Israeli Investor bets big on Melbourne

Israeli venture capitalist Dr Yaron Daniely says that when he first visited Melbourne, “I was flabbergasted with the quality of the science and the depth of the infrastructure here in the life science research ecosystem.”

That impression led Daniely to found the aMoon Innovation Fellows Program, which helps leading academics and clinicians in Victoria find practical uses for their research and work with top investors and industry partners worldwide to bring their ideas to market.

“This initiative provides a unique opportunity for innovators to learn how to successfully interact with the financial community and translate the promise of their projects into products and services that can have global impact on countless lives,” he said.

Speaking to The AJN in Melbourne where he is leading the fourth annual iteration of the program, the general partner at US $1.3 billion (A $2.02 billion) early-stage investment fund aMoon Velocity said he sees Australia as offering “an unfair advantage” for early-stage healthcare investment.

“Phenomenal science, not a lot of experienced global early stage investors. This is the type of blue ocean that we like to to work in. There are many billion-dollar venture funds in Boston. There aren’t that many in areas like Melbourne,” he said.