Flavin flaunts return to university venturing

John Flavin, a former University of Chicago entrepreneurship and innovation executive, has formed a new seed-stage venture firm to back biomedical spinouts from US Midwest-based institutions.
Portal Innovations will focus on life sciences, medical technology and bioinformatics with the aim of growing the regional commercialisation ecosystem.
In addition, Portal expects to open a physical incubator in partnership with real estate developer Trammell Crow Company containing wet and dry lab space for local businesses.
Portal renews Flavin’s involvement with spinouts following his exit from University of Chicago in 2018 to join medical technology company Endotronix as chief financial officer, where he is credited with helping to secure $70m in series D capital.
University of Chicago had promoted Flavin in 2016 to associate vice-president of entrepreneurship and innovation after his arrival at the institution three years earlier.
He was previously inaugural director of University of Chicago’s startup incubator Innovation Exchange, now operating as the Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation with a broader commercialisation remit.
Flavin also helped launch a University of Chicago-run life sciences incubator called Matter. The relationship continued past his official departure in 2018, as Flavin became founding chairman of University of Chicago immunooncology spinout Pyxis Oncology.
Harry Rowland, co-founder and CEO of Endotronix, said: “John is a prolific company builder. We are grateful for his contributions over the last two years at Endotronix, which include securing our series D financing and building a strong finance, legal and accounting leadership team.”
– Image courtesy of University of Chicago