Innovative drug developers presented to over 20 investors at the Munich Start-Up Center

Martinsried, September 1. October, 2021 – Once again the Munich Life Science Pitch Day on the September 30, 2001 in Munich was a total success for both the project teams and the more than 20 investors. This event takes place every year in cooperation with High-Tech-Gründerfonds (HTGF), Bayer AG, Boehringer Ingelheim and the Innovation and Start-Up Center for Biotechnology (IZB) in Martinsried near Munich. 35 project teams from the life science sector had applied. Ten start-ups had the opportunity to present their innovative drug development projects to renowned venture capital companies. Dr. Martin Pfister, principal of HTGF moderated the event and introduced the HTGF. Dr. Peter Hanns Zobel, Managing Director of the IZB, gave a glimps into the dynamic Start-Up Center IZB. Dr. John-Edward Butler-Ransohoff, Vice President Open Innovation – Public Private Partnership, Bayer AG explained what kinds of cooperation models exist at Bayer AG. The participants followed the fireside chat with Dr. Martin Pfister and Dr. Ingmar Hoerr, founder of CureVac AG with great interest.

The following investors attended this event: Abbvie, Apollo Health Ventures, Bayer, Bayern Capital, BioMed Partners, bmp Ventures, Boehringer Ingelheim, Coparion, Forbion Capital Partners, Hadean Ventures, HTGF, KURMA Partners, Long VC, LSP, mbc, Maximon, Medi Ventures, Occident Group, Seventure, TVM Capital, Vantage Value, Vesalius Biocapital and Wellington Partners.

"We are pleased to be able to give start-ups the opportunity every year to present before top-class venture capital companies in order to establish contacts with investors at an early stage. I would very much like to thank our long-term partners, who leave with an extremely positive impression of the Munich start-up scene," explains Dr. Peter Hanns Zobel, Managing Director of the IZB.

"With the Munich Life Science Pitch Day we have established an outstanding event together with the IZB, Bayer AG and Boehringer Ingelheim, which has taken place for the sixth time in Munich. This is where partnerships emerge from which the life science start-ups and all participating investors benefit. At the same time, all participants gain valuable insights into the innovative strength of young start-ups. This is real added value for everyone involved. We are already looking forward to the next Pitch Day," according to Dr. Caroline Fichtner, Principal of HTF.

"The Life Science Pitch Day offers the best possible framework for targeted networking with established investors. The ten participating life science start-ups impressed us with their innovative ideas. It was also a pleasure for me to round off the event in an interesting conversation with our guest Ingmar Hoerr, founder of CureVac," says Dr. Martin Pfister, Principal of HTGF.

"A central aspect of a pitch event is networking. The founders have the chance to make important contacts with potential investors and partners. And it is precisely this exchange that is made possible at the Life Science Pitch Day in Munich. I was very impressed by the quality of the young start-ups’ research. It was great to follow the lively exchange and get to know the start-ups," explains Dr. John-Edward Butler-Ransohoff, Vice President Open Innovation – Public Private Partnership, Bayer AG.

"At the Life Science Pitch Day, interesting partnerships and synergies can emerge between investor:ing and the innovative founder:ing scene. Events like these make a valuable contribution to promoting innovation and opening up new horizons for completely new therapeutic approaches for patients. The quality of the founding teams and the forward-looking solutions of the pitching start-ups are a real enrichment for the life science sector," says Alexander Ehlgen, Boehringer Ingelheim Venture Fund.