Brazil's Life-Science Investimentos (Privcap video - free to watch)

June 4, 2012 - PRLog -- Life-Science Investimentos

Brazil’s life-sciences ecosystem is underdeveloped, and this spells both challenge and opportunity, according to João Paulo Poiares Baptista, Managing Director for life-sciences venture capital firm Burrill & Company.

Having just raised a $125 million venture fund targeting Brazilian life-sciences investements, Baptista says he is excited by the opportunities but also is fatigued by the “trauma” of tough sell. In an exclusive interview with Privcap, Baptista describes the lay of the venture landscape in Brazil, the dearth of biotech opportunities, the “huge opportunities” in healthcare services, the need for more applied research, the small population of management talent that has experience building and selling a company, and the need for better IP management at Brazilian universities.

This program is sponsored by the Brazilian Private Equity and Venture Capital Association (ABVCAP) and the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (Apex Brasil).

View the full video here - http://www.privcap.com/programs/115-life-science-investim...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGtY3tvVEg0



João Paulo Poiares Baptista
Managing Director, Brazil
Burrill & Company

João Paulo manages Burrill & Company’s Latin America operations. He graduated in Economy at Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal. He began his career as analyst for the Department of Economy Industry Services (SE) inMacau, which operated as the economic authority of the Territory. In 1986, after leaving public service as Sector Chief, he joined the consulting firm Asiatec Consultadoria. In 1987 he joined Pacific Infotech Corp (PIC), an investment group with focus on technology-based companies, to serve as an analyst in Los Angeles, USA.

Between 1990 and 1992, as General Director of PIC in Europe, he expanded its business in Europe, from their headquarters in Lisbon,Portugal. In 1992, he developed extensive consulting activities for new businesses in the sectors of IT and telecommunications. In 1999 he founded MVP – Mercatto Venture Partners Ltda., one of the pioneers in venture capital activities in Brazil. He actively participated on the development of Projeto INOVAR from FINEP (Brazilian Ministry of Science and Technology), being responsible for the Venture Fórum Brazil. Also under the auspices of Inovar, he created and developed the first forums in partnership with BOVESPA. In a consultant role to BOVESPA, João Paulo performed strategic analysis, and enabled positioning and preparation of companies for investor presentations under the development directives of the program BOVESPA Mais. João Paulo was also one of the founders of former ABCR – Brazilian Association of Venture Capital, currently ABVCap.

Prior to joining Burrill & Company, he served as a Director of Rio Bravo Venture Partners, created by the merger of MVP with the Venture Capital division of Rio Bravo Investimentos. He has served as the President of the Investment Committee of MVP TECH FUND since the beginning of its operations. João Paulo serves as board member of seven leading technology-based companies in Brazil.