PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 23, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — More than 200 accredited angel investors have registered for this first hybrid Investor Capital Expo co-hosted by Keiretsu Forum South-East and Mercer University. This multi-session showcase gave an in-person and virtual stage to 12 growth-stage US companies seeking funding (see list below). In addition to showcasing companies, Pat Gouhin, Executive Director of the Angel Capital Association, delivered the event’s keynote address on the state of angel investing in 2022. The exhibit concluded with an entrepreneurial workshop organized for students, professors and investors on art and science. to obtain funding through angel investors.
Conversations during the keynote and subject matter expert panels focused on deal activity falling below all-time highs in 2021 and early 2022, when in fact investors in early in their career knew that the exponential rate of growth was not sustainable. The number of transactions* in Q3 2022 remains well above that of Q3 2018 and Q3 2019. Investors indicate that they continue to invest actively.
It should be noted that the first funding has slowed in some regions and sectors. “Finding new relationships is difficult in a tough fundraising market,” said Howard Lubert, regional chairman of the Keiretsu Forum. “We find that a good portion of investors are participating in follow-up rounds to support portfolio companies; however, one of the benefits Keiretsu Forum brings to new deals is the high value placed on our due diligence process and deal syndication that accelerates connections and relationships. In fact, Expo 2022 generated more than 800 investor inquiries for participating companies.
One of the centerpieces of the Investor Capital Expo is the Most Valuable Company award. Honored companies are selected by investors by vote. The following companies were honored:
Most Popular Company
EarthGrid
EarthGrid invented plasma tunneling robots that run on solar power, use no water, have zero emissions and can dig tunnels 100 times faster at 1/10 scalee the cost of conventional techniques. They are building a network of large underground utility tunnels that improve infrastructure and rapidly accelerate the transition to 100% clean energy by enabling underground clean energy power lines, high-speed data, water and wastewater .
Finalists
Orion Biotechnology
Orion Biotechnology is a clinical-stage company unlocking the therapeutic and commercial potential of a very large group of drug targets – called G-protein cellular receptors (GPCRs) – with a new class of drugs made possible by the proprietary discovery platform of the society. (See the presentation video)
Maxwell Biosciences
Maxwell Biosciences is a drug discovery platform company with first-class “one medicine for many insects” synthetic compounds that address the most serious and unmet infectious disease threats to humanity. With 250 peer-reviewed studies, Maxwell’s new CLROMER™ compounds have been shown to rapidly and safely inactivate a broad spectrum of infectious pathogens. (See the presentation video)
“The Investor Capital Expo brings together the crème de la crème of growth-stage companies each year in a great showcase for the angel investing community. The enhanced hybrid program creates an integrated experience for in-person participants and a seamless opportunity for those who wish to participate remotely,” said Randy Williams, Founder and CEO of Keiretsu Forum. “In either case, the investor really gets to know these companies on a more intimate level.”
Additional Presenting Companies (in alphabetical order)
CamDo combines physical construction and time-lapse camera systems with advanced cloud architecture to capture and track milestones and remotely monitor overall project progress.
CorIT Medical LLC is a commercially-revenue medical device company focused specifically on a single-use surgical device for the reduction of inferior turbinates in patients with respiratory obstruction. (See the presentation video)
Hotel communication network draws on years of research and development to deliver innovative, high-value gear that keeps every guest connected to their hotel, city, and each other. (See the presentation video)
Humanetics is engaged in the development and commercialization of products to improve human health and well-being with a primary focus on improving treatment outcomes for patients receiving radiation therapy for solid tumors. Humanetics has three open INDs focused on medical countermeasures, solid tumor radiation therapy, and COVID-19. (See the presentation video)
Medix specializes in understanding the impact of stress on disease. Their current project is to bring cloud-based heart rate variability (HRV) from professional sports through appropriate and regulated (FDA) pathways, for validated applications to improve healthcare. (See the presentation video)
iQure a US-based global biotechnology company, founded by entrepreneurs and former pharmaceutical industry executives, focused on developing novel therapies for neuropathic pain, an indication with high unmet medical need. (See the presentation video)
MetasTx LLC creates new drugs that treat and prevent cancer metastasis based on groundbreaking work on the liposomal encapsulation of small molecule nanoparticles that inhibit p21-activated kinases (PAK1), known to play a central role in the formation of cancer and metastases. (See the presentation video)
Soteria Battery Innovation Group is dedicated to solutions for the root cause of battery safety events. As a consortium for the battery industry, their technology and global network of experts enable all products to be powered by intrinsically safe cells. (See the presentation video)
Televero Health offers turnkey behavioral health and addictions care services for adult, adolescent and pediatric populations in remote urban, rural and community clinics via telemedicine. (See the presentation video)
About the Keiretsu forum
Keiretsu-Forum is a global investment community of accredited private equity angel investors, venture capitalists and institutional investors. Keiretsu Forum was founded in 2000 by Randy Williams. Keiretsu Forum today is a global network of capital, resources and deal flow with more than 50 chapters on four continents. Keiretsu Forum members invest in diverse, high-quality investment opportunities. To date, Keiretsu’s 3,000+ members have invested over $900 million in over 2,400 companies.
*Pitchbook Venture Monitor Q32022
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