Editor’s note: Joe Magno is Executive Director, the North Carolina Center of Innovation Network, which is a partner with WRAL TechWire
RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK – Over 150 attendees filled the North Carolina Biotechnology Center auditorium on June 5 for the sixth Life Sciences Forum which featured speakers from five life sciences focused venture firms.
Presenters included Scott Weiner (Pappas Ventures), Anita Watkins (REX Strategic Innovations), Jonathan Meltzer (LabCorp Ventures), Alex Gray (Echo Health Ventures), and Michael Dial (Hatteras Venture Partners). Anil Goyal (Open Doors Group) moderated with flair providing speakers with queries that prompted a lively and highly informative discussion on the state of life sciences venture investment in our Region.
Speakers covered topics ranging from investment criteria to typical investment commitment and also covered syndication and partnering with other investors from private individuals to direct corporate investment partnerships. Anil Goyla also asked their opinions on the future impact of digital health and data analytics.
Questions from attendees included issues such as “when should a company commence discussions with VC’s” to “the impact of SBIR and other non-dilutive funding sources on VC investments”.
Food and refreshments were served during face-to-face networking time both before and after the panel providing ample time for attendees to speak with presenters. The audience also included a contingent of visitors from Scandanavia life sciences organizations looking to learn more about the region’s life science ecosystem.
This Forum was sponsored by Alexandria and Wyrick Robbins and hosted by the North Carolina Biotechnology Center (NCBC) and The North Carolina Center of Innovation Network (COIN). Other Forum sponsors include Arris Partners, MedSurgPI, Kineticos, Stavill Studley, and Hughes Pittman Gupton. Additional Forums are planned for the remainder of the year, all focused on topics of interest to the North Carolina Life Sciences Community.
