As we roll into December, let me say thank you. 2020 has been an incredible, unusual, and challenging year for the world. Like most everyone else, AVX had to quickly adapt to the evolving realities of the world in order to continue to serve our national network of partners, entrepreneurs, investors, advisors, and friends. We launched v2.0 of AVX in March just a few short days before the evolving shut downs and it's been surprising to see how the world has shifted in fits and starts, month-by-month. Some teams and start ups had to make the hard decisions to close, while others were lifted up to help lead a new wave in drug development. And this community and my work would not be here without you. So please, if there is anything I can do to help AVX better work with you, let me know.
In this newsletter, I will remind you about your teams we are currently hosting on AVX and highlight a few events from around the network.
With our updated interface, you can see all ventures here: AVX Feed
Conversation Statistics: We are up to 9388 total connections and conversations on the AVX network - 472 more over the last month (5% month over month growth!). We are currently tracking 19 potential match negotiations and another 117 with multi-month long discussions heading toward possible matches (and a handful of matches in stealth). We have now actively connected 504 different ventures (out of 1280+ examined) with 1183 different entrepreneurs and investors (out of a pool of 3000+)
Top December Digital Events
Yale Lifesciences PitchFest (Dec 3-4): See 22 of Yale's Leading Life Sciences investigators and projects with this year's top Biotech proposals competing for accelerator awards of up to $300K from the Blavatnik Fund for Innovation at Yale, presenting their ideas in 5 minute pitches. Biotechs, big pharmas, and venture investors won't want to miss seeing Yale investigators with advanced projects.
PCI Ventures Virtual Pitch Day (Dec 10): Join us on Thursday, December 10th from 1pm to 4pm to hear from 12 innovative Penn startups in Therapeutics, Diagnostic Devices, Digital Health, and Advanced Materials. Companies will pitch for 10 minutes followed by a short Q&A session. This virtual event is an exciting opportunity to engage with our early-stage companies, and learn how our entrepreneurs and founders are solving important problems with unique solutions.
BLUE KNIGHT Symposium (Dec 8-10): In seeking to combat emerging infectious diseases and other 21st century health threats, the path to better prepared, protected, and healthy individuals, families, and communities could rely on unlocking the collective power of the global community. Johnson & Johnson Innovation - JLABS and BARDA will virtually convene the emerging Blue Knight community of thought leaders, innovators and entrepreneurs for a three-day symposium, including interactive sessions focused on key areas of interest in infectious disease, public health, and company acceleration. Sessions will explore high priority areas of interest for scientific and technological innovation aimed for improving our preparedness and response to emerging health security threats.
DIGITAL EVENTS
Climate Tech Solutions with SOSV, Mayfield & UN Joint SDG Fund (Dec 2): The decade of action is here. Find out how three world changing funds are approaching Climate Tech solutions, and highlighting the impact that venture capital can make along with our global community. This event is brought to you by the Genesis Consortium, an alliance of venture funds and corporations to promote human and planetary evolution. With special guests: Lisa Kurbiel, Sean O'Sullivan, and Arvind Gupta.
Reimagining Recycling with Axios (Dec 2): Join Axios for a virtual event on the ongoing problem of plastic waste. We will unpack how policymakers and private sector leaders can partner to eliminate waste in the environment. Axios Managing Editor Alison Snyder and Business Editor Dan Primack will host one-on-one conversations with: The Honorable Haley Stevens (Rep. M-11), Bridget Croke (Closed Loop Partners), Keefe Harrison (The Recycling Partnership), Jim VandeHei (Axios), Chris Jahn (American Chemistry Council)
Penn Celebration of Innovation (Dec 2): Join the Penn Center for Innovation to celebrate Penn researchers and innovators who were awarded a patent this past fiscal year. Jonathan A. Epstein, M.D., Executive Vice Dean and Chief Scientific Officer, Perelman School of Medicine, will give a keynote address.
Yale Lifesciences PitchFest (Dec 3-4): See 22 of Yale's Leading Life Sciences investigators and projects with this year's top Biotech proposals competing for accelerator awards of up to $300K from the Blavatnik Fund for Innovation at Yale, presenting their ideas in 5 minute pitches. Biotechs, big pharmas, and venture investors won't want to miss seeing Yale investigators with advanced projects.
Conversation with USPTO Director Andrei Iancu (Dec 4): Columbia Technology Ventures is pleased to invite you to a conversation with USPTO Director and Under Secretary of Commerce Andrei Iancu, who will discuss American innovation, the important role intellectual property plays in innovation, and efforts to expand the United States innovation ecosystem demographically, geographically, and economically.
BLUE KNIGHT Symposium (Dec 8-10): In seeking to combat emerging infectious diseases and other 21st century health threats, the path to better prepared, protected, and healthy individuals, families, and communities could rely on unlocking the collective power of the global community. Johnson & Johnson Innovation - JLABS and BARDA will virtually convene the emerging Blue Knight community of thought leaders, innovators and entrepreneurs for a three-day symposium, including interactive sessions focused on key areas of interest in infectious disease, public health, and company acceleration. Sessions will explore high priority areas of interest for scientific and technological innovation aimed for improving our preparedness and response to emerging health security threats.
New York Emerging Biotech Company Showcase (Dec 9): The Showcase brings together New York’s financial community and a group of emerging biotech companies that are developing novel therapeutics and technologies that could revolutionize patient care. This year the event will include DETECT by Homodeus, Emendo Biotherapeutics, HiberCell, Neurogene, OneDrop, and Stelexis. We will also have a lunch panel discussing the impact of SPACs and the future of biotech finance, featuring Jennie Dong, Head of SPACs for the New York Stock Exchange, Adam Koppel, Managing Director at Bain Capital Life Sciences, and Jonathan Rothberg, founder, CEO, and Chairman of Butterfly Net, Inc.
Yale Engage Cancer (Dec 9): This discussion will highlight mechanisms of resistance to clinical applications, developing and applying biomarkers, and drug sensitivity, as well as major challenges, such as: Identifying new targets for specific tumors, Dissecting the complexity of drug resistance in vivo, Reviewing systemic influences on tumors, and Pinpointing next gen biomarker.
How to Raise Angel Capital (Dec 10): Dial in and listen in to Ziad Moukheiber of Boston Harbor Angels and Anthony Gellert of Livingston Ventures (moderated by Kristin King of Defibtech) discuss the ups and downs of navigating angel capital fundraising.
PCI Ventures Virtual Pitch Day (Dec 10): Join us on Thursday, December 10th from 1pm to 4pm to hear from 12 innovative Penn startups in Therapeutics, Diagnostic Devices, Digital Health, and Advanced Materials. Companies will pitch for 10 minutes followed by a short Q&A session. This virtual event is an exciting opportunity to engage with our early-stage companies, and learn how our entrepreneurs and founders are solving important problems with unique solutions.
UCLA: COVID and the PATH FORWARD (Dec 10): LABEST and UCLA TDG host a panel of experts who will discuss the current state of COVID surge and flu activity and how the body's immune system responds. In addition, panelists will look at the state of COVID-19 therapies and vaccines that are on the horizon.
Raising Funds - In the Virtual World (Dec 15): Whether you’re pitching for dilutive or non-dilutive funding, to venture capital investors or to government funders, success can hinge upon your pitch. What are some of the potential elements that make a pitch successful in the virtual world? What differs from in-person pitches? We gathered a group of experts to discuss the elements of a successful pitch to potentially improve your chances of reaching your next milestone. This program is part of BLUE KNIGHT™, a collaboration between Johnson & Johnson Innovation – JLABS (JLABS) and the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA)
Innovate Next (Jan 7): Innovate Next is an interactive gathering from Silicon Valley Bank envisioned to deliver revolutionary thinking from influential leaders at the intersection of healthcare and technology. Trailblazing change-makers from some of the world’s most pioneering companies will discuss and debate pressing topics shaping the industry and innovative ideas on the horizon.
Some Thought Pieces
Why your scientific presentation should not be adapted from a journal article: Many of you, like me, may occasionally find yourselves frustrated by scientists trying to make presentations as comprehensive as journal articles. Sadly the result can be incomprehensible and a lost opportunity (of note, the opposite case where much too little information for an opportunity is shared can also cause a lack of interest). Here, David Rubenson provides guidance on how to walk that fine line for presentations! For those with teams in information overload, I highly recommend sharing this.
How to Moderate Talks, Panels, Meetings, More: In this virtual era, we are finding ourselves on more Zoom panels and multi-screened panel discussions - and many of them will experience verbal traffic as people try to figure out when to stop and go when talking. If you are looking to improve your public speaking skills, this podcast discussion between Matt Abrahams of Stanford and Sonal Chokshi of Andreessen Horowitz should provide some wonderful highlights for you.
How government and policy can help foster innovation: H/T to Orin Herskowitz for sharing this gem of a virtual fireside chat. Here Mariana Mazzucato speaks with Tom Kalil and Katie Rae about the role of government and policy in fostering entrepreneurship and innovation for public benefit. You'll hear about the ups and downs of supporting Deep Tech and Tough Tech innovations as well as some ideas on how to improve.
Moonshots, Spinouts, and New Ventures: Hear from Shaun Stewart of Newlab, Wendy Tsu of AlleyCorp, Tom Hunt of X, the Moonshot Factory, and Fernando Gómez Baquero of Cornell Tech as they discuss their venture studio efforts. Venture studios represent a relatively new form of entrepreneurship—one where founders pair up with industry experts, advisors, talent and back-office support rather than going it alone. Unlike accelerator or incubator programs, venture studios are there from the start of the company creation process, may pre-date founders and CEOs, and vary widely in how they are structured.
The Hidden Patterns of Startup Failure: A few months ago, I shared the deal memos of Bessemer Venture Partners as a way to learn from prior success. Those on the flip side, who do you recognize the true red flags of risk and pending failure? Here, James Currier of NFX speaks with Tom Eisenmann of Harvard Business School on the patterns of start up failures. A great conversation!
So long for now! – Hamdi