13 May 2003

Northbank helps two young companies get off to a flying start

Northbank Communications helps two young companies get off to a flying start by working closely with them to prepare for series A VC funding. Northbank has helped in editing their business plans and investor presentations, and provided investor and PR support.

Akubio, a Cambridge biotech startup, is developing systems that can detect the sounds emitted when bonds between ligands and receptors break. These systems are set to revolutionise laboratory analyses carried out, for example, in life science research and drug discovery and diagnostic testing. Northbank has been heavily involved in editing and producing Akubio's business plan and investor presentation, and has now been retained to provide PR support both during and beyond the current funding round. John Pritchard, CEO of Akubio, said, "It's been great working with a consultancy that could quickly get up to speed on our novel technology and provide strategic counsel, marketing input, writing and design. They've added significant value to our investor story and are well placed to provide us with ongoing PR support."

ApaTech, an orthopaedics company founded in 2001 with IP from world-class specialists in biomaterials, has developed a synthetic material, which is in human bone grafts. Northbank's financial relations and publicity support has included landing a fulsome corporate profile in the lead industry journal, Clinica, and keeping up the newsflow while the funding round progresses.

Says Nigel Pitchford of 3i, their lead investor, "Where PR at this time can make a difference is in getting a strategy in place for starting to drive information on the company into the marketplace, before and during a funding round. This is not easily done spontaneously. It's also useful in making the company think about how it comes across, which is, of course, critical in those vital minutes in front of a potential investor.""

Peter Colley, Director of Northbank, said "Although we have a long and deep knowledge of the life science market, it's always exciting to work with companies that are truly at the cutting edge. We've helped with many business plans and presentations, but each company presents a new and unique challenge. Our experience in the sector together with our skills in strategy, PR, marketing and design make us ideally placed us to rise to these challenges."

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