Southeast BIO picks four finalists in business plan competition

Cerene Biomedics, which is affiliated with Duke University, is one of four finalists in the Southeast BIO industry trade group’s annual BIO/Plan business plan competition.

The winner will be determined at the , which is Dec. 4-5 in Palm Beach, Fla.

First place is worth $100,000.

The other finalists are: CardiacSolutions from Georgia Tech, ProNeurix from Emory University, and Lestoni, Inc. from Virginia Commonwealth.

The competition is a year-long event in which SEBIO works with entrants to develop business strategies for life science startups. More than 70 potential startups from across the southeast entered this year’s competition.

“BIO/Plan is supplying the region with a pipeline of well crafted emerging technologies which will become the future life sciences companies in the Southeast,” said Aaron Davidson, managing director of venture capital firm H.I.G. Ventures. “The program is of the highest value to each of its participants, regardless of the competition results.”

Each of the finalists received mentoring from venture capitalists, angel investors and life science firm executives.

This is the second year for the competition.

Also at the conference, more than 40 life science firms will make presentations to investors.