ProteoTech, Inc.

Former Professor at University of Washington

Cato BioVentures focuses on early-stage investment opportunities in private companies and PIPE opportunities in undervalued public companies in the life sciences sector. They target innovative therapeutics, medical devices, diagnostics and platform tools and technologies for improved drug discovery and development. Cato BioVentures seeks companies with novel therapeutics for central and peripheral nervous system disorders, cardiovascular disease, metabolic disease and cancer, with special emphasis on next generation embryonic stem cell-based technologies and skin penetration enhancement delivery systems. Cato BioVentures also seeks product development opportunities in public companies that have gone off track or fallen out of favor with the investment community. The firm's strategic services often serve as a bridge during the period between a company's formation or initial angel financing and its first institutional financing.Cato BioVentures often co-invests with other institutional investors and they generally do not require a board seat as a condition of their investment. In a board-like manner, the firm's principals regularly provide essential market, regulatory and drug development insights, as well as financial, operational and strategic advice.Cato seeks to invest in companies with a realistic business model built on reasonable assumptions, innovative drug candidates or technologies supported by a strong intellectual property position and a solid pathway to commercial protection. They prefer companies targeting a large market potential (at least $100 million in annual sales) within a reasonable amount of time (up to seven years) based upon a realistic analysis of the market from the bottom up.