Versant Ventures

Versant Ventures is a leading venture capital firm that has been harnessing the power of science since its establishment in 1999. With $4.2 billion under management, the firm has a strong track record of delivering results in the healthcare and biotechnology sectors. Versant Ventures has made significant contributions to the industry, including supporting numerous initial public offerings (IPOs) and facilitating 46 mergers and acquisitions (M&As).

The firm prides itself on its experienced team, which boasts over 100 years of venture capital experience, 60+ years of pharmaceutical industry experience, and 45+ years of biotechnology expertise. This wealth of knowledge and expertise enables Versant Ventures to provide valuable insights, guidance, and support to the companies it invests in.

Versant Ventures, an American venture capital firm specializing in the healthcare and biotechnology sectors, has a rich history dating back to its establishment in 1999. The firm was founded in Menlo Park, California, by a group of partners from Brentwood Associates, Institutional Venture Partners, and Crosspoint Ventures. Originally known as Palladium Venture Capital, it later changed its name to Versant Ventures.

Versant Ventures emerged during a significant period in the venture capital industry, as it was formed at the end of the Dot-com bubble. The firm's founders recognized the potential for growth and innovation in the healthcare and biotechnology industries, leading them to focus their investments in these sectors.

In its early years, Versant Ventures raised $250 million for its first fund, Versant Venture Capital I. This provided the initial capital to support the firm's investment activities and laid the foundation for its future growth. As the firm began to establish itself, it quickly gained recognition as a prominent player in the venture capital landscape.

One notable development in Versant Ventures' history was the launch of EuroVentures in the mid-2000s. EuroVentures was a business incubator based in Basel, Switzerland, that aimed to form startup companies by acquiring assets from European drug companies. This expansion into Europe enabled Versant Ventures to tap into the region's vibrant biotechnology ecosystem and foster innovation on an international scale.

Versant Ventures continued to expand its incubator network with the launch of Inception in 2011. This San Diego-based incubator focused on creating companies based on discoveries from academia. Inception's success led to further expansion into Canada, with the opening of offices in Vancouver and Montreal. Additionally, Versant Ventures launched another incubator called Blueline Bioscience in Toronto, further solidifying its presence in the Canadian biotech landscape.

In 2015, Versant Ventures established Highline Therapeutics, an incubator based in New York. Highline Therapeutics aimed to launch drug companies by leveraging medical research centres within the state. This initiative demonstrated Versant Ventures' commitment to collaborating with leading academic institutions and translating scientific discoveries into commercially viable ventures.

Building on its track record of successful incubators, Versant Ventures set up another incubator named Ridgeline in Basel in 2017. Ridgeline aimed to provide entrepreneurs with access to scientists and wet labs, enabling them to advance their innovative ideas and accelerate the development of transformative therapies.

Today, Versant Ventures remains a prominent player in the venture capital industry, with a focus on investing in companies in the United States, Canada, and Europe. The firm's headquarters are located in San Francisco, and it has additional offices in Basel, New York, San Diego, Toronto, and Vancouver.

Versant Ventures has specific investment criteria that guide its decision-making process when selecting companies to invest in. While the exact criteria may evolve over time, the following are some key factors that Versant Ventures typically considers:

• Healthcare and Biotechnology Focus: Versant Ventures primarily focuses on investments in the healthcare and biotechnology sectors. They seek opportunities in areas such as therapeutics, medical devices, diagnostics, digital health, and other innovative healthcare solutions.
• Unmet Medical Needs: Versant Ventures looks for companies that address significant unmet medical needs. They are interested in investments that have the potential to make a substantial impact on patient care and improve health outcomes.
• Novel and Differentiated Technologies: The firm seeks companies that leverage novel and differentiated technologies, including cutting-edge advancements in areas like genomics, precision medicine, artificial intelligence, and digital platforms. They are attracted to technologies that offer a competitive advantage and have the potential for disruptive innovation.
• Strong Intellectual Property (IP): Versant Ventures evaluates the strength of a company's intellectual property portfolio. Robust IP protection is crucial in the biotech and healthcare sectors to safeguard innovations and provide a competitive edge in the market.
• Experienced Management Team: The quality and expertise of the management team are critical considerations for Versant Ventures. They look for teams with a track record of success, relevant industry experience, and the ability to execute their business plans.
• Market Potential and Commercialization Strategy: Versant Ventures assesses the market potential for a company's product or service. They evaluate the target market size, competitive landscape, and commercialization strategy to determine the scalability and growth potential of the investment opportunity.
• Stage of Development: Versant Ventures invests across various stages of company development, including seed capital, early-stage, growth-stage, and late-stage companies. The specific stage of development may vary depending on the fund and investment thesis.
• Geographical Focus: Versant Ventures invests in companies based in the United States, Canada, and Europe. They have a particular interest in regions with vibrant biotech ecosystems and access to scientific expertise.
• Alignment with Versant's Expertise: Versant Ventures looks for investments that align with their areas of expertise and can leverage their network, resources, and strategic guidance. They seek partnerships where they can actively contribute to the company's growth and success.

Versant Ventures operates based on a set of core values that guide its actions, decisions, and relationships. These values reflect the firm's commitment to excellence, integrity, collaboration, and long-term impact. The following are key values embraced by Versant Ventures:

• Excellence: Versant Ventures is dedicated to pursuing excellence in all aspects of its work. They strive for excellence in identifying transformative technologies, conducting rigorous due diligence, and supporting the development of high-quality companies. By upholding the highest standards of performance, Versant Ventures aims to achieve exceptional outcomes and deliver significant value to its investors and portfolio companies.
• Integrity: Versant Ventures places a strong emphasis on integrity and ethical conduct. They operate with transparency, honesty, and accountability in all interactions with entrepreneurs, investors, partners, and the broader community. Versant Ventures takes pride in building trusted relationships and maintaining the highest ethical standards to foster long-term success and reputation.
• Collaboration: Collaboration is at the heart of Versant Ventures' approach. They believe in the power of collaboration and teamwork to drive innovation and create meaningful impact. Versant Ventures actively seeks partnerships with academic institutions, industry experts, and other stakeholders to leverage diverse perspectives, expertise, and resources. By fostering a collaborative ecosystem, they aim to accelerate the translation of scientific discoveries into real-world solutions.
• Entrepreneurship: Versant Ventures embraces the spirit of entrepreneurship and values the vision, drive, and passion of entrepreneurial leaders. They actively support entrepreneurs and academic founders in their pursuit of breakthrough innovations. Versant Ventures fosters an entrepreneurial culture within its own team, encouraging creativity, bold thinking, and calculated risk-taking to push the boundaries of what is possible in healthcare and biotechnology.
• Long-Term Impact: Versant Ventures takes a long-term perspective on investments and focuses on creating sustainable, enduring impact. They seek to invest in companies that have the potential to transform industries and improve patient outcomes over the long run. Versant Ventures is committed to supporting the growth and success of its portfolio companies, even through challenging times, to ensure they achieve their full potential and make a lasting positive impact on society.
• Global Perspective: Versant Ventures embraces a global perspective and recognizes the importance of diverse perspectives and international collaborations. They actively engage with innovators and institutions worldwide, seeking opportunities to bridge geographical boundaries and leverage global talent and resources. By operating globally, Versant Ventures aims to drive innovation, access international markets, and address healthcare challenges on a global scale.

Versant Ventures is driven by a clear mission: to harness the power of science and innovation to transform the healthcare and biotechnology industries for the better. The firm is dedicated to identifying and supporting breakthrough technologies and companies that have the potential to make a significant impact on patient care and improve global health outcomes.

At the core of Versant Ventures' mission is the belief that advancements in science and technology have the power to revolutionize healthcare. They recognize the immense potential of biotechnology, therapeutics, medical devices, diagnostics, digital health, and other innovative solutions in addressing unmet medical needs and improving the quality of life for individuals worldwide.

Versant Ventures has a diverse and impressive portfolio of investments in various healthcare and biotechnology companies. Here are some notable companies in Versant Ventures' portfolio:

• Turnstone Biologics: Turnstone Biologics is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing novel oncolytic viral immunotherapies for the treatment of cancer.
• Metavention: Metavention is a medical device company that is developing a minimally invasive treatment for type 2 diabetes by targeting the sympathetic nervous system.
• Clovis Oncology: Clovis Oncology is a biopharmaceutical company that specializes in the development and commercialization of targeted therapies for the treatment of cancer.
• Monteris Medical: Monteris Medical develops innovative minimally invasive neurosurgical solutions for the treatment of brain tumours and other neurological conditions.
• Passage Bio: Passage Bio is a genetic medicines company that focuses on developing transformative therapies for rare monogenic central nervous system disorders.
• Enterprise Therapeutics: Enterprise Therapeutics is a biopharmaceutical company that is dedicated to the discovery and development of novel therapies for the treatment of respiratory diseases.
• Factual: Factual is a healthcare technology company that leverages real-world data and advanced analytics to improve patient care and outcomes.
• Veran Medical: Veran Medical specializes in developing medical devices and software solutions for minimally invasive interventional procedures, with a focus on improving lung cancer diagnosis and treatment.
• Repare Therapeutics: Repare Therapeutics is a precision oncology company that utilizes synthetic lethality to develop novel cancer therapies.
• Coda Biotherapeutics: Coda Biotherapeutics is focused on developing gene therapies for the treatment of neurological disorders by targeting neural circuitry.

These are just a few examples of the companies within Versant Ventures' portfolio. The portfolio represents a wide range of therapeutic areas, including oncology, genetic medicine, medical devices, and respiratory diseases.