LSIPR 50 2018: Backing the innovators

17-07-2018

LSIPR 50 2018: Backing the innovators

Josh Makower, partner at venture capital investor New Enterprise Associates, explains to LSIPR the firm’s role in supporting medtech innovation, his sweet spot when it comes to projects, and how to balance what is medically relevant with commercial viability.

Josh Makower, partner at venture capital investor New Enterprise Associates (NEA), has worked within life sciences for more than 20 years. He has learnt that “IP is a must” in the industry, due to the extensive time and costs involved in bringing a health product to market.

“If we did not believe the idea could be protected, there would be no interest in investing,” he explains.

Makower adds: “IP factors in very heavily when we’re looking at new companies, and the breadth and novelty of an invention as well as whether it can be practised without infringement is a fundamental screen before we’ll get involved.”


LSIPR 50 2018, Josh Makower, New Enterprise Associates, investment, medical technology, start-ups, novelty, IP infringement, patient care, medical devices

LSIPR