BioAngels is an inclusive platform that engages early-stage investors from India and overseas from different angel investor groups, to fund and nurture high-quality startups, with both money and mentoring backed with critical sectoral expertise
The Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) collaborated with the Indian Angel Network (IAN) to launch an angel investor network, BioAngels which is the country’s first sector-focused angel investor group to fuel the growth of startups from Biotech – the sunrise sector. Sub-domains include Medtech, Healthtech, Pharma, Cleantech & Agritech.
BioAngels is an inclusive platform that engages early-stage investors from India and overseas from different angel investor groups, to fund and nurture high-quality startups, with both money and mentoring backed with critical sectoral expertise.
BIRAC’s partnership with IAN aims to fills up a critical gap of angel money requirement to make startups VC investment ready by unlocking high quality business mentoring and industry networks for the startups.
Dr Alka Sharma, Senior Adviser, DBT & MD, BIRAC said “The revised national biotechnology strategy is the key driver of knowledge innovation driven bioeconomy. This unique association of BIRAC and Indian Angel Network is a first of its kind biotechnology focused funding network which would bring biotechnology startups closer to the angel investors. For the growth of startup ecosystem, participation of private investment is critical.”
Saurabh Srivastava, Founder, IAN and Co-founder & Past Chairman, NASSCOM said “We will recognise the significance of this launch a few years down the road as this plugs the gap in the investing ecosystem for biotech startups. The IT Industry, which was just $52 million when I cofounded NASSCOM 30 odd years ago has become a $250 billion industry and considered India’s biggest success. But the area we are talking about is much larger than IT and even more important. While the IT sector is focussed on overseas customers, here the actual impact will be transformational on the lives of Indians. And investor interest is already palpable: we ourselves at IAN Fund have invested 25 per cent of our corpus in this sector.”
Dr Manish Diwan, Head, Strategic Partnership & Entrepreneurship Development, BIRAC said, “BIRAC is keen to encourage participation of private investments with high quality mentoring for technology led startups. This partnership with a professionally run angel group, Indian Angel Network, leverages its reach, frameworks, and governance. This Public-private partnership has the potential to propel startups growth by making them VC investment ready, thereby attracting global investors and augmenting India as the global innovation hub.”