Upcoming “Early Stage Biotech Investing in 2017” to Offer Advice to Entrepreneurs Seeking Venture Capital Funding

 

North Brunswick, N.J. (January 5, 2017) –  National leaders in biotechnology venture capital (VC) will offer insights and advice to New Jersey entrepreneurs interested in securing funding to advance their businesses on January 17. The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA) will host and deliver “Early Stage Biotech Investing in 2017: Strategies for A Changing Environment,” a two-hour panel discussion featuring speakers that will offer tips and guidance in biotechnology VC investing.

“Early-stage companies are always interested in best practices for raising funds,” EDA Chief Executive Officer Melissa Orsen said. “This event offers them the opportunity to hear directly from some of the top biotechnology VC firms in the country.”

The discussion, which will be held at the EDA’s Commercialization Center for Innovative Technologies (CCIT) in North Brunswick beginning at 4:30 p.m., is co-sponsored by BioNJ, the New Jersey Technology Council, and the HealthCare Institute of New Jersey. Biotechnology companies interested in attending should register online at https://www.njeda.gov/Press-Room/Events/CCIT-Biotech-Funding-Panel.

Arch Ventures’ Tom Brennan; Flagship Pioneering’s Dr. Jason Park; and, Versant Ventures’ Dr. Cameron Pitt will answer a variety of funding questions, including:

• How will venture capitalists fund the next generation of drugs, diagnostics and devices? 
• What should you look out for as an early and emerging commercial biotech company seeking funding?

Brennan is a venture partner at Arch Ventures, where he is involved with all aspects of value creation of early-stage advanced technologies. With $2 billion under management, Arch is one of the largest providers of seed and early-state capital in the United States. Brennan grew up in Northfield, Atlantic County, and graduated from Stevens Institute of Technology.

Dr. Park is a principal at Flagship Pioneering. Flagship has $1.8 billion under management and has become one of the nation's leading venture creation firms in the life sciences.  Flagship’s scientific ventures start by exploring unprecedented solutions for unsolved problems representing unproven value opportunities.

Dr. Pitt is an associate at Versant Ventures, where he focuses on healthcare investment. The company has $1.9 billion under management and invests across all stages of company development, with an emphasis on the discovery and development of novel therapeutics. Since the firm's founding, 50 Versant companies have achieved successful acquisitions or initial public offerings.

The event will also give biotechnology companies the chance to visit CCIT, a 46,000-square-foot life sciences incubator that is home to nearly two dozen businesses. With 27 wet labs and access to offices, conference rooms, a supportive staff and a variety of additional resources, CCIT is ideal for emerging companies looking to grow in the Garden State. CCIT is located within the Technology Centre of New Jersey, a 75-acre research park that houses such companies as Chromocell and Orthobond (both of which are CCIT graduates), Allergan, and Merial.  Companies interested in touring CCIT should visit www.njeda.gov/CCIT or contact Lenzie Harcum at lharcum@njeda.com.

For more information about resources available to support New Jersey’s technology industry, visit https://www.njeda.gov/tls and follow @NJEDATech on Twitter and LinkedIn.