15 Leading Biotech Venture Capital Firms Shaping the Industry

In biotech, the investors behind a company often shape its trajectory as much as the science itself. From early company formation through later stages of development, their experience helps determine which ideas move forward, how teams are built, and how programs are positioned for the long road ahead.

This is where the major biotech venture capital firms come in. They have the capital—and the business expertise—to bridge this gap between a company’s research and its commercial success. As the sector has matured, these firms have taken on more active, long-term roles in building and scaling life sciences companies.

Finding biotech funding is becoming more commonplace, says Lindsey Mignano, JD, an attorney with SSM Legalwho represents a variety of early-stage health and biotech companies. She says that what used to be a niche field is now a hybrid ecosystem that combines financial backing with company creation. Some biotech venture funds even function like incubators, creating companies internally and spinning them out, says Mignano.

“Plus, many of these funds are led by experts, specifically, PhDs, MDs, or former biotech executives who can evaluate the science directly,” she says. “Some not only fund these startups, but actually incubate them internally while ensuring the successful buildout of a management team. They [sometimes even provide] shared infrastructure to accelerate early proof-of-concept.” 

The firms included in this list reflect that shift. Some focus on early company creation, others invest across multiple stages, and many do both. What they share is a track record of identifying promising science and staying involved as companies take shape. Together, they offer a snapshot of the investors shaping how biotech companies are built today.

A global venture capital firm with a long track record of investing in healthcare and life sciences companies alongside technology and other sectors.

HQ: Menlo Park, CA

Year Founded: 1977

Key Leaders: Scott Sandell, Executive Chairman and Chief Investment Officer; Tony Florence, Co-CEO; Mohamad Makhzoumi, Co-CEO; Ali Behbahani, MD, Partner, Co-Head of Healthcare; Paul Walker, Partner, Co-Head of Healthcare; Rick Yang, Partner, Head of Technology

Number of Employees: 229

Investment Scope: All stages from seed stage through IPO 

Financial Snapshot: Over $35 billion in assets under management as of December 31, 2025 and has been involved in more than 510 mergers and acquisitions. 

Notable Portfolio Companies: Strive Health, Intermune, Pharmion, Prosensa, Life Technologies, Celcuity

Recent Highlights: In 2023, NEA announced that it had closed on approximately $6.2 billion across two funds. This pair of funds was a first for NEA—one fund is dedicated to early-stage investing and the other to venture growth-stage opportunities. Not only does this reflect the firm’s continuous evolution, but both funds will be invested across a broad range of technology and healthcare sectors including digital health and life sciences among others.

A multi-strategy life sciences investment firm that invests across private and public markets, including early-stage biotech, late-stage companies, and post-IPO life sciences businesses.

HQ: New York, NY

Year Founded: 1989

Key Leaders: Trey Block, CFO; Doug Coon, Chief Compliance Officer; Andrew P. Kanarek, CFA, CIPM, Chief Risk Officer; Daniel Rhee, CISSP, Chief Technology Officer

Number of Employees: ~ 150

Investment Scope: Early-stage, late-stage, post-IPO, private equity

Financial Snapshot: The company has over $17 billion in assets under management.

Notable Portfolio Companies: Entero, Adaptive, Delfi

Recent Highlights: In September 2026, OrbiMed, along with Qiming Venture Partners, co-led the Series A financing for Altis Labs, Inc. (“Altis”), closing at $26 million. In October 2025, Biogen licensed one of Vanqua Bio’s new medicines designed to help treat immune-related diseases. Vanqua Bio is one of OrbiMed’s portfolio companies.

A venture creation and investment firm that builds and launches biotech companies internally, often remaining closely involved through early development and company formation.

HQ: Cambridge, MA

Year Founded: 2000

Key Leaders: Noubar Afeyan, Founder and CEO; Hari Pujar, Operating Partner and COO of Tessera Therapeutics; Luciano Rossetti, Chief Medical Officer, Flagship Pioneering and Head of R&D, Pioneering Medicines

Number of Employees: ~ 711

Investment Scope: Early stage and seed

Financial Snapshot: Flagship has about $14 billion in assets under management.

Notable Portfolio Companies: Denali Therapeutics, Foghorn Therapeutics, Generate:Biomedicines

Recent Highlights: In June 2026, the company announced a strategic collaboration to advance healthcare innovation and AI-enabled biomedical research in Saudi Arabia. And, in April 2026, Flagship announced the launch of Serif Biomedicines, a biotechnology company pioneering Modified DNA as a new class of medicines.

A multi-stage investment manager that makes public and private investments in healthcare and life sciences companies and supports company formation and growth.

HQ: Boston, MA

Year Founded: 2004

Key Leaders: Peter Kolchinsky, PhD, Managing Partner; Rajeev Shah, Managing Partner; Adam Kaye, Senior Managing Director and Partner of Structured Capital; Justin Waney, Vice President of Structured Capital; Alex Zhang, MBA, Vice President of Structured Capital

Number of Employees: 200-500

Investment Scope: Full-lifecycle investing from new company creation and seed-stage financing through Series A, B and C, crossover financing, IPOs, public markets, and structured capital.

Financial Snapshot: The company has more than $14.4 billion in assets under management.

Notable Portfolio Companies: Moderna, Shockwave Medical, Orchard Therapeutics

Recent Highlights: In September 2025, an affiliate of RA Capital Management alongside an affiliate from OMERS Life Sciences entered into a senior secured term loan facility of up to $250 million with ARS Pharmaceuticals, including an initial $100 million investment. The firm continues to deploy structured capital and equity financing across healthcare and life sciences companies, spanning innovation stages and financing types.

An early-stage venture firm that focuses on forming and backing life sciences companies based on academic and translational research.

HQ: Chicago, IL

Year Founded: 1986

Key Leaders: Robert Nelsen, Co-Founder, Managing Director; Keith Crandell, Co-Founder, Managing Director; Clinton Bybee, Co-Founder, Managing Director, Emeritus; Mark McDonnell, Managing Director, CFO, CAO

Number of Employees: ~ 47

Investment Scope: Early stage company formation and venture investing

Notable Portfolio Companies: Illumina, GRAIL, Juno Therapeutics

Recent Highlights: ARCH-backed SonoThera secured $125 million series B in June 2026 to advance safer gene therapies. And in April 2026, Paradigm Health, another ARCH funded company partnered with the FDA to provide a technology platform for real-time clinical trial monitoring.

A healthcare and life sciences venture capital firm that invests in and helps build biotechnology and related companies across stages of development.

HQ: San Francisco, CA

Year Founded: 1999

Key Leaders: Brad Bolzon, PhD, Chairman and Managing Director; Max Eisenberg, COO; Rich Van Doren, CFO

Number of Employees: ~ 70

Investment Scope: All investment options including early, late, debt financing, private equity, etc.

Financial Snapshot: The company has approximately $5.5 billion in assets under management.

Notable Portfolio Companies: Foresight Visions, Anokion, Lava Therapeutics

Recent Highlights: In January 2025, Helicore Biopharma Inc., a biopharmaceutical company focused on glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide (GIP) antagonists for obesity and related conditions, received $65 million in Series A financing by founding investor Versant Ventures and by OrbiMed. Longitude Capital and Wellington Management also participated.

An early-stage life sciences venture firm that partners with founders to build and scale biotechnology and healthcare companies from inception.

HQ: Boston, MA

Year Founded: 2007

Key Leaders: Robert Tepper, Founding Partner; Mark Levin, Retired Founding Partner; Kevin Starr, Retired Founding Partner; Kevin Gillis, COO; Chris Robinson, Chief Talent Officer

Number of Employees: ~ 110

Investment Scope: Focused on company creation and early-stage investing

Notable Portfolio Companies: Bluebird Bio, MyoKardia, Terremoto Biosciences

Recent highlights: In August 2026, Lilly agreed to acquire Third Rock portfolio company Merida Biosciences, which is developing treatments for autoimmune and allergic diseases. In June 2026, Terremoto Biosciences closed a $108 million Series C financing to advance its selective AKT1 inhibitors in oncology and hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia. 

An early-stage venture capital firm that creates and invests in biotechnology companies, partnering with founders to build and scale therapeutic innovation.

HQ: Cambridge, MA

Year Founded: 1980

Key Leaders: Kevin Bitterman, PhD, Partner; Bruce Booth, DPhil, Partner; Jean-Francois Formela, MD, Partner; Michael Gladstone, Partner; David Grayzel, MD, Partner; Jason Rhodes, Partner; Maurizio Fazio, MD, Principal

Number of Employees: 11-50

Investment Scope: Seed-led venture creation

Financial Snapshot: Experts estimate that Atlas has about $2 billion in assets under management.

Notable Portfolio Companies: Judo Bio, Intellia Therapeutics, Kymera Therapeutics

Recent Highlights: In July 2026, Atlas portfolio company Caldera Therapeutics announced a $278 million financing and plans for a Nasdaq debut, less than a year after launching. In June 2026, Atlas portfolio company Triveni Bio raised $65 million to advance its eczema programs. 

A venture capital firm that funds and helps build early-stage life sciences and biopharmaceutical companies across multiple therapeutic and technological areas.

HQ: San Francisco, CA

Year Founded: 2002

Key Leaders: Kush M Parmar, MD, Managing Partner; Andy Schwab, Founder and Managing Partner; Michael Calore, Partner and Head of Investor Relations; John Kelly, Partner, CFO, and COO; Deborah Palestrant, PhD, MBA, Partner and Executive Chair of 4:59 Initiative; Anna Yaeger, Chief Investment Officer and Partner

Number of Employees: 11-50

Investment Scope: Seed and early-stage investing, with additional participation in later-stage and public equity opportunities

Notable Portfolio Companies: Crinetics Pharmaceuticals, Artiva Biotherapeutics, Arvinas, Ensoma

Recent highlights: In September 2026, 5AM portfolio company Rezera reported positive Phase 2 results for ruvonoflast in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, meeting the study's primary inflammation endpoint. In August 2026, Skye Bioscience and Redx Pharma announced a transaction agreement alongside $125 million in financing. In July 2026, Kinaset Therapeutics dosed the first patient in its Phase 2b PANAIRAMA trial of frevecitinib for severe asthma.

A global venture capital firm that invests in life sciences, healthcare, and technology companies across multiple stages of growth.

HQ: Cambridge, MA

Year Founded: 1969

Key Leaders: Carolyn Haley, MS, Partner, COO, and CFO; Clay Basser-Wall, Chief Compliance Officer; Jessica Alston, PhD, Partner

Number of Employees: 11-50

Investment Scope: Seed, series A, series B

Financial Snapshot: $5.3 billion assets under management

Notable Portfolio Companies: Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, Ultragenyx, Beam Therapeutics

Recent Highlights: In 2026, F-Prime added R1 Therapeutics to its life sciences portfolio, investing in the clinical-stage biotech's development of AP306 for hyperphosphatemia in patients with chronic kidney disease. F-Prime also highlighted portfolio companies including Beam Therapeutics, ARTBIO, and Arnatar Therapeutics for clinical and industry recognition during the first half of 2026.

A science-driven venture capital firm that partners with academic and industry founders to invest in and build early-stage life sciences and technology companies.

HQ: Cambridge, MA; San Francisco, CA; and Bethesda, MD

Year Founded: 2018

Key Leaders: Michael P. Rubin, MD, Founder and CEO; Sharon Kedar, Co-Founder, Partner; Pat Smerkers, CFO, Partner; Andrea Jackson, Partner

Number of Employees: 11-50

Financial Snapshot: Over $2 billion in committed capital

Investment Scope: Seed, Series A, and early growth stages and supports academic translation programs

Notable Portfolio Companies: Kyverna Therapeutics, Vigil Neuroscience, Candel Therapeutics

Recent Highlights: In January 2026, Northpond Ventures co-led a $43 million financing for VieCure, an oncology technology company developing an AI-powered platform for community cancer practices. In March 2026, Northpond also participated in Mestag Therapeutics’ $40 million Series A financing to advance its macrophage-targeting therapeutic programs.

A venture capital firm that invests in life sciences, healthcare, and data-driven biotechnology companies across stages of growth.

HQ: San Francisco, CA

Year Founded: 2011

Key Leaders: Jim Tananbaum, MD, Founder and CEO; Stella Ho, CFO and Managing Director; Amelia Stoj, CCO, Assistant General Counsel; Richard Lau, CFA, Partner; Stephen Peterson, CFA, Partner; Cindy Xiong, PhD, Partner; Dennis D. Ryan, MBA, CPA, Managing Director

Number of Employees: ~ 40

Investment Scope: Early through late stages

Financial Snapshot: $3.5 billion in assets under management

Notable Portfolio Companies: 10x Genomics, Relay Therapeutics, Element Biosciences, Inscripta

Recent Highlights: In August 2026, Foresite portfolio company Khartis Therapeutics raised $95 million to advance its pipeline of precision medicines for genetically defined diseases. Foresite portfolio company RayThera was also acquired by Biogen in June 2026, further expanding Foresite's record of portfolio-company exits while Element Biosciences announced an upsized Series E financing to accelerate its global expansion in genomics, multiomics, and clinical research.

The dedicated biotech and healthcare investing platform within Andreessen Horowitz, focused on life sciences and health investments distinct from the firm’s broader technology and consumer portfolios.

HQ: Menlo Park, CA

Year Founded: 2015

Key Leaders: Ben Horowitz, General Partner; Julie Yoo, General Partner; Vineeta Agarwala, MD, General Partner; Jorge Conde, General Partner; Marc Andreessen, General Partner

Number of Employees: 201–500

Investment Scope: Seed to late-stage

Financial Snapshot: The firm manages a dedicated $700 million.

Notable Portfolio Companies: IDRx, GC Therapeutics, Cartography, and Function Health

Recent Highlights: In June 2026, the firm led a $33 million Series A investment in Telepatia, an AI-native clinical platform serving hospitals across Latin America. In February 2026, the team co-led a $13.5 million seed round for Phylo, which is developing an AI-powered integrated biology environment designed to support scientific research workflows.

A biotechnology-focused company that partners with scientists, entrepreneurs, and drug developers to build transformative therapeutics.

HQ: Palo Alto, CA

Year founded: 2017

Key leaders: Srini Akkaraju, MD, PhD, Founder & Managing Partner; Mike Dybbs, PhD, Partner; Abe Bassan, Partner

Number of employees: ~31

Stage / Funding round: The company invests across the biotech company life cycle, from early-stage opportunities through later-stage and public companies.

Financial snapshot: The company has $2.17 billion assets under management.

Notable portfolio companies: Scholar Rock, Alumis, Mineralys Therapeutics, Septerna, CARGO Therapeutics, RayzeBio, Chinook Therapeutics

Key focus: The company partners with scientists and entrepreneurs to bring transformative medicines to people with cancer, autoimmune diseases, and chronic conditions.

Recent highlights: In January 2026, Samsara invested in Danish biotech firm Sidera Bio, which specialises in pharmaceutical R&D. The company also invested in Gossamer Bio in August 2026, a company within the drug discovery industry.And Samsara has been working to raise a $200 million opportunity fund, which will allow it to concentrate capital on existing, high-potential portfolio companies.

A life sciences venture capital firm that invests in and helps build biopharmaceutical companies developing novel therapeutics for unmet medical needs across all stages of development. 

HQ: San Francisco, CA, with an additional office in Seattle, WA

Year Founded: 2011 

Key Leaders: Corey Goodman, PhD, Co-founder & Managing Partner; Aaron Royston, MD, Managing Partner; Richard Gaster, MD, Managing Partner; Yvonne Yamanaka, PhD, Partner; Robert Adelman, MD, Co-founder & Emeritus Managing Partner

Number of Employees: ~7

Stage / Funding Round: Early- to late-stage investments, including academic startups, spinouts, and companies progressing through clinical development and commercialization

Financial Snapshot: venBio’s venture funds comprise nearly $2 billion of committed capital and are investing out of the company’s fifth fund of approximately $528 million.

Notable Portfolio Companies: Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Akero Therapeutics, Harmony Biosciences, Pharvaris, and Attovia Therapeutics

Key Focus: venBio focuses on life sciences companies developing novel therapeutics for significant unmet medical needs. Its investment strategy emphasizes the “Four D's” — real drugs, real differentiation, real data, and real diseases. 

Recent Highlights: In August 2026, venBio portfolio company Attovia Therapeutics completed an upsized $289 million initial public offering and began trading on Nasdaq under the ticker ATTO. In January 2026, Bayer acquired two investigational molecular imaging agents from venBio portfolio company Attralus for undisclosed terms.