IU Startups to be Showcased to Investors

(Image of Teri Willey courtesy of the IURTC.)

Indiana University Ventures Managing Director Teri Willey will Wednesday present five companies supported by the Indiana Philanthropic Venture Fund or the Innovate Indiana Fund to a panel of investors. Wiley will showcase the companies to Midwest angel investors and venture capitalists at the Midwest Growth Capital Symposium in Michigan. 

The companies are:

• Apexian Pharmaceuticals: Apexian is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing therapeutic agents targeting APE1/Ref1 to treat cancer. 
• Care Revolution: Care Revolution supports a new RN role that changes the way care is delivered to residents in nursing homes, increasing the quality of care and significantly reducing hospitalization. 
• Confluence Pharmaceuticals: Confluence is a neuroscience company developing therapies for fragile X syndrome and autism spectrum disorder.
• NERx Biosciences: NERx Biosciences is an early-stage biotechnology company focused on the development of drugs targeting the DNA damage response pathway. 
• Vascugen: Vascugen is a regenerative medicine company developing allogeneic cell therapy products based on technology developed by Dr. Mervin Yoder at the IU School of Medicine. 

“We are optimistic about our investment in these companies, but even more so as we are in good company with excellent co-investors. Our philosophy has always been to syndicate, or co-invest, with other organizations to complete one or more rounds of financing,” Willey said in a news release. “Presenting these five companies at the Midwest Growth Capital Symposium could yield immediate results. It also will keep Indiana University top-of-mind with these angel investors and venture capitalists in the future.”