We’ve identified a key strategic investment opportunity that is highly sought after – how do we compete with other investors to have a key seat at the table?

In the landscape of new startups in the life sciences, there generally are multiple opportunities that are competing for the same sources of capital. In some rare cases, however, the new venture opportunity is so compelling and so strong that several sources of capital compete for a ‘seat at the table’ to participate as equity partners to the new venture.

SI was approached by a private equity fund regarding an opportunity that was highly sought after by multiple funds and the client engaged SI to develop a strong case for making the client a key investor in the new venture. The executive management of the company had the luxury of interviewing a wide range of funds to select the top few that would be allowed into a syndicate of investors to serve as equity partners to the new venture. SI methodically evaluated the core strengths and weaknesses of the client, and aligned the client’s value added offerings with the key strategic interests and objectives of the new venture. SI also actively managed the negotiations and the relationship between the client and the executive management of the new venture. Despite the relative weak brand equity of SI’s client relative to the competing investors, the proposed value added contributions of SI’s client helped differentiate this fund from the majority of other investing organizations, and in the end, SI’s client took a lead position in the syndicate for this very significant and high potential new venture.