Dolby Family Ventures
UnclaimedAt a Glance
- Check Size
- $. – $.
- Stage
- Pre-Seed, Seed, Series A, Series B+
- Sectors
- Biotech, Digital Health, Climate +2
- Founded
- 2014
- HQ
- San Francisco, CA
About Dolby Family Ventures
Dolby Family Ventures is a venture capital firm based in San Francisco, CA, founded in 2011 and investing across pre-seed, seed, Series A and Series B and later rounds. Its declared sector coverage spans aerospace and defense, digital health, consumer and fintech, and its earlier portfolio was built around early-stage technology companies working on entertainment, media and immersive experiences, including Magic Leap, The Void, Sphero and Jaunt. Pascal Levensohn, now executive chairman, established the firm's investment practice; David Dolby is chief executive and Andrew Krowne is managing partner.
The firm is an independent family vehicle and states explicitly that it is not affiliated with Dolby Laboratories. Since 2014 it has described its mandate as funding frontier science and technology ahead of the curve, and the portfolio has migrated decisively from immersive media toward hard science across five areas: precision neuroscience covering neurodegeneration, psychiatry and neurotech; life sciences platforms spanning computational biology, regenerative medicine and drug discovery and delivery; climate technology; aerospace; and digital deep tech. Initial cheques go in at pre-seed, seed and Series A, with later rounds taken case by case.
What distinguishes it is the scientific apparatus behind a small team. A standing advisory board of physicians and PhDs, including Rudolph Tanzi, Lennart Mucke, Husseini Manji and Edward Chang, screens early-stage therapeutics for disease-modifying potential before capital is committed, and the firm takes a declared polymedicine approach to complex disease. Hold periods are long: it backed Ursa Major Technologies from Series A through Series D. Current positions include Motif Neurotech, Montara Therapeutics, Therini Bio, Twelve, DigiLens, Cytovale and Cerevance.
Investment Thesis
“Backs early-stage companies across neuroscience, life sciences, climate, aerospace and deep tech, and is not affiliated with Dolby Laboratories.”
Sector Focus
Investment Stage
Notable Portfolio Companies
Fund History
Dolby Family Ventures does not disclose fund names, sizes or vintages, and no vehicles appear under the name in SEC Form D company records, so there is no verifiable capital figure to report. What the firm does state is that it has funded frontier science and technology since 2014 and describes a decade of investing. It is an independent family vehicle and states explicitly that it is not affiliated with Dolby Laboratories. Initial cheques go in at pre-seed, seed and Series A, with later rounds taken selectively; the firm cites supporting Ursa Major Technologies from Series A through Series D as evidence of that hold period. Capital is deployed across five declared areas: precision neuroscience spanning neurodegeneration, psychiatry and neurotech; life sciences platforms including computational biology, regenerative medicine and drug discovery and delivery; climate technology; aerospace; and digital deep tech. Disclosed active positions include Motif Neurotech, Montara Therapeutics, Therini Bio, Ursa Major Technologies, Twelve and DigiLens.
Team (1)
Frequently Asked Questions
What stage does Dolby Family Ventures invest at?
Dolby Family Ventures primarily invests at the Pre-Seed, Seed, Series A, Series B+ stages. This means they focus on companies that are at the earliest idea or prototype phase.
Where is Dolby Family Ventures located?
Dolby Family Ventures is headquartered in San Francisco, CA. Many of their portfolio companies are also based in this region, though they invest across geographies.
What sectors does Dolby Family Ventures focus on?
Dolby Family Ventures focuses on investments in Biotech, Digital Health, Climate, Aerospace & Defense, Deeptech. Their portfolio reflects deep expertise and networks within these sectors.
What is Dolby Family Ventures's typical check size?
Dolby Family Ventures's typical investment check size ranges from $. to $.. Actual amounts may vary based on the stage, sector, and specific opportunity.
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