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Leen Kawas

Investor

General Partner at Propel Bio Partners

Seattle, Washington

Writes $100K – $5M checks Β· typically $1.5M

Find your path to Leen

410 people in our graph share verified history with Leen β€” schools, employers, funds. One of them is your warm intro.

Ken ChenaultunlockedLeen: together at Chief (2022–2026)
Γ—4Leen: together at University of Washington
Γ—4Leen: together at Chief
Γ—3Leen: together at Wharton Executive Education

About

Leen Kawas is co-founder and managing general partner at Propel Bio Partners, a biotech-focused fund supporting life science innovations. She moved to the US from Jordan in 2008, co-founded the company now known as LeonaBio, and became its CEO in 2014, advancing multiple late-stage clinical programs and taking the company public in 2020 with over $400 million raised. Her recognitions include the Life Science Entrepreneurial Achievement Award (2020), French-American Foundation Leader (2019), and GeekWire Startup CEO of the Year (2019).

ContactΒ· published on Leen's own website

Invests in

Biotech

Experience

  1. EIT Pharma, Inc.Chief Executive Officercurrent2026 β€” presentGreater Seattle Area
  2. Propel Bio Partners LLCManaging General Partnercurrent2021 β€” present
  3. WASHINGTON INNOVATION NETWORKMentorcurrent2024 β€” presentSeattle, Washington, United States
  4. Inherent Biosciences, Inc.Member Board of Directorscurrent2022 β€” presentSalt Lake County, Utah, United States
  5. Persephone BiosciencesMember Board Of Directorscurrent2022 β€” presentSan Diego Metropolitan Area
  6. TympanogenBoard Observer- Investorcurrent2023 β€” presentRichmond, Virginia, United States
  7. NOWDiagnostics | NOWDxBoard Observercurrent2023 β€” present
  8. NucleateAdvisor-Seattlecurrent2022 β€” present
  9. ChiefMembercurrent2022 β€” present
  10. Forbes Business CouncilMember2022 β€” 2025
  11. LeonaBioCEO & President2014 β€” 2021Greater Seattle Area
  12. LeonaBioVice President of Research2011 β€” 2014
  13. Washington State UniversityResearch Associate2013 β€” 2015spokane, washington area
  14. Pharmacy1, Amman JordanStaff Pharmacist2008Amman,Jordan
  15. University of Jordan HospitalClinical Pharmacist2007 β€” 2008Amman,Jordan

Skills & more

Institutional Investing8Hedge Funds8Behavioral Finance6Entrepreneurship29Pharmaceutical Industry39Clinical Development32Biotechnology92Drug Discovery14Lifesciences12Life Sciences53Project Management4Drug Development6
+2 moreTeamworkTeaching

Languages Arabic Β· English

From Leen's professional profile.

Investments

Board seats

Inherent BiosciencesPersephone Biosciences

Per the firm's website.

Colleagues at Propel Bio Partners

Armaan Hirani
Data Science Associate at Propel Bio Partners
Carol Criner
Advisor at Propel Bio Partners
Erik Gonzalez-Leon
Analyst at Propel Bio Partners
Jim Harding
Finance at Propel Bio Partners
Joyce Jiang
Analyst at Propel Bio Partners
Laurie Heilmann
Venture Partner at Propel Bio Partners
Mike Gibbs
Senior Advisor at Propel Bio Partners
Richard Kayne
General Partner at Propel Bio Partners

Frequently asked questions

Who is Leen Kawas?
Leen Kawas is co-founder and managing general partner at Propel Bio Partners, a biotech-focused fund supporting life science innovations. She moved to the US from Jordan in 2008, co-founded the company now known as LeonaBio, and became its CEO in 2014, advancing multiple late-stage clinical programs and taking the company public in 2020 with over $400 million raised. Her recognitions include the Life Science Entrepreneurial Achievement Award (2020), French-American Foundation Leader (2019), and GeekWire Startup CEO of the Year (2019).
Where does Leen Kawas work?
Leen Kawas is General Partner at Propel Bio Partners.
What does Leen Kawas invest in?
Leen Kawas invests in Biotech.
What check size does Leen Kawas write?
Leen Kawas typically writes checks of $100K – $5M.
What boards does Leen Kawas sit on?
Leen Kawas holds tracked board seats at Inherent Biosciences, Persephone Biosciences.
Where did Leen Kawas go to school?
Leen Kawas studied at Wharton Executive Education (Investment Strategies and Portfolio Management); University of Washington (Executive Education, Foster School of Business); Washington State University (PhD, molecular pharmacology & toxicology).

Founder mafias

Same school

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