Empirical Ventures’ Post

🚨 With a PhD in organic chemistry, Johnathan Matlock likes to invest in deeptech startups. He talks to Sam Shead for VC Wednesdays, a weekly series featuring a Q&A interview with a venture capitalist. 🖊️ What’s your dream job and why? For me, a dream job is about shaping the future. This could be through advancing breakthrough technologies in areas like longevity and climate change and working closely with visionary individuals pushing the boundaries of science and technology. Luckily a lot of my work now is in alignment with this but my dream is to grow Empirical Ventures to be a globally recognised VC fund that is known for supporting the world’s most innovative and entrepreneurial scientists. 🖊️ What does an average day look like for you? A typical day begins at 6:30am. I start with breakfast before getting my son ready for school and dropping him off at 8:00am. I reserve 8:00 to 11:00am for deep, focused work, as this is when I’m at my peak creativity and productivity. From 11:00am to 2:00pm, I shift to team meetings and the afternoon, between 2:00 and 6:00pm, is dedicated to detail-oriented activities and admin tasks. For me fitness is a priority and I try to make sure daily exercise is part of my routine. My evenings are for unwinding with family – right now I’m either watching ‘The Traitors’ with my wife or playing games like ‘It Takes Two’ with my seven-year-old son. 🖊️ Why are university spinouts so important to the ecosystem? University spinouts are vital to the innovation ecosystem because they serve as bridges between foundational research and practical applications. These companies are born from a robust body of academic research, much of which seeks to deepen our understanding of the world, rather than solely to pursue immediate commercialisation. However, when discoveries have an applied focus, they often pave the way for groundbreaking technologies. Nearly every advanced tool or system we rely on today can trace its origins back to fundamental research from universities, establishments which play a key role in equipping the next generation of innovators with the skills needed for discovery and application. 🖊️ Why are generalist VCs failing to invest in deeptech startups? Generalist VCs often struggle with deep tech investments in particular because these require a deep understanding of scientific principles. In order to have unique insight into a company’s attractiveness, you need the expertise to look under the hood and understand where the company is today, what they want to do next and if it’s backed with evidence. The shift from the low-interest-rate era has revealed the limitations of a broad, access-focused VC strategy. Now it’s about training people how to be great pickers and to identify what great looks like in entrepreneurial teams. #VCWednesdays #vc #venturecapital #startups #TechonLinkedIn

St. Louis is a city of innovation and opportunity, and James McCarter, leader of BioGenerator Ventures, is helping take our bioscience ecosystem to the next level.   The numbers speak for themselves: $2.7 billion in capital raised by BioGenerator-backed companies, 60:1 leverage on investments, and several successful startups.   But there’s so much more potential to unlock.   Read the full article from St. Louis Magazine to learn more about his plan to expand visibility, bridge the gap between research and startups, and engage investors.   #BioSTL #STL #Bioscience #Innovation

𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦 𝐀𝐥𝐮𝐦𝐧𝐢: Philipp Kopp 🌟 We had the pleasure of speaking with Philipp, who is based in Berlin working as a venture capital investor at bmp Ventures. Holding a bachelor’s in biology from the University of Freiburg and as a program alumni, Philipp shared valuable insights about his journey from science to the business world. 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐝𝐢𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫’𝐬 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐞? Philipp explained that the BBIP program gave him a solid foundation in understanding business plans and key questions to ask when evaluating startups. “As a venture capital investor, I sit on the other side of the table, asking the same questions when startups pitch to me. Understanding the basics of science, like molecular interactions, is crucial for my initial assessments, but the business understanding acquired through the master plays a vital role in assessing the potential of the start-ups. For more complex cases, I rely on external experts, as I can’t be an expert in every field I cover,” he noted. 𝐃𝐢𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐁𝐈𝐏 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐟𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐚 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐛𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬-𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐞? “Absolutely! The program provided a structured transition from a scientific to a business-oriented role. One course that stood out was on advanced biotechnology and intellectual property rights. It was a bit technical, especially the IP part, but it equipped me with essential skills that are vital in my work today,” As Philipp highlighted, the program gave him the necessary tools to transition into the industry. 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫’𝐬 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦 𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐬? Philipp expressed his confidence in the program’s potential: “I have no regrets about joining BBIP. It’s a unique program that combines scientific knowledge with business insights, which is invaluable in the life sciences industry. Once people understand our specialized education, they’re usually very interested in our profiles.” 𝐖𝐡𝐨 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦 𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐬𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫? “For those still exploring their options, the BBIP program is perfect for individuals who are undecided about their future and need more exposure to various possibilities in the life sciences industry. It can inspire ideas for professional roles, whether in pharma, startups, or academia,” he explained. 𝐋𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐀𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝: Philipp’s journey highlights the transformative power of interdisciplinary education. He remains committed to navigating the innovation landscape in venture capital, demonstrating that a unique blend of skills can lead to exciting opportunities. Thank you, Philipp, for sharing your insights and inspiring future professionals!    #CBSBIO #Alumni #VentureCapital

8 years ago, I finished my PhD As I stepped out into the ‘real world’ – I realised despite my (reasonably long by this point) scientific training – I was still missing the most important skill set, how to turn discovery into reality – a skill without which breakthrough languishes at publication 6 years ago, I was determined to rebuild the role of a scientist in society - to not just someone that discovers but also someone that implements that discovery First, I built Spin Up Science to introduce #PhDs and #Postdocs to entrepreneurship and innovation – we’ve now supported 4500 participants across 25 universities 4 years ago, when these academic teams asked for support to launch their companies, we built  Spin Up Ventures - our venture studio – that's now supported just over 200 ventures and directly cofounded 8, of which I’m immensely proud 3 years ago, when our deep science teams kept saying, “general investors are interested, they are waiting for a specialist investor to diligence our science” Johnathan Matlock and I, started Science Angel Syndicate, and united some of the most exceptional and passionate investors in scientific breakthroughs the UK has to offer Today, after we heard “we’re still waiting on a lead science investor” one too many times, we’re excited to announce Empirical Ventures – our first S/EIS fund and new home for all our activities - to lead deep tech investments into the best #deepscience founders at #preseed and #seed across the UK It’s been a long time in the making and we couldn’t have done it without the support of our fantastic team Claudia Fryer, Curran Kalha, Ph.D., Madeleine Nichols, PhD. Our exceptional Venture Partners Alexander Fink and Keith Lipman and all of our LPs in Fund 1. Thank you to all that are aligned with our vision and have supported us along the way. Thanks to the team at British Business Investments and British Business Bank Mark Barry and Luke W. for all the work you put in to helping us through the Regional Angel Fund process. Thanks to SFC Capital Partners Stephen Page, Marguerite Crossfield, Yosra El Hadri Aslah for your guidance and support getting the fund operational. Thanks to Hailey Eustace and Commplicated for supporting with this press release. Thank you to our partners Tom Turner at Abel + Imray and Marla Shapiro at HERMESA. We’ll be supporting capital investment into breakthrough science that links returns and positive impact for the world we live. If you want to know more get in touch or  you can read more here: https://lnkd.in/eiDSpHag #venture #venturecapital #investment #deeptech #deepscience #SEIS #EIS #preseed #seed *CAPITAL AT RISK. FOR PROFESSIONAL INVESTORS ONLY

Even though DeepTech startups are under the tech umbrella, they have some particularities. For example, they need to pay much attention to the IP, their scientific approach, but also regulation. 👨🏫 Because of this, investing in DeepTech startups requires a different approach. 👉 “When you deal with research based innovations, you cannot use the same tools. Here you need a thorough evaluation to assess their scientific credibility,” Pawel Bochniarz of Radix Ventures explains in the article below. More about this topic, but also the latest investment trends will be presented at the Zero One Hundred Conferences (PE & VC Platform) in Amsterdam next week. Elena and Teodor will be there, what about you? #deeptech #sciencebased #startupinvestment

SOSV, a prominent deep tech venture investor, has recently closed its largest fund to date, totaling $306 million.  💡 Key Highlights: 🌱 This fund, known as SOSV V, is dedicated to supporting startups in the realms of human and planetary health, with a specific focus on decarbonization and re-industrialization efforts. 🌱 SOSV's investment strategy spans from pre-seed to later stages, with a particular emphasis on nurturing deep tech startups through programs like HAX and IndieBio. 🌱 The fund aims to foster around 200 investments annually, contributing to the creation of transformative climate change and human health startups. 🌱 The fund's facilities and equipment investments, alongside partnerships with organizations like Empire State Development and New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA), underscore its commitment to providing founders with essential resources for development and de-risking. "We appreciate the dedication of many of the world's leading family offices and corporations in backing SOSV V, enabling the creation of the most transformational climate change and human health startups on the planet," said Sean O'Sullivan, SOSV's founding and managing general partner. #VentureCapital #DeepTech #Startups #Decarbonization #ReIndustrialization #HumanHealth #PlanetaryHealth #Innovation #Sustainability #Investment #ClimateChange #HealthTech #ClimateTech #ClimateAction

Even though DeepTech startups are under the tech umbrella, they have some particularities. For example, they need to pay much attention to the IP, their scientific approach, but also regulation. 👨🏫 Because of this, investing in DeepTech startups requires a different approach. 👉 “When you deal with research based innovations, you cannot use the same tools. Here you need a thorough evaluation to assess their scientific credibility,” Pawel Bochniarz of Radix Ventures explains in the article below More about this topic, but also the latest investment trends will be presented at the Zero One Hundred Conferences (PE & VC Platform) in Amsterdam next week. Will you be around? #deeptech #sciencebased #startupinvestment

A very interesting read in UNDP's Deep Tech Series Vol. 5: Science is Not Fiction - Insights from Singapore’s Deep Tech Venture Building, authored by A*Star's Jack So and UNDP's Weiiing Ye at https://lnkd.in/gJ36yBFs . Some key points listed in the articles: - Deep tech, with its advanced scientific and engineering breakthroughs, addresses key challenges like energy sustainability and water scarcity, offering transformative solutions that advance the Sustainable Development Goals and foster global sustainability. - Venture building is vital for deep tech startups, providing structured support, resources, and mentorship to develop ideas into market-ready businesses. Programs like UNDP’s Impact Venture Accelerator and Timbuktoo offer targeted funding and guidance to drive sustainable innovation and foster entrepreneurial ecosystems. - Singapore’s deep tech ecosystem exemplifies a successful integration of academia, private sector, and government support. Institutions like NUS GRIP, A*StartCentral, and NTUitive provide essential resources, while private entities and government bodies offer investment and mentorship, fostering innovation and growth. - Deep tech ventures face challenges like technical complexity, long R&D cycles, and high capital needs. Unlike software startups, they demand groundbreaking science and engineering, multidisciplinary approaches, and patient investors for extended development. Read more in the article!

Amsterdam-based deep tech startups that raised €1M and more in 2024: 12 of them are hiring right now: The “State of Dutch Tech 2024” report highlights the growth of deep tech companies in the Netherlands, with investments increasing by 14 per cent from 2022 to 2023. This rise is driven by university spin-offs and research institutes, though scaling challenges remain. Over the past five years, deep tech venture capital (VC) investments have grown ... Read more #DeepTech #Startups #Amsterdam

The Royal Academy of Engineering, in partnership with Imperial College London, has launched the Science and Technology Venture Capital Fellowship (STVCF) to bridge the gap between groundbreaking UK research and scalable, market-ready ventures. By addressing barriers in investment, skills, and infrastructure, this programme aims to strengthen the UK’s deeptech and life sciences ecosystems while fostering a more inclusive investment community. Our Associate Editor Sheryl Miles attended the launch event in London to better understand the challenges and opportunities outlined in the ‘State of UK Deep Tech 2024’ report. 👇Read the write-up below👇 #DeepTech #Innovation #Investment #VentureCapital #UKResearch #Startups #Startups Magazine #Entrepreneurs