Sunil Shah, CEO of o2h Ventures and Co-Founder of o2h Group, has had an inspiring and exciting journey in the biotech community for over two decades. In this exclusive interview, Sunil highlights his career journey and shares his outlook for the UK biotech sector with the Life Science Nation.
Early Days and the Transition
Sunil began his career as a consultant in the life science sector, which provided a strong foundation for his entrepreneurial journey. He and his brother co-founded two companies, including Oxygen Healthcare, which was sold eventually. Their success led them to identify market opportunities which led them to establish a discovery business to support early-stage biotech companies in India. This journey led to o2h Ventures, a specialist EIS and SEIS biotech fund, followed by the establishment of o2h Co-Work Labs, an incubation and research lab facility.
Beginning of Biotech Investing
In 2005, leveraging his experience, Sunil began investing in biotech. Later, he went on to launch o2h Ventures, a specialist biotech tax-efficient fund for high-net-worth individuals to invest in early-stage biotech. To date, o2h Ventures has invested in over 33 companies and already, over $400M of capital has been invested into the portfolio that we have developed.
Accreditation as a Biotech Leader
Sunil has loved working and supporting startups, offering multifaceted backing including mentoring, guiding, and providing syndicate partnership opportunities. Throughout his journey, he has served as Chair, NED or a board member of over ten biotech companies. He also is on the board of the BioIndustry Association (BIA) and Cambridge Angels for the second consecutive time. He has been awarded by the OBN with a ‘Special Recognition Award’; CEO of the Year by the Cambridge Independent SciTech Awards and UKBAA Angel of the Year.
Future for the UK Biotech
The UK, with its strong talent base and rich scientific heritage, is poised to become a Science Superpower. However, challenges remain, and addressing them is crucial. Through its ‘flywheel’ initiative, o2h Ventures aims to tackle these challenges and elevate UK biotech companies to achieve parity with their US counterparts.
If you wish to delve deeper into this interview article, please visit the detailed blog by Life Science Nation. For more information about our human health funds, explore our website or reach out to us at invest@o2h.com. We look forward to connecting with you!
