Astellas Venture Management LLC
Corporate VCSouth San Francisco · Seed–Growth · 10 people tracked
Investment thesis
AVM is a strategic corporate investor within Astellas that backs privately owned, early-stage biotechnology companies working on preclinical therapeutic programs and platform technologies for drug discovery and development. It prioritizes innovative therapeutic approaches aligned with Astellas Pharma's R&D strategy and treatments addressing unmet medical needs. Beyond capital, AVM offers a 'Pharma View' rooted in decades of pharmaceutical industry experience, sharing expertise to help portfolio companies grow and acting as a liaison to facilitate potential future collaborations with Astellas Pharma.
Source: firm website, verified Aug 3, 2026.
Team · 10 people
from the firm's website & public directories
What they invest in
from 30 of 48 portfolio companiesBiotech ×28Healthtech ×17Medical Devices ×12AI & Machine Learning ×5Deep Tech ×4Digital Health ×3Consumer ×1Gaming ×1
HQs:United States×16Japan×3United Kingdom×2
Who they back
founder profiles across 13 portfolio companiesFounding team size:solo founder×52 founders×13 founders×24+ founders×5
Investments · 48 tracked
founders shown can be your intro pathCasma is a biotech company developing technology that uses the autophagy pathway to degrade disease targets for therapeutic applications.
BiotechDeep TechHealthtechBoston, US
Andrea Ballabio(Founder)Beth Levine(Founder)Herbert Virgin(Founder)James Hurley(Founder)
Co-investorsThird Rock VenturesEisai Innovation, Inc.Ono Venture Investment, Inc.
Avilar develops ATACs (ASGPR Targeting Chimeras), a class of protein degraders designed to target extracellular and membrane-bound proteins by harnessing the endolysosome's natural degradation process.
BiotechWaltham, US
THERESA CAMERON(Director)MARTIN FREED(Director)STEPHANIE TOZZO(Executive Officer)PHIL GRAHAM(Executive Officer)MILIND DESHPANDE(Director)DAVID NEAFUS(Executive Officer)
Co-investorsMedical Excellence CapitalRA CapitalSanofi VenturesOpenSky Ventures
Bicycle Therapeutics develops precision-guided therapeutics based on its proprietary bicyclic peptide (Bicycle) technology, designed to penetrate deep into tissues and target intractable solid tumor cancers.
BiotechHealthtechCambridge
GREGORY WINTER(Director)KEVIN LEE(Executive Officer, Director)inNIGEL CROCKETT(Executive Officer)inNICHOLAS KEEN(Executive Officer)SANTIAGO ARROYO(Executive Officer)inMICHAEL HANNAY(Executive Officer)
Co-investorsAhren Innovation CapitalCambridge Innovation CapitalLongwood FundSR One Capital ManagementSV Health InvestorsVertex Ventures HC
The page presents Pinco Casino, an online gambling platform offering slots, live casino, table games, and sports betting with a Turkish-language interface.
ConsumerGamingBoston, US
Co-investorsDC Investment PartnersSolasta VenturesUTokyo Innovation Platform Co. Ltd.Agent CapitalLongwood Fund
Catamaran Bio develops allogeneic CAR-NK cell therapies for cancer treatment, focusing on solid tumors, by combining natural killer (NK) cell biology with synthetic biology and non-viral cell engineering.
BiotechHealthtech
Branden Moriarity(Scientific Co-founder)Catherine Bollard(Scientific Co-founder)
Co-investorsSofinnova Partners
Cellular Intelligence develops cell therapy treatments, specifically acquiring STEM-PD, a Phase 2-ready therapy for Parkinson's disease.
AI & Machine LearningBiotechMedical Devices
Micha Breakstone(CEO & co-founder)Allon Klein(Scientific Co-founder)Olivier Pourquié(Scientific Co-founder)Cliff Tabin(Scientific Co-founder)Jay Shendure(Scientific Co-founder)
Co-investorsFusionLerer Hippeaumark vcSciFi VC
BiotechBurlingame, US
Mark Rolfe(Executive Officer)Laura Shawver(Executive Officer, Director)Timothy Smith(Executive Officer)
BoardAlfred Scheidegger(Director)inPeter Thompson(Director)Carol Gallagher(Director)
Co-investorsNew Enterprise Associates (NEA)Nextech Invest5AM VenturesClarus VenturesOrbiMedOsage University Partners+1 more
Crescendo Biologics develops novel immune cell-enhancing therapeutics for immuno-oncology using its patent-protected Humabody VH platform, a fully human domain technology clinically validated in oncology and immunology.
BiotechHealthtechMedical Devices
Co-investorsAndera PartnersQuan CapitalSofinnova PartnersEMBL VenturesFuture Planet CapitalAvlar BioVentures+1 more
DEM BioPharma is a biotechnology company developing cancer therapies by targeting the immune system, drawing on genetic and immuno-oncology research.
BiotechHealthtechCambridge, US
Nenad Grmusa(Chief Executive Officer)John McCabe(Chief Financial and Operating Officer)
Co-investorsAlta PartnersDC Investment PartnersLongwood FundPfizer Venture InvestmentsUTokyo Innovation Platform Co. Ltd.Insight Partners+1 more
eFFECTOR Therapeutics was a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company.
BiotechSolana Beach, US
Stephen F. Worland, Ph.D.(Executive Officer, Director)Alana McNulty(Executive Officer)
BoardSimeon George(Director)Jonathan Root(Director)inKen Haas(Director)Laurence Lasky(Director)
Co-investorsMission Bay CapitalMission BiocapitalOUP (Osage University Partners)Pfizer Venture InvestmentsUS Venture PartnersSofinnova Ventures
F2G develops medicines to treat serious fungal diseases where existing therapies have failed or are ineffective.
BiotechDigital HealthHealthtechMedical Devices
Co-investorsAdvent Life SciencesAisling CapitalAMR Action FundBrace PharmaSofinnova PartnersSunstone Capital+3 more
Heartseed develops cardiac regenerative medicine, creating heart muscle cells from iPS cells for transplantation to treat heart failure, with its lead pipeline HS-001 nearing clinical trials.
BiotechHealthtechMedical Devices
Keiichi Fukuda(代表取締役社長 (President & CEO))
Co-investorsAngel Bridge Co.,Ltd.Keio Innovation InitiativeMedical Incubator Japan K.K.SMBC Venture CapitalSumitomo Mitsui Trust nvestment Co. Ltd.UTokyo Innovation Platform Co. Ltd.
Mogrify is a biotechnology company developing in vivo cellular reprogramming therapies, using its proprietary MOGRIFY and epiMOGRIFY platforms that apply transcriptomic and epigenetic data to identify transcription factor combinations for converting one cell type into another.
BiotechDeep TechHealthtech
Julian Gough(Co-founder)Owen Rackham(Co-founder)Jose Polo(Co-founder)Darrin M. Disley(CEO)
BoardJane Osbourn(Chair)
Co-investorsAhren Innovation Capital
Co-investors3B Future Health FundClaris VenturesNeva Sgr.
Cambridge, US
Christophe Queva(Executive Officer)Theodore Ashburn(Executive Officer, Director)Alon Lazarus(Director)Cameron Wheeler(Director)
BoardBriggs Morrison(Director)inMitchell Finer(Executive Officer, Director)
Co-investorsMPM BioImpact
Co-investorsIMM Investment Japan
Orna Therapeutics develops RNA and lipid nanoparticle (LNP) based therapies for treating diseases including oncology and cell therapy applications.
AI & Machine LearningBiotechMedical Devices
Joe Bolen(Chief Executive Officer)Joe Bolen, Ph.D.(Chief Executive Officer)Hope D'Oyley-Gay, JD(Chief Legal Officer)Ciaran Lawlor, Ph.D.(Chief Operating Officer)Frank Neumann, M.D., Ph.D.(Chief Medical Officer)Siva Sakhamuri(Chief Technology Officer)
Co-investorsMPM BioImpactTaiho Ventures, LLC
Circular RNA-based cell engineering
Cambridge, US
Co-investorsMPM BioImpact
Palland Tx is developing next-generation targeted protein degraders aimed at improving therapeutic efficacy through precision targeting.
Biotech
BiotechMt. Arlington, US
Paul Chaney(Executive Officer, Director)
BoardAbbie Celniker(Director)inDavid Guyer(Director)Bruce Peacock(Director)Kevin Starr(Director)Lutz Giebel(Director)
Co-investorsAgent CapitalThird Rock Ventures
PhoreMost is a biotechnology company developing small molecule drugs and targeted protein degradation therapeutics for cancers with high unmet clinical need, with a lead program (PMC-001) for primary and metastatic brain cancers in Phase 1/2a clinical evaluation.
BiotechMedical DevicesCambridge, GB
Co-investorsAmadeus Capital PartnersCambridge Angels groupUniversity of Cambridge Enterprise
Redona Therapeutics is a drug discovery company co-founded by Harvard Medical School investigators focused on novel areas of biology.
AI & Machine LearningBiotechBoston, US
George Daley(Co-founder)Richard Gregory(Co-founder)Frank Slack(Co-founder)Piotr Sliz(Co-founder)Kazumi Shiosaki(President & CEO)
Co-investorsOUP (Osage University Partners)Sofinnova Partners
ResNovas Therapeutics appears to be a therapeutics company, but the page provides no usable details about its products, technology, or market.
Biotech
Restore Vis is a life sciences company founded by a vitreoretinal surgeon and clinician scientist focused on addressing inflammation, aging, neurodegeneration and angiogenesis through translational research from drug discovery to clinical trials.
BiotechDigital HealthHealthtechMedical DevicesTokyo, JP
Dr. Rajendra S. Apte(Paul A. Cibis Distinguished Professor; Vice Chair of Innovation and Translation; Founder)
Co-investorsDBJ CapitalJIC Venture Growth InvestmentsKyoto University Innovation CapitalNippon Venture CapitalOSAKA University Venture CapitalRemiges Ventures, Inc.+3 more
Shinobi develops next-generation cell therapies using iPSC (induced pluripotent stem cell) research, genetic engineering, and clinical infrastructure.
AI & Machine LearningBiotechHealthtechMedical Devices
Co-investorsF-Prime CapitalFast Track InitiativeJIC Venture Growth InvestmentsKyoto University Innovation Capital
Sidewinder Therapeutics is a biotechnology company focused on oncology drug discovery and development, working on next-generation cancer treatments.
BiotechHealthtechMedical DevicesSan Diego, US
Eric Murphy(Chief Executive Officer, Co-Founder, & Director)
Co-investorsDCVC (Data Collective)DCVC BioFrazier Life SciencesLongwood FundNovartis Venture FundOrbiMed+1 more
Solu Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotech developing a class of antibody therapeutics that link bifunctional small molecules to proprietary effector antibodies (its CyTAC and TicTAC platforms) to reach cell surface targets like GPCRs and ion channels.
BiotechHealthtech
Phil Vickers(CEO / Leadership)Michael Boretti(Leadership)Brandon Turunen(Leadership)inSergio Santillana(Leadership)Enda Moran(Leadership)Kelly Honohan(Leadership)
Co-investorsLongwood FundPappas Capital
Antibody-intractable cell surface targets
Syntax Bio develops a discovery platform that accelerates stem cell-derived therapies by using its proprietary Cellgorithm technology to control and direct cell differentiation.
BiotechDeep TechMedical Devices
Ryan Clarke(Founder)in
Co-investorsDCVC (Data Collective)DCVC BioDraper AssociatesIllumina VenturesPortal Innovations
New York, US
Patrick Shaddow(Executive Officer, Director)Rory Balfour Riggs(Director)
BoardRichard Phillips(Director)Barry Michael Fox(Director)
Co-investorsWalder Ventures
Tizona Therapeutics is a biotechnology company developing first-in-class immuno-oncology therapeutics, including its lead clinical-stage asset TTX-080, aimed at changing cancer progression and relapse.
AI & Machine LearningBiotechHealthtech
Vijay K. Kuchroo(Scientific Co-Founder & Advisory Board Member)Drew Pardoll(Scientific Co-Founder & Advisory Board Member)Dario Vignali(Scientific Co-Founder & Advisory Board Member)Jedd Wolchok(Scientific Co-Founder & Advisory Board Member)Christine O'Brien(Chief Executive Officer & Board Member)Courtney Beers(Chief Scientific Officer)
Co-investorsCanaan PartnersMPM BioImpactAbingworthGilead SciencesLightstone Ventures
BiotechCambridge, US
David Cordo(Executive Officer)Daniel Hicklin(Executive Officer, Director)
BoardLuke Evnin(Director)in
Co-investorsMPM BioImpact
Trishula Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing TTX-030, a first-in-class anti-CD39 antibody for advanced cancers.
BiotechHealthtech
Anil Singhal(President and CEO)Siddhartha Mitra(Chief Medical Officer)
Co-investorsCanaan PartnersMPM BioImpactLightstone Ventures
A company focused on developing clinical treatments aimed at improving patient outcomes.
BiotechHealthtechMedical DevicesBoston, US
David Southwell(Executive Officer, Director)Robert Crane(Executive Officer)
BoardLea Hachigian(Director)Steve Kraus(Director)inCampbell Murray(Director)Hannes Smarason(Director)in
Co-investorsBessemer Venture PartnersLongwood FundRA Capital6 Dimensions CapitalLongwood Special SituationsPitango
mRNA/LNP based in vivo cell rejuvenation
Mountain View, US
Vittorio Sebastiano(Director)Marco Quarta(Director)Anja Krammer(Executive Officer, Director)Sergio Andres Ruiz-Chinchilla(Executive Officer)Ric Peterson(Executive Officer)
BoardDavid Gobel(Director)
Viamet provides a resource for people to organize questions and conduct research about medical travel, provider verification, care coordination, and health-related travel planning.
Digital HealthHealthtechTravel & HospitalityWellness & Fitness
Targeted gene modulation with small molecule pharmacology
Toregem Biopharma is a Kyoto University spin-off developing a tooth-regeneration drug based on a humanized anti-USAG-1 antibody that aims to regrow teeth with a single injection.
BiotechDeep TechHealthtechMedical Devices京都 (Kyoto), JP
喜早 ほのか (Honoka Kihayashi)(代表取締役社長 (Representative Director and President))髙橋 克 (Katsu Takahashi)(取締役CTO (Director and CTO))髙谷 宗男 (Muneo Takaya)(取締役CBO (Director and CBO))喜早 ほのか(Co-founder & CEO (代表取締役社長))髙橋 克(Co-founder & CTO)髙谷 宗男(Co-founder & CBO)
Co-investorsKyoto University Innovation Capital
Exits · 1
IPOs and acquisitions across the tracked portfolioBicycle Therapeutics LtdNASDAQ: BCYC
Portfolio news
latest coverage across their companies
Bicycle · ocregister.com · Aug 11, 2026
Sidewinder Therapeutics · techcrunch.com · Jul 30, 2026
Syntax · bizjournals.com · Jun 23, 2026
Syntax · allsci.com · Jun 22, 2026
Restore Vision · shionogi.com · Apr 15, 2026
Orna · news.crunchbase.com · Feb 18, 2026
F2G · endpoints.news · Jan 23, 2026
Frequently asked questions
- How many investments has Astellas Venture Management LLC made?
- Astellas Venture Management LLC has 47 tracked investments.
- What stage does Astellas Venture Management LLC invest at?
- Astellas Venture Management LLC invests at the Seed, Series A, Series B, Series C, Growth stages.
- What is Astellas Venture Management LLC's typical check size?
- Astellas Venture Management LLC typically writes checks of $200K – $5M.
- What sectors does Astellas Venture Management LLC focus on?
- Astellas Venture Management LLC focuses on Biotech, Healthtech, IoT.
- Where is Astellas Venture Management LLC located?
- Astellas Venture Management LLC is headquartered in South San Francisco, US.
- Who does Astellas Venture Management LLC co-invest with?
- Astellas Venture Management LLC most often shares deals with Longwood Fund, Sofinnova Partners, Kyoto University Innovation Capital, among 72 tracked co-investors.
Images
Co-investors · 9
Insight Partners is an investment firm focused on accelerating revenue and profit growth in software companies, providing capital and operational support through its Insight Onsite team.
Third Rock Ventures is a venture capital firm that discovers, launches, and builds life sciences and biotechnology companies developing novel medicines and therapies.
Alta Partners is a venture capital firm focused on the healthcare and life sciences sector, backing entrepreneurs building companies across biotechnology, therapeutics, and healthcare innovation.
Remiges Ventures is a venture capital firm focused on life sciences and drug discovery, backing biotech and therapeutics companies. It launched the RDiscovery Fund to incubate early-stage drug discovery projects.
The Column Group (TCG) is a venture capital firm focused on building and backing biotechnology companies, applying an edge-to-edge investment model centered on company formation with capacity for long-term private and public capital support.
Parkwalk Advisors is a UK-based investment manager focused on backing deeptech companies spun out of UK universities, bridging the gap between academic research and commercial success. It operates as part of IP Group plc and is a leading EIS fund manager.
4BIO Capital is a London-based venture capital firm investing in life sciences, with a focus on advanced therapies that address high unmet medical and social needs.
Sana Capital invests in growth-stage healthcare businesses at the intersection of services and technology, focusing on sustainable solutions that improve access, outcomes, and costs while promoting health equity in underserved communities.
Axil Capital is a venture capital firm spun out of Mizuho Securities in 2017 that invests across the biotech and healthcare technology spectrum, from seed to crossover stages, with a focus on building companies that create long-term impact on the medical community and society.
Firms observed investing alongside Astellas Venture Management LLC, from public investor directories. Shared companies are the overlap with Astellas Venture Management LLC's recorded portfolio.
Similar investors
ACT Venture Capital is an independent Irish venture capital firm that invests €1 million to €15 million in growth-stage private companies, with capacity for larger commitments through syndicated rounds.
Ambix is a healthcare-focused investment firm that provides funding, strategy, and hands-on support to companies developing medical tools and devices, biochemistry-based technologies, digital health applications, and other novel healthcare solutions. It invests across all stages and also builds companies itself.
MDI Ventures is the corporate venture capital arm of Telkom Indonesia, investing in and building synergies between technology startups and Indonesian enterprises. It manages a multi-fund platform (including Centauri Fund, Arise, and sector-specific funds) with a portfolio of 80+ companies.
The Alibaba Entrepreneurs Fund is a not-for-profit initiative of Alibaba Group that provides investment capital and strategic guidance to entrepreneurs and young people, focusing on Hong Kong and Taiwan-nexus startups.
M Ventures is the corporate venture arm of Merck KGaA based in Darmstadt, Germany, operating from offices in Amsterdam, the US, and Israel. The firm invests globally across early-stage companies and spin-offs in areas aligned with Merck's core business, taking active roles in portfolio company development.