Versant Ventures
UnclaimedAt a Glance
- Check Size
- $100K – $5M
- Stage
- Series A
- AUM
- $3.3B
- Sectors
- Biotech
- Founded
- 1999
- HQ
- San Francisco, CA
About Versant Ventures
Versant Ventures is a venture capital firm based in San Francisco, CA founded in 1999. Versant partners with exceptional entrepreneurs to build and fund breakthrough biotechnology companies around the globe. The firm focuses on Series A investments across sectors including Biotech. The firm manages $3.3B in assets under management. Notable portfolio companies include Forty Seven, Stemcentrx, FibroGen, Dermira, Portola Pharmaceuticals and NextCure. Creates biotechnology companies from in-house discovery labs using big pharma discipline and scientific rigor.
Investment Thesis
“Creates biotechnology companies from in-house discovery labs using big pharma discipline and scientific rigor.”
Sector Focus
Investment Stage
Notable Portfolio Companies
View full portfolio →
Fund History
Versant raises a succession of global biotech vehicles alongside companion funds. In December 2018 the firm collected $700 million, $600 million of which went into Versant Venture Capital VII, its flagship global biotech fund, with the remaining $100 million forming Voyageurs I, a companion vehicle to back five to eight Canadian startups.
In April 2021 Versant announced $950 million across three oversubscribed vehicles: Versant Venture Capital VIII at $560 million, sized to seed 20 or more biotech startups across the United States, Canada and Europe; Versant Voyageurs II, a $140 million booster fund; and Versant Vantage II, a $250 million later-stage opportunity fund. Versant Venture Capital IX followed as a 2023-vintage early-stage fund of roughly $600 million. The firm reports $3.3 billion under management and runs a three-vehicle architecture that lets it seed companies out of its own discovery engines and then support them into later rounds.
Team (5)
Brad Bolzon
Chairman, Managing Director, Versant Ventures
Carlo Rizzuto
Managing Director, Versant Ventures
Clare Ozawa
Managing Director, Versant Ventures
Robin Praeger
Managing Director/Advisor, Versant Ventures
Tom Woiwode
Managing Director, Versant Ventures
Frequently Asked Questions
What stage does Versant Ventures invest at?
Versant Ventures primarily invests at the Series A stage. This means they focus on companies that are scaling their go-to-market after proving product-market fit.
Where is Versant Ventures located?
Versant 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 Versant Ventures focus on?
Versant Ventures focuses on investments in Biotech. Their portfolio reflects deep expertise and networks within these sectors.
What is Versant Ventures's typical check size?
Versant Ventures's typical investment check size ranges from $100K to $5M. Actual amounts may vary based on the stage, sector, and specific opportunity.
How much does Versant Ventures have under management?
Versant Ventures manages approximately $3.3B in assets under management (AUM) across their funds.
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