Verena Schöwel’s Post

I was invited to speak today as #keynote panelist at Future Labs Live Basel and share my thoughts as #investor on ‚„How do we create a synergised lab community at the forefront of science, innovation and digital technology?“ my fellow panelists included Vincent R. (moderator, CSEM )(euRobotics aisbl) Zisis Kozlakidis (World Health Organization) Dr. Bernd Liepert and Thomas Bauernhansl (Technologiemanagement am Fraunhofer IPT). What did I share with panel and audience: 1) collaboration and multidisciplinary approach is key to realize innovative idea 2) academia to provide holistic training to scientists to become entrepreneurs, taking the risk founding a start up 3) public-private partnership and funding is key to finance basic research and support spin-off from university to generate first data to enable financing round with private investors 4) European investors are rather risk averse which on one hand leads to good investment and higher return of investment than other territories investors but this means huge challenge for European start ups to access financing 5) need for collaboration between industry and regulators to develop pragmatic legislation while ensuring patients safety at highest priority to also support innovation and not unrealistic burden for start ups 6) increase cooperation between big corporates and start ups to accelerate innovation and time to market 7) encourage people, especially those with Know-how in the field to consider also direct investment where they can also support start ups with Know-how 8) and finally what is in my heart to increase significantly the number of women in venture capital firms as well as private investors to change current situation where female founders hardly get financing from investors We need diversity in all aspects to solve the today and tomorrow problems Thanks very much to Ellie Whitehead for organizing this very interesting event and Vincent R. for excellent moderation and my fellow panelists for stimulating discussions #start-ups #innovation #collaboration #meaningful investment #multi-disciplinary #female founders #public-private partnership #Innosuisse #sustanability

Despite the FemTech sector's incredible growth globally, in Europe, this area often flies under the radar. However, according to Sie Ventures’ European FemTech Report, North America dominates the sector, and Europe is catching up fast. By 2032, the European FemTech sector is projected to soar to $35 billion, with key players emerging from regions like the UK, France, Germany, Sweden, and Switzerland. This report covers several topics, including the global FemTech market, the state of European FemTech, and how FemTech founders are shaping the future. It also explores recent changes in regulations, emerging trends, and the impact of these trends in 2023, as well as future trends to watch. There are, however, some less optimistic conclusions and statements in the reports, for instance, that on average, female-founded FemTech startups raised less than half the funds than those with all-male teams. An even more concerning statement is that "the greatest obstacle in the development of FemTech solutions is the scarcity of clinical research and data." As a result, many FemTech solutions are digital health apps with a significant data collection aspect used for further clinical validation. This way, the innovation in FemTech helps to accelerate research in life sciences. However, the fact that the sector found a solution to this challenge does not solve the original problem: the lack of data and clinical research. #femtech #innovation #startups

 🙏 Thank you Femtech Insider for featuring our European FemTech report!♀ “The Sie Ventures report comes at a crucial moment for the European femtech sector. With appropriate support and continued focus on innovation, there is a tremendous opportunity to not only advance women’s health but also to ensure the European ecosystem plays a pivotal role in the global healthcare market.” - Kathrin F., Femtech Insider 💫 Report Highlights: 💡 Sie Ventures’ European FemTech Market Map featuring 540+ active FemTech companies across 23 European countries 💡 European FemTech trends to watch 💡 Key insights from investors and founders on the current and future European FemTech landscape  💡 Comprehensive list of European FemTech Communities, Accelerators & NGO’s 💡 Breakdown of regulations and initiatives that are affecting FemTech across Europe Read more here: https://lnkd.in/egJBXb7w Download Sie Ventures’ FemTech Report here: https://lnkd.in/eSgqWCUK

🚀🏔️ ☠️The Journey Through the Valley of Death in Biotech Projects In the development of biotechnological projects, there is a critical stage known as the "valley of death." This term describes the challenge many innovations face when trying to transition from the lab to the market. In this crucial window, a significant number of companies and projects fail, despite their initial potential. Why ???🥹🔬 The "valley of death" is characterized by a series of complex challenges: 1. Scalability: Not all solutions that work in a lab environment can be easily scaled. 2. Regulation: Biotechnology is subject to strict regulations that vary across regions and can be costly and time-consuming to meet. 3. Funding: Securing the necessary financial resources to move forward can be difficult, especially when investors seek guarantees of success. 4. Competition and Market: Fierce competition and the need for a solid market strategy are also significant barriers. Overcoming the Valley💡⚔️ To navigate this stretch successfully, it is essential to: - Develop a clear strategy: Rigorous planning from the start. - Collaborations and partnerships: Partner with entities that can offer additional resources and expertise. - Continuous innovation: Be flexible and open to adjustments in the approach. - Understanding regulations: Invest time in understanding and complying with norms. - Seek smart funding: It’s not just about capital but finding investors who understand the sector. 🧐From my perspective, few investigations take process engineering into account, such as scalability, which is crucial for success. What do you think are the critical stages in biotech project development?🤔 The journey can be arduous, but the rewards of successfully crossing the "valley of death" are immense: innovative products that can transform lives and entire sectors. 🔆Moving forward, overcoming challenges, and building the future of biotechnology* #Biotechnology #Innovation #ValleyOfDeath #ProjectDevelopment #ScienceAndTechnology #Entrepreneurship #Research #Funding #Regulation #Collaboration 📸 S.A Gbadgeshin et. al., 2022

What should early-stage Medtech startups focus on when pitching to VCs? Here’s how Howard Levin, CEO & CMO of Deerfield Catalyst, suggests early-stage Medtech startups should position themselves for VCs, in order of priority: 1. Clinical Data (Therapeutic Magic): Demonstrate evidence that your solution works and what makes it unique. 2. IP or at least Freedom to Operate: Ensure there are no legal barriers and outline a path to intellectual property protection. 3. Believable Mechanism of Action: Show a plausible way your solution works, backed by preclinical or clinical data. Tune into the full video recording, “The Agony and Ecstasy of Doing Big Things in Medtech” to hear more from this incredible group of panelists: • David Hochman (Moderator) — Orchestra BioMed • Howard Levin — Deerfield Catalyst • Christopher Cleary — Biomergence Capital Catch more panels like this at LSI USA ‘25 March 17th - 21st in 2025. Our hotel room block at the Monarch Beach Resort is already nearing capacity, and is expected to sell out well in advance. Secure your spot today to ensure you get the best rate and secure a hotel room onsite before they’re sold out.

🔍 𝗕𝗹𝗼𝗴 & 𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁: 𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁 Marcus Bergler 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝗨𝘀 𝗮𝘁 𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗡𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁! Meet the author Marcus Bergler at our 𝘂𝗽𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗶𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗻𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝗧𝘂𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆  in Zürich with 𝟰 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗽𝘀. To secure your seat today, contact Vincent Irrling. In line with this exciting event, we’re thrilled to share our latest post: "Digital Health and DiGA as an Investment Case – Part 1: Introduction and Status Quo of the DiGA Market in Germany" by Marcus Bergler. In this article, we dive into the evolution of the 𝗗𝗶𝗴𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 (𝗗𝗶𝗚𝗔) market in Germany, exploring: - The 𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲 of the DiGA market. - How the 𝗗𝗶𝗴𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗔𝗰𝘁 has impacted health tech. - The 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗮𝗹 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 and regulatory framework. - Key challenges and opportunities for 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀 and 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘂𝗳𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝗿𝘀. Mark your calendars! Next Monday, we’ll be releasing Part 2 of this in-depth series, taking a closer look at investment opportunities and the future of the DiGA market. 𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗰𝗸 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗹𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗼𝘄:

A little self-serving as an IP attorney but can’t disagree with Howard Levin’s take on the role of IP in seeking VC funding. In the past few weeks, I have heard first hand about a VC pulling out of a deal because a medtech company got sued for patent infringement, another medtech startup received a letter of infringement and freaked out about what that means, another medtech company was granted a motion to dismiss a patent lawsuit, not to mention current and prospective clients wanting to file IP. My take on IP in medtech is that it is critically important and can get really expensive. The best way for startups to build an effective and robust patent portfolio is to first delay public disclosures for as long as possible to extend the clock to file (hence delaying spend), pursuing omnibus patent applications (to reduce the cost per invention), being strategic about what features to protect, being aware of each jurisdiction’s requirements around patenting, and being strategic around conducting landscape assessments to identify patent threats from competitors.

Niklas Anzinger’s presentation at the Longevity Workshop in collaboration with , titled "Building a New Biotech Jurisdiction," focuses on the practical challenges of creating new cities specifically designed to accelerate longevity research and biotech development. Anzinger begins by introducing his initiative, Vitalia, which is building a network of longevity cities. The first hub is in Roatán, Honduras, within the legal jurisdiction of Prospera. Vitalia started as a pop-up city with over 500 participants and is evolving into a permanent biotech hub, now housing multiple biotech companies and a medical clinic. Anzinger emphasizes the need for new cities due to the inefficiencies of existing drug approval systems like the FDA, which slow down the iteration process of new therapies and business models. He highlights the opportunity for governments and jurisdictions eager to attract capital and talent by supporting biotech innovations. Examples of similar projects include Dubai Healthcare City, Kenya’s Medical and Technology City, and a new bio-city in Lithuania. Key challenges for building biotech hubs include: Political Instability: Balancing political risks while navigating legal advantages in unstable regions. Reputation Building: Convincing established players to support new, unproven projects is difficult because it poses a risk to their reputation. Capital Needs: Biotech hubs require upfront investment in land and real estate, which limits the agility seen in traditional startups. Talent Availability: Attracting skilled talent to new cities, especially from developed countries, is difficult due to personal and family commitments. Despite these challenges, Anzinger remains optimistic, noting that success can be achieved with focused effort and that the creation of new biotech cities could be a transformative force for accelerating health and longevity innovations. He concludes by drawing historical parallels, emphasizing that many great ventures start small and can lead to significant impact with the right mission and urgency. Watch more here: https://lnkd.in/dXRHbcgP

F-Prime Capital is honored to once again co-host the #Science2Startup symposium, alongside others from the biotech investment community, to identify promising science and technologies with startup potential. F-Prime's Jessica Alston, Ph.D., will serve as an advisor for the event. "S2S is more than an event; It's a beacon for innovation where top scientists worldwide come together to present their ideas and interact with leading investors and executives in Boston's established biotech ecosystem," said Dr. Alston. "Our goal is to nurture our connections while supporting the translation of scientific breakthroughs to solve the greatest challenges in #healthcare and medicine." Learn more about this unique opportunity for scientists, entrepreneurs, #biotech operators, and investor to meet, collaborate and translate exciting ideas into real innovations: www.science2startup.com