Ecphora Capital

TODAY is THE DAY to Support Biotech Entrepreneurship in Maryland!!!! The DECADE Act has incredible momentum, and support for ensuring firms like Ecphora Capital can claim BIITC credits has been overwhelming. Now, we need one final push to get this across the finish line and into the hands of legislators. Today is the day to submit written testimony, and we need you! A few sentences—just 1 to 2 paragraphs—can make a real impact in ensuring this success becomes reality. If you’ve committed to submitting testimony, now is the time! If you haven’t yet, it’s not too late! • Deadline: 6:00 PM ET TODAY (Friday, Feb 28th) • Submission link: https://lnkd.in/e7sT36ww • Instructions for submission: https://lnkd.in/ePF2CfQ5 • My testimony (for inspiration): https://lnkd.in/e9e-AkJT Thank you to everyone who has championed this effort. Your voices matter, and together, we are making a difference! #MarylandStrong #BIITC #Medtech #Innovation #StartupFunding #VentureCapital #Healthcare #EconomicGrowth #MarylandBusiness #LifeSciences #Investment #SmallBusinessSupport #Entrepreneurship #HealthTech #PublicPolicy #LegislativeAction #WomeninVC

A huge thank you to the BioBuzz team and Martha Wang, Ph.D. for the shoutout! "Deb is probably the hardest-working investor I know." - Chris Frew We’re grateful for the recognition and proud to have Deborah Hemingway, PhD leading the Ecphora Capital team in supporting groundbreaking medtech innovations. Our mission is to find and empower early-stage medtech companies in Maryland, helping them scale and bringing these life-changing technologies to market. Excited to continue driving innovation in the industry in Maryland and beyond. #medtech #VentureCapital #Innovation #BioBuzz #EcphoraCapital #WomenInBC https://lnkd.in/ewRPqVJG

🎙️ Investing in BioHealth: Deborah Hemingway, PhD on Building Maryland’s Commercialization Hub on BioTalk In this episode, Dr. Deborah Hemingway, Founder and Managing Partner of Ecphora Capital, shares her insights on building Maryland’s biotech commercialization hub. Dr. Hemingway discusses the strategic advantages of Maryland for biotech success, the critical gaps that need addressing, and the role of state and local governments in fostering innovation. Dr. Hemingway also highlights Ecphora Capital’s impressive track record, having deployed $15 million over the past two years, and unveils their future investment strategy, including SPVs and a dedicated fund. 🎧 Listen now on your favorite platform: 🍏 Apple: https://apple.co/40QvxJg 🎧 Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3WWEvTZ 🎶 Amazon Music: https://amzn.to/3QbxZoH 📻 TuneIn: https://bit.ly/42LITcb 🎶 YouTube Music: https://bit.ly/40T7xVF Tune in for a compelling conversation on innovation, investment, and the future of biotech in the BioHealth Capital Region.

Deborah Hemingway, PhD, Founder and Managing Partner of Ecphora Capital, highlights Maryland’s incredible innovation, the biotech tax credit program, and the region’s potential for unparalleled growth in an interview with BioBuzz at TEDCO's Entrepreneur Expo. Listen now at https://lnkd.in/eQwfGaCF #MedTech #TEDCO Chris Frew Cat Thoreson

What a wonderful way to close out 2024. The Ecphora Capital Series has truly exemplified the power of community and meaningful connections. Here’s to continuing to help each other achieve our goals and make wishes come true in 2025 and beyond!

Congratulations to our portfolio company, Mi-Helper, Inc., on the successful close of our oversubscribed $10M Series A financing! We are thrilled to continue supporting Mi-Helper's journey and look forward to seeing lives transformed, especially for those battling chronic migraines. Congrats again to Steve Schaefer and the incredible team at Mi-Helper. Now let's go celebrate! #VentureCapital #PortfolioSuccess #SeriesAFunding #Innovation

What if no one comes to my party? It’s a question that lingers every time you organize an event. "What if nobody shows up?" Well, that was certainly not the case for our Ecphora Capital Pitch Day last Friday! With over 90 attendees, the room was buzzing with energy, support, and excitement for the incredible companies in our portfolio! A huge thank you to everyone who showed up and came out to support these phenomenal #founders!!! In #VentureCapital, the focus of what we do revolves around numbers: capital raised, #investor bases expanded, financial resources secured. At its core, it’s about transactions and #funding. And yet there’s something deeper as well. Something beyond those numbers. Venture capital, when done right, is also about heart. It’s about lifting up #entrepreneurs, boosting their morale, and cheering them on through what I’d argue is the hardest role in business: being a #startup CEO. Starting from scratch—literally nothing—is more than a business challenge; it’s a test of #resilience and #grit. It is the most difficult job there is. Turnaround CEOs might debate me on this (sure, they have their struggles), but at least they start with something. My early-stage founders are building from scratch, risking everything, with the weight of the world on their shoulders. There’s no greater challenge—or higher stakes—anywhere. And that’s why events like this #PitchDay matter so much. Yes, it’s about #RaisingCapital, and it’s also about building a community of support. Every single dollar raised, every connection made, every word of encouragement shared—it all builds toward a future where healthcare and medicine are transformed for the better. If you missed Pitch Day, know that we missed you, too! But you’re not out of luck. Here’s how you can get involved: • Join our newsletter to stay updated on the groundbreaking companies, visionary CEOs, and opportunities we’re creating in Maryland and beyond. • Accredited investors can join our investor network to financially support these companies. If you're unsure what that means, I’d be happy to walk you through it. • Connect with our amazing CEOs and ask them how you can support their journeys: Jesse Christopher, CEO, Longeviti Neuro Solutions Brad Hennessie, CEO, NextStep Robotics Samantha Scott, PhD, CEO, JuneBrain Inc. Howard Carolan, CEO, CoapTech Jason Winder, CEO, Sonogen Medical Inc. Steve Schaefer, CEO, Mi-Helper, Inc. Luis Alvarez, CEO, Theradaptive As we close out our second Pitch Day (and second year) at Ecphora Capital, I’m overwhelmed with gratitude. The turnout, the energy, the commitment to innovation—it’s a reminder of why we do what we have done and are continuing to do. I'm so proud of each of these companies and can’t wait to see what 2025 (and beyond) holds! Here’s to my portfolio CEOs, here’s to the 90-plus people who showed up to my party, and here’s to building a brighter, bolder, and healthier future together! #MedTech #BuildingTheFuture #WomenInVC

Ecphora Capital is proud to work alongside powerhouse institutions BioBuzz and Fulton Bank along with TEDCO to support our fantastic #medtech and #lifescience startups here in Maryland.

This is what inspiration looks like. Yesterday, the #TEDCOExpo reminded me why I’m so grateful to be doing what I love. It was a true celebration of innovation, risk-taking, and community at its finest. For those unfamiliar, TEDCO is Maryland’s state-sponsored investing powerhouse. Recently recognized by PitchBook as one of the nation’s most prolific investors, TEDCO has been an incredible partner to my firm, Ecphora Capital, investing in 100% of our portfolio companies—yes, every single one! The TEDCO Expo is an annual convergence of entrepreneurs, investors, and industry leaders—a high-energy day of transformative connections, bold ideas, and inspiring reflections. Thinking back to my first TEDCO Expo years ago, I was a grad student and CEO of a #medtech company (that ultimately failed 🙈). Back then, I didn’t know anyone, but I felt an undeniable connection to the entrepreneurial spirit in the room. Fast-forward to the present and this time, it would’ve been easier to count the people I didn’t know than those I did! Seeing so many extraordinary entrepreneurs—visionaries launching companies, risk-takers changing the world, and innovators fueled by kindness and perseverance—was incredibly inspiring. That same entrepreneurial spirit I felt years ago is now stronger than ever. A standout moment for me was seeing two amazing entrepreneurs whom I admire, Luis Alvarez (CEO of Theradaptive) and Chris Ewing (CEO of FlexiCharge), meet for the first time. Working with leaders like Lu and Chris—visionaries driving groundbreaking initiatives—is one of the greatest joys of being in #venturecapital. The day was filled with electrifying moments like this where innovators and leaders crossed paths, sparked ideas, and forged powerful collaborations. I also had the privilege of speaking on a panel about #RaisingCapital from #AngelInvestors and #FamilyOffices, sharing insights from my journey as both a founder and an investor. While preparing for the panel, I asked myself: ‘What would have most inspired me when I was starting out?’ My goal was to educate, encourage, and inspire my fellow entrepreneurs by sharing lessons learned and actionable advice from the heart. I also stepped out of my comfort zone for a live, on-camera interview, spotlighting the incredible work happening at Ecphora Capital and the exciting rise of Maryland’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. Being on camera is admittedly nerve-wracking, but I’ll take any opportunity to amplify our message! Huge thanks to Chris Frew at BioBuzz for the opportunity—I can’t wait to see the final cut! So to the entire TEDCO team: Thank you for being such an exceptional investment partner. Thank you for leading the charge in Maryland’s entrepreneurial landscape. And thank you hosting such an inspiring event. Days like this remind us of the impact we can make when leaders, risk-takers, and visionaries come together to build the future. Here’s to #TEDCO, #Maryland, and a thriving future for #entrepreneurship!!!