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Novo Ventures

Europe, Hovedstaden, Denmark, Bagsværd

Description

Novo Ventures is the dedicated early-stage venture capital arm of Novo Holdings, a prominent international life science investor. As the holding company for the Novo Nordisk Foundation, Novo Holdings manages a substantial portfolio with a core mission to improve people's health and societal sustainability. This unique structure provides Novo Ventures with a long-term, purpose-driven investment philosophy, aligning its financial objectives with broader philanthropic goals in the life sciences sector.

The firm strategically focuses on innovative life science companies at the Seed, Series A, and Series B stages. Their investment scope is broad, encompassing critical areas such as biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, diagnostics, and digital health. Novo Ventures primarily targets promising ventures in North America and Europe, seeking companies with disruptive technologies and robust leadership.

Novo Ventures typically provides initial investments ranging from $5 million to $25 million, often taking a lead or significant co-investor position in funding rounds. Beyond financial capital, the firm offers substantial strategic guidance and operational support, leveraging the extensive network and deep industry expertise of Novo Holdings. This comprehensive support system aims to accelerate the development and commercialization of groundbreaking solutions.

The significant financial strength of Novo Holdings, which managed over $127 billion in assets as of December 2023, underpins Novo Ventures' capacity for substantial capital deployment and follow-on investments. This robust backing enables Novo Ventures to support its portfolio companies through various growth phases, fostering long-term partnerships dedicated to advancing life sciences and contributing to the Novo Nordisk Foundation's overarching mission.

Investor Profile

Novo Ventures has backed more than 76 startups, with 0 new investments in the last 12 months alone. The firm has led 27 rounds, about 36% of its total and boasts 40 exits across its portfolio.

Investment Focus Highlights

  • Concentrates on Series B, Series A, Series C rounds (top funding stages).
  • Majority of deals are located in United States, United Kingdom, Switzerland.
  • Strong thematic focus on Biotechnology, Health Care, Therapeutics.
  • Typical check size: $5M – $25M.

Stage Focus

  • Series B (38%)
  • Series A (25%)
  • Series C (11%)
  • Series D (9%)
  • Series Unknown (8%)
  • Seed (4%)
  • Post Ipo Equity (3%)
  • Series E (1%)
  • Private Equity (1%)

Country Focus

  • United States (66%)
  • United Kingdom (14%)
  • Switzerland (7%)
  • France (5%)
  • Canada (3%)
  • Denmark (3%)
  • The Netherlands (1%)
  • China (1%)

Industry Focus

  • Biotechnology
  • Health Care
  • Therapeutics
  • Pharmaceutical
  • Medical
  • Biopharma
  • Medical Device
  • Life Science
  • Oncology
  • Wellness
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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 Novo Ventures frequently co-invest with?

OrbiMed
North America, New York, United States, New York
Co-Investments: 9
Novartis Venture Fund
Europe, Basel-Stadt, Switzerland, Basel
Co-Investments: 13
Domain Associates
North America, California, United States, San Diego
Co-Investments: 6
New Enterprise Associates
North America, California, United States, Menlo Park
Co-Investments: 9
Versant Ventures
North America, California, United States, Menlo Park
Co-Investments: 8
RiverVest
North America, Missouri, United States, St Louis
Co-Investments: 7
TPG Biotech
North America, California, United States, San Francisco
Co-Investments: 9
Alta Partners
North America, Mississippi, United States, Jackson
Co-Investments: 5
Rock Springs Capital
North America, Maryland, United States, Baltimore
Co-Investments: 5
Roche Venture Fund
Europe, Basel-Stadt, Switzerland, Basel
Co-Investments: 6

Which angels does Novo Ventures often collaborate with?

HW
Europe, Switzerland
Shared Deals: 1
Shared Deals: 1
Dan Burgess
North America, Massachusetts, United States, Boston
Shared Deals: 1

What are some of recent deals done by Novo Ventures?

Amolyt Pharma

Écully, Rhone-Alpes, France

Amolyt Pharma specializes in peptides for the treatment of rare endocrine and metabolic disorders.

BiotechnologyHealth CareMedicalPharmaceuticalWellness
Series CJan 6, 2023
Amount Raised: $138,629,699
Theraxyte

Changping, Beijing, China

Theraxyte is an innovative nano-drug developer. It focuses on the R&D and application of new nano-drugs, especially innovative drugs.

BiopharmaBiotechnologyHealth CareMedical
SeedJul 11, 2022
Amount Raised: $10,000,000
Amolyt Pharma

Écully, Rhone-Alpes, France

Amolyt Pharma specializes in peptides for the treatment of rare endocrine and metabolic disorders.

BiotechnologyHealth CareMedicalPharmaceuticalWellness
Series BSep 16, 2021
Amount Raised: $80,000,000
INBRACE

Irvine, California, United States

Swift Health Systems is a stealth stage start-up medical device company, developing INBRACE.

ConsumerDentalHealth CareMedical DeviceWellness
Series DSep 8, 2021
Amount Raised: $102,000,000
Reneo Pharmaceuticals

San Diego, California, United States

Reneo Pharmaceuticals is an operator of a pharmaceutical company used to develop therapies for patients with orphan metabolic diseases.

BiotechnologyMedicalPharmaceutical
Series BDec 9, 2020
Amount Raised: $95,000,000
Lava Therapeutics

Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands

Lava Therapeutics is a developer of a bispecific antibody platform used to engage gamma-delta T cells for the treatment of cancer.

BiotechnologyLife ScienceMedicalMedical Device
Series CSep 17, 2020
Amount Raised: $83,000,000
F2G

Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom

F2G discovers and develops novel drugs for the treatment of life-threatening fungal diseases.

BiotechnologyGeneticsHealth CareMedicalPharmaceutical
Private EquityAug 12, 2020
Amount Raised: $60,800,000
NodThera

Little Chesterford, Essex, United Kingdom

NodThera is a biotechnology company focused on the discovery and development of new treatments for diseases.

BiotechnologyHealth CareLife Science
Series BJun 3, 2020
Amount Raised: $55,000,000
Anokion

Ecublens, Vaud, Switzerland

Anokion is harnessing the power of natural immune equilibrium to develop solutions for antigen-specific immune tolerance.

BiotechnologyClinical TrialsTherapeutics
Series BSep 11, 2019
Amount Raised: $40,000,000
Amolyt Pharma

Écully, Rhone-Alpes, France

Amolyt Pharma specializes in peptides for the treatment of rare endocrine and metabolic disorders.

BiotechnologyHealth CareMedicalPharmaceuticalWellness
Series AJul 31, 2019
Amount Raised: $74,180,691