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BioFest inVEST

Sky Room @ University of the Incarnate Word
April 19, 2023

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Watch the video from the winners of last year's pitch competition

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2022 BioFest Invest Best Pitch Winner

2022 BioFest Invest Best Pitch Runner-Up

What is BioFest Invest

BioFest Invest is an annual spring event that brings together potential investors from across the nation and Texas bioscience companies seeking investment funding, while sharing best practices, connections, and valuable advice. The day-long event includes relevant speakers and panelists on valuable topics relevant to bioscience companies. Organizations that provide support to bioscience entrepreneurs will also be on-site to provide information.

After a rigorous screening process, invited companies are able to present their pitch decks during the event. Investors are able to view company pitches and connect with company representatives live or virtually after the event. Judges will evaluate the pitches to award a cash prize of $10,000.  The cost for companies to present is $150 for members of Bio organizations or $250 for non-members.

For more information on BioMedSA membership ($250 for bioscience companies with less than 20 employees), click here.

Biofest Invest 2022

Biofest Invest 2022 was held on March 30, 2022, the day before the start of San Antonio’s Fiesta celebration. Over 250 people were registered in order to support medtech, biotech, digital health, and pharma entrepreneurs make connections with investors, support organizations, and colleagues, as well as receive helpful information to enable their growth.  Over 25 sponsors supported the event financially and were able to host tables in the networking area.  Sponsors reported running out of business cards and were seen holding giant stacks of cards they had been given. After the initial networking session, the event started with remarks from Heather Hanson, president of BioMedSA, Barbara Aranda-Naranjo, Provost at Presenting Sponsor, the University of the Incarnate Word (UIW), and Walt Downing, EVP & COO at Presenting Sponsor, Southwest Research Institute (SwRI). Hanson explained how BioMedSA implements its mission by supporting the companies in the region, promoting the region to encourage …

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What is BioFest Invest?

BioFest Invest is an annual spring event that brings together potential investors from across the nation and Texas bioscience companies seeking investment funding, while sharing best practices, connections, and valuable advice. The day-long event includes relevant speakers and panelists on valuable topics relevant to bioscience companies. Organizations that provide support to bioscience entrepreneurs will also be on-site to provide information.

After a rigorous screening process, invited companies are able to present their pitch decks during the event. Investors are able to view company pitches and connect with company representatives live or virtually after the event. Judges will evaluate the pitches to award a cash prize of $10,000.  The cost for companies to present is $150 for members of Bio organizations or $250 for non-members.

For more information on BioMedSA membership ($250 for bioscience companies with less than 20 employees), click here.

View the Full BioFest Invest 2022 Program

2022 Program Agenda

8:30 – 9:00 – Networking

9:00 – 9:15 – Welcome

9:15 – 9:45 – Early Stage Investment Options and Grant Funding

9:45 – 10:15 – Marketing Essentials for Commercial Success

10:15 – 10:30 – Break

10:30 – 11:15 – Working with Contracting Organizations

11:15 – 11:30 – Cost Saving Opportunities

11:30 – 12:00 – Lunch

12:00 – 1:00 – Company Pitches

1:00 – 1:15 – Break

1:15 – 2:15 – Company Pitches

2:15 – 3:00 – What are Investors Thinking?

3:00 – 3:15 – Break

3:15 – 4:00 – Keys to Start-Up Success from CEOs

4:00 – 4:45 – Legal Highlights for Bioscience Start-Ups

4:45 – 5:00 – Presentation of 2022 BioFest Invest Pitch Winner

Companies Selected

After a rigorous screening process, the following companies from across Texas were selected to present. 

altbionicslogo
Xtraction Corp logo
vivifi
VNB-final-logo-Stacked-Color-withtagline
VPS Encore Logo for Print
T4 Movement Logo_Black Banner
Steradian Technologies, Inc.
NovoThelium
MR3 Health
justair
EmergenceMed
Eisana
Bexar Biomedical
Goldminds EDUC

Companies

  • 1
    Fill out application by Friday, February 24, 2023
  • 2
    Upon acceptance, submit payment ($150 for BioMedSA, BioHouston, BioAustin, BioNTX, and Bio El Paso-Juarez members / $250 for non-members). BioMedSA membership is $250/ year for startups with less than 20 employees.
  • 3
    Upon acceptance of application, the following opportunities will be available for all participating startups:
    – A pitch practice session and content review through the UTSA Technology Commercialization Center.
    – A one-hour free consulting review session with The Neutrino Donut, LLC to review the SBIR market and potential opportunities.

*BioMedSA membership is $250/ year for startups with less than 20 employees. See all benefits of membership here or email info@biomedsa.org for more information.

We are no longer accepting applications.  You are still welcome to register for the event.  

APPLY

Attendees

  • Cost: $50 (BioMedSA Member) / $75 (Non-Member) / $50 (Investor)
  • Time: 8:00am – 5pm (Happy Hour following the event from 5pm – 7:00pm)
  • Ticket includes a box lunch at the event and happy hour with 2 free drink tickets after the event. Parking is free.
REGISTER

Sponsors

MORE INFO

Need to find a place to stay while in San Antonio? Click below for special hotel rate offers available for BioFest Invest!

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Interested in a Bioscience tour of San Antonio? Sign up below! Space is extremely limited so be sure to register early! 

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2023 INSPIRATION SPONSORS

bridgemeahd
swri
bridge pts
Fountainhead Investment Partners

2023 INNOVATION SPONSORS

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velocity
Prytime Medical Devices logo
logo-biosolutions
San Antonio Medical Foundation logo
cityofsa
logo-Innov8

COMMUNITY PARTNERS

logo-biohouston
logo-bioepj
logo-biontx
bioaustin

2022 BioFest Invest Program

8:30 – 9:00 – Networking

9:00 – 9:15 – Welcome

  • Heather Hanson, President, BioMedSA
  • Barbara Aranda-Naranjo, Provost, UIW
  • Walter Downing, COO, SwRI

9:15 – 9:45 – Early Stage Investment Options and Grant Funding

  • Karen Deschaine, Partner, Cooley

9:45 – 10:15 – Marketing Essentials for Commercial Success

  • Sharon Smith, Principal, the Anser Group

10:15 – 10:30 – Break

10:30 – 11:15 – Working with Contracting Organizations

  • Paul Attar, CEO, Bridge PTS
  • Michael J. Fiske, VP Manufacturing Sciences, Scorpion Biological Services
  • Joe McDonough, Director, SwRI

Moderator: Kris Kieswetter, Sr. Director, Research & Technology, 3M KCI

11:15 – 11:30 – Cost Saving Opportunities

  • Jared Stein, Member & Program Manager, BioMedSA 

11:30 – 12:00 – Lunch

12:00 – 1:00 – Company Pitches

1:00 – 1:15 – Break

1:15 – 2:15 – Company Pitches

2:15 – 3:00 – What are Investors Thinking?

  • May McCarthy, Individual Investor
  • Courtney Real, Corporate Venture Associate, Capital Factory Ventures
  • Kim Rodriguez, Medtech Principal, S3 Ventures
  • Neal Vail, CSO, Progenerative Medical

Moderator: Benjamin Perkins, pH Partners

3:00 – 3:15 – Break

3:15 – 4:00 – Keys to Start-Up Success from CEOs

  • George Hutchinson, CEO, Invictus Medical
  • Marty Landon, CEO, BioBridge Global
  • Gabi Niederauer, CEO, Bluegrass Vascular Technologies
  • Maria Zannes, CEO, bioAffinity Technologies

Moderator: Thomas Tschirhart, Director of Business Development, PSC Biotech

4:00 – 4:45 – Legal Highlights for Bioscience Start-Ups

  • Karen Deschaine, Partner, Cooley
  • Matt Duke, Attorney, Duke Law Firm
  • Jose Padilla, Managing Attorney, Padilla Law

Moderator: Monica Trollinger, General Counsel, SwRI

4:45 – 5:00 – Presentation of 2022 BioFest Invest Pitch Winner

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