Session Abstract – PMWC 2020 Silicon Valley

Track 5 - January 23 4.45 P.M.-5.15 P.M.


Over the past decade, almost US$2 billion has been invested in human microbiome research. Major projects are under way in the United States, the European Union, China, Canada, Ireland, South Korea and Japan. This session will provide the biotech and life sciences VC community perspective.

 Session Chair Profile

CEO, CosmosID

Biography
Prior to CosmosID, Mr. Dadlani served as a partner at Applied Value Group, a management consulting and investment firm, and was co-founder and CEO at Rasa Industries, Ltd., a leading beverage manufacturing company. Mr. Dadlani has substantial experience in strategy, M&A, supply chain management, product development, marketing and business development. Mr. Dadlani received his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Biological Engineering from Cornell University. Services offered by CosmosID’s CLIA and GLP certified laboratory cover the entire workflow from study design to sample collection, extraction, library preparation, sequencing, data analysis and publication support. CosmosID’s cloud-based metagenomics application offers user-friendly access to the largest curated databases for microbial genomics, antimicrobial resistance and virulence data and has been independently validated to return metagenomic analyses at strain level resolution with industry-leading sensitivity and precision.


 Speaker Profile

Ph.D., Investment Advisor, Seventure Partners

Biography
Denise joined Seventure Partners in September 2015 as an Advisor in the Life Sciences team for the microbiome field. Denise is currently based in Aberdeen, Scotland. As a specialist in research on the human microbiome, she is responsible for relationships within the scientific and academic communities on behalf of Seventure Partners, identifying new investment opportunities in the field-specific to the microbiome. Prior to joining Seventure, Denise led her own research team at the University of Aberdeen at the world-renowned Rowett Institute. Denise has acquired more than 20 years of experience in intestinal microbiology and immunology. She was Founding President, General Manager, and Sales Director of GT Biologics, one of the first translational research spinouts developing innovative therapies from the microbiome. Her research is the source of many European and American patent applications. During her career, Denise worked with pharmaceutical and healthcare companies on several translational research projects.


 Speaker Profile

Ph.D., Principal, Khosla Ventures

Biography
Alex Morgan is a Principal on the investment team at Khosla Ventures, with a special focus on biotechnology, healthcare, data science, and AI/ML. With over five billion dollars under management, the firm focuses on a broad range of areas including consumer, enterprise, education, advertising, financial services, semiconductors, health, big data, agriculture/food, sustainable energy, and robotics. Investments include Atrendex, BioAge, Bionaut, Cellino, Deep Genomics, DiscernDx, Docbot, Ellipsis, Faeth, Flow Neuroscience, Hello Heart, Karius, Loop Genomics, Nebula Genomics, Oncobox, Overture, Prellis, Probably Genetic, Q Bio, StimScience, Syllable Corporation, Vitro Labs. As a scientist, he has published over 50 scientific publications, primarily at the intersection of computer science, biology, and healthcare. As an inventor, he has licensed IP to three separate companies. As an entrepreneur, he has worked as an early employee or co-founder at a range of startups, including Personalis, DigiSight, Stimulomics, and Opal Financial.