
Takeda
Description
Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, a global biopharmaceutical leader headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, extends its innovation reach through its dedicated corporate venture capital arm, Takeda Ventures, Inc. (TVI). Established in 2001, TVI plays a crucial role in Takeda's external innovation strategy, focusing on identifying and investing in early-stage life science companies. Their investment scope spans from seed rounds through Series B, targeting groundbreaking science and technologies that align with Takeda's core therapeutic areas, including oncology, rare diseases, neuroscience, gastroenterology, and plasma-derived therapies. TVI also actively explores opportunities in digital health, data science, and other emerging areas that can transform patient care.
TVI's investment philosophy goes beyond mere capital injection; it aims to foster strategic partnerships and provide portfolio companies with access to Takeda's extensive scientific expertise, R&D capabilities, and global network. This collaborative approach is evident in their frequent co-investments with other prominent venture capital firms, leveraging collective insights and resources to accelerate the development of innovative solutions. The team at Takeda Ventures comprises experienced professionals with deep scientific and industry knowledge, enabling them to conduct thorough due diligence and provide meaningful strategic guidance to their portfolio companies.
Since its inception, Takeda Ventures has demonstrated a consistent commitment to fostering innovation within the biotech ecosystem. By 2019, TVI had invested in over 100 companies globally, showcasing its broad and sustained engagement in the life sciences sector. A notable example of their investment success includes their participation in the Series A round of Versanis Bio, a company later acquired by Eli Lilly for a potential value of up to $1.925 billion, highlighting TVI's ability to identify and support high-potential ventures. Their long-term vision is to support the development of novel therapies and technologies that address significant unmet medical needs, ultimately contributing to Takeda's mission of improving patient lives worldwide.
Investor Profile
Takeda has backed more than 21 startups, with 6 new investments in the last 12 months alone. The firm has led 8 rounds, about 38% of its total and boasts 13 exits across its portfolio.
Investment Focus Highlights
- Concentrates on Grant, Series Unknown, Series A rounds (top funding stages).
- Majority of deals are located in United States, United Kingdom, France.
- Strong thematic focus on Biotechnology, Health Care, Therapeutics.
- Led 6 rounds in the past year.
- Typical check size: $500K – $15M.
Stage Focus
- Grant (29%)
- Series Unknown (24%)
- Series A (14%)
- Series B (10%)
- Post Ipo Equity (10%)
- Series C (10%)
- Series E (5%)
Country Focus
- United States (81%)
- United Kingdom (5%)
- France (5%)
- Tanzania (5%)
- Australia (5%)
Industry Focus
- Biotechnology
- Health Care
- Therapeutics
- Medical
- Pharmaceutical
- Life Science
- Biopharma
- Non Profit
- Education
- Sustainability
Frequently Asked Questions
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