Joel Besse
Private Investor in Biotech, Medtech, Fintech, AI. VC Funds Advisor
London, England
Overview
Work Experience
Founder
2015 - Current
Angel investors in life sciences, foodtech and deeptech startups. Pre-Seed, Seed, Series A, recapitalizations.
Director
2007
Healthcare consulting company.
Strategic Advisor
2023
Save the Children Global Ventures offers a unique combination of investment expertise and deep understanding of what it takes to achieve impact for children in the world's most challenging places. Our work is backed by the unparalleled global reach and capabilities of Save the Children, which generates global pipeline opportunities and scaling support for portfolio companies.
Angel Investor
2024
RDX-002, Response Pharmaceuticals’ lead candidate, is a first-in-class, potent, selective, and gut-specific small molecule inhibitor of microsomal triglyceride transfer protein (MTP) that is not systemically bioavailable. RDX-002 has been studied in multiple Phase 1 and Phase 2 clinical trials encompassing approximately 500 healthy subjects and patients dosed for up to 84 days. In these studies, RDX-002 was well tolerated and lowered post-prandial triglycerides and free fatty acids, reduced LDL cholesterol, lowered HbA1c in patients with diabetes, and reduced body weight without untoward side effects.
Angel Investor
2024
Lekka is on a mission to empower underserved communities across Europe and the UK by providing accessible, affordable, and inclusive financial services. The platform combines everyday banking features—a secure account, payment cards, and SEPA compatibility—with low-cost international remittances and essential tools like mobile airtime top-ups. By focusing on non-banked and low-income individuals, Lekka aim to break down barriers in financial accessibility, delivering impact through innovative technology and social responsibility. Lekka is redefining financial inclusion, ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to manage, save, and transfer money with ease
Angel Investor
2022
Longlive is designed for proactive individuals age 40+ who aspire to cultivate a life of vitality and well-being as they navigate through the life journey. Whether managing chronic conditions or supporting loved ones as caregivers, Longlive offers a holistic approach to living a healthier, happier, and more independent life. Join our community of healthy lifestyle activists, devoted mothers and fathers, supportive friends, and compassionate strangers committed to thriving as we age.
Angel Investor
2022
Core Biogenesis is building the future of recombinant protein manufacturing with its ultra-scalable and sustainable plant-based bioproduction platform. By developing the building blocks to produce any recombinant protein with its platform in a repeatable, scalable, and sustainable way, Core Biogenesis enables the delivery of cost-effective sustainable recombinant proteins for biopharmaceutical and research applications. Core Biogenesis’ first products are growth factors, cytokines, and other recombinant proteins used in Cell Culture and Bioprocessing.
Angel Investor
2021
Adjuvant therapy for combination chemotherapy and immunotherapy.
Angel Investor
2021
QurCan’s proprietary TERP technology has been engineered with a novel Polymer-Lipid surface chemistry to direct therapeutic payloads to tissue beyond the liver, including CNS and spleen. TERP technology can effectively transport nucleotides including mRNA and siRNA into the cells there they are active. TERP is a breakthrough technology with the great potential to deliver a new era of disease-modifying genetic medicine that will make a difference to patients with a wide range of unmet medical needs.
Angel Investor
2020
Astrocyte Pharmaceuticals Inc. is a privately held, clinical-stage drug discovery and development company dedicated to accelerating the recovery and well-being of brain injury patients. The company is committed to proving the cerebroprotective benefits of enhancing astrocyte function and advancing breakthrough therapeutic agents for treating brain injury resulting from stroke, traumatic brain injury, concussion, and neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease.
Education
Master of Engineering (M.Eng.)
1986 - 1988
M.Sc.
1984 - 1986