Avak Kahvejian
InvestorFounderGeneral Partner at Flagship Pioneering · Co-founder, Chairman at ProFound Therapeutics · Founding Team; Founding CEO at Etiome · Chairman (Founder / founding CEO) at Abiologics
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Writes $500K – $15M checks · typically $7M
Find your path to Avak
134 people in our graph share verified history with Avak — schools, employers, funds. One of them is your warm intro.
Anika GuptaunlockedAvak: together at Flagship Pioneering (2017–2018)
Avak: together at Cygnal Therapeutics
×8Avak: together at Flagship Pioneering
Avak: together at Cellarity
About
Avak Kahvejian, a venture investor who often serves as founding CEO of biotechs he helps create, leverages Helicos single-molecule sequencing experience to build programmable medicine platforms via internal company creation.
Invests in
AgTechAI & Machine LearningBiotechClimate TechFoodTechHealthtech
Co-founder, Chairman at ProFound Therapeutics
Intro paths
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In turn, Avak can intro founders to ProFound Therapeutics's investors below.
ProFound Therapeutics's investors · 2
Co-founders at ProFound Therapeutics
YE
Yann EchelardCo-founder
VM
Vini ManiCo-founder
EW
Erica WeinsteinCo-founder
Founding Team; Founding CEO at Etiome
Intro paths
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In turn, Avak can intro founders to Etiome's investors below.
Etiome's investors · 1
Co-founders at Etiome
KV
Katharine von HerrmannCo-founder
NA
Noubar AfeyanFounding Team
SL
Scott LipnickFounding Team
TS
Torben Straight NissenFounding Team; Board Director
YE
Yann EchelardFounding Team; Chief Operating Officer
Chairman (Founder / founding CEO) at Abiologics
Intro paths
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In turn, Avak can intro founders to Abiologics's investors below.
Abiologics's investors · 1
Co-founders at Abiologics
M
MikeChief Innovation Officer & Co-Founder
JD
Jaclyn DunphyCo-Founder & Senior Director of Strategy and Research Operations
Experience
- Flagship PioneeringPresident, Flagship Labscurrent2026 — presentCambridge, Massachusetts, United States
- Flagship PioneeringGeneral Partnercurrent2020 — present
- Flagship PioneeringPartner2011 — 2020Cambridge, MA
- EtiomeBoard Membercurrent2024 — presentCambridge, Massachusetts, United States
- EtiomeFounding CEO2024 — 2026
- Ampersand BiomedicinesChairman of the Boardcurrent2021 — presentBoston, Massachusetts, United States
- Ampersand BiomedicinesFounding CEO2021 — 2023Boston, Massachusetts, United States
- ProFound TherapeuticsChairman of the Boardcurrent2020 — present
- ProFound TherapeuticsFounding CEO2020 — 2023Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States
- CellarityBoard Membercurrent2017 — present
- CellarityFounding CEO2017 — 2020
- Ring TherapeuticsChairman of the Boardcurrent2021 — presentCambridge, Massachusetts, United States
- Ring TherapeuticsBoard Membercurrent2017 — present
- Ring TherapeuticsFounding CEO2017 — 2020
- AbiologicsFounding CEO and Board Member2021 — 2026Boston, Massachusetts, United States
- Sail BiomedicinesBoard Member2017 — 2025
- Sail BiomedicinesFounding CEO2017 — 2020Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States
- Generate Biomedicines, Inc.Board Member2018 — 2021
- Generate Biomedicines, Inc.Founding Co-CEO2017 — 2021Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States
- Cygnal TherapeuticsBoard Member2017 — 2021
- Cygnal TherapeuticsChief Innovation Officer2019 — 2020
- Cygnal TherapeuticsFounding President & CEO2017 — 2019Cambridge, Massachusetts
- Codiak BioSciencesMember Board Of Directors2017 — 2019Cambridge, MA
- Codiak BioSciencesBoard Observer2015 — 2017
- Rubius TherapeuticsChief Innovation Officer2017 — 2018Cambridge, Massachusetts
- Rubius TherapeuticsFounding President & CEO2013 — 2017Cambridge, MA
- Liberate DiagnosticsVice President, Business Development2011Cambridge, MA
- Helicos BioSciencesVice President, Business Development2010 — 2011
- Helicos BioSciencesDirector of Business Development2009 — 2010
- Helicos BioSciencesProduct Manager2004 — 2009
- PerSeptive BioSystemsProduct Evaluation Lab Associate1996
Skills & more
Biotechnology87Lifesciences42Start-ups63Commercialization28Molecular Biology18Genomics22R&D16Product Development7Strategic Planning9Drug Discovery6Medical Devices14Business Development27
+12 more
SalesProduct ManagementProject ManagementCross-functional Team LeadershipEntrepreneurshipBioinformaticsBiopharmaceuticalsDNAMolecular DiagnosticsSequencingLife SciencesResearch and Development (R&D)Languages Armenian · English · French
From Avak's professional profile.
Colleagues at Flagship Pioneering
Geoffrey von Maltzahn
General Partner at Flagship Pioneering
Ignacio Martinez
General Partner at Flagship Pioneering
Jack Nolan
Director, Strategy & Operations at Charlesbank Capital Partners
Karim Lakhani
Investor at Blue Tulip Ventures
Noubar Afeyan
Investor at Flagship Pioneering
Noubar B. Afeyan, Ph.D.
General Partner at Flagship Pioneering
Yvonne Hao
MA Secretary of Economic Development & Founding Pillar at Pillar VC
Network1
Investors connected to Avak in public investor directories — a warm-intro map.
Frequently asked questions
- Who is Avak Kahvejian?
- Avak Kahvejian, a venture investor who often serves as founding CEO of biotechs he helps create, leverages Helicos single-molecule sequencing experience to build programmable medicine platforms via internal company creation.
- Where does Avak Kahvejian work?
- Avak Kahvejian is Chairman (Founder / founding CEO) of Abiologics and General Partner at Flagship Pioneering and Co-founder, Chairman at ProFound Therapeutics and Founding Team; Founding CEO at Etiome.
- What does Avak Kahvejian invest in?
- Avak Kahvejian invests in AgTech, AI & Machine Learning, Biotech, Climate Tech, FoodTech, Healthtech.
- What check size does Avak Kahvejian write?
- Avak Kahvejian typically writes checks of $500K – $15M.
- What companies did Avak Kahvejian found?
- Avak Kahvejian founded Abiologics, Etiome, ProFound Therapeutics.
- Where did Avak Kahvejian go to school?
- Avak Kahvejian studied at McGill University (Ph.D., Biochemistry); McGill University (B.Sc., Biochemistry); Marianopolis College (DEC, General Sciences).
Founder mafias
McGill University mafia208
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Noubar AfeyanBSFounded ProFound Therapeutics +13Jeffrey KarpBENGFounded Tissium +3Serge MesserlianMaster of Science - MScFounded Creyon +1Natalia BakaevaArtsFounded cashew +1Lauren GropperBachelor's degreeFounded Repurpose +1Jonathan LimMDFounded Boundless Bio +1
+ 201 more
Flagship Pioneering mafia21
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Noubar AfeyanFounder and CEOFounded ProFound Therapeutics +13Geoffrey von MaltzahnGeneral PartnerFounded Sienna Biopharmaceuticals +5Phillip SamayoaVentureLabs Entrepreneurial FellowFounded Generation Bio +2Lovisa AfzeliusGeneral PartnerFounded AllTrna +2Inca ComanVentureLabs FellowFounded RIPPL Care +1Ignacio MartinezPartnerFounded Cibo Technologies +1
+ 14 more
Marianopolis College mafia14
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Adrian SchauerDECFounded AlayaCareDavid BrownDECFounded TechstarsRyan MarienFounded BioRenderNick GervasiDECFounded FlowdashMax Brodeur-UrbasDECFounded GumloopAnton OtanerAssociate of Science - ASFounded Clarum
+ 7 more
Cellarity mafia4
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Codiakbio mafia4
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Same school
Also attended McGill University651
Harley FinkelsteinInvestor at Felicis VenturesMattias LjungmanInvestor at Moonfire VenturesNoubar AfeyanInvestor at Flagship PioneeringDavid NaultGeneral Partner at Luge CapitalLaviva MazharPrincipal at Luge CapitalLisa PurcellInvestor at Third Rock Ventures
+ 645 more
Also attended Marianopolis College33
NathanielHead of Operations at BoxOne VenturesCharlotte BorgognoniVice President at Inovia CapitalSteven ChungVice President at Inovia CapitalInès HolzbaurFounder and Managing Partner at AmorChemSarah J. CaramanHead of Strategy and Operations at Sagard Credit PartnersAdrian SchauerInvestor at Klass Capital
+ 27 more
Also attended Collège Stanislas7
Matthieu LattesGeneral Partner at White Star CapitalAlejandra Duran GilPartner at Quadrille CapitalJean HastingsSenior Associate at Supernova InvestLaurent Féral-PierssensMentor at Amiral VenturesChristian HertzManaging Director, Global Head of ManCo at Altum LuxembourgJean B. PéladeauVice-President, Operational Convergence | Quebecor at asterX
+ 1 more
Shared employers
Also worked at Flagship Pioneering88
Anika GuptaInvestor at GV (Google Ventures)Noubar AfeyanInvestor at Flagship PioneeringCassidy BlundellPartner at Mission BiocapitalDavid KoleskyPrincipal at MPM BioImpactDiana BernsteinDirector at Northpond VenturesInca ComanVenture Partner at ARCH Venture Partners
+ 82 more
Also worked at Etiome1
Also worked at Cellarity7
Noubar AfeyanInvestor at Flagship PioneeringUmut EserVenture Partner at Magnetic VenturesFabian TheisVenture Advisor at Amino CollectiveDavid KimAssociate at Duke Capital PartnersMichael RetchinAssociate at PetriAlex WolfCo-Founder & CEO at Lamin
)
+ 1 more
