Dr. Marek Orlowski leads team of seasoned life science investment experts operating out of Warsaw to invest in promising Central and Eastern European Life Science companies
Warsaw, Poland, March 23, 2015 / B3C newswire / -- Joint Polish Investment Fund Management (JPIF) announced today the first closing of its new venture capital fund, Joined Polish Investment Fund I at $ 42 Million. It is the first institutional venture capital fund operating out of Poland that is completely dedicated to life science investments. The fund will invest in early- and mid-stage companies with a close relationship to Poland and marks an important milestone on the country’s path to further strengthen its life science industry. Investment activities will focus on areas with strong growth, relatively short holding periods and high return potential e.g. companies in the area of medical technology, enabling technology or mobile health.
JPIF I is backed and supported by The National Centre for Research and Development (NCBR). NCBR is an executive agency of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of Poland and supports national science as well as general innovation policies.
“Participation of Venture Capital funds in the development and commercialization of new technologies is of key importance because the private funding adds to the public money, which is always in short supply. Private sector investment into life sciences also provides much needed innovation management skills and widens access to the global market” – enthused Professor Krzysztof Jan Kurzydlowski, Acting Director of the National Centre for Research and Development.
JPIF is led and managed by a group of partners with a significant track record in the sector:
- Dr. Marek Orlowski, one of the founders of Nepentes SA, which was sold for EUR 105m to Sanofi Aventis in 2007 and a well-known Polish Business Angel
- Kreske Nickelsen, with a 17-year background in the European venture capital industry through working for 3i Group plc (UK and Germany) and as a Partner at Aescap (The Netherlands),
- Dr. Axel Polack, former General Partner of TVM Capital (Germany and USA), where he has worked for the last 14 years,
- Anna Aranowska, with a 14-year background in the pharmaceutical and life science industry, in operational as well as investment management positions
Dr. Orlowski said: "There is a substantial investment opportunity in Central and Eastern Europe and especially in Poland, which is experiencing continuously high GDP growth while being chronically undersupplied with funding, both qualitatively and quantitatively, in the life science venture capital sector. We already have developed a robust and proprietary deal flow, and we will shortly be announcing the close of our first investments."
About Joint Polish Investment Fund
The Joint Polish Investment Fund (JPIF) is a closed Venture Capital Fund and the first institutional investor operating out of Warsaw, Poland, that is fully dedicated to Life Science investments. The fund invests in early as well as mid stage Life Science companies with an investment holding period of 3-5 years and a strong connection to Central and Eastern Europe. It will focus on areas with significant growth, relatively short holding periods and high return potential e.g. companies in the area of medical technology, enabling technology or mobile health.
Poland is the rising star in Central Europe with a vibrant economy, high class scientific institutions, a healthy and liquid IPO environment for early stage companies and a VC market which is just developing, thus offering attractive opportunities for first movers.
Contact:
Kreske Nickelsen
JPIF Management B.V.
c/o Adiuvo Investment S.A.
Slominskiego 15/509 st.
00-195 Warsaw
Poland
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T: +49 172 6403301