An investor’s perspective on NLSDays: A Hub for Nordic Investors

As NLSDays 2024 approaches, the event continues to be a significant gathering for fostering new partnerships and networking opportunities in the biotech, pharma, and medtech industries. We spoke with Carl Kilander, partner at HealthCap, a leading European venture capital firm, about his insights and experiences with NLSDays, and how the conference aligns with HealthCaps investment strategy.

HealthCap is a European venture capital firm investing globally in life sciences, focusing on diseases with high unmet medical needs and breakthrough therapies. Their goal is to fund transformative treatments that can change clinical practice and improve patients' lives.

Carl Kilander, with a background as a co-founder and CEO of a health start-up, emphasizes the value of NLSDays for connecting with the Nordic life science ecosystem.

"It is a good conference to get familiar with the Nordic ecosystem. It should be especially helpful for outside groups that want to get closer to the Nordics and I think the event serves as a good platform to bring people together", he said.

For HealthCap, staying updated with the latest developments in the Nordic life science market is crucial. While HealthCap has a good network and footprint in the Nordics already, keeping the connections fresh and up to date is important, explains Carl and emphasizes the potential benefits of involving government representatives in the event to better understand and address the market's challenges.
"I think it would be interesting to try to get representatives from the Swedish government to the event. I would like for the establishment to understand more about the Nordic life science market and its challenges."

The general platform of NLSDays is seen as the most important aspect for HealthCap. It provides a comprehensive environment for exploring new opportunities and fostering growth. Carl highlighted the significance of one-on-one meetings for identifying early-stage academic work and spinouts, which are of particular interest to HealthCap’s investment strategy.

"Deal flow and meetings with early-stage projects and biotechs to invest into have been notable positive outcomes from attending NLSDays," Carl said about previous attendances.

HealthCap has a strong presence in Europe and the Nordic countries play a significant role in their investment portfolio due to the strong basic science foundation, which provides opportunities for starting new biotechs.

"We invest around 60% of our capital in Europe, however, a lot of what we do in Europe will be in the Nordics given our footprint. There is a lot of strong basic science in the Nordics which over time provides opportunities to start new biotechs. It can also be more difficult for outside investors to gain access and evaluate companies, Carl explained.

Looking forward, HealthCap aims to meet with potential new companies and academics at NLSDays 2024 in Malmö between 18-19 September. They are particularly interested in new innovations and start-ups in the life science sector.

"We expect to meet with potential new companies and academics that are looking to start new companies based on their science," Carl concluded, emphasizing the importance of the event in identifying and supporting new ventures.

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