Vertex Ventures HC’s Post

I get lots of inbound inquiries to provide advice about how to break into life science VC. I always refer them to Dylan Neel’s rising star articles! And he just wrote a new one. They are wealth of insights and tips. What you can learn from 24 rising VC stars: -How do you transition to biotech investing from an academic background? -Is there a mental checklist to identify promising investment opportunities? -Which skills make you a better biotech investor or creator? -Tips for #biotech entreprenuers pitching in 2024?

🚀 We continue to recap the Prague.bio 2024 Conference highlights 🚀 This time, let’s turn our attention to the high-profile investors joining the Investors Panel Discussion, where they will share their invaluable insights into Life Sciences and venture capital. Here’s a quick look at the key speakers: 🔹 Sebastian Kreuz, Executive Director at Boehringer Ingelheim Venture Fund GmbH (BIVF) Sebastian sits on the board of six BIVF portfolio companies, spanning early discovery to clinical development stages. With over 15 years of industry experience in drug discovery and translational research, his deep knowledge across multiple disease areas and therapeutic modalities will bring unique perspectives to the panel. 🔹 Agnes Oertli, Managing Partner at LSA Ventures With 20+ years of experience establishing Life Science companies and fostering innovation in Western Europe, Agnès has served on the boards of several public and private portfolio companies. Her strategic expertise in supporting management teams and building partnerships will provide a wealth of knowledge for aspiring biotech founders. 🔹 Roman Smola, Founder and General Partner at Tensor Ventures Roman combines two decades of entrepreneurial experience with deep technical expertise, having built and scaled multiple global companies. Known for his sharp focus on emerging tech and his love for hockey metaphors 🏒, Roman’s insights into startup ecosystems and global scaling strategies will be a highlight for tech-driven biotech entrepreneurs. 🔹 Nicolas Beuzen, Investment Advisor at i&i Biotech Fund Nicolas, a molecular biologist and geneticist by training, has over 20 years of leadership experience spanning Biotech startups and large pharma companies. His international network and extensive background in R&D, Business Development, and Alliance Management make him a key voice in the discussion of Life Science investments. 🧬 We look forward to hearing their insights on the future of Life Sciences and Venture Capital. 🧬 #Biotech #LifeScience #Investors #VentureCapital #Innovation

An insight with investor's mind in Biotech 2024: Newly optimistic, biotech investors weigh lessons of sector’s downturn Venture capitalists and executives expect newer companies will need to identify their first drug prospects earlier and hire more conservatively. Platform companies will still exist and win investor backing, of course. But they’re now being more tailored to the moment, investors say. Conde says that, in the past, investor and founder groups split off to start more competing companies, diluting the talent, intellectual property power and funding that can go into each. Now, he speculates there may be a shift to pool larger groups behind fewer companies. Already there have been data suggesting as much from J.P. Morgan and PitchBook, showing that venture firms are making less, but more substantive, investments. “Instead of investing in three different companies, let’s actually go back to the way things used to happen in biotech,” Conde said. Then “you’ll have a concentration of technology and talent, and syndicate support and all that.” “Focus, performance and execution are going to be what makes the difference now,” said former Sage Therapeutics CEO Jeff Jonas, Yet underneath the optimism remain concerns the rebound may be short lived. Private funding rounds and initial public offerings are still difficult for biotech companies to pull off. Early technologies aren’t getting the same support they were three years ago. Among nearly a dozen investors and executives interviewed by BioPharma Dive, all expect changes in how biotechs are built and that industry layoffs, which regularly made headlines last year, will continue. An election and geopolitical conflict could also bring uncertainty for a sector already defending itself against drug pricing legislation and an aggressive Federal Trade Commission. The Federal Reserve, which has signaled interest rate cuts, may still surprise markets, too. ”There’s a lot of stuff going on in the world that no one in this room really can control,” said Kristina Burow, a managing director at Arch Venture Partners. “2024 is probably going to be a roller coaster.”

Science... Looking sexy again? Arch Venture Partners seems to think so. Especially after raising an eye-watering $3B (yes, that B as in Billion) biotech fund. So what's their secret? “We don’t really care what happens in the markets as much as we are concerned about, ‘can we get a chance to get partnered early, to power these companies through cycles?” “We’re very much in the ‘taking lots of risk’ mode, because the science is the coolest it’s ever been.” But there a catch. Not every company boasting a cutting-edge ai automation platform is grabbing their eye... "We make sure that with every company we step in to create or fund, we’ve got an eye to who will actually be building the value from the executive team." The takeaway is... While a good idea will get attention, you still need a powerhouse team before investment firms will open the deeper purse strings. reference: https://lnkd.in/dq4JZcy8 curated by: Shaun Thresher

Angels are the leadoff investors that pitchers face in the life sciences game. Join us to hear what compels Angels to divinely invest early in promising technologies and people. This one-hour Panel Discussion will highlight Angel Investors willing to get the game started for some the world’s most exciting life science startups. Each panelist will share their investment mandate, funding processes, deal structure preferences, and 12-month outlook. Inning 5 | Angel Funding | BIO 2024 Wednesday, May 1 | 12 pm EDT If you are interested in becoming a Club Member and attending this virtual meeting, please schedule a brief intro meeting with Bullpen Member Director Laura Farley, CRPC here: https://lnkd.in/gRNaBF85. Hour 1: Panelists Joshua J. Carson | Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF) Paul Grewal | SIC Venture Studio Kristin King, MBA | Boston Harbor Angels Yaniv Sneor | Mid Atlantic Bio Angels More TBA Hour 2: Choose a breakout room that best fits your mandate. Club Members will each make introductions and have an opportunity to "ask" other Members for resources, referrals and other strategic requests. The Bullpen is an invite-only, volunteer-led Club that gathers Life Science Investors and CxOs with a shared goal of helping each other. Together, we prepare for and attend BIO International Conference and JPM Conference. Our Mantra: Find Someone to Help. Repeat.

Who Will Be the Next Big Disruption in Biotech? 🧬💡 European VC firm Kurma Partners may hold the answer! They've recently unveiled their latest colossal biotech fund of 140 million euros ($154 million), and they aren't stopping there. This marks just the first portion of what this powerhouse intends to be their largest fund yet, setting their sights on up to 20 lucrative biotech investments. Already, three lucky beneficiaries sit within this innovative financial Biodome – a testament to Kurma's ongoing commitment towards empowering Biotech revolutions across Europe. For startups living at technology's cutting edge or pioneer scientists with big ideas and bigger ambitions – this could be your golden ticket. The question now is - who could potentially gain from such an unprecedented scale of investment? Moreover, what sort of transformation will these investments catalyze in the overall landscape of European Biotechnology? The future might seem uncertain but one thing’s for sure - by pushing boundaries in funding and faith given to transformative technologies, firms like Kurma Partners are scripting a new narrative for tomorrow's biotech. Find more about Kurma Partner's ambitious initiative here👇 https://lnkd.in/dZtkNPAx #KurmaPartners #Bioscience #Biotechnology #VCfund #InvestmentInnovation #BiomedicalStartupFunding #EuropeanBioTechNews #VentureCapitalismInEurope #DisruptiveTechnologies #LargestPlannedFund

Who Will Be the Next Big Disruption in Biotech? 🧬💡 European VC firm Kurma Partners may hold the answer! They've recently unveiled their latest colossal biotech fund of 140 million euros ($154 million), and they aren't stopping there. This marks just the first portion of what this powerhouse intends to be their largest fund yet, setting their sights on up to 20 lucrative biotech investments. Already, three lucky beneficiaries sit within this innovative financial Biodome – a testament to Kurma's ongoing commitment towards empowering Biotech revolutions across Europe. For startups living at technology's cutting edge or pioneer scientists with big ideas and bigger ambitions – this could be your golden ticket. The question now is - who could potentially gain from such an unprecedented scale of investment? Moreover, what sort of transformation will these investments catalyze in the overall landscape of European Biotechnology? The future might seem uncertain but one thing’s for sure - by pushing boundaries in funding and faith given to transformative technologies, firms like Kurma Partners are scripting a new narrative for tomorrow's biotech. Find more about Kurma Partner's ambitious initiative here👇 https://lnkd.in/dZtkNPAx #KurmaPartners #Bioscience #Biotechnology #VCfund #InvestmentInnovation #BiomedicalStartupFunding #EuropeanBioTechNews #VentureCapitalismInEurope #DisruptiveTechnologies #LargestPlannedFund

🧬𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐭𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐨𝐧 𝐋𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐲 & 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡: 𝐕𝐂 𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐏𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐓𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲! 𝐓𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐚𝐭 1.30 𝐏𝐌 𝐂𝐄𝐓! Don’t miss the 𝐋𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐲 & 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐕𝐂 𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐏𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭, where five leading funds in the sector will showcase their investment strategies and vision for the future of health and longevity. We’re thrilled to announce that Elisabeth Roider, MD, PhD, MBA, Partner & Chief Scientific and Medical Officer at Maximon - The Longevity Company Builder, will deliver an insightful market introduction session, highlighting the vast opportunities in this rapidly growing sector. After the thought-provoking market introduction, you will have an opportunity to meet: ⚕️Biovance Capital - a venture capital firm based in Lisbon that manages Biovance Capital Fund I. This is a € 51 million biotech-focused fund backed by the European Investment Fund and other public and private investors. ⚕️quadraScope - invests in early-stage healthcare companies developing pharmaceuticals, diagnostics, software, equipment and devices enabling biological age reversal, disease treatment and prevention. ⚕️LongevityTech.fund - invests in pre-seed and seed-stage investments in the best of worldwide early-stage startups and university spinoffs based on our close cooperation with top scientists in the fields of aging research and rejuvenation, biotechnology, bioinformatics, agetech, and related AI. ⚕️Maximon - The Longevity Company Builder - empowers entrepreneurs to build impactful, science-based and scalable companies providing healthy aging and rejuvenation solutions. With a team of globally successful entrepreneurs and venture investors, they have built a venture building process that bridges the gap between science and business. ⚕️NLC Health Ventures - Capitalizing on the €10 trillion healthcare revolution, NLC’s newest fund targets €100M and is set to invest in 80-90 high-potential ventures. This fund provides institutional investors with exclusive access to groundbreaking healthcare innovations, meticulously selected and developed by NLC. LPs, this is your chance to gain exclusive insights and connect with key players in longevity and health VC. Join us today by registering here 👉https://lu.ma/fq57z8w5

Navigating the biotech funding landscape? Brace yourself—it's competitive. For forward-thinking early-stage biotech companies, a distinct strategy can significantly differentiate you. Below are some ways to stand out. 🚀 🌟 Foundation of Confidence: The Best Data Package: At the core of biotech innovation is a balance between hope and realism, established through high-quality data derived from superior model systems. This foundation allows investors to build their confidence on solid, tangible results that demonstrate your venture's potential for success without falling into the overhype trap. ✨ Enhancing Predictability to Build Trust: With a solid data foundation in place, using sophisticated model systems that yield reliable and predictive insights significantly de-risk your venture in the eyes of cautious investors. This enhanced predictability fosters trust and positions your venture for a smoother path toward clinical and commercial success, making your company an attractive investment. 🔬👥 Innovation Powered by a Stellar Team: The synergy between cutting-edge technological adoption and a stellar team underscores a dual commitment that resonates deeply with investors. By integrating advanced technologies such as sophisticated in vitro models or intricate computational simulations, and showcasing a team proficient in these areas, your venture signals not only a commitment to innovation but also the capability to execute complex projects. This potent combination of pioneering scientific exploration and operational excellence makes your venture stand out as a leader ready to transform the biotech landscape. 🌱 Impact on Patient Outcomes and Healthcare: The strategic use of advanced model systems transcends efficiency; it significantly enhances the precision and efficacy of therapeutic solutions. This approach optimizes the identification of promising therapeutic candidates, leading to treatments with higher success rates and minimal side effects, directly translating to improved patient outcomes. The ability to demonstrate such precision and potential impact on healthcare is compelling to investors who value not just financial returns but also meaningful advancements in patient care. As you prepare to navigate the fundraising landscape, remember that differentiation lies in demonstrating a balance of innovation, predictability, and impact. The stage is yours to captivate future backers with a narrative that promises not just returns, but real change. 🌟

Though the #biotech industry has experienced some tough times, investors seem ready to bet big on #innovation again. Arch's new $3 billion fund proves it. But they're not just throwing money around—they're building companies from the ground up. This strategy could lead to stronger startups with real staying power. For us as# investors, this could mean more stable early-stage opportunities. But remember not to put all your eggs in one basket! While biotech has a LOT of opportunities, you should always do your homework before investing! https://loom.ly/3nNMjE4