Oliver Bazzani

What’s happening in healthtech? 💊🎉 💰The Vic Gov will invest $7.5M to fund researchers to create 50 new startups  run by Breakthrough Victoria 💻 Safewill, bagged $17M to expand services like digital wills, power of attorney, & probate assistance 🧘‍♀️ Pronto Pilates snagged $1.6M in crowdfunding, to disrupt reformer pilates with affordable, trainer-free classes 💼 Hostplus committed $125M to VC, backing startups through IP Group plc Innovation Fund 📜 Private companies will now have to upload health data to My Health Record thanks to the Health Legislation Amendment Bill 2024 🧪 Aussie women will soon have access to at-home chlamydia & gonorrhoea tests 🤖 Baymatob won ‘AI Innovator - Healthcare’ at the Aus AI Awards for its maternal health tech providing early warnings for complications 🧬 The Fed Gov launched Genomics Australia, a national body to lead & coordinate genomic research, with a $30M commitment over 4 years 💼 Aus's $15B National Reconstruction Fund begins investing in deep tech, allocating $300M to boost quantum, robotics, & clean energy innovation ~~~🌎 US & Beyond the Borders 🌎~~~ 💍 ŌURA raised $75M, reaching a US$5B+ valuation, partnering with Dexcom to integrate glucose monitoring data into its platform 🧠 Headspace laid off 13% of its staff & is transitioning all therapists from employed roles 📈 WHOOP adds psychedelics tracking to its Journal feature, letting users log ketamine, LSD, & psilocybin use ⚽ David Beckham codeveloped longevity supplement brand IM8 Health with biotech company Prenetics, launching a longevity drink 💻 Eli Lilly & Company, the global pharma, invests S$42M in Singapore to launch a Digital Health Innovation Hub 🛠️ Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers trained a surgical robot using imitation learning from surgery videos Keen for the links & delicious deets?? 🍩🙌 Take a gander at last week's newsletter in the comments below👇😊 --- PS - if you liked this and are keen to join >8700 legends getting health tech and innovation news dropped direct to your inbox, subscribe to our newsletter, What the Health, linked in the comments below! 💜 📩 #healthtech  #health  #healthcare  #digitalhealth  #medtech  #biotech

113

13 Comments

What’s happening in Aussie healthtech? 💊🎉 🧬 Presagen’s Life Whisperer IVF embryo AI tech was acquired by Japan's Astec, to expand its use globally 🧫Cartherics Pty Ltd raised $15m to support a clinical trial for CTH-401, a cell therapy targeting ovarian cancer 🧠 Tessara Therapeutics, Psylo, & USyd snagged a $3m CRC-P grant 🤰 Kali Healthcare bagged a $2.65m CRC-P grant to advance its AI-enabled wearable for pregnancy monitoring 💉 Vaxxas, is raising $100m for clinical trials for its needle-free vaccine patch 🩺 ANDHealth+ invested $3.25m of MRFF grants into 5 startups as part of its digital & connected health accelerator program: Eugene, Atmo Biosciences, Immunosis, Metabolic Health Solutions, Humanetix 💊 Wesfarmers Health expects $6bn in revenue this year as it expands digital & pharmacy operations 📱 Medibank partnered with League to enhance customer experience with AI-driven personalisation across its services for 4.2M customers 🖥️ Bupa is offering eligible members 3 free telehealth consults/ year 🚀 Cortical Dynamics Limited, Microbio, & Resonait join the Biomedical AI Sprints Accelerator by ARM Hub & MTPConnect 🧠 Griffith University launched a clinical trial using olfactory nerve bridges from patients' cells to treat chronic spinal cord injuries 💼 SA’s Upper House voted 10-9 against a proposed law restricting abortions after 28 weeks 💡 > 400k Aussies downgraded from "gold" health insurance due to cost-of-living pressures Keen for the links & delicious deets?? 🍩🙌 Take a gander at last week's newsletter in the comments below👇😊 --- PS - if you liked this and are keen to join >8550 legends getting health tech and innovation news dropped direct to your inbox, subscribe to What the Health, linked in the comments below! 💜 📩

119

11 Comments

💸 New Funds looking to give you cash This week, over $2 billion in venture capital funding has been announced across 32 new and ongoing funds targeting early-stage innovation in AI, healthcare, climate tech, and deep tech. The funds span globally, with highlights in Western Australia, Israel, Japan, and the Baltics, focusing on seed to growth-stage startups and niche strategies like secondary investments. ⭐️ Key Highlights: ➡️ Global Reach: Investments target startups across the US, Europe, the GCC, and emerging regions. ➡️ Tech-Driven: Heavy focus on AI, sustainability, cybersecurity, and biotech. ➡️ Growth Focus: Early-stage investments dominate, with notable support for regional innovation hubs. This week shows strong global momentum in funding technologies solving real-world problems, while driving local growth and global impact. For all the details signup to the Fusion42 community. The startup community the founders, framers and funders who what get **it done. for the ❤️ of startups __________________________________ Connect or Follow DeReK WaTSoN ___________________________________ #fusion42 #startups #founders #cofounders #venturecapital #angelinvestors

11

What's Hot in 2024? 🚀 Later Stage VC Investment in Australia and New Zealand. While Artificial Intelligence 🤖 is no doubt the current "buzz" for 2024, I was curious to dive deeper into which sectors are trending this year and where later-stage VCs are focusing their investments to date in 2024. 📊 Based on publicly available data, later-stage VCs are showing renewed interest in Australian and New Zealand companies, particularly in fintech 💳, healthtech 🏥, and cleantech 🌱. 🔍 While not a full picture, as some notable transactions are missing from this analysis (due to confidentiality), it’s clear that the sector is bouncing back and poised for strong growth. 📈 NB: The Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning segment reflects a duplication and consolidation across all sectors for comparative purposes. Source: Pitchbook

20

1 Comment

What do VCs really want to see from HealthTech Founders? We all know the magic ingredients to building a successful HealthTech start up are unique and require a certain 'order' that can make building look quite different in this space. And it certainly works to different time scales. Yesterday Luke B. and I headed to the HealthTech Roundtable hosted by London Venture Capital Network to get some insights from VCs and ex-Founders about what REALLY matters when you're building 🔨 Thought I'd share the top 4 discussion points I found useful, in case they're helpful to others building in this space. 🚀 Scaling in the fragmented UK Market Each NHS trust operates independently, making it hard to scale with NHS contracts alone. The most successful build initial traction within the NHS, then rapidly expand into private markets (e.g., insurers) or take on international markets like the US or Europe - often sooner than expected. The lesson? Think big from the beginning and prepare for growth beyond the NHS - plan for multiple revenue streams from day 1. 📈 What VCs want to see from you Investors want regulatory rigour and proprietary data that sets companies apart. VCs particularly look for ventures embedded into clinical workflows; a clear marker of clinician TRUST, which is a major hurdle but also a major green flag for VCs. The advice for founders? Think beyond flashy concepts. Focus on gathering real-world evidence, establishing regulatory approval (FDA, MHRA or otherwise), and building solid, clinician-endorsed user bases. 🗺 Evidence is a journey, not a destination There was discussion around conceptualising evidence as a 'journey' rather than a destination, which I rather liked. Emphasising the ability to think creatively and collect a whole range of evidence types at every single step of the way, to build a compelling, rich case of clinician trust, real world impact, and product-market fit. Squeeze evidence out of every single customer conversation, demo, trial. Every drop counts. 💡 Hindsight from Experienced HealthTech Founders It was great to here experienced ex-Founders in the space talk about what they'd do differently next time. I think what I found most interesting was the discussion around the importance of execution, and more importantly, demonstrating pace of execution within a 'slow burn' market. It made me reflect on what hard decisions we need to make around prioritisation, to make sure we're delivering real value as fast as possible. Its so easy to feel the pressure to do everything at once; collecting proprietary data, evidence generation, clinical integration/acceptance, revenue generation. But is it better to move fast on one? We're trying to be super strict on ourselves here at Ogma. But it's hard, and we slip up sometimes. It was a beautiful Autumn day in a beautiful location, here's a pic 📸

28

2024 IPO Winners & Losers: A Rollercoaster Year for Tech and Biotech As we wrap up 2024, it's time to reflect on the IPO landscape. While it wasn't the most thrilling year, there were some standout performances and a few disappointments. Here's a quick rundown: Top Performers: Reddit: Up a staggering 332% since its March IPO, now boasting a market cap of $26 billion. 🥳 Astera Labs: Riding the AI and cloud connectivity wave, up 214% since March. 🌐 Serve Robotics: Delivering success with their innovative delivery robots. 🤖 Underperformers: Webtoon Entertainment: Down about a third since June. 📉 Gauzy: Lost roughly half its value since June. 😬 Ibotta: Down 17% from its offer price. 🛒 Despite the mixed results, the IPO market continues to be a critical avenue for growth and innovation. As a late-stage VC, it's fascinating to see how these companies navigate the public markets. Is Now the Right Time for an IPO? With several companies recently filing for IPOs, 2025 could be the year PE and VC funds start delivering some liquidity to their LPs. The market outlook is promising, driven by interest rate cuts, pent-up investor demand, and a growing backlog of IPO hopefuls. What do you think about this year's IPOs? Any surprises or predictions for 2025? Let's discuss! 💬 #VentureCapital #IPO

6

What’s happening in healthtech? 💊🎉 💪 Hapana raised US$17M led by OIF & Bailador to grow its SaaS for fitness bizes 🩺 Australian Medical Angels bagged $300k from LaunchVic to launch a new VC fund for early-stage health startups 🧬 Proto Axiom got $20M for its incubator to invest in early-stage biotech ventures 🧠 Kinoxis Therapeutics Pty Ltd Therapeutics, raised a $14.5M Series B for Phase 2 trials of its drug candidate 👁️ Eyeonic closed $2.6M for its AI-enabled home glaucoma tests 🔨 Bunnings is trialling blood pressure stations in 30 stores 🚀 Startmate announced their Winter ’24 Accelerator cohort, ft. 3 of our amazing Private WTH community members: PREVE, Tendl & Trova Health 💧 Aussie hospitals face an emergency as IV saline drip shortages force fluid rations 🏥 Medibank announced plans to acquire Pinnacle Health Group, a leading corporate health & wellbeing provider 🩺 nib Group launched hubPass for Business, a subscription service by Midnight Health 🍬 Breathe Life Sciences (BXN:ASX) is Aus’s first manufacturer of pharmaceutical-grade THC gummies with TGA approval 🦠 Long covid, affecting 10–20% of recovered patients, cost the Aus economy nearly $10B in 2022 🧪 The Senate's doing an inquiry into "forever chemicals" (PFAS) over health & environmental concerns 👂 Gold Coast Health partnered with Lyrebird Health to trial an AI-powered ambient listening solution to automate clinical docs 🏛️ The Fed Gov passed the NDIS reform bill amidst controversy 🏅 Aussies are Winning the Longevity Game? 🏅 Researchers found Aussies live 1-4 years longer than those in 6 English-speaking countries. This edge is supposedly driven by lower death rates from treatable diseases, healthier lifestyles, & a high migrant population, with the biggest gains seen between ages 45-84. Keen for the links & delicious deets?? 🍩🙌 Take a gander at last week's newsletter in the comments below👇😊 --- PS - if you liked this and are keen to join >8200 legends getting the latest in health tech and innovation dropped direct to your inbox, subscribe to my newsletter, What The Health linked in the comments below! 💜 📩 #healthtech  #health  #healthcare  #digitalhealth  #medtech  #biotech

115

19 Comments

The future of venture capital is...This is the question I was tasked with tackling at Innovation Bay's INSPIRE event today. It's a big topic - Ian Gardiner and I started with some back-of the napkin maths about the next ten years of ANZ VC:  - There's $2.5bn dry powder in the ecosystem - Meaning a return of $7.5bn is required (assuming 3x return) - Which will require ~ $100bn of Enterprise Value (assuming ~5-10%% exit stake) That final number may seem like a lot, but ANZ software has already generated over $300bn of Enterprise Value over the last two decades. And we are seeing 30-40 tech companies hit $100m valuation each year. Some of these will eventually become $1bn+ outcomes These numbers make me excited about what's to come in the next ten years —more Aussie and Kiwi innovation creating tech companies that are making a dent on the global stage. Thanks @Innovation Bay for having me and Phaedon Stough for the photo!  

371

14 Comments

🌟 Australian Startups 2023: A Year of Strategic Shifts and Emerging Opportunities 🚀 In 2023, the Australian startup landscape navigated a cautious investment climate, recording a total of 413 deals with an overall investment value of $3.5 billion. Despite a significant drop in deal value from previous years, there was a notable shift towards robust activity in the early stages of investment. Angel and Pre-Seed rounds not only resisted the broader downturn but actually increased, highlighting a vibrant seed funding environment that underpins a dynamic market for emerging technologies. This heightened competition at the entry-level indicates a strategic pivot within our ecosystem, investing in the foundational potential of new ventures. Such insights are crucial as we steer towards nurturing a resilient and innovative startup community ready to tackle future challenges. Dive deeper into the full analysis and explore how these shifts are shaping the future of Australian innovation. https://lnkd.in/gc4gNtGc #AustralianStartups #VentureCapital #StartupEcosystem #Innovation

11

As an angel investor, I’ve made over 50 early-stage investments across the UK, US, and beyond. Now, as a Partner at Antler in Australia, I’ve experienced firsthand the shifts between angel and VC investing - and these findings have transformed my approach to supporting founders. I share 5 surprising lessons I learned that about angel vs. VC funding that I wish every founder knew in the article below. From the unexpected empathy VCs have (yes, we pitch too!) to why VCs reserve capital for follow-on funding and how market size can make or break a venture-backed business. Thinking about joining our February '25 residency and/or raising your first round? This is an inside look at the mindsets and strategies VCs use when investing, offering takeaways to help you get funded. 👉 Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/g_jStAWS

58

1 Comment

📣 Calling Queensland’s most ambitious climate tech founders looking to raise capital! EnergyLab is coming to Queensland and applications are now open: https://lnkd.in/e-ft9mK7 The brand new Investment Ready Program runs over 12 weeks and will equip startups with the right tools and know-how to navigate the many challenges of raising capital: - understanding VCs’ investment criteria and screening processes, - how to streamline your investor outreach, - how to articulate the opportunity by thinking at investors’ level, - developing a clear path to growth, - nailing the pitch, and - closing the deal. Successful applicants will be mentored by experienced climate tech experts and introduced to Australia’s most active climate tech investors. ✨ The program is backed by QIC and completely free to eligible Queensland-based startups working on solutions to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, address the impacts of climate change, and other environmental issues such as waste and biodiversity. Apply now: https://lnkd.in/e-ft9mK7 Cake EquityCallum Davidson Audun Fiskerud EnergyLab

33

4 Comments

Funding opportunity for mental health startups. This is your reminder that the Wellcome Trust have launched a funding program to provide between $4m and $9m to multiple mental health organisations. Deadline for applications is December 5th. There's a bit of work in it, so if you haven't already got started, this is your sign to do so! If you want to learn more about this opportunity and how to apply, read the article I wrote with Elena Netsi in the comments. #MentalHealth #BehavioralHealth #HealthTech

131

20 Comments

Which international VC has invested most actively in NZ? Here's the slide we prepared recently for our Investor Masterclass. Let me know who I'm missing. Four more sessions coming up including: Valuation, Terms, Governance, and War Stories. Join the fun by registering here: https://lnkd.in/ghJJpdR4

182

34 Comments

Launching a company with a new organisational structure to empower patients isn't easy. First, most people don't know what a DAO is. Second, many of the people who have heard the phrase, hear the word 'blockchain' and immediately associate a DAO with the dodgy Crypto adverts they see on their social feeds. And third, when many investors, who normally want to 'own' a company, find out that patients own it, they make their excuses and leave (showing it's not really patients they care about, right?). If you want to overturn centuries of a corporate system that rewards the already rich at the expense of the sick, you need to explain yourself. So, I lifted this slide from our 'Investor Deck' to explain what Plantz aims to achieve. The terminology may be new but then again, so are financial terms like derivatives, hybrid/compound instruments and detachable warrants. We're not alone in our Quest. I can see it happening across different industries, building new Web 3.0 technology in ways no-one could have predicted. Entire eco-systems appearing & integrating to empower community and mitigate against the disaster capitalism that has given us the joys of unadulterated sewage, immense inequality and a cost-of-living crisis. https://plantz.io

5

In case you missed the announcement last month, there is still time and 💲100 MILLION in grant funding available for innovation in the Australian solar sector, ☀ The Solar ScaleUp Challenge. ☀ Are you a solar project developer with a vision to develop solar differently? Are you a #founder with technology that can help drive down the cost of -         installation, -         operations, or -         maintenance for large-scale solar photovoltaics (PV)? This initiative is calling on #developers, #EPCs, #innovators, #customers, financiers and anyone involved in the construction and operation of solar projects.  Submissions may be for standalone late-stage prototypes, pilots or demonstrations, or be part of a real-world, large-scale project. The program is open for #global collaboration on submissions. About the Program: The Solar Scale-Up Challenge, backed by Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) and Greenhouse (well done to both), is a program designed to accelerate the growth and deployment of new technologies to drive down the costs of solar with the goal of unlocking the benefits of low cost, low carbon energy for #Australia. They are seeking innovative designs and cutting-edge solutions, such as robotics, automation, advanced analytics and artificial intelligence. Shortlisted submissions could gain access to a total pool of up to AU $100 million in grant funding from ARENA.  Learn more at the next Team up event - Thursday, July 18, 2024 4:00 PM Visit Greenhouse Solar Scale-Up Challenge and ARENA Solar Innovators Challenge for more information and to apply today! #Submission deadline: ⏰ 14 August ⏰ but you are encouraged to get your submissions in early to take advantage of the early bird assessments and partnering opportunities.    #SolarEnergy #RenewableEnergy #SolarScaleUp #Innovation #startups #ARENA #SolarProjects #FutureEnergy #greensuperpower #climateaction #cliamtetech Mark Rowland Harry S. Darren Miller Dan Sturrock https://lnkd.in/gEfMRBah

39

2 Comments

UPDATE: For anybody who hasn't received the link: https://bit.ly/3yTnAc7 VCs are pouring money into bootstrapped startups. The conventional wisdom was that venture capital and bootstrapping are mutually exclusive. But increasingly, we're seeing VCs invest in startups that have avoided taking on external funding - at least in the early stages. Take Atlassian, the Australian software giant now valued at $46.84 billion. It funded its growth entirely through bootstrapping, never taking any primary capital investments. Only later did it raise $100 million in secondary funding. So, what's driving this VC mindset shift? **Proven Traction and Profitability** 📈 Bootstrapped startups have had to focus on building a sustainable business model from the start. This means they've achieved real traction and profitability - two metrics that VCs find increasingly attractive, especially in uncertain economic times. **Efficient Capital Use** 💸 Founders who have grown their companies without VC funding have demonstrated an ability to extract maximum value from limited resources. VCs see this as a competitive advantage, knowing their investment will be put to good use to accelerate growth, not just burn cash. **Founder Alignment** 🤝 Bootstrapped entrepreneurs have "skin in the game" in a way that founders who've taken on VC funding often don't. This closer alignment of incentives appeals to investors looking to back teams truly invested for the long haul. Founders who've built profitable, capital-efficient businesses through bootstrapping possess the entrepreneurial qualities and bottom lines worth backing. Wondering which bootstrapped startups will be the next big investments? If you’re hunting for deals, don't miss your chance - get the list of 99+ bootstrapped startups to watch 👇 Source: dealroom #VCfunding #startupfunding #bootstrapping PS 🔔 Follow me for strategies and resources for startups and VCs! Looking to raise capital? 💸https://fundingstack.com/ for VCs and investors 💸https://foundersuite.com/ for startups At only $250/month: Fundingstack gets you access to 227K+ global investors. Or you can send me a direct message with "FREETRIAL," and I'll give you a secret access link.

62

18 Comments

10% chance of rain. 100% chance of petrichor and genuine connection for today's #Brooklyn WELLNESS #TechWalk led by Clara Fletcher (CareerStar). FYI - petrichor is the actual smell of rain. "The term was coined in 1964 by Australian scientists Isabel Joy Bear and Richard Grenfell Thomas, who published their research in the journal Nature. They discovered that a yellow oil trapped in rocks and soil was responsible for the smell of rain. The oil is a combination of oils from plants and chemicals from soil bacteria." So grab some waterproof boots and an umbrella to join today's special WELLNESS #TechWalk featuring an impressive lineup of Co-Hosts which includes: 🌳 Ricardo Soares - Co-Founder and Soulworker SOULSARA - an organization the provides workplace wellness solutions 🌳 Michael Zaytsev - Academic Director: Business of Cannabis, LIM College, Best-selling Author, "The Cannabis Business Book", Founder, High NY 🌳 Collin Palmer - CEO of VesselLifeScience a company at the intersection of tech, design, art , wellness, regenerative agriculture, with a 20-year award-winning history of developing some of the most recognized products in the #cannabis market. Ricardo Soares and SOULSARA will be gifting three attendees of our 9/26 walk two (1) hour wellness coaching sessions. Over 30 days, coaching recipients will explore topics like: #stressmanagement, sustainable performance levels, creativity,#purposefulliving, and personalized wellness subjects. Each session will include training exercises to practice until the next meeting. Follow-up check-ins via phone or text to support the recipient's progress. Take a deep inhale and see you there! Useful links in the comments.

51

6 Comments

💸 One of the biggest benefits I've found since joining Antler is how much of a one-stop-shop we can be with respect to funding. We're not just the Residency program, we're there and willing through seed, Series A and beyond. James McClure speaks to this much more eloquently than me in the article.

8

We hear this every day from founders we are speaking with. Scores of good companies have been warped by too much capital applying too much force to grow at a rate well beyond the physics of the business. We also know there is #adifferentpath Infuse Capital is working with founders to chart sustainable course to both profitability and growth and a sense of well-being for themselves and their teams. We believe this is a core ecosystem question to address as the next wave of de-valued capital will come before we know it.

20

4 Comments