I’m a doctor in molecular biology who co-founded an NGO in 2012 (Mou), a startup in 2014 (retail industry) and took off for 9 months to travel around South America. When I returned I got involved with investment in startups in the health sector.

After 3 years evaluating investment opportunities, running equity crowdfunding campaigns, preparing contracts, building processes, creating a network of experts… I went to Biocat as innovation project manager of the healthcare accelerator CRAASH Barcelona and other programmes of the European consortium EIT Health.

Some KPIs that define me professionally:
– evaluation of more than 150 investment opportunities
– involved in the investment rounds of 16 startups that together raised more than €12M
– building a community of health experts from 0 to 1400 members

I am an experienced and successful biotech CEO (+20 years experience, co-founded 5 companies), with a track record in fundraising, early-stage development, deal-making and M&A.

I am keen to lead the company’s mission and to provide a strategic direction to create a vision of success with a clear execution roadmap.

I am passionate about all the steps of venture building together with the founding scientists and investors, from the first concepts to seed funding, Series A and further. I have raised more than 80 M in private and public funding for different biotechs, and I have contributed to the creation of +300 new high-value jobs.

I have a track record of success in building organizations and leading investor relations, corporate governance, first key hirings, business development and deal-making in Europe and the US. I work well with founding scientists and investors.

I also have extensive hands-on operations experience (discovery, IP, regulatory, manufacturing, preclinical and clinical) across several indications and technologies (oncology, immunology, biologics, gene-therapy), and including AI and Digital.

I am also involved in philanthropic and educational ventures and in the advancement of entrepreneurial ecosystems.

Summary of Key Achievements
– Founded 5 biotech companies as CEO
– Raised +50 M in private funds for different companies (Seed and Series A)
– Raised +30 M in public funding for startups and institutions
– Successfully sold one company and achieved multimillion partnerships with big pharma
– 3 other co-founded companies are now growing in their respective business spaces
– Successfully directly moved 3 biological assets from preclinical to clinical stages
– Built an extensive network of biotech investors and pharma business developers
– Through my CRO company, participated actively in the IND filings of 10+ assets, along with multiple Phase I, II and III clinical programs in multiple indications
– In my TTO and Biocat CEO roles, helped raise +100 M in funding, secured +20 licenses and contributed to +200 M in contract research and partnerships
– Created + 300 jobs, and managed multidisciplinary teams
– Transformed Barcelona biotech ecosystem, attracting investment and talent to the region

Co-Founder and CEO at Oniria Therapeutics, S.L. and Co-Founder and Board Member at Gate2Brain, S.L. I have over 19 years of experience in Technology Transfer including entrepreneurship, IP licensing, contract research, and business development. I have helped over 150 technological projects, most of them entrepreneurial projects in different technology sectors (medical devices, biotechnology, agro-food, industrial, IT, electronics & sensors, energy & environment, nanotechnology, optics & instrumentation, chemical & drug development) in the initial phases, contributing in business plan elaboration, private and public seed fundraising and team building.

I discovered my vocation during my first job, seeing how the start-up Advancell was created and grew. Since that time I have known that I wanted to create technology-based companies and transfer technology from academy to society.

My background is in technology transfer and my heart is with start-ups!

Javier Merino is a Founder and Managing Partner of Innovatech Law Firm located in Barcelona. Previously, he had been working with the Barcelona office of Baker & McKenzie, the Barcelona office of Clifford Chance, and the Bristol and London offices of Osborne Clarke.

Javier Merino is actively involved work in the areas of Licensing, Technology Transfer, Intellectual Property, Commercial Law, Venture Capital and Mergers and Acquisitions, Company Law, as well as Data Protection. He is advising in legal matters in such sectors as Life Science, Biotechnology, Pharmaceutical, Nanotechnology, Innovation, Information Technology and Communications, Telecommunications, Software, and some others.

Fluent in six languages, with Spanish and English parents Carmen traverses the diverse cultures in Europe with ease, she is truly international in her outlook. Her drive to create growth in the start up community in Europe and her international outlook naturally brought her to working with Business Leaders. She is passionate about helping businesses contribute to a better world. Believing that companies should balance their economic contribution with a clear social impact. Arguing that the digital revolution offers us the opportunity to change the world in ways that we had never though possible. An opportunity we should grasp with both hands.
Carmen is an expert in digital transformation, having worked in high pressure leadership roles setting up international operations. She fully understands the reach and power that digital offers to deliver services and messages.

Carmen is also an evangelist about Spanish food and never misses the opportunity to share her passion and knowledge about it.

With more than 15 years of experience in financial and economic management of biotechnology, biomedicine and nanotechnology projects (Celltec-UB, Advancell, Hospital Clinic Foundation, ADmit Therapeutics, Senolytic Therapeutics, Bionure, Accure Tx), he holds a Diploma in Business Sciences from the University of Barcelona and is a professor in the Degree in Biotechnology at the University of Barcelona. Certified mentor by ACCIO, he has managed and coordinated all types of national and European public grants since 2001.