection #MarketDominance #BusinessGrowth #FirstMoverAdvantage #StartupStrategy #WomeninVC #VCsGiveBack

"I only do the things that only I can do” -Managing Partner Deborah Hemingway, PhD

How will you handle setbacks? What an incredible morning at The Big Idea CONNECTpreneur Community at The Johns Hopkins University - Carey Business School! Tien Wong, you certainly know how to put on a fantastic event! The day kicked off with inspiring remarks from an impressive lineup: Kelly Schulz, CEO Maryland Tech Council; Kevin Anderson, Secretary of Commerce, Maryland Department of Commerce; Patrick Sheridan, CEO Modus Create; and Troy Stovall, CEO of TEDCO. It was also incredible to see pitches from the real stars of the show—the companies! After the pitches, I had the pleasure of being on the VC investor panel moderated by the amazing Alexander Triantis, alongside my colleagues Jeff Cherry, Jack Miner, and Elizabeth Cho-Fertikh, PhD. One of my favorite moments on the panel was when Alex asked us to share an example of a recent investment we are excited about. Of course, I jumped at the opportunity to spotlight one of our portcos! I shared a story close to my heart as I hoped it would resonate with the audience. Back in 2017, I had my first foray into angel investing, inspired by a mentor at the University of Maryland Dingman Center Angels. At my very first meeting, the first pitch I heard was from a tiny medtech startup. They barely had a working prototype, but their mission was compelling, and I believed in the CEO. (Spoiler alert: that CEO is Howard Carolan and that company is CoapTech!) Fast forward to 2020: COVID hit, and the journey became tough. Selling into hospitals during a global pandemic was not happening. Major delays and missed goals abounded. But what stood out to me as an investor was the transparency of the CEO and the resilience of the team. It is okay to face hurdles and setbacks. What startup doesn’t? The key is how you respond when setbacks happen. The CoapTech team faced the challenges head-on, communicated openly, and worked tirelessly to push through. And the story doesn’t end there. Fast forward to 2024: The company is thriving. On the market, solid growth, saving lives. In August, it was time for another capital infusion, and my firm, Ecphora Capital, made a $1.2M investment! (Remember my Disney mouse ears post?) This was a strong investment in a solid company that has faced adversity and come out stronger. So to all the entrepreneurs in the audience, my takeaway and reason for sharing this story is this: every startup will face hurdles, but what sets you apart is how you navigate them. Be open, communicate with your investors, and remember that we want to support you—it’s a long-term game! Here’s to CoapTech and all the incredible investors, founders, and team members driving this company forward. Proud to be part of this journey, through challenges, setbacks, and all the successes ahead! #CONNECTpreneur #Entrepreneurship #Resilience #Medtech #StartupJourney #VentureCapital #AngelInvesting #TheLaunchPort #LongTermSuccess #MarylandStartups #JHUCarey #VCsGiveBack #WomeninVC

VC investors in the #JHUCarey house! Thanks so much for sharing with us today! Institutional Investor The Johns Hopkins University - Carey Business School CAIA Association Maryland State Retirement and Pension System Jeff Cherry Elizabeth Cho-Fertikh, PhD TEDCO The Wall Street Journal Pensions & Investments Johns Hopkins Technology Ventures (JHTV) Brown Advisory JOHNS HOPKINS HOSPITAL ENDOWMENT FUND INCORPORATED The Baltimore Sun The Big Idea CONNECTpreneur Community Tien Wong Alexander Triantis Jack Miner Deborah Hemingway, PhD

If you're in the Baltimore area and planning to start, build, finance...or take a leadership role...in an early stage tech or bio company, The Big Idea CONNECTpreneur Community is the place to be on Tuesday morning. Tien Wong, the founder, always delivers...his events are a must-attend! The Johns Hopkins University - Carey Business School is the event host (parking garage is easy to access) and the lineup is a fantastic group of leaders and company presenters...but the truth is that it's just a great gathering of folks in the same ecosystem. If you're not sure if you'll know anyone, just come up to me and introduce yourself. Let me know you're new and I'll make sure you meet people!! Join us!! Tien Wong | Alexander Triantis | Kelly Schulz | Troy Stovall | Patrick Sheridan | Deborah Hemingway, PhD | Jeff Cherry | Jack Miner | Elizabeth Cho-Fertikh, PhD

What does 'Investor Ready' mean to Ecphora Capital? Join Deborah Hemingway, PhD founder and Managing Partner of Ecphora Capital October 18th as she discusses how Ecphora Capital is de-risking and accelerating Maryland’s best biomedical startups. Sign up Today! #Biomedical #Investor #Biotech

Need a Friday pick me up and want to hear from an entrepreneur expert, Jason Jannati? He is hosting a FREE lunch and learn seminar at Ecphora Capital with Deborah Hemingway, PhD for folks in the LIFE SCIENCES sector. Are you a founder or leader in the life sciences sector striving to scale your startup efficiently and sustainably? Join us for an insightful and transformative session on "Building an Entrepreneurial Operating System for Your Life Sciences Startup." In this dynamic event, you'll learn how to create and implement a robust operating system tailored specifically for the unique challenges and opportunities in the life sciences industry. Our expert speaker will delve into key strategies and best practices to help you streamline operations, enhance productivity, and drive innovation. Register here. https://lnkd.in/enyzgM4n #lifesciences #entreprenuer #operations #businessgrowth #smartgrowth #strategy

"Entrepreneurship is the most powerful way to lift the economic condition of your family. No government program, nonprofit, or charity can match its impact. It is one of the most powerful forces in the world." -Deborah Hemingway, PhD

At Ecphora Capital we are proud to support our portfolio companies as they achieve remarkable milestones and drive forward the future of medtech. Let's continue to innovate and collaborate as we together elevate Baltimore as the leading hub for medical technology commercialization. #MedTechInnovation #MedTechHub #MedTechVC #NeuroTech #VC #Innovation #Leadership #Baltimore #LifeSciences 

"The collaboration is becoming powerful." - Martin Rosendale This week I had the extraordinary opportunity to experience the power of collaboration as I toured the most prominent entrepreneurial centers in Southwestern Virginia (SWVA). This area, in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains, might not be the first place that comes to mind when you think of an emerging tech hub, but this community is proving to be quite an emerging inspiration. Throughout my time in SWVA, I witnessed Virginia Tech, Carilion Clinic, Roanoke - Blacksburg Technology Council, and the City of Roanoke, VA referencing each other and showcasing their collaborative efforts to launch tech startups through the Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center, Carilion Simulation Center, Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC, and RAMP - Regional Accelerator and Mentoring Program. Together, they're unifying and uplifting the local economy in ways that are truly impressive and inspirational. Each organization brings its own unique strengths to the table, creating a robust support system for entrepreneurs and innovators. They have also clearly defined a pathway for entrepreneurs. Over lunch, I asked the group what they attributed the strength of their collaboration to, and their response was simple yet profound: "The collaboration is here because we want it to be." There was an intentionality behind it – a deliberate effort to come together for the betterment of the Roanoke-Blacksburg region. And it's paying off. As Ecphora Capital looks to the future and plans our own expansion, we're taking notes on the collaboration, the compelling startups here, and the opportunities for advancement coming out of this region. The collaboration here is indeed becoming truly powerful. #CollaborationIsPowerful #Collaboration #SrengthofTheTeam #Innovation #MedTech #VirginiaTech #Carilion #EconomicDevelopment #Roanoke #Blacksburg #EcphoraCapital #FutureForward #Leadership #Intentionality