The High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF), Bayer Pharma AG, Merck KGaA and the Innovation and Start-up Center for Biotechnology (IZB) hosted the 3rd Munich Life Science Pitch Day. Eight founding teams had the opportunity to present their groundbreaking projects to 15 renowned venture capital and pharmaceutical companies.
Well-known representatives such as MIG Fonds, Forbion Capital Partners, LSP Venture Capital, TVM Capital, Gimv, Biomed Partners, Bavaria Capital, Coparion, Vesalius Biocapital, Wellington Partners, Eli Lilly, and Boehringer Ingelheim participated. The investors were impressed by the innovative ideas of the scientific teams and the consistently high-quality presentations. Dr. Marianne Mertens, Investment Manager in the Life Science Team of High-Tech Gründerfonds, and Dr. Matthias Kromayer, CEO of MIG AG, moderated the event.
“Bringing entrepreneurs and technologies together”
"We are pleased to have created a platform with the Life Science Pitch Day that supports startups in finding suitable investors. Furthermore, for the first time, we want to bring entrepreneurs and technologies together within the Asset Lounge with the goal of realizing innovative ideas and developments. Together with strong partners from venture capital and industry, we hope to launch high-potential companies and lead them to success."
said Dr. Marianne Mertens.
Prof. Dr. Stefan Jaroch, Head of External Innovation Technologies, Bayer AG is a partner of the event for the third time.
"At Pitch Day, we are looking to engage with young entrepreneurs and investors in the life sciences sector. This complements our activities as a High-Tech Gründerfonds investor and as operator of the Co-Laboratories in San Francisco and Berlin. We want to promote the exchange of ideas and contribute our expertise,"
said Jaroch.
In 2016 already over 51 million euros for IZB companies
At events like Pitch Day, aspiring entrepreneurs establish early contacts with venture capital firms — all in the very relaxed atmosphere of the Faculty Club at the IZB.
“We are always happy when startups can subsequently position themselves successfully on the market,”
so Dr. Peter Hanns Zobel, Managing Director of the IZB, who has now supported the fourth generation of biotech companies at the IZB. The remarkable financing rounds from 2016 demonstrate the effectiveness of the network with the venture capital scene:
“IZB companies were able to raise over 51.6 million euros through financing rounds, grants and licensing agreements in 2016,”
Zobel is happy.
