Ovelle plans to introduce its revolutionary in vitro gametogenesis (IVG) technology by initially focusing on patients for whom traditional IVF is not an option, such as cancer survivors. This builds a user base and proves the technology's safety and efficacy before targeting the broader, more cautious IVF market.

Zyda raised funds primarily from urologists and urogynecologists. These clinician-investors already understood the market need, provided crucial industry connections (like finding a clinical trial investigator), and became influential early prescribers, dramatically accelerating market entry and validation.

In a tough market, fundraising success comes from precision targeting. Luba Greenwood advises skipping the "big 10" pharma and large VCs. Instead, focus on smaller to mid-sized pharma companies hyper-specialized in your therapeutic area and newly-raised, smaller VC funds that are actively deploying capital.

Ovelle's co-founders exemplify a common success pattern in biotech: one partner with profound scientific knowledge (Merrick) and another with extensive business experience (Travis). This combination covers critical aspects from research to capital raising and team building, as it's rare to find both skill sets in one person.

In a challenging fundraising climate, formal processes are insufficient. SpliceBio's CEO secured their lead Series B investor by starting informal conversations a full year before the official round. This long-term relationship-building establishes trust and allows investors to track execution over time, which is critical when capital is tight.

Ovelle's founding was catalyzed by Travis Potter discovering Merrick Smela's published papers. Merrick's public presence and clear communication of his work made him discoverable. This demonstrates that for scientific entrepreneurs, sharing expertise openly is a powerful tool for inbound recruiting and fundraising.

ProKidney's significant funding from co-founder Pablo Legorreta and investor Carlos Slim was driven by their direct family experiences with kidney disease. This shows that for high-risk, long-term biotech ventures, a deep personal connection to the mission can be a more powerful motivator for investors than purely financial interest.

In the rare disease space, success hinges on deep patient community engagement. Smaller, nimbler biotechs often excel at creating these essential personal ties, giving them a significant advantage over larger pharmaceutical companies.

Instead of relying solely on traditional LPs, Vi Ventures actively brings in families affected by autoimmune diseases as for-profit investors. This model creates a community of highly motivated stakeholders, fostering accountability and a direct connection to the patient experience, while still maintaining market-rate return objectives.