The High-Tech Gründerfonds, Bayer Pharma AG, BioM Biotech Cluster Development GmbH and the Innovation and Start-up Center for Biotechnology (IZB) hosted the 2nd Munich Life Science Pitch Day in the new Faculty Club G2B (GATEWAY TO BIOTECH).
Ten founding teams from southern Germany had the opportunity to present their innovative projects to twelve renowned venture capital and pharmaceutical companies. Investors included Bayern Kapital, Forbion Capital Partners, LSP Venture Capital, MIG Fonds, TVM Capital, Vesalius Biocapital, Wellington Partners, and BayStartUPAll investors were enthusiastic about the high-quality presentations and will maintain contact with the startups.
"With Pitch Day, we want to give young companies the opportunity to present their projects to experienced investors and industry representatives. On the one hand, we want to support the search for suitable financing, and on the other hand, we hope to be able to provide the founders with valuable feedback on how they can further develop their concept and improve their strategy,"
so Dr. Marianne Mertens from the High-Tech Founders Fund.
"Pitch Day is an interesting forum for engaging with young entrepreneurs and investors. Bayer is interested in partnerships with young life sciences companies and has therefore established the CoLaborator in San Francisco and Berlin. Bayer is also an investor in the High-Tech Gründerfonds,"
so Prof. Dr. Stefan Jaroch, Head of External Innovation Technologies, Bayer Pharma AG.
Early contact with VCs
With a bundle of training and consulting offers, founders in the Munich region are specifically supported in the life sciences by the cluster organization BioM In close contact with other Bavarian organizations of the “Start-up State of Bavaria” such as BayStartUP or Bavaria Capital All topics related to starting a business are taught in a practical way at an early stage, including in business plan competitions and coaching networks. Christina Enke-Stolle, Senior Manager Startups & Funding at BioM, emphasized:
"The HTGF Pitch Day fits perfectly into our life science ecosystem in Bavaria. In this deliberately exclusive yet informal setting, the founders are given a great platform and can benefit greatly from the very direct feedback on their presentations."
For 20 years, start-up companies have benefited from the network of top researchers on the Martinsried campus and the services of the IZB, which connects IZB entrepreneurs with relevant multipliers. The IZB is currently home to over 63 startups and mature companies.
“In 2015 alone, the IZB companies were able to secure financing in the form of capital increases, milestone payments, financing rounds and subsidies as well as company sales from over 660 million to take pride of place”,
is glad Dr. Peter Zobel, Managing Director of the IZB. At events like Pitch Day, aspiring entrepreneurs establish early contacts with venture capital firms in a relaxed atmosphere.
