While the Luxembourgish healthcare system provides quality care, there is a lack of early-stage funding in the digital health sector. Catalpa Ventures are hoping to solve that problem by providing strategic support and access to early-stage venture capital.
Dr. Goergen, you recently established Catalpa Ventures in Luxembourg. What can you tell us about your mission?
Catalpa Ventures is a new healthtech VC fund in Luxembourg. With a focus on early-stage investments in healthtech startups, our mission is to bridge the gap between innovation and capital in a sector critical to societal well-being. Our team is composed of seasoned professionals from finance, startup operations, and academia, all driven by a shared vision to revolutionize the healthcare industry.
What differentiates your team apart from other VCs?
Our team brings a diverse range of expertise to the table. Senior partners Daniel Kranz and Dr. Thomas Goergen contributed extensive financial experience, complemented by Prof. Silke Sperling’s specialized knowledge in healthtech and medicine. Willibrord Ehses, a former partner at Mangrove Capital, enhances our team with strategic insights. As a seasoned startup operator with a 12-year track record, I have successfully founded and managed ventures, particularly excelling in clinical sectors, reimbursement strategies, and healthcare stakeholder management. Nicolaus von Schlieffen, with a robust background in venture capital and investments, has played pivotal roles at prominent entities such as Heartbeat Labs and Germany’s largest business angel club, further strengthening our team’s capabilities.
What is Catalpa Ventures’ investment approach and portfolio strategy?
Through our investments, we aim to tackle the shortage of skilled labour, increasing the healthy age mortality, and the rising economic healthcare cost. We are envisioning to invest in health tech startups, with a round of about 25 in the first fund, with an average ticket size of €800,000, with an early stage majority, as this is where we are experienced to add value.
We also invest in pre-seed, and series A, with series A including a follow-up role.
“We believe that our combined expertise, and track record, is needed for the Luxembourgish ecosystem, and not only will we fill a gap, but benefit the healthtech sector greatly.”
Dr. Christian Goergen partner at Catalpa Ventures
You mentioned your experienced team’s successful track record, can you highlight healthtech startups Catalpa Ventures has invested in?
Although Catalpa Ventures is in its initial setup phase, we have already achieved noteworthy success stories through our roles as business angels. A prime example is Ocumeda, a venture championed by Prof. Sperling and subsequently acquired by Fielmann, a leading optical store chain in Germany. Ocumeda plays a pivotal role in transforming eye health screenings and enhancing accessibility through strategic collaborations with opticians and retirement homes. Another noteworthy investment is RetroBrain, a digital health startup in Hamburg, developing therapeutic video games for the elderly used in over 600 nursing homes.
How will you add to Luxembourg’s healthtech ecosystem?
Our ambition is to become a pivotal player in Luxembourg’s healthtech ecosystem. We aim to fill the gap in early-stage venture capital specific to healthtech, collaborating with existing entities like LIH and Luxinnovation, with a European perspective in the back end. By providing strategic support and funding to healthtech startups, we aspire to drive innovation and positive change in the ecosystem.
We are excited and look forward to presenting the sector and the public with our beneficial investments and services.
This article was first published in the Silicon Luxembourg magazine. Read the full digital version of the magazine on our website, here. You can also choose to receive a hard copy at the office or at home. Subscribe now.
