JLM-BioCity presents: 

                          JLM-BioCity Biomed Startup Pitch Evening

                      Tuesday, December 20th, 2016 17:30 – 20:30 

                                          Azrieli College of Engineering

JLM-BioCity (previously known as JBNF-Biomed) has launched a series of startup pitch evenings. The first session in July was on the topic of biomed, followed by one on pharma in November. The events offer a platform for selected life science start-ups in the Jerusalem area to present themselves to a panel of investors, VC funds, and global companies.  Other bio-entrepreneurs who attend can learn to improve their own pitch technique and acquaint themselves with the investor community. The upcoming event will focus on medical devices, with a further Startup Pitch event on Pharma  being planned for April 2017.

The panelists are:

• Jeff Dykan, Partner, SCP Vita Life 

• Asher Holzer Ph.D. – Director and CEO, Dalix Therapeutics Inc.

• Zvika Slovin Ph.D. – co-CEO, Elron

• Oded Wachsman, M.D., M.B.A – CEO, Gaico Investments

• Ze’ev Weinfeld Ph.D. – CEO, MedX Xelerator

From 15 companies that submitted, the panelists choose 5 startups to pitch:

• CareNav is a digital health solution offering patient navigation services. Their scalable platform matches patients with experienced nurses for 1:1 virtual consultations, pre- and post-doctor’s visit, to empower and facilitate their healthcare experience. 

• NiMD ltd is developing  proven, safe, non invasive, breakthrough microwave technology for the treatment of cancer, focusing on breast cancer. The company is at the pre-clinical stage, looking for Round A of funding. NiMD ltd has the lowest microwave power technology in the world, capable of ablating cancer tumors without damaging the surrounding tissue, in just one or two sessions at the most! It is so selective that it does not have side effects while minimizing the chance of recurrence. It will probably eliminate the need for lumpectomy or mastectomy.

• NovaLaka ltd is working on a new drug delivery system that will focus on female health. Right now NovaLaka ltd has discovered a new way to target vaginal atrophy and dryness in the vaginal area that will bring the relief to the millions of women worldwide. 

• RapiDx  solves a problem that millions of people around the globe are facing – how to self-test themselves with a self-test requiring blood sampling. With the RapiDx solution, they can do it whenever they want, wherever they want, including at home. RapiDx  is developing its first device, the RapTest, which is a platform suitable for an array of health conditions. The first applications of this platform are HIV screening self-test and cardiac markers self test..  

• RenalSense has developed the first renal monitoring system that continuously and automatically measures urine flow for real-time assessment of renal function, and prevention of Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) in critical care (ICU/OR). The system automatically transmits the real-time data to the medical staff, alerting them of fluctuations on a 24/7 basis. The information provided by the system has been clinically shown to provide early signs of AKI, facilitating rapid intervention and improved fluid management. This combination is game-changing for ICU patient care and economics.

Each of the 5 startups have been matched to experienced business development experts, who are JLM-BioCity members, to get coaching for the event. 

They are:

• Joni Catalano-Sherman – Healthcare Innovation Strategist

• Michael Horesh – Business mentor & consultant

• Neil Berns  – co-founder, MDtect

• Rae H.B Fishman – Director, PSciComm

• Tom Koevary, CEO, Shiran Technologies ltd

At the beginning of the event, in true JLM-BioCity tradition, several biomed start-ups will be invited to deliver a 1 minute pitch.

Entrance donation is 20 NIS at the door. 

JLM-BioCity  (JBNF-BioMed) is delighted to announce that the event is sponsored by Azrieli College of Engineering, AtoBe – Azrieli College of Engineering Startup Accelerator,  and the Jerusalem Chamber of Commerce.

Parking

Please send your name in Hebrew and car licence plate to good.o.joe@gmail.com to get parking permit for your car at the event. Write in the subject of your email – Dec 20 JLM-BioCity -car parking permit.

About JLM-BioCity 

JLM-BioCity is a private initiative of 900 bio entrepreneurs, professionals and businesspeople seeking to make Jerusalem a global life science innovation leader and the Bio-Capital of Israel.  The sponsors of JLM-BioCity are: 

Jeff Dykan, partner, SCP Vita Life

Jeff Dykan has been a Managing Partner with Vitalife since 2002, where he has a lead role in managing its investments, including arranging financing and M&A. 

Prior to Vita Life, he was recruited by Sequoia Capital as Chairman & CEO, BitBand, an IP broadband start up, and successfully turned that company around. Before BitBand, he held several senior financial positions, including CFO at VocalTec Communications, Director of Regional Finance for Applied Materials in Israel and VP Finance at Opal. He began his career in 1981 with Andersen Consulting in New York.

Currently, Chair of ReWalk Robotics and Trig Medical, on the board of directors of NovoGI, Regentis Biomaterials, Deep Breeze and Beta-O2 Technologies, and previously a board member of Colbar Lifescience (acquired by J&J) and Can-Fite BioPharma (TASE: CFBI).

He has a B.S. in accounting and management and an MBA in computer applications, both from New York University.

Asher Holzer Ph.D – Director and CEO, Dalix Therapeutics Inc

Asher Holzer Ph.D – Director and CEO, Dalix Therapeutics Inc is a serial entrepreneur and senior leader with 28 years of experience in the Medical Device industry. He is recognized for the transitioning emerging medical technologies from concept research to a clinical standard of care.  His expertise covers a wide range of activities in the management of medical device companies, development, clinical studies, regulatory affairs, introduction to the market, and the business aspects of medical device companies.

Asher received his Ph.D. in Applied Physics from the Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel in 1980. He is the inventor of numerous patents.

He is currently Director and CEO of Dalix Therapeutics Inc., a drug development company targeting billion-dollar pain, metabolic, and mental health markets based on patented reformulation technologies.

Until 2016 Dr. Holzer was the Director and Executive VP Commercialization affairs for Magnetecs Inc., a global leader in the field of minimally invasive robotic for cardiology, gastroenterology, neurology and gynecology, as well as CSO for BioSig Technologies, Inc., a development stage medical device company, engaging in a developing technology platform to minimize noise and artifacts from cardiac recordings during electrophysiology studies.

Dr. Holzer co-founded and served as president and chair of InspireMD Inc, bringing to market a revolutionary idea in the stent business – providing a better treatment to patients undergoing stenting during heart attacks.  

He served as the Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Adar Medical, a holding company of medical instrumentation subsidiaries including an incubator, having 22 different companies in its portfolio. Within this capacity, he led investments in Cyber Stent, Vasculogix, NVR and Theracoat. He founded and served as Director of UroGen Pharmaceuticals, Ltd.

Dr. Holzer has held a wide variety of positions including; Chief Executive Officer, Product Line Manager, Division Manager and World Wide Product Manager at a number of companies including start ups, Kevex corporation and Johnson & Johnson. In his role at Johnson & Johnson, he served as worldwide Product Manager of the Carto SystemTM, taking the product from development to worldwide sales. He was co-founder and GM of Jordan Valley Applied Radiation Ltd, Israel

Zvika Slovin Ph.D – co-CEO, Elron

Dr. Zvika Slovin joined Elron in January 2008 as Vice President Medical and Life Sciences, and from May 2009 until June 2010 served as Elron’s Co-CEO. Dr. Slovin provides business guidance and serves as a director in Elron’s medical device group companies.
 
Dr. Slovin brings extensive experience in founding, managing, and successfully exiting Israeli start-up companies such as RDC Communications, Gnome, Tactile Technologies and QuantomiX. 
 
Dr. Slovin holds a B.Sc in Physics/Atmospheric Sciences, an M.Sc in Physics/Atmospheric Sciences (Magna Cum Laude) and a Ph.D in Physics from the Hebrew University, Jerusalem and IMT International Campus.

Oded Wachsman, M.D., M.B.A – CEO, Gaico Investments

Dr. Oded Wachsman is a very experienced entrepreneur with extensive experience in founding and managing medical device and biotech start-up companies, leading them through all stages of technology and business development as founder and CEO. 

Dr. Wachsman is involved in the formation of life-science startup  companies and in business development, strategic planning, due diligence and fund raising for various medical startup companies, academic institutions, and venture capital funds.

Dr. Wachsman practiced in Cardiac Surgery at Belinson Hospital, Rabin Medical Center. Dr. Wachsman received his M.D and M.B.A., Magna Cum Laude, from Tel-Aviv University.

Ze’ev Weinfeld Ph.D – CEO, MedX Xelerator

With three decades in leadership roles in the life sciences industry and in technology development and commercialization, Dr. Ze’ev Weinfeld most recently founded and managed miCure Therapeutics. Earlier, he negotiated and executed multi-million dollar commercialization agreements for a wide range of hi-tech and life sciences inventions as CEO of Ramot, Tel Aviv University’s technology transfer company. Prior to his appointment as CEO, he served as Ramot’s EVP, Business Development and VP, Intellectual Property and Business Development, directing multiple aspects of new technology assessment and strategic planning. 

Previously, Ze’ev was with Biosense Webster, a Johnson & Johnson company, where he was Director of Image Guided Surgery and Intellectual Property and a member of the management team in Israel. Dr Weinfeld began his career at Elscint Ltd.’s Nuclear Medicine Division (now part of GE). His positions in the R&D and Marketing Departments involved leading all activities from design concept through R&D, regulatory approval and marketing of medical device products.

 Dr Weinfeld  holds a PhD in Physics from Tel Aviv University.

JLM-BioCity would like to extend its gratitude to five JLM-BioCity members, who have volunteered to coach the start-ups that will be pitching at the event.

They are:

• Joni Catalano-Sherman – Business Advisor & Mentor

Joni has worked for over two decades in technology development and transfer in Israel and Europe, drawing on an extensive scientific network to identify early-stage projects. She held senior positions during her 16 year career at Johnson and Johnson, most recently as Senior Director, New Ventures at London based Johnson & Johnson Innovation. In this role, she facilitated and spearheaded a variety of strategic collaborations in support of J&J’s Pharmaceutical, Consumer and Medical Device businesses and which became early-stage assets in the J&J pipeline. Prior to joining J&J, Joni directed Business Development at Yissum, the technology transfer company of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Her role focused on the commercialization of applied research projects in a variety of disciplines and the management of Yissum’s internal investment fund.

Since retiring from J&J, Joni is active in the business development and alliance management of several innovative startups as well as representing in Israel and Europe a US based investment group.

• Michael Horesh – Business mentor & consultant

Michael is an executive business coach and consultant. He grew up in England and graduated in Economics with honours from Brunel University, London. He specializes in helping commercial organizations reinvent themselves, enabling them to create new strategies and additional growth. The clientele crosses many paths and continents from start-ups to fully flourishing production capabilities. He has recently been asked to host “innovation delegations” from Europe for 2017.

Michael is an active partner in many local & overseas networking groups, including:  
• Executive Associate,  the Institute for Independent Business, a networking group of thousands of business execs, located in 20+ countries.
• Management and Moderator for the Jerusalem Business Networking Forum.
• Board Member. the Israel-British Chamber of Commerce.

• Neil Berns – co-founder, MDtect

Neil Berns has been active in Israel’s technology industry since joining Intel’s Technology and Manufacturing Group in 1990.  He is an experienced business and technology manager with expertise in marketing and product management.  Neil’s extensive leadership experience, from early stage startups to multinationals, includes positions as Director of Engineering at integrated optics pioneer Lynx Photonic Networks, Global Marketing Manager at Applied Materials and Director of Strategic Marketing for KLA-Tencor.  His formal background is in Electrical Engineering, Chemistry and Business Management.  He is a mentor for the accelerator at Jerusalem College of Technology and a judge at Mass Challenge. Currently as the co-founder of MDtect, Neil provides business development, funding and strategy services for Israeli healthcare/technology companies.

• Rae H.B Fishman – Director, PSciComm

Rae HB Fishman, award-winning career life scientist, Lady Davis Fellow, who came to Israel in 1980.

Rae is serial entrepreneur (PSciComm; First Ladies Investment Bank, 1st LIB; ACHIM; Liaizone) who assists biomed/tech and healthcare start-ups with streamlining communication venues to assist with finding investors, partner, and client database growth.

• Tom Koevary, CEO, Shiran Technologies ltd

Tom is a consultant to industry, mostly start-ups, dealing with R&D management, process development and scale-up as well as plant design. In parallel he also contributes to the business side, looking at business strategy, competitor advantage and product positioning. He has recently been involved in a wide range of projects in the field of diagnostics, pharma, nano technology and digital health projects. Before that, he established and managed for many years, the leading independent contract R&D, scale-up and production facility serving Israeli industry, mainly in the pharma space, based at the Hebrew University. He grew up in Manhattan and worked there prior to making Aliyah to Jerusalem where his first job was with Teva. He recently began mentoring at the AtoBe accelerator.