Family offices (which have $100 million to $1 billion or more in total assets) investing directly in life science often have a ‘keep below the radar’ mentality, as financial confidentiality and protecting proprietary strategies are of great importance to them. However, all investment entities need some visibility to attain deal flow.

At Life Science Nation’s third Redefining Early Stage Investments Conference on September 17, 2014, leaders from five family offices around the world gathered under the same roof, answering questions such as: Why do family offices invest directly? How do they assess early stage opportunities? How do you find family offices? How do you build a quality relationship with a family office? Do family offices do deals with third party fundraising partners? How important is branding and messaging?

I had the pleasure of moderating the panel, which included:

Melissa Krauth, Principal, Claria Bioscience
Meredith Fisher, Director & Partner Investments, Private Investment Office
Christopher De Souza, Director, Broadview Ventures
Alejandra Paredones, CEO & Founder, BSI Capital Group
Todd Holmes, Director, Gurnet Point Capital

Click on the video above to hear the amazingly revealing views of these family offices. The video is 70 minutes, and well worth the viewing time.