Mark Rahn Graphene science to products: proving the principlesec.europa.eu/.../pdf/graphene-presentations/5-2-rahn-22032011_en.pdfMark Rahn Graphene science to products: proving the

Mark Rahn Graphene science to products: proving the principles

An experimental physicist with several years of professional research

experience, Mark then gained commercial experience within technology

companies. After co-founding and operationally managing two VC-backed

technology start-ups in optoelectronic materials for communications, data

storage and displays, he entered venture capital in 2005.

Working with MTI Partners, Mark is currently the local manager of the £32m

UMIP Premier Fund, Europe’s largest Venture Capital fund focussed on a single

University - Manchester.

Mark’s domain expertise follows his experiences working with technology

companies and focuses mainly on optoelectronics and electronics, energy and

environmental (including water and nuclear) and medical physics.

Copyright © 2010 MTI Partners. All rights reserved.

www.mtifirms.com

Venture Capital and GrapheneMark Rahn, MTI Partners 22nd March 2011

www.theupf.com

UMIP Premier Fundwww.theupf.com


MTI Partners

Experienced technology VC manager

Interests in European technology

businesses

£136m under management

Offices in London, Boston and Manchester

All executives with industrial operational

experience

4 strong investment team

Access to Venture Partners, with global experience in marketing and operations



UMIP Premier Fund (UPF) and The University of Manchester (UoM)

UMIP(The University of Manchester

Intellectual Property)

• Technology Transfer• IP Management

• Spin-out incubation

MTI Partners Ltd(Manager of the UPF)

Manage investmentsSpin-out business development

UPF(UMIP Premier Fund)

£32m fund to invest in University of Manchester

spin-out companies

Fund ManagerMake and manage

investments

University TTOMake and manage PoP investments



UPF Characteristics

www.theupf.com

£32mInstitutional investors

Focused on University of Manchester Spin-outs

Initial investment £250k - £750k

Potential for £3m per company

Medtech / Materials / Electronics focus

10% allocation for proof of principle (PoP)

Non exclusive to UoM

New way of working with Universities



Current UPF Portfolio

Diagnostics for fungal infectionWater treatment Corneal diagnostics

Network cabling management

Anti infective coatings

Agricultural pest management



Current UPF Portfolio

Oxygen enhanced lung imaging

Base station power management

Wearable dialysis techniques

Wound profiling with 3D camera



Proof of Principle (PoP) investments

Nerve Repair Tendon Repair

Energy Harvesting

Conjugated Vaccines

Symmetrical Helicopters

Breath Diagnostics



Proof of Principle (PoP) investments

Spinal disk repairP53 pathways

Fuel cellmembranes

Graphene composites Micro Pumps

Graphene derivatives

Graphene production



Market

Technology

Infrastructure

MarketLarge market opportunity

Unmet market need

Growing sector

TechnologyReputation

Defensible position

World-class science or technology

Elements of world-class commercial success

Infrastructure (of Success)

Effective IP and TT management

Quality management team

Experienced investors

World-class university

Access to funds



Graphene Proof of Principle (PoP) projects

1. Volume production of single layer graphene

2. Chemical derivatives of graphene

3. Graphene composites

4. Applications of graphene

Multidisciplinary projects involving 6 PI’s, three schools and two Nobel Prize winners

PoP Projects managed by MTI’s partner, UMIP - The University of Manchester TTO



UPF Investment principles (PoP)

1. Capital Efficiency

2. Independent decision making

3. Objective decision making

4. External commercial input – management and mentors

5. Pragmatic but robust IP strategy



New ways of working with universities

Keep project in the university for as long as possible

Bring in commercial expertise as early as possible

Invest in license projects if appropriate

Independence when required

Encourage corporate involvement

i.e. not just spin-out companies…

Independence, but close working relationship and trust with the TTO



Final thoughts…

1. Active commercialisation is required to develop products from science

2. Investment for capital gain gives flexibility to respond to the market

www.theupf.com

www.mtifirms.com

LONDONFountain Court

2 Victoria SquareVictoria Street

St. AlbansAL1 3TF

MANCHESTERManchester Incubator Building

48 Grafton StreetManchester M13 9XX

BOSTONWaltham - Bay Colony Center1050 Winter Street, Suite 1000Waltham, Massachusetts 02451

United States

Dr Mark RahnUPF Investment Partner

MTI Partners Limited(Manchester office)

+44 7879 488741+44 161 603 7769

[email protected]

Documents

Mark Rahn Graphene science to products: proving the principlesec.europa.eu/.../pdf/graphene-presentations/5-2-rahn-22032011_en.pdfMark Rahn Graphene science to products: proving the