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Mission Bay Capital

North America, California, United States, San Francisco

Description

Mission Bay Capital is a San Francisco-based venture capital firm specializing in early-stage investments within the life sciences and engineering sectors. Established with a close affiliation to the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), the firm leverages this unique relationship to identify and support companies emerging from cutting-edge research and innovation. Their investment thesis centers on disruptive technologies that aim to address significant unmet needs across various domains, including biotechnology, medical devices, diagnostics, and deep technology.

The firm typically engages in seed and Series A funding rounds, often taking a lead or co-lead position. Mission Bay Capital is known for its hands-on approach, providing not just capital but also strategic guidance, operational support, and access to UCSF's vast scientific and entrepreneurial ecosystem. This includes connections to key opinion leaders, research facilities, and a talent pool that can be crucial for nascent companies in highly specialized fields. Their team comprises individuals with deep scientific expertise, entrepreneurial backgrounds, and extensive venture capital experience, enabling them to thoroughly evaluate complex technologies and support their portfolio companies through critical development stages.

Mission Bay Capital's investment range for initial checks typically spans from $500,000 to $5,000,000. This range allows them to support a diverse set of early-stage ventures, from nascent concepts requiring initial validation to more developed prototypes seeking to scale. With a portfolio that includes over 50 investments, the firm demonstrates a consistent commitment to fostering innovation at the intersection of science and technology. Their strategic location in Mission Bay, a hub for biotech and life sciences, further solidifies their position as a key player in the Bay Area's vibrant startup ecosystem, contributing to the commercialization of groundbreaking scientific discoveries.

Investor Profile

Mission Bay Capital has backed more than 36 startups, with 0 new investments in the last 12 months alone. The firm has led 2 rounds, about 6% of its total and boasts 10 exits across its portfolio.

Investment Focus Highlights

  • Concentrates on Series B, Series A, Series Unknown rounds (top funding stages).
  • Majority of deals are located in United States.
  • Strong thematic focus on Biotechnology, Health Care, Therapeutics.
  • Typical check size: $500K – $5M.

Stage Focus

  • Series B (36%)
  • Series A (28%)
  • Series Unknown (11%)
  • Seed (11%)
  • Series D (3%)
  • Series E (3%)
  • Pre Seed (3%)
  • Angel (3%)
  • Series C (3%)

Country Focus

  • United States (100%)

Industry Focus

  • Biotechnology
  • Health Care
  • Therapeutics
  • Medical
  • Genetics
  • Pharmaceutical
  • Oncology
  • Medical Device
  • Food And Beverage
  • Food Processing
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FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Learn who this investor regularly partners with—both firms and angels—and explore their latest activity.

Who does Mission Bay Capital frequently co-invest with?

OrbiMed
North America, New York, United States, New York
Co-Investments: 6
Amgen Ventures
North America, California, United States, San Francisco
Co-Investments: 3
Google Ventures
North America, California, United States, Mountain View
Co-Investments: 3
SR One
North America, Massachusetts, United States, Cambridge
Co-Investments: 3
Dementia Discovery Fund
Europe, England, United Kingdom, London
Co-Investments: 5
OUP (Osage University Partners)
North America, Pennsylvania, United States, Bala Cynwyd
Co-Investments: 5
U.S. Venture Partners
North America, California, United States, Menlo Park
Co-Investments: 3
Polaris Partners
North America, Massachusetts, United States, Boston
Co-Investments: 4
AbbVie Biotech Ventures
North America, Illinois, United States, North Chicago
Co-Investments: 5
Mission BioCapital
North America, Massachusetts, United States, Cambridge
Co-Investments: 7

Which angels does Mission Bay Capital often collaborate with?

SH
North America, North Carolina, United States, Raleigh
Shared Deals: 1
AB
North America, California, United States, San Francisco
Shared Deals: 1
JR
North America, California, United States, San Francisco
Shared Deals: 1
David Beyer
North America, California, United States, San Francisco
Shared Deals: 1
JD
North America, California, United States, San Francisco
Shared Deals: 1
JR
North America, California, United States, San Francisco
Shared Deals: 1
MB
Europe, Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom, Cambridge
Shared Deals: 1
JF
North America, California, United States
Shared Deals: 1
Shared Deals: 1
Shu Duan
Asia, Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
Shared Deals: 1

What are some of recent deals done by Mission Bay Capital?

QurAlis

Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States

QurAlis is a biotechnology company that creates precision medicine solutions to cure ALS and FTD.

BiotechnologyGeneticsHealth CarePrecision MedicineTherapeutics
Series BMar 9, 2023
Amount Raised: $88,000,000
Nitrase Therapeutics

Jackson, Mississippi, United States

Nitrase Therapeutics is developing drugs against newly discovered nitration enzyme(s).

BiotechnologyHealth CareTherapeutics
Series ANov 2, 2021
Amount Raised: $7,000,000
Nobell Foods

San Francisco, California, United States

Nobell Foods uses plants to create innovative animal-based food substitutes.

Food and BeverageFood ProcessingNutrition
Series BJul 22, 2021
Amount Raised: $75,000,000
Symbiome

San Francisco, California, United States

Symbiome offers skincare as nature intended solution which is scientifically and intentionally formulated using ancestral ingredients.

Health CareNatural ResourcesWellness
Series UnknownSep 14, 2020
Amount Raised: $15,000,000
Nitrase Therapeutics

Jackson, Mississippi, United States

Nitrase Therapeutics is developing drugs against newly discovered nitration enzyme(s).

BiotechnologyHealth CareTherapeutics
Series AApr 22, 2020
Amount Raised: $38,000,000
Glycomine

San Francisco, California, United States

Glycomine is an early-stage biotech working on replacement therapies for rare diseases.

BiotechnologyPharmaceuticalTherapeutics
Series BAug 7, 2019
Amount Raised: $33,000,000
Alector

San Francisco, California, United States

Alector is combining state-of-the-art antibody technology and recent discoveries in neuroimmunology and human genetics to develop novel.

BiotechnologyGeneticsHealth CareTherapeutics
Series EJul 25, 2018
Amount Raised: $133,000,000
Wildtype

San Francisco, California, United States

Wildtype is a cellular agriculture company that develops technology for cultivating seafood.

AgTechBiotechnologyFood and BeverageFood ProcessingSeafood
SeedMar 30, 2018
Amount Raised: $3,500,000
ViewPoint Therapeutics

San Francisco, California, United States

ViewPoint Therapeutics is a developer of crystallin stabilizers intended to prevent and treat cataracts and presbyopia.

BiotechnologyHealth CareMedicalTherapeutics
Series BMar 5, 2018
Amount Raised: $35,000,000
Pionyr Immunotherapeutics

South San Francisco, California, United States

Pionyr Immunotherapeutics is a developer of cancer immunotherapies designed to target the tumor microenvironment.

BiotechnologyMedicalPharmaceuticalTherapeutics
Series BDec 13, 2017
Amount Raised: $62,000,000