Convergent Ventures

Proudly presenting Christina Jenkins, MD, General Partner at Convergent Ventures who will be attending INVEST 2025 and providing her investor perspective as to what's hot and what's not in healthcare investment. Register Now: https://ow.ly/9R2H50UfcxA #mcninvest #investorperspective

This week I attended a pitch and networking event in Boston with the Canadian Technology Accelerators | Accélerateurs technologiques canadiens. This accelerator exists to connect Canada’s most promising tech startups in 7 different tech verticals with partners in the US market.  As an investor I was excited to attend, especially because in Climatetech (the focus of this cohort) Canada has a wealth of critical mineral resources that are key to electrification if they can be harnessed efficiently and responsibly. So I was especially interested in what Dustin Angelo of Novamera Inc. is creating in new precision mining technologies. I also enjoyed the ‘fireside’ chat that Andrew Maker hosted with Kyle Teamey (see photo). The discussion covered thoughts on navigating the many nuances of the permitting process in the US, what is the mindset needed for building a real business, will IPOs come back (maybe yes!), and much more. Convergent Ventures #Canada #ClimateTech #Startups #cleantech #innovation

Excited to announce the beta release of our BIOTIA-DX Influenza Pipeline! This powerful tool provides H and N typing, H5 sub-clade analysis, and cleavage site detection from assembled genomes. It’s designed to give researchers detailed insights into influenza genomics, supporting surveillance and research efforts. We’re also working on exciting new features like recombination detection and pathogenicity scoring. If you’re interested in using the beta tool let us know!

The Convergent Ventures team is so excited to announce our investment in NanoVation Therapeutics™. Dominik Witzigmann, PhD and his team are developing Lipid Nano Particles (LNPs), essentially carriers that enable the delivery of mRNA drugs where they are needed most in the body. Our very own Zach Jonasson is representing Convergent on the Board, and is joined by David Main - together they bring decades of experience building and scaling successful biotechnology companies through strategic collaborations and technology development. Go NanoVation Therapeutics™! #LNP #GeneticMedicines #NucleicAcid #VentureCapital

"There’s an immense opportunity to bridge the gap between the incredible innovation landscape at Northwestern University and the marketplace," said Phil Carter, Director of Strategic Alliances at the Innovation and New Ventures Office (INVO) Carter will support the newly launched Trienens-Q Cleantech Accelerator Program to cultivate collaboration and take Northwestern entrepreneurs from discovery to commercialization of ideas for a more sustainable future. The Trienens-Q Cleantech Accelerator & Entrepreneurship event last week gathered cleantech industry experts, faculty, postdoctoral scholars, and graduate students for a panel discussion, startup success stories, and networking. Panelists Ben Schlatka from Material Impact, Shashank Churukanti from Evergreen Climate Innovations, and Gami Dadusc Maislin from Convergent Ventures shared insights from their experience developing an impressive portfolio of cleantech startups.    More about the event: https://lnkd.in/dGPy9ZB5 Lisa Dhar | Sonia Kim | Yosi Kratish | Farley Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation | Northwestern's Querrey InQbation Lab | Northwestern University - Kellogg School of Management #entrepreneurship #cleantech #startup #innovation #plastic #sustainability

What a fantastic event last night in Berkeley. Thanks, Canary Media Inc. for putting it together! The program included a review of climate wins (and losses) at the state and local levels from last week's election, outlining where and how measures related to climate mitigation and adaptation can occur. We also heard from journalists, local and state representatives from CA on the progress done and on the challenges ahead facing electrification so it benefits all communities. It was good to hear concrete ideas to break some of those barriers and shake up how energy can be generated, transmitted, distributed, and paid for!

Biotia Gets First-Ever NY State Regulatory Approval for a Urine Infectious Disease Test Powered by Genomics and AI We are thrilled to share big news at Biotia! After years of development and regulatory review, our BIOTIA-ID Urine NGS Assay has received New York State Department of Health regulatory approval! This is a major milestone for Biotia, as well as clinicians and patients seeking cutting-edge UTI tests which are more informative and accurate. This is especially important for patients suffering from recurrent or complicated UTIs. More about the test: - Unmatched Accuracy: 97% sensitivity and 99% specificity, far surpassing traditional methods. - AI-Powered: Our advanced machine learning algorithms deliver rapid and precise results. - Comprehensive: Identifies a broader range of pathogens, including those often missed by culture. Learn more about BIOTIA-ID and its potential to transform UTI diagnostics: https://lnkd.in/emQGZy6w #UTI #diagnostics #womenshealth #precisionmedicine #AI #innovation #healthcare

I was honored to represent Convergent Ventures as a panelist yesterday at Northwestern's Querrey InQbation Lab and the Paula M. Trienens Institute for Sustainability and Energy discussing Entrepreneurship Opportunities and Challenges alongside Shashank Churukanti and Ben Schlatka. The audience of students and faculty asked such great questions that the time flew by! Northwestern University has been quite obviously hard at work developing out their entrepreneurial ecosystem - they are in the Pitchbook top 10 University graduate programs churning out founders globally - you should definitely check them out if you're interested in new startups developing new technologies. And shout out to the smart and energetic leadership team: Lisa Dhar, Sonia Kim, Phil Carter! #sustainability, #entrepreneurship, #startups, #venturecapital, #cleantech, #Northwestern

I visited the mHUB center in Chicago today and it completely exceeded my expectations. I got a tour from Alex Lambert the Venture Capital manager for mHUB; then he and Mike Sundermeier introduced me to a number of founders so I could learn what they are doing in sustainability, which is a key investment thesis area for Convergent Ventures. mHUB is an innovation center for hard tech startup companies and other innovators in this Midwest ecosystem. After only 8 years, it has supported hundreds of startups and recently moved into a new $50M facility. For a small membership fee you can get access to thousands of square feet of shared state of the art resources such as a full machine shop, an array of 3D printers, a full electronics lab and wet lab, laser cutting tools, woodworking space, textiles lab and prototyping benches - in addition to office and meeting spaces. I also appreciated their emphasis on resourcing and recognizing underrepresented founders. And there’s so much more that I can’t do full justice here… I suggest going to their website (https://lnkd.in/eGgzwQHh) to learn about the full array of programs and capabilities. #innovation #Venturecapital #mHUB #cleantech #incubators #Chicago #startups

I’m just back from the HLTH USA conference, with a few reflections. First, thank you to Christina Jenkins, MD for moderating our panel on AI in drug discovery, and to my fellow panelists (Mary Rozenman, Nadia Harhen, Andrew Giessel) for an engaging conversation around AI’s transformative applications. We discussed AI along the value chain, the role of quantum computing and how it can complement AI, the critical role partnerships play, and the importance of leadership in enabling adaption of these technologies. Second, this event was a great example of how innovation isn’t only about new technology, but also about the connections we foster across the ecosystem and the diverse perspectives we can bring to the conversation. There were attendees and speakers from every part of the life sciences ecosystem, with a “be bold” event theme. Being bold can only be achieved with a collaborative mindset – embracing partnerships, being curious and listening to new ideas, and bringing together different points of view so we can unlock new potential breakthroughs. #Biotechnology #Innovation #LifeSciences #HLTHUSA