BIOSPRING BARCELONA highlighted the fast-emerging role of Voluntary Health Organizations playing a very significant part in bridging the ‘Valley Of Death’ (dearth of seed funding) to the annual tune of 500 M USD. These patient and passion-driven nonprofit organizations are fast becoming sophisticated investors (philanthropy investors) and playing a strategic role in getting science turned into medicines. Even the oldest and stodgiest of them are now turning to these types of investments, bringing patients and deep disease expertise to the table. New VCs with a mission and compassion.