/Investors

Palo Santo VC

Venture capitalActively deployingoperating company · company profile

16 people tracked

Also known as Palo Santo

Find your way into Palo Santo VC

2,343 people in our graph share verified history with the Palo Santo VC team — schools, employers, funds. One of them is your warm intro.

Melissa Frakmanunlockedknows Tony Eisenberg · together at U.S. Chamber of Commerce (overlapped)
knows the team · via Children's Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA)
×4knows the team · via Forbes 30 Under 30 2023 · Venture Capital
knows the team · via Claremont McKenna College
×2knows the team · via General Motors Treasurer's Office
×2knows the team · via USC Marshall School of Business
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Investment thesis

Palo Santo backs next-generation neuroscience companies advancing breakthrough therapeutics and technologies for mental health, spanning discovery through clinical translation. Its portfolio concentrates on drug discovery platforms, psychedelic and serotonergic pharmaceuticals, neurotechnology, and mental health treatment services aimed at neurological and psychiatric disorders.

Source: firm website, verified Sep 27, 2026.

Instruments
Equity
Founded
2020
Tracked investments
30

Team · 16 people

from the firm's website & public directories

Founder mafia

3 people who came through Palo Santo VC went on to found or lead other companies.

What they invest in

from 20 of 30 portfolio companies

Biotech ×18Digital Health ×13Healthtech ×9Mental Health ×8Deep Tech ×6Medical Devices ×6AI & Machine Learning ×4EdTech ×1

HQs:United States×10Canada×1

Investments · 30 tracked

founders shown can be your intro path

By year:2024 · 12022 · 12021 · 42019 · 17 dated

2A Biosciences2abiosci.comin𝕏

2AB BioscienceS develops first-in-class small molecule therapeutics targeting the 5-HT2A receptor for ophthalmology and central nervous system disorders.

BiotechDeep TechDigital HealthEdTechHealthtechMedical DevicesSanta Monica, US

Alex Speiser(Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer)inCharles Nichols, PhD(Co-Founder & Chief Science Officer)David Nichols, PhD(Co-Founder & Head of Chemistry)Tim Foster, PhD(Co-Founder & Head of Translational Discovery)

BoardGopal Das(Director)

Co-investorsLIONHEART VENTURESWhat If Ventures

Beckley Psytechbeckleypsytech.com

AtaiBeckley develops rapid-acting and durable mental health treatments for patients with difficult-to-treat mental health conditions.

BiotechMedical DevicesMental Health

Christian AngermayerCosmo Feilding Mellen(Founder)inSrinivas Rao

Co-investorsFJ LabsIter InvestmentsLeafy TunnelNoeticRedbus VenturesWhat If Ventures+1 more

BRC Therapeuticsbrctherapeutics.comin

BRC Therapeutics develops and manufactures botanically-derived pharmaceutical products, with expertise spanning drug development and manufacturing for pharmaceutical applications.

BiotechDigital HealthHealthtechMedical Devices

George Hodgin(Founder and CEO)inCharles Schumacher

Co-investorsDelta Emerald Ventures

bright-mindsbrightmindsbio.com𝕏

Bright Minds Biosciences develops selective serotonin receptor agonists (5-HT2A and 5-HT2C) without 5-HT2B activity, built on a proprietary chemistry platform.

BiotechDeep TechHealthtechNew York, US

Alan Kozikowski(Executive Officer, Director)inIan McDonaldRyan Cheung(Chief Financial Officer)JAN PEDERSEN(Chief Science Officer)Gideon Shapiro(Executive Officer)Revati Sheeniwas(Executive Officer)

Co-investorsLifeSci Venture PartnersPsyMed Ventures

Delixdelixtherapeutics.cominSep 2021 · $70M

Delix Therapeutics develops third-generation, non-hallucinogenic neuroplastogens for people with neurological conditions, using a discovery platform to identify novel compounds.

BiotechDigital HealthMedical Devices

Co-investorsArtis VenturesCasa Verde CapitalDolby Family VenturesNoeticOMX VenturesPsyMed Ventures+6 more

Diamond Therapeuticsdiamondthera.comin

Diamond Therapeutics is a preclinical biotechnology company developing drug treatments for psychiatric and neurological disorders, with a focus on the pharmacology and therapeutic use of psychedelic compounds.

BiotechHealthtechMental HealthToronto, CA

Judy Blumstock(Chief Executive Officer, Founder, Director)inMichael B. McDonnell(Chief Medical Officer)Grant McCutcheon(Chief Financial Officer)in

Co-investorsJLSNoeticNew Enterprise Associates (NEA)Nextech InvestRA Capital

Fauna Biofaunabio.comin

Fauna Bio applies AI and computational analysis to its proprietary biobank of data from extreme mammals such as hibernating species to identify drug targets that are conserved across species including humans.

AI & Machine LearningBiotechDeep TechHealthtechEmeryville, US

Linda Goodman(Founder)inAshley(CEO)

Co-investorsage1Farvatn VentureGRIDS CapitalLifeforce CapitalMetaplanetVibe Capital+4 more

Gilgamesh Pharmaceuticalsgilgameshpharmaceutical.comin𝕏Dec 2022 · $39M

Gilgamesh Pharmaceutical develops novel chemical entities for psychiatric disorders using medicinal chemistry and AI-powered translational platforms to design rapid-acting therapies targeting neurobiological mechanisms rather than symptom management.

AI & Machine LearningBiotechDigital HealthHealthtechNew York City, US

Jonathan Sporn(Founder)inAndrew Kruegel(Founder)inDalibor Sames(Founder)inJONATHAN SPORN(Founder)inAndrew Kruegel, Ph.D.(Executive Officer)Jonathan Sporn, M.D.(President and Chief Executive Officer)in

Co-investorsAera VCFrontera Technology VenturesFrontier Path VCJames Beshara FundJLSMagnetic Ventures+10 more

Journey Clinicaljourneyclinical.comin𝕏Sep 2021 · $3M

Journey Clinical provides ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP) for depression, anxiety, and PTSD, partnering patients with licensed therapists and medical teams while coordinating with major insurance providers.

Digital HealthMedical DevicesMental Health

Jonathan Sabbagh(Co-founder & Executive Chairman of the Board)inMyriam Barthes(Co-founder & CEO)in

Co-investorsAble PartnersAlleyCorpCoalition OperatorsFifty YearsMantis CapitalPROOF+8 more

Kadence Biokadencebio.com

Kadence Bio is a clinical-stage life sciences company developing therapeutics for conditions in sexual and mental health.

BiotechDigital HealthMental Health

Ksana Healthksanahealth.comin

Active seed-stage healthcare company

Eugene, US

Nicholas Allen(Chief Executive Officer)Phillip Scripa(Chief Financial Officer and Secretary)William Shortt(Chief Operating Officer)Jan Hardorp(Director)in

Co-investorsBIP VenturesJLSre.Mind Capital

Modulate Biomodulatebio.comin

Modulate Bio develops small-molecule GABAA positive allosteric modulators to treat neurological disorders including Essential Tremor, epilepsy, and anxiety.

BiotechDeep TechHealthtechAllston, US

Dario Doller(Co-founder)inKevin Hodgetts(Founding Lab / Co-founder)inAndrew Thomson(Executive Officer, Director, Promoter)in

Co-investorsPillar VCHealthspan Capital

MycoMedicamycomedica.comin

MycoMedica Life Sciences is a biopharmaceutical company developing psilocybin-based treatments for mental health and neurodegenerative disorders.

BiotechDigital HealthMental HealthShelton, US

Co-investorsLauder PartnersObvious Ventures

Pangea Biopangeabio.comin

Pangea Bio develops therapies targeting central nervous system and mental health disorders by activating the TrkB receptor pathway to promote neuronal survival and synaptic plasticity.

BiotechDeep TechDigital Health

Co-investorsMetaplanetNO LABEL VENTURESSeaside VenturesVox CapitalXEIA Venture Partners

Reunion Neurosciencereunionneuro.comin𝕏Jan 2024

Reunion Neuroscience is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing serotonergic psychedelic therapies for mental health conditions such as postpartum depression, adjustment disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder.

BiotechDigital HealthMental HealthMorristown, US

Sahil V. Kirpekar(President and CEO)inGregory Mayes(Executive Officer, Director)Ellen Lubman(Director)Mark Pollack(Executive Officer)inNathan Bryson(Executive Officer)inMark Theeuwes(Executive Officer)in

Co-investorsFemHealth VenturesMitsui Global InvestmentMPM BioImpactNovo Holdings

Sensorium Therapeuticssensorium.bioinJul 2021

Sensorium Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotech company developing novel CNS therapies for anxiety, epilepsy, and cognitive dysfunction using its SensAI platform, which integrates AI, chemistry, and curated natural product data to identify therapeutic patterns from over 50 million biological relationships.

AI & Machine LearningBiotechDigital HealthMedford, US

Jerrold Rosenbaum(Director)inJacob Hooker(Executive Officer, Director)inPranav Tadi(Executive Officer)

BoardRyan Katz(Director)inKevin Lalande(Director)inRichard Simon(Director)

Co-investorsBonaventure Equity, LLCHatteras Venture PartnersIter InvestmentsMission BiocapitalRoute 66 VenturesService Provider Capital+2 more

Syndeio Biosciencessyndeio.bioin

Syndeio Biosciences is a synapse-focused biotech developing precision neurotherapeutics for neuropsychiatric, mental health, and cognitive disorders such as depression and Alzheimer's.

AI & Machine LearningBiotechDigital Health

Co-investorsEvolution VC PartnersTenmileCatalio Capital Management

Tactogentactogen.comin𝕏

Tactogen develops patented new chemical entities, including benzofuran-based compositions, and conducts preclinical research and publishes data on these compounds.

BiotechDeep TechHealthtech

Matthew Baggott(CEO)in

Co-investorsLeafy TunnelNoeticPsyMed Ventures10X CapitalWefunder

Transcend Therapeuticstranscendtherapeutics.comin

Transcend Therapeutics develops rapid-acting pharmaceutical treatments for neuropsychiatric diseases, including PTSD and depression, targeting patients unresponsive to current psychiatric medications.

BiotechDigital HealthMedical DevicesMental Health

Blake Mandell(Co-Founder & CEO)in

Co-investorsAlleyCorpAlpha Wave GlobalEmerald Development ManagersAlley Robotics Ventures

Wavepathswavepaths.comin𝕏Oct 2021 · $4.5M

Wavepaths develops adaptive therapeutic music designed to support mental health and wellness practitioners in their sessions.

Digital HealthMental HealthWellness & Fitness

Mendel Kaelen(Founder & CEO)in

Co-investorsMITONReflex CapitalLIONHEART VENTURESNeo Kuma Ventures

Other

Tracked investments with no reachable website or further public details — typically companies that wound down, renamed, or were absorbed.

<UNKNOWNatai Life SciencesBeacon BiosignalsBionomicsBlackbox BioCybinFluenceneurocarePsy TherapeuticsXylo

Portfolio news

latest coverage across their companies

Frequently asked questions

How many investments has Palo Santo VC made?
Palo Santo VC has 30 tracked investments.
What sectors does Palo Santo VC focus on?
Palo Santo VC focuses on AI & Machine Learning, Biotech, Deep Tech, Digital Health, Healthtech, Mental Health.

Co-investors · 9

Fifty Years

Fifty Years (50Y) is a pre-seed and seed-focused venture capital firm that backs founders using technology to solve major global problems, and also helps start companies.

Both backed · 1
$250K – $2M
Pioneer

Pioneer Fund is a venture capital firm investing in the top Y Combinator startups.

500 Global

500 Global (formerly 500 Startups) is a venture capital firm whose flagship Silicon Valley strategy backs promising technology companies from pre-seed onward across a range of sectors and geographies.

$150K
Dawn Capital

Dawn Capital is a European venture capital firm backing companies with global ambitions.

$317.5K – $6.3M
Avalanche VC

Avalanche is a private investment firm led by Katelyn Donnelly that invests early in technology companies at structural inflection points, pairing capital with operational experience in complex markets like government, energy, and critical infrastructure.

$25K – $1M
Amino Collective

Amino Collective is an early-stage venture firm that backs bold, unconventional founders willing to explore uncharted territory.

$216K – $1.6M
BlueYard Capital

Blueyard is a small equal partnership with offices in the US and Europe, investing in early-stage companies.

$500K – $5M
Cerulean Ventures

Cerulean Ventures is a venture capital firm that backs founders using AI to digitize and transform traditionally under-digitized physical-world industries such as manufacturing, supply chains, maritime, food and agriculture, and energy.

Cambridge Angels group

Cambridge Angels is a UK business angel network that has been providing capital and operational support to entrepreneurs since 2001, backing more than 150 companies.

$195K – $1.9M

Firms observed investing alongside Palo Santo VC, from public investor directories. Shared companies are the overlap with Palo Santo VC's recorded portfolio.

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