Building big – translating complex engineering and science into successful global companies.
About this event
The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (UKRI-BBSRC) and UK Innovation and Science Seed Fund (UKI2S) are pleased to host a short seminar on spinning outs and raising venture backing in the engineering biology space. An interactive midday chat with two successful entrepreneurs who have founded and sold major biotech and agritech start ups share their insight on success and the UKI2S-BBSRC provides insight into raising venture funding.
This seminar is primarily aimed at senior academics whose research interests include engineering biology, but we also actively encourage more junior engineering biology academics with a keen interest in the commercialisation of research to attend.
The seminar will include an interactive session going through some of the major steps to successfully raise funds for a spin-out company. There will also be 10-min talks from two of our CEOs, who will outline their experiences of raising backing.
Simon Sturge (Chairman, Nemesis Bioscience) is an experienced healthcare executive and has built a very strong reputation in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries. He was the founder and CEO of RiboTargets, which later reversed into Vernalis Plc.
Gilad Gershon (CEO, Tropic Bioscience) is an experienced AgriTech private equity investor and entrepreneur. He founded Tropic Bioscience in 2016.
About UKRI-BBSRC
UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) creates knowledge with impact by investing over £8bn a year in research and innovation through the UK’s nine leading funding councils.
The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) invests in world-class bioscience research and training. This research is helping society to meet major challenges, including food security, green energy and healthier, longer lives and underpinning important UK economic sectors, such as farming, food, industrial biotechnology and pharmaceuticals.
About UKI2S
The UK Innovation and Science Seed Fund (UKI2S) is committed to nurturing new business arising from the world-class science undertaken in the UK in sectors such as biotechnology, synthetic biology, engineering, agriculture, computer science and environmental technology. Providing long-term, patient capital, the fund has helped build innovative businesses, leverage private investment and grow jobs. Beyond seed funding, UKI2S provides strategic advice and support to companies in their early stages.
The UKI2S is backed by BBSRC. In particular, the UKI2S received £10M investment from BBSRC to support the commercialisation of synthetic biology technologies. More information on the Synthetic Biology Seed Fund can be found at https://ukinnovationscienceseedfund.co.uk/investment-focus/synthetic-biology/