Roche Becomes Founding Partner of BaseLaunch Phase II

BASEL, Switzerland, May 15, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- BaseLaunch, the Basel Area-based incubator and accelerator that helps scientists and entrepreneurs launch exceptional biotech companies, today announces that Roche has become a founding partner in the next phase of its company building activities. With this commitment, Roche renews its partnership with BaseLaunch. In addition, BaseLaunch announces it has increased the funding available per venture to USD 0.5 million to support early stage innovation.

During 2018 and 2019, BaseLaunch supported nine early therapeutic ventures which have raised a total of more than USD 100 million in equity capital from US and European venture funds, thereby contributing to the life sciences ecosystem of the Basel Area. Recently, BaseLaunch has added another four ventures to its portfolio, and has been instrumental in contributing to the development of six more ventures in the Basel Area.

BaseLaunch is operated by Basel Area Business & Innovation, the investment and innovation promotion agency of the Basel Area. During its first phase (2017-2019), BaseLaunch was supported by Roche, Novartis Venture Fund, Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer and Roivant Sciences. Now the second phase is gearing up with new commitments. Roche (SWX: RO) is the first partner to be announced; additional partners will be made public over the coming months.

Building on the success of the first phase, BaseLaunch's second phase, whilst similar to the first in many respects, will:

• Increase the funding per venture to a maximum of USD 0.5 million (versus USD 0.25 million previously)
• Have a new, and increased pool of partners
• Establish BaseLaunch as an "evergreen" permanent initiative
• Accept applications year-round, rather than once per year

Neil Goldsmith, Director of Strategy at BaseLaunch, commented: "We are delighted by Roche's continued commitment to BaseLaunch and to the wider early stage life sciences ecosystem in the Basel Area. The support of our highly experienced partners will allow BaseLaunch to build on the success of recent years as we look to a sustainable future supporting the development of cutting-edge therapeutic ventures."

James Sabry, Global Head of Roche Pharma Partnering, added: "We are very pleased to continue our commitment to BaseLaunch. Basel has always been home to great ideas and innovation and today it is a leading life sciences hub within Switzerland and globally. This investment builds on our commitment to driving scientific advances that will help patients live better lives."

In addition to financing support, BaseLaunch helps build out companies and teams from inception to a point where they can raise financing and enter strategic collaborations. Harnessing the Basel Area's unique position as a global life sciences hub, as well as its rising popularity among investors, BaseLaunch is looking to attract the next generation of breakthrough companies and is now open for applications (first application deadline 22^nd June). Interested groups can find information at www.BaseLaunch.ch/apply/.

Dr. Christof Klöpper, CEO of Basel Area Business & Innovation, added: "The expertise of Basel Area Business & Innovation in supporting entrepreneurs, connecting innovators and help building companies enables BaseLaunch to be extremely focused on the unmet needs of life sciences startups while at the same time contributing to the excellent Swiss innovation landscape."

About BaseLaunch

BaseLaunch is the Basel Area-based incubator and accelerator that helps scientists and entrepreneurs launch exceptional biotech companies. BaseLaunch serves as a growth platform for early stage ventures developing cutting-edge therapeutics. BaseLaunch helps build companies from inception through to Series A funding, providing financing and supporting all aspects of business development. Operationally run and financed by Basel Area Business & Innovation, the investment and innovation promotion agency of the Basel Area, BaseLaunch partners with leading global pharma companies and venture funds, which also aliment the pool out of which BaseLaunch funds ventures. Regional and domain partners include the cantons of Basel-Landschaft, Basel-Stadt and Jura as well as KPMG, Vossius & Partner and Infors HT. Since 2018, BaseLaunch supported ventures have raised in total over USD 100 million. Harnessing Basel Area's unique position as a global life sciences hub, as well as its rising popularity among investors, BaseLaunch is looking to attract the next generation of breakthrough companies. Interested groups can find more information at www.BaseLaunch.ch

About Basel Area Business & Innovation

Basel Area Business & Innovation is the investment and innovation promotion agency dedicated to helping companies, institutions and startups find business success in the Basel Area. The organization targets and attracts companies to settle, supports founders of innovative ventures, and drives high growth initiatives in order to establish the region as the Swiss business and innovation hub of the future. The non-profit agency focuses on growing the area's cutting-edge industries life sciences, healthcare and production technologies and manages the Switzerland Innovation Park Basel Area which houses the organization's accelerator programs. The agency serves the cantons of Basel-Landschaft, Basel-Stadt and Jura. www.baselarea.swiss

For further information please contact:

BaseLaunch

Martin Jordan
Phone. +41-61-295-50-25, +41-76-345-66-08
Email: martin.jordan@baselarea.swiss 

Optimum Strategic Communications

Supriya Mathur, Charlotte Hepburne-Scott
Phone: +44-203-922-0891
BaseLaunch@optimumcomms.com