Symposium Exposed Academics to Investors and Executives Who Could Help Guide Them to the Next LevelCambridge, MA (May 4, 2018) – Science 2 Startup, an invitation-only event, convened over 230 members of the biotech ecosystem at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard last week. Approximately half of the attendees were venture capital and other investors, a quarter were biopharma executives and entrepreneurs, and a quarter were the academic investigators and their technology transfer professionals from top research institutions.
Science 2 Startup was created and presented by Boston-area venture capital firms Atlas Venture, F-Prime Capital Partners, and SV Health Investors. The scientists and other academic representatives came from three countries and all over the US.
The agenda underscored the intensity of the biotech ecosystem and the relevance and interdependence of all of its players: scientists, entrepreneurs, the pharmaceutical industry, and funding sources.
In a keynote, Dan Lynch, Chairman of the Board of six biotech companies and the former CEO of ImClone Systems, outlined the challenges and excitement involved in getting all of the elements of a potentially successful biotech startup running – the science, the leadership talent, the capital (and eventual exit), and the infrastructure, which relies upon a community with a critical mass of scientific and entrepreneurial ferment.
Science 2 Startup received over 200 proposals from leading institutions around the world and chose 19 to make presentations – 11 oral and 8 posters. Attendees heard from presenters keen to further develop and build companies around therapeutic research for treating acute myeloid leukemia, muscular dystrophy, Prader Willi Syndrome, fibrosis, and other diseases.
Goodwin, Deloitte, Alexandria Venture Investments, and Silicon Valley Bank sponsored the event, and facilitated workshops for the emerging scientific entrepreneurs on some of the practical matters of a start-up business, including pitfalls to avoid. Topics included advice regarding accounting / tax questions, intellectual property concerns, banking advice, and how to find space for new companies.
“Scientific innovation is a global and multi-dimensional endeavor, and it is critical to the advancement of science and medicine that we foster connections across our ecosystem. Science 2 Startup showcased the next generation of novel science currently in development around the world to the investors who can help move it forward,” said Bruce Booth, Partner at Atlas Venture.
“The Boston area is the global hub of the biotech industry, and ensuring that academic researchers have access to the investors, talent, and infrastructure here is critical to the continued health of this ecosystem,” said Josh Resnick, Venture Partner at SV Health Investors.
About Atlas Venture
Atlas Venture is a leading biotech venture capital firm. With the goal of doing well by doing good, we have been building breakthrough biotech startups since 1993. We work side by side with exceptional scientists and entrepreneurs to translate high impact science into medicines for patients. Our seed-led venture creation strategy rigorously selects and focuses investment on the most compelling opportunities to build scalable businesses and realize value. For more information, please visit www.atlasventure.com.
About F-Prime Capital Partners
F-Prime Capital Partners is a global venture capital firm investing in life sciences, healthcare, and technology. Since 1969, F-Prime has worked closely with entrepreneurs and academics to create innovative solutions to some of the world's most significant challenges in healthcare and technology. For more information, please visit fprimecapital.com.
About SV Health Investors
SV Health Investors, formerly named SV Life Sciences, is a healthcare and life sciences venture capital and growth equity firm. SV targets early-stage opportunities in biotechnology; early-stage and revenue-stage opportunities in medical devices; and growth equity investments for later-stage businesses in healthcare services and digital health. Over the past 20 years, SV Health Investors has invested in more than 175 companies. The firm currently has over $2.5 billion of capital commitments under management. SV Health Investors has offices in Boston and London. For more information, please visit www.svhealthinvestors.com.
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