Africa Bio: Championing the Use of Biotechnology for Health and Food Security in Africa
Release Date: 05/24/2023
AMA Series on Investment Funding for Biotech - Legal Essentials for Biotech Startups
Africa Biotech Conversations
This session focuses on the essential legal and funding strategies for early-stage biotech startups, emphasizing the importance of intellectual property (IP) management, legal structures, and the role of due diligence in attracting investors. The panel discusses common pitfalls, the significance of contracts, and the challenges of commercializing university IP. They also explore the timing of freedom to operate studies and the evolving landscape of biotech investment. For this session, the featured guests were: Chyreene Truluck – Partner at Spoor & Fisher, specializing in intellectual...
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OneBio Innovation Center: A Pioneering Space for Biotech Startups in Africa
Africa Biotech Conversations
In this episode of the Africa Biotech Conversations Podcast, host Adrienne Leussa welcomes Erin Rencken, General Manager of the newly launched OneBio Innovation Center (OBIC) in Cape Town, South Africa. The special episode features a live recording from the launch event and a detailed discussion about OBIC's mission, offerings, and community-building efforts. Erin outlines the center's vision to provide biotech startups with essential lab space, equipment, and a collaborative environment. The conversation also highlights the support received from the Technology Innovation Agency...
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Proteinea: Pioneering the Development of the First Fully African-Originated Drug
Africa Biotech Conversations
In this episode of the "Africa Biotech Conversations" podcast, host Adrienne Leussa interviews Abdulaziz El Gamal, the co-founder and Chief Product Officer of Proteinea. Proteinea, based in Cairo and Boston, is a tech-bio company focused on leveraging AI to develop next-generation biologics, particularly antibodies with enhanced efficacy, safety, and convenience. Key Points from the Episode: Company Background: Proteinea was founded in early 2020, right before the global pandemic, which influenced its strategic direction and provided a real-time showcase of biotech's potential in health...
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AMA Series on Investment Funding for Biotech - The Art of Valuation for Early-Stage Biotech Startups
Africa Biotech Conversations
The LinkedIn Live session, part of the AMA series on "The Art of Valuation," focused on valuation strategies for biotech startups at early and post-Series A stages. Moderated by Dr. Adrienne Leussa, the discussion featured finance experts Olufemi Elegbe, CFA and Sewu-Steve Tawia. Key highlights included the importance of financial literacy for biotech entrepreneurs, methods for accurately valuing biotech startups, and strategies for enhancing valuation after Series A. The session also emphasized the need for tailored communication when presenting valuations to investors and included practical...
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AMA Series on Investment Funding for Biotech - Understanding the Investment Ecosystem (Pre-seed Focus)
Africa Biotech Conversations
In this insightful episode of the "Ask Me Anything" series on funding and investment, the focus was on early-stage biotech entrepreneurs in Africa. Adrienne was joined by Gian-Marco Melfi, a partner at OneBio Venture Studios, who shared his expertise on the unique challenges and strategies relevant to securing investment in the biotech sector. The discussion covered the intricacies of biotech investments, including the importance of understanding the investment landscape, targeting the right type of investors (such as angel investors, family offices, and venture capitalists), and...
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AMA Series on Investment Funding for Biotech - Building Investor Relations
Africa Biotech Conversations
In this comprehensive session of the ongoing dialogue with African biotech leaders, the focus was on building and maintaining investor relationships. Joining Adrienne were seasoned experts, including Dr. Vuyisile Phehane and Gian-Marco Melfi, who are regular contributors, along with first-time guests Natasha Drapeau and Frank Schwarz from Cohesion Bureau. The discussion covered best practices for engaging with investors, emphasising the importance of communication, the strategic presentation of business plans, and the need for biotech startups to clearly articulate their value...
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AMA Series on Investment Funding for Biotech - Common Pitfalls in Securing Funding
Africa Biotech Conversations
In this episode of the "Ask Me Anything" series under the Dialogue with African Biotech Leaders, experts Gian-Marco Melfi and Vuyisile Phehane discuss the nuances of funding for biotech startups. Focusing on the early stages of startup financing, the conversation explores the challenges startups face in securing funding, the importance of aligning with the right investors, and effective strategies for engaging potential backers. Gian-Marco Melfi, from One Bio Venture Studio, emphasises the significance of building strong, capable teams, while Vuyisile Phehane from the Technology Innovation...
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AMA Series on Investment Funding for Biotech - Where's the Money and How Do I Get It?
Africa Biotech Conversations
In this first episode of the "Ask Me Anything" (AMA) series focused on Investment Funding for biotech, held live on LinkedIn, we delved into the intricate world of funding for biotech startups. The session features profound insights from Dr. Vuyisile Phehane, the Executive: Bio-Economy at South Africa's National Technology Innovation Agency (TIA), and Mr. Gian-Marco Melfi, an investment principal at One BioVenture Studio. Together, they explore the diverse sources of funding available to biotech startups in Africa and provide practical advice on navigating the complex investment landscape....
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Dialogue with African Biotech Leaders: Your 2024 Biotech Growth Plan from Africa and Beyond
Africa Biotech Conversations
Welcome to another retrospective episode of the Dialogue with African Biotech Leaders. In this special session, titled "Going Global: Your 2024 Biotech Growth Plan from Africa and Beyond," we explore cutting-edge strategies for biotech leaders aiming for significant growth in the 2024. This episode is packed with insights from two distinguished speakers: Erica Sosnowski: Managing Partner at Sosna and Co, a leading business development firm in the life sciences industry, with a stellar track record of closing over $250 million in deals. Jennifer Andrews: CEO of Freshly Marketing, a seasoned...
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Dialogue with African Biotech Leaders: Navigating Funding and Investment
Africa Biotech Conversations
Welcome to another insightful episode of the Dialogue with African Biotech Leaders. In this episode, we focus on a critical aspect of biotechnology entrepreneurship—funding and investment. This episode was recorded as a live plenary session at BIO Africa 2023 in Durban, South Africa, and features in-depth discussions on funding challenges and opportunities in the African biotech landscape. Join our distinguished panelists: Dr. Allama Elmehdi: CEO of Prophamedis International from Mauritania, sharing insights on the funding landscape in West Africa, particularly Francophone Africa, and the...
info_outlineIn this episode of Africa Biotech Conversations, host Adrienne Leussa (PhD) interviews Dr. Nhlanhla Msomi, the president and chairman of Africa Bio, a nonprofit association advocating for biotechnology in Africa. Dr. Msomi shares his extensive experience and insights into the biotech sector and the objectives of Africa Bio.
The conversation delves into Africa Bio's mission to defend and promote evidence-driven policies for biotechnology adoption, particularly in agriculture and healthcare. Dr. Msomi mentioned the need to address misconceptions surrounding genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and the lack of availability of biosimilars in Africa's healthcare industry as some of the factors that brought Africa Bio into existence.
The interview highlights the upcoming African Health Excon event, where Africa Bio is organising a Startup Stadium. The Startup Stadium aims to provide a platform for startups in the biotech and healthcare sectors to showcase their innovations and connect with potential partners and investors. Dr. Msomi discusses the expansion of the Startup Stadium concept to other regions in Africa, fostering local innovation and indigenous healthcare solutions.
Dr. Msomi shares his vision for Africa Bio as a federation of innovation activists, with chapters established across the African continent to address regional agendas and drive innovation. The importance of collaboration, knowledge exchange, and the role of startups in driving indigenous innovation are emphasised.
You are encouraged to join Africa Bio, contribute to the growth of biotech in Africa, and stay tuned for upcoming events and initiatives such as the 2023 Bio Africa Convention taking place from 1-6 September in Durban, South Africa.
The episode concludes with a reflection on the exciting potential of biotech in Africa and the role it can play in solving indigenous healthcare challenges.