Attendee search 

Boston Harbor Angels is a group of proven business leaders interested in investing a portion of our assets in high-growth, early-stage companies. Since 2004 we have made investments in companies in medical devices, IT, consumer products, business products, specialty materials, Internet, aviation, etc. We believe we contribute more than money to the companies we fund and welcome the opportunity to work with entrepreneurs who are open to taking advice, yet have the smarts and determination to make their company successful.

Our focus is on early-stage companies, usually looking to raise $250K to $1.5M, where we can fund a portion of the round and syndicate the deal with other angel groups or early-stage venture funds. The company should be close to the commercialization stage and have a clear and defensible competitive advantage. We are looking for capital-efficient businesses that can reach profitability with less than $5M of equity investment and provide at least a tenfold return on the investment within five years.

BHA does not invest as a fund—each of our members makes his or her individual investment decision—but we collaborate in due diligence. We are open to any opportunities that can make a strong business case and can take the position of a lead investor if one of us has strong expertise within our group.

BHA receives 20-30 business summaries each month, out of which we select eight companies to make a personal presentation to our screening committee. The screening committee consists of volunteers from the group. The presentations are 10 minutes long, followed by 30-minute interactive discussion on the business opportunity. We provide our feedback on the strategy, tactics, presentation style, etc. on the spot. Four of the companies are invited to present to the whole group, so as to get members interested. After that, we decide to undertake due diligence concerning the companies before making an investment.

Boston Harbor Angels was founded by Mic Williams (president) in February 2004. Day-to-day operations are managed by Boris Batchvarov (managing director).

About Syndax

Syndax is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company developing entinostat as a combination therapy in multiple cancer indications with an initial focus on tumors that have shown sensitivity to immunotherapy, including lung cancer, melanoma and triple negative breast cancer. Entinostat is an oral, small molecule drug candidate that has direct effects on both cancer cells and immune regulatory cells, potentially enhancing the body’s immune response to tumors. 

CARDIOVASCULAR

Dr. Mignatti's two NIH grants support the study of a novel mechanism that controls the growth of a number of cells including the cells of the blood vessels. These cells produce a protein referred to as Membrane Type 1 Matrix Metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP). MT1-MMP has the capacity of digesting structural proteins that surround the cells, an important function for new vessels to make their way into the tissues that need to be vascularized. Unlike proteins with similar functions, MT1-MMP is bound to the cell membrane, the sheath that surrounds the cell, a feature that makes it similar to other proteins - growth factor- or hormone- receptors. These proteins have the role of relaying signals from the outside to the inside of the cell when they bind their cognate growth factors or hormones. These signals regulate many cell functions, including the capacity to grow and form new vessels. MT1-MMP also binds an extracellular protein called tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-2 (TIMP-2). Dr. Mignatti's group discovered that MT1-MMP binding of TIMP-2 activates signals inside the cell which stimulate cell growth and movement. The current work aims to understand the mechanisms by which MT1-MMP relays signals from the outside to the inside of the cell. For this purpose the research group uses both techniques of molecular and cellular biology, and animal models engineered in the laboratory. The results of these studies can afford the development of novel drugs to control the growth of a variety of cells including those that form blood vessel.

ONCODESIGN We care for cancer. Industry sectors Biotech Therapeutics Area CNS-Neurology
Oncology
Your innovative solution

Backed by unique experience acquired through more than 600 clients, including the world

Which problem are you solving ?

At the core of our innovative connection-based concept, our qualifying approach generates as much information as possible about the pharmacological behavior of a molecule. With this approach, Oncodesign aims to optimally position each molecule towards a disease indication and a patient population, in order to maximize its value.

Target market segments

Pharmaceutical Labs / Biotechs / Academics

Key value proposition

Innovation: Oncodesign devises new solutions (Pharmimage)

Anavex™ Life Sciences Corp. is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company engaged in the development of novel drug candidates to treat Alzheimer’s, CNS diseases and various types of cancer, which have significant unmet medical needs.

ANAVEX™ 2-73, the Company’s orally available drug candidate developed to treat Alzheimer’s through potential disease modification, has undergone an initial Phase 1 human clinical trial and was well tolerated in doses up to 55mg.  Results from pre-clinical studies indicate that ANAVEX 2-73 demonstrates anti-amnesic and neuroprotective properties.

A highly encouraging synergistic effect has also been observed between ANAVEX 2-73 and donepezil (Aricept®).  The combined therapeutics, referred to as “ANAVEX™ PLUS,” produced up to 80% greater reversal of memory loss in Alzheimer’s disease models versus when the drugs were used individually.

ANAVEX PLUS is believed to be a compelling commercial opportunity.  The clinical trial risk is lower because donepezil (Aricept®) is already on the market, with global sales of $4-billion annually.  Donepezil (Aricept®) is now generic and a patent application has been filed for ANAVEX PLUS which, if granted, would provide protection until 2033.

Headquartered in New York, Anavex is an American publicly traded corporation quoted as AVXL.

Anavex™ Life Sciences Corp. is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company engaged in the development of novel drug candidates to treat Alzheimer’s, CNS diseases and various types of cancer, which have significant unmet medical needs.

ANAVEX™ 2-73, the Company’s orally available drug candidate developed to treat Alzheimer’s through potential disease modification, has undergone an initial Phase 1 human clinical trial and was well tolerated in doses up to 55mg.  Results from pre-clinical studies indicate that ANAVEX 2-73 demonstrates anti-amnesic and neuroprotective properties.

A highly encouraging synergistic effect has also been observed between ANAVEX 2-73 and donepezil (Aricept®).  The combined therapeutics, referred to as “ANAVEX™ PLUS,” produced up to 80% greater reversal of memory loss in Alzheimer’s disease models versus when the drugs were used individually.

ANAVEX PLUS is believed to be a compelling commercial opportunity.  The clinical trial risk is lower because donepezil (Aricept®) is already on the market, with global sales of $4-billion annually.  Donepezil (Aricept®) is now generic and a patent application has been filed for ANAVEX PLUS which, if granted, would provide protection until 2033.

Headquartered in New York, Anavex is an American publicly traded corporation quoted as AVXL.

The Life Sciences insurance experts.

Berkley Life Sciences focuses on providing quality and competitively-priced liability insurance products that help protect the futures of innovators in the Life Sciences field.

As a member company of the W. R. Berkley Corporation, we underwrite on behalf of some of the best insurance companies around, including:

• Gemini Insurance Company
  • A.M. Best Financial Strength Rating of A+ (Superior) with a Financial Size Category XV ($2 billion or more), and an A+ (Strong) Financial Strength Rating from Standard & Poor's
• Nautilus Insurance Company
  • A.M Best Financial Strength Rating of A+ (Superior) with a Financial Size Category X
• StarNet Insurance Company
  • A.M Best Financial Strength Rating of A+ (Superior) with a Financial Size Category XV
• Berkley National Insurance Company
  • A.M Best Financial Strength Rating of A+ (Superior) with a Financial Size Category XV
• Berkley Regional Insurance Company
  • A.M Best Financial Strength Rating of A+ (Superior) with a Financial Size Category X

We also have the in-house claims management and Life Sciences experience to address claims of all types – whether made in the United States or internationally. Quality control measures designed specifically for the Life Sciences field by our experts are integrated into the claims process to ensure compliance with best practices.

Where necessary, we also have access to a worldwide network of Life Sciences professionals. This combination of in-house expertise and available outside resources enables us to formulate an effective strategy – whether it involves settlement or defending a case to conclusion.

UB is a premier, research-intensive public university and a member of the Association of American Universities. As the largest, most comprehensive institution in the 64-campus State University of New York system, our research, creative activity and people positively impact the world. 

As a SUNY Distinguished Professor and Associate Director of the New York State Center of Excellence in Bioinformatics and Life Sciences, Dr. Morse has extensive experience in coordinating and governing multidisciplinary research efforts involving health information technology to improve patient safety. Dr. Morse also directs the Empire State Patient Safety Assurance Network, an AHRQ-designated, federally certified Patient Safety Organization and has led the UB 2020 effort to develop a model for statewide medication management programs in partnership with the NYS Department of Health Patient Safety Center. Dr. Morse has also worked with UB to establish the ESPSAN as a component of the UB 2020 planning process, a program that includes the School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nursing, Medicine and Public Health. He also developed the UB Pharmacotherapy Information Center (PIC) and has led an effort to develop model medication management programs in Western New York and established the regional HIV Adherence-Pharmacology Program. Dr. Morse is also Co-Director of the UNYTE Translational Research Network of the University of Rochester CTSI, regional network composed of 18 academic and research institutions. In addition, Dr. Morse is the Director of the Translational Pharmacology Research Core in the New York State Center of Excellence in Bioinformatics and Life Sciences. Dr. Morse also holds appointments as a Professor in the Department of Pharmacy Practice, and Research Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics, at the University at Buffalo. Dr. Morse was previously the Associate Dean of Clinical and Translational Research in the School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University at Buffalo.