Joël Jean-Mairet, Julia Salaverria, Josep Ll. Sanfeliu and Cristina Garmendia founded Ysios Capital Partners in 2007, one year before Dr. Garmendia joined the Spanish Ministery.
Barcelona – 29th May, 2012 – Ysios Capital Partners, a venture capital firm specialized in healthcare and biotechnology, today announces that Dr. Cristina Garmendia returns to the management team after her stage as Minister for Science and Innovation of Spain. This appointment means her return to the private industry. She will support Ysios institutional relations, both in Spain and abroad, as well as investor relations and fundraising.
In an interview with the Spanish financial newspaper, Expansion, Cristina said that “Spanish companies need funds in these difficult times and we need means of specialized investors and managers that understand the biotech sector backed by international investors support” Ysios Capital Parners manages Ysios BioFund I, founded in 2008 with a total amount of €69 million, and seeks to close between 10 and 12 deals both in Spain and abroad, as of today, they have analyzed more than 550 investment opportunities. Dr. Garmendia appointment is a key factor at this stage of the fund – 8 realized investments, half in Spain, and a successful exit after selling Biovex to Amgen for more than $1000 million- to achieve our target, to provide a more qualified support to our portfolio companies and to start thinking about raising a second fund in the medium term.
Cristina received her bachelor’s degree in Genetics from the University of Seville and her PhD from the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid under the guidance of Professor Margarita Salas. She holds an MBA from IESE (Universidad de Navarra).
She served as Minister for Science and Innovation of Spain from April 2008 to December 2011, leading some of the most groundbreaking reforms ever made in this area, including the Spanish Innovation Strategy and the Law for Science, Technology and Innovation, as well as restructuring of major government funding programs and agencies. During her tenure she forged important international agreements, especially during the Spanish Presidency of the Council of the European Union in 2010. Previously, in 2001, she founded and developed the biotechnology holding Genetrix, with successful private fundraising of €90 million. Previously, Cristina was Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Amasua Group. She has excelled in business and public service, having been President of the Spanish Bioindustry Association (ASEBIO), a Member of the Board of the Spanish Confederation of Employers’ Organizations (CEOE), and a member of various scientific or advisory boards. Her work and entrepreneurial vision has been recognized by several corporate investigation and Innovation prizes.
About Ysios Capital
Ysios Capital Partners is an independent venture capital firm in Spain providing private equity financing to early and mid-stage human healthcare and biotechnology companies with special focus on pharmaceuticals, diagnostics and medical devices. Ysios Capital Partners team is lead by Mr. Joël Jean- Mairet, former chief executive of GLYCART Biotechnology AG (Zürich); Ms. Julia Salaverria, former director of funds in Talde; Mr. Josep LL. Sanfeliu, former corporate finance business development manager at Almirall nad, since march 2012, Dr. Cristina Garmendia, former as Minister for Science and Innovation of Spain. Ysios Capital Partners managesYsios BioFund I, founded in 2008 with a total amount of €69 million. Its full portfolio includes: MedLumics (Madrid), AM-Pharma BV (Bunnik, The Netherlands), STAT Diagnostica (Barcelona), Sabirmedical (Barcelona), Cardoz (Stockholm, Sweden), Endosense (Geneva), Biovex (now Amgen, Boston) and Cellerix (Madrid, now Tigenix NV NYSE Alternext:TIG).
