3 ms·

Australia sounds quite different than the US. In the US good seed-stage startups get a lot of funding (some of these deals are European or Chinese companies but

Australia sounds quite different than the US. In the US good seed-stage startups get a lot of funding (some of these deals are European or Chinese companies but most are US): almost $1B has been invested into large seed ($5M+) and Series A rounds for biotech startups in January 2018 alone: http://newbio.tech/funding.html http://newbio.tech/funding.html And these companies have been getting acquired / going public at very robust valuations: http://newbio.tech/blog/biopharma_opportunity.html http://newbio.tech/blog/biopharma_opportunity.html The good biotech seed investors I know have been doing very well and involved in several companies acquired for 10 figure sums Disclaimer: links above are to my posts / analyses

danieltillett 9y ago
Australia is just getting started developing a investor ecosystem. In the last few years there are a few entrepreneurs like me that have have started giving back to build the ecosystem, but relatively few. The real blocking point is Series B and beyond where there is very little true VC money. Biotechs really need support at this stage and it forces far too many Australian biotechs to list on the ASX at a very early stage.
- aaavl2821 9y ago
  Are there many therapeutics startups in Australia? I remember seeing a decent amount of diagnostics / device pitches from australian companies (or device firms that listed on ASX) but don't remember seeing many drug developers (not that I have a large sample size to draw from). If there are interesting therapeutics startups in Australia I am sure that US biotech VCs would take a look, as there is a bit of a crowded series a market here (lots of VC money but not many good seed-stage startups) and many VCs are looking to europe for science or startups
  - danieltillett 9y ago
    There are a few, but not many. You will find it a lot easier to pitch a diagnostic or device startup than a tradition therapeutic startup. I think the major killer here is the distance - Australia is just so far from anywhere other than NZ.

danieltillett 9y ago

Australia is just getting started developing a investor ecosystem. In the last few years there are a few entrepreneurs like me that have have started giving back to build the ecosystem, but relatively few. The real blocking point is Series B and beyond where there is very little true VC money. Biotechs really need support at this stage and it forces far too many Australian biotechs to list on the ASX at a very early stage.

aaavl2821 9y ago
Are there many therapeutics startups in Australia? I remember seeing a decent amount of diagnostics / device pitches from australian companies (or device firms that listed on ASX) but don't remember seeing many drug developers (not that I have a large sample size to draw from). If there are interesting therapeutics startups in Australia I am sure that US biotech VCs would take a look, as there is a bit of a crowded series a market here (lots of VC money but not many good seed-stage startups) and many VCs are looking to europe for science or startups
- danieltillett 9y ago
  There are a few, but not many. You will find it a lot easier to pitch a diagnostic or device startup than a tradition therapeutic startup. I think the major killer here is the distance - Australia is just so far from anywhere other than NZ.