Start-ups profit from being in close contact with the venture capital scene
Eight science teams give presentations at 3rd Munich Life Science Pitch Day at IZB
High-Tech Gründerfonds, Bayer Pharma AG, Merck KGaA and the Innovation and Startup Center for biotechnology (IZB) hosted the 3rd Munich life science Pitch Day at the IZB. Eight start-up teams had the opportunity to present their pioneering projects in front of 15 renowned venture capital and pharmaceutical companies. Among the prominent names taking part were MIG Fonds, Forbion Capital Partners, LSP Venture Capital, TVM Capital, Gimv, Biomed Partners, Bayern Kapital, Coparion, Vesalius Biocapital, Wellington Partners, Eli Lilly and Boehringer Ingelheim. The investors were impressed by the innovative ideas of the science teams as well as the consistently high level of quality of the presentations given. Dr. Marianne Mertens, Investment Manager in the Life Sciences team at High-Tech Gründerfonds, and Dr. Matthias Kromayer, Executive Board member at MIG AG, presided over the event.
“We are delighted that through the Life Science Pitch Day, we have created a platform that supports start-ups in finding suitable investors. Furthermore, in hosting the Asset Lounge for the first time we are looking to bring together entrepreneurs and technologies with the aim of implementing innovative ideas and developments. Together with strong partners from the venture capital sector and industry, we are hoping to put companies with high potential on the right track and lead them to success,” says Dr. Marianne Mertens.
Prof. Dr. Stefan Jaroch, Head of External Innovation Technologies at Bayer Pharma AG, is a partner of the event for the third time: “At the Pitch Day, we are seeking to initiate a dialogue with young entrepreneurs and investors in the life sciences sector. This complements our activities as an investor in High-Tech Gründerfonds and in managing the CoLaborator incubators in San Francisco and Berlin. We are looking to foster an exchange of ideas while offering our expertise,” explains Jaroch.
At events like the Pitch Day, budding entrepreneurs are able to establish contacts with venture capital firms at an early stage – doing so in a very relaxed atmosphere at the IZB’s Faculty Club. “We are always delighted whenever start-ups are subsequently able to successfully position themselves on the market,” says Dr. Peter Hanns Zobel, Managing Director of the IZB, who is now guiding the fourth generation of biotech companies at the IZB. The network that the IZB has forged with the venture capital scene is delivering results, as evidenced by the remarkable financing rounds from 2016: “IZB companies were able to raise over EUR 51.6 million via financing rounds, funding and licence agreements in 2016,” says a delighted Zobel.
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