At a Glance
Arch Venture Partners is one of the most established venture capital firms specializing in early-stage life sciences and deep technology investments. Founded in 1986 by Steven Lazarus and Robert Nelsen, the firm has built a reputation for backing breakthrough scientific discoveries and transforming them into successful companies. With over 40 years of experience, Arch has been instrumental in founding and funding over 150 companies, many of which have become industry leaders.
The firm's investment approach centers on partnering with world-class scientists and entrepreneurs from leading research institutions like MIT, Stanford, Harvard, and the University of Chicago. Arch is known for taking significant technical and market risks on transformative technologies that others might consider too early or speculative. Their portfolio spans biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and emerging technologies like quantum computing and advanced materials.
Under the leadership of managing directors like Robert Nelsen and Keith Crandell, Arch has achieved remarkable success with companies like Illumina (genomics sequencing), Alnylam (RNA interference), and numerous other biotechnology leaders. The firm's Chicago headquarters reflects its commitment to Midwest innovation, while maintaining a strong presence in major biotech hubs. What distinguishes Arch is their deep scientific expertise, long-term investment horizon, and hands-on approach to company building.
“Invests at the frontier of science and technology, backing breakthrough discoveries with the potential to transform healthcare and computing.”
Arch Venture Partners primarily invests at the Seed, Series A, Series B+ stages. This means they focus on companies that are building their initial product and finding product-market fit.
Arch Venture Partners is headquartered in Chicago, IL. Many of their portfolio companies are also based in this region, though they invest across geographies.
Arch Venture Partners focuses on investments in Biotech, Digital Health, Deeptech, AI. Their portfolio reflects deep expertise and networks within these sectors.
Arch Venture Partners's typical investment check size ranges from $1M to $100M. Actual amounts may vary based on the stage, sector, and specific opportunity.
Arch Venture Partners manages approximately $7B in assets under management (AUM) across their funds.