How the Investment World Changes
How the Investment World Changes
What I read in Week 5 of 2023
When I was taught in school about investing, investing meant buying shares in companies or real estate property, although the Bitcoin Economy has produced a novel tool, this principle mostly stayed the same.
For most people, investing mostly means buying shares of companies or real estate properties. Thanks to FTX, the crypto industry has lost traction.
However, how humans interact these days has gone through enormous technological changes.
The VC Digitization Journey
Before 1994 almost nobody had a mobile phone. I remember making jokes about people who ran around with a suitcase to be able to make a call whenever they wanted.
Above is a picture of an 80s cell phone — weight 4,9 kilograms.
In the mid-90s, the mobile industry helped everybody get a small phone in their pockets. The Cern institute put the WWW into the public domain, making companies like Amazon, Google, and Facebook possible.
Google made the world's know-how accessible with one mouseclick, while tools like ChatGPT will help people communicate more naturally with AIs.
What impact do these developments and tools have on how nature Capitalists do their business?
You’ll get the answer in this article written by one of the partners of Earlybird Ventures.
Data-driven VC #20: The VC digitization journey
👋 Hi, I'm Andre, and welcome to my weekly newsletter, Data-driven VC. Every Thursday, I cover hands-on insights into…www.datadrivenvc.io
European DeepTech Startups
Let’s face it — the biggest challenges of our times are complex and need brainpower to develop solutions.
Companies that translate scientific innovations into useful products are called DeepTech Companies.
What is the state of European DeepTech?
How do European universities rank in terms of innovation?
Who are the deep tech investors operating in Europe?
Find answers to these questions in the latest deal room report:
European deep tech startups | Dealroom.co
In 2021, we predicted a pivotal year for Deep Tech. Was it? A lot has happened in the tech world since then. In…dealroom.co
The Challenges of Spinning Out Deep Tech Companies
Are University Spinouts Hindering the Release of Cutting-Edge Tech for Humanity?
As equity investment in university spinouts increases, tensions rise over academic entrepreneurs’ relationship with their universities.
One biotech startup, Oxford Nanoimaging, is in a legal battle with Oxford University over royalty payments. The founder, Bo Jing, argues that universities overestimate their impact on spinouts and contribute little compared to the years of work put in by entrepreneurs.
Are university spinouts a hindrance or a help in bringing cutting-edge research to the market and solving global problems?
This big question has followed me since I helped start the first deep tech companies in 2006.
I experienced all kinds of deal ideas from tech transfer offices — from a 90% equity claim for “donating” the IP to the company down to 5 to 15% royalties from future revenues the company makes — either from selling a product or licensing the technology to the industry — I saw it all.
My opinion is that most European IP is financed with taxpayers' money. The startup founders dedicate their entire lives to moving technology forward and are 100% focused on making the company successful. I believe it serves the universities best when they give their founders as much support as possible:
Taking 5–15% royalties for licensing/transferring the IP into the companies
Taking equity when they invest capital in the usual seed deal structure
Anything else provided to the company should be on fee-for-service contracts for transparency and clarity reasons.
After all, European universities are here for eternity, and backloaded deal structures benefit both sides the most. It helps founders move forward as efficiently as possible while retaining solid return rights for the inventors of the IP.
Keep your founders motivated to move forward.
The growing tensions around spinouts at British universities
When Bo Jing signed up for a PhD at the University of Oxford a decade ago, he did not intend to become an entrepreneur…www.ft.com
Upcoming Conversations:
Check out the Q1 highlight on March 16:
From Blue Collar to Biotech: The Incredible Journey of NanoTemper CEO Philipp Baaske and His Search for Investment Amidst Financial Crisis."
The CEO of Nanotemper, Dr. Philipp Baaske, will join us in Vienna in our Recording Studio to discuss his journey as an entrepreneur.
What challenges did he have to overcome?
Why did he decide to bootstrap his company?
How did he find customers and a business angel to get off the ground?
Join us as we delve into Philipp Baaske's inspiring story of perseverance and determination in founding NanoTemper and the invaluable lessons he learned from his angel investor Volker Hofmann on the road to success. Tune in to hear about the power of belief in your ideas, the importance of support from family and friends, and the impact an angel investor can have on a startup.
Timetable for March 16, 2023
11 am CET - Philipp Baaske - Livestream on Linkedin and Zoom Webinar directly from the Podcasting Studio
3 pm CET - LSG2G Networking Get2gether: Meet Philipp Baaske. The location will be announced in March
February 14, 2023 - 12 pm CET - Alex Zhavoronkov - How to Use Generative AI in Drug Discovery - Article about Alex and his company Insilico Medicine
February 17, 2023 - 7 pm CET - Kimberley Miner - Climate Change
We are looking for speakers. Do you know interesting experts in these areas?
Longevity, preventive medicine, and well-being;
pharma and health tech;
artificial intelligence;
climate change;
and entrepreneurship and investing.
Send a mail to cs@cslifescienceinvest.com
2 Podcasts from this week:
The Founders Podcast - Lessons from Ralph Lauren
Investing with Impact: Jeevan Sunner's Story as a Female Venture Capitalist
1 Youtube Takeaway from this week
Books I am reading this week
“I am hard pressed to think of another book that can match the combination of practical insights and reading enjoyment.”―Steven Levitt
Game theory means rigorous strategic thinking. It’s the art of anticipating your opponent’s next moves, knowing full well that your rival is trying to do the same thing to you. Though parts of game theory involve simple common sense, much is counterintuitive, and it can only be mastered by developing a new way of seeing the world. Using a diverse array of rich case studies―from pop culture, TV, movies, sports, politics, and history―the authors show how nearly every business and personal interaction has a game-theory component to it. Mastering game theory will make you more successful in business and life, and this lively book is the key to that mastery.
The Art of Strategy: A Game Theorist's Guide to Success in Business and Life
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