M2care, filiale de Mérieux Développement, devient un venture studio dédié à l’innovation du secteur de la HealthTech
M2care, a player in healthcare technology innovation, reveals it new venture studio strategy to detect technology project from innovative startups and finance the very early stage of their development. Founded in 2017 at the initiative of Mérieux Développement, a subsidiary of Institut Mérieux specialising in healthcare investment, M2care becomes a venture studio with the ambition of strengthening technological innovation in healthcare at European level.
Lyon, 30 May 2023 – M2care, a player in healthcare technology innovation, reveals its new venture studio strategy to identify innovative start-up technology projects and finance the earliest stages of their development. Founded in 2017 on the initiative of Mérieux Développement, a subsidiary of Institut Mérieux specialising in healthcare investment, M2care aims to strengthen technological innovation in healthcare at the European level.
After initially focusing on an accelerator and service model for healthcare companies, M2care, a subsidiary of Mérieux Développement, is evolving its strategy to adopt a venture studio model. M2care’s mission now consists of providing early-stage support and financing for HealthTech start-ups working on innovative solutions for the medical sector (medical devices, diagnostic tools, digital health tools, etc.).
M2care’s major shareholders include Institut Mérieux, CEA Investissement and UI Investissement.
An ambitious roadmap and a first achievement
To achieve its ambitions, M2care is launching a €25 million fundraising campaign through its investment vehicle “V4Health”, which will close in early 2024. M2care’s new business model plans to create two start-ups per year over the next five years.
In October 2022, M2care made its first investment in a seed-stage project with the support of Previa Medical. The founders of this French company benefited from M2care’s support throughout all phases of the development of their artificial intelligence (AI)-based application for the early diagnosis of sepsis.
Strategic and operational advice for tomorrow’s entrepreneurs
The new venture studio brings its entrepreneurial expertise to promising project leaders, working with them to develop innovative solutions and contribute to their financing. M2care also acquires equity stakes through its investment vehicle, V4Health. To fulfil its mission, M2care relies on a team based in Lyon and Paris, composed of seven people with varied and complementary skills in science, marketing and investment.
Each year, the team sources and analyses nearly 400 projects, then makes a rigorous selection based on numerous criteria (scientific, technological, industrial, regulatory and commercial).
After closely supporting start-ups through the initial stages of structuring, M2care gradually recruits a tailor-made team to monitor developments over the long term and see projects through to market launch.
Entrepreneurial expertise at the service of scientific projects
Drawing on its extensive network and knowledge of the European ecosystem and health research (experts, academics, hospitals, venture capital funds, large industrial groups, etc.), M2care is able to identify projects with potential, anticipate challenges and reduce the risks that project leaders may encounter along the way: definition of strategy and business development, design of clinical study protocols, anticipation of regulatory constraints, intellectual property aspects, etc.
“We are experienced entrepreneurs who listen to aspiring entrepreneurs,” explains Florence Thueux, Chief Executive Officer of M2care. Our unique expertise is based on multidisciplinary skills and an excellent knowledge of healthcare networks that can support, assist and encourage these drivers of new technological innovations. We are involved at every stage of their project’s development to nurture and grow the most promising ideas for the future of healthcare.”
According to Michel Baguenault, Chief Executive Officer of Institut Mérieux: “Through our subsidiary Mérieux Développement, we are proud to support this new link in the value chain dedicated to innovation in healthcare. M2care’s strategy perfectly embodies the entrepreneurial spirit and values that have always driven Institut Mérieux: it is this pioneering spirit that makes it possible to launch high value-added projects that serve public health.”
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About M2care
A venture studio specialising in HealthTech, M2care co-founds, co-develops and co-finances innovative projects in the early stages of maturity. An essential link in the innovation chain, the company acts as a bridge between academia, investors and industry. Thanks to the support of an experienced team, a solid international network and ad hoc ecosystems built for each project, technological ideas born in laboratories can become healthcare products that improve public health and benefit patients. www.m2.care
About Institut Mérieux
An independent family-owned group, Institut Mérieux has set itself the mission of fighting infectious diseases and cancers, with a global and long-term vision. Through its five companies, bioMérieux, Transgene, ABL, Mérieux NutriSciences and Mérieux Développement, Institut Mérieux develops complementary approaches to address today’s public health challenges: from the prevention of health risks to innovative treatments for diseases, including the key stage of diagnosis and investment in the medicine of tomorrow. Present in 45 countries, Institut Mérieux employs more than 22,000 people worldwide and generated revenue of €4.3 billion in 2022. www.institut-merieux.com
CONTACTS
M2CARE :
Aurélie Boulleray – Tel: +33 6 18 99 56 76 – aurelie.boulleray@m2.care
IMAGE SEPT
Laurence Heilbronn – Tel: +33 1 53 70 74 64 – lheilbronn@image7.fr
Claire Doligez – Tél: +33 1 53 70 74 48 – cdoligez@image7.fr
