Clare Terlouw, Head of LifeArc Ventures, on Bridging Biotech’s Funding Gap & Investing for Impact

Synopsis: Host Alok Tayi sits down with Clare Terlouw, Head of Ventures at LifeArc Ventures, to explore biotech investing from an LP perspective. Clare shares her unique journey—from physiotherapy to investment banking and, ultimately, leading venture investments at a medical charity. The conversation delves into LifeArc’s role in bridging the funding gap for biotech innovation, the challenges of attracting LP capital, and the future of biotech investing. If you're curious about how a medical charity strategically deploys capital while fueling scientific breakthroughs, this episode is a must-listen! Biography: Clare Terlouw is Head of LifeArc Ventures, responsible for LifeArc’s portfolio of direct and LP investments across the life sciences sector. The venture investment fund focuses on early stage life sciences companies at seed to Series A, with significant follow-on investment reserved for successful portfolio companies. Clare has significant expertise in funding innovative life sciences companies in the private and public markets. She was previously Head of Corporate Development at Syncona Investment Management Ltd, a FTSE250 healthcare investment trust which builds and invests in life science companies, and has more than 15 years of biotech and healthcare financing experience as a UK investment banker at Nomura, Numis Securities and Peel Hunt. Clare was a physiotherapist in Canada prior to moving into finance. Clare is a board member of the UK Biotechnology Industry Association and director of a number of venture-backed companies.