Richard Gaster
InvestorManaging Partner at venBio Partners · Board director at Attralus · Board director at Ventyx Biosciences · Director & Chairman at Aeovian Pharmaceuticals
San Francisco, California
Writes $20M – $30M checks · typically $25M
About
Richard Gaster combines Harvard-affiliated plastic surgery training and experience as a cancer dad with translational medicine leadership at Pliant, focusing on mechanistically novel aging, CNS, and metabolic disease approaches.
Invests in
BiotechHealthtech
Board director at Attralus
Intro paths
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In turn, Richard can intro founders to Attralus's investors below.
Attralus's investors · 5
Co-founders at Attralus
JW
Jonathan WallExecutive Officer
Board director at Ventyx Biosciences
Intro paths
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In turn, Richard can intro founders to Ventyx Biosciences's investors below.
Director & Chairman at Aeovian Pharmaceuticals
Intro paths
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In turn, Richard can intro founders to Aeovian Pharmaceuticals's investors below.
Experience
- venBio PartnersManaging Partnercurrent2017 — presentSan Francisco Bay Area
- Oak Hill BioBoard Membercurrent2026 — present
- Pediatric Brain Tumor FoundationBoard Membercurrent2026 — present
- MyoventiveBoard Membercurrent2025 — present
- Entact BioBoard Membercurrent2021 — present
- AttralusBoard Membercurrent2020 — present
- Arrakis TherapeuticsBoard Membercurrent2019 — presentGreater Boston
- Aeovian PharmaceuticalsBoard Membercurrent2019 — present
- NorthSea Therapeutics B.V.Board Membercurrent2020 — present
- Yarrow BioscienceBoard Observer2025 — 2026
- 35PharmaBoard Member2022 — 2026
- AlumisBoard Member2024
- ACELYRIN, INC.Board Member2021 — 2023
- Ventyx BiosciencesBoard Member2021 — 2023
- PharvarisBoard Member2019 — 2021The Randstad, Netherlands
- Harmony BiosciencesBoard Observer2017 — 2020
- Akero TherapeuticsBoard Observer2018 — 2019
- Pliant TherapeuticsHead of Translational Medicine2016 — 2017
- Third Rock VenturesSenior Associate2015 — 2016Boston, Massachusetts
- wearBiōFounder & Inventor2013 — 2016
Skills & more
Biomedical Engineering29Molecular Biology21Cancer20Medical Devices14Microfluidics5Nanotechnology10Biotechnology17Fluorescence Microscopy5PCR5Lifesciences10Microscopy7Surgery4
+10 more
Flow CytometryCellCell BiologyResearchLife SciencesNeuroscienceClinical ResearchMedicinePoint-of-Care DiagnosticsReserachFrom Richard's professional profile.
Deals · 2
Aeovian PharmaceuticalsBoard seat
via venBio Partners · filed Dec 2025 · $55M raise
14ner OncologyBoard seat
via venBio Partners · filed Nov 2020 · $65M raise
Attribution from SEC filings, press coverage, and firm rosters.
Other disclosed investments
Sources: SEC Form D filings · the firm's website.
Colleagues at venBio Partners
Aaron Royston
Managing Partner at venBio Partners
Corey Goodman
Co-founder and Managing Partner at venBio Partners
Daniel Teichmann
Controller at venBio Partners
David Pezeshki
Chief Financial Officer at venBio Partners
Jaume Pons
Venture Partner at venBio Partners
Parthiv Patel
Analyst at venBio Partners
Yvonne Yamanaka
Partner at venBio Partners
Network1
Investors connected to Richard in public investor directories — a warm-intro map.
Frequently asked questions
- Who is Richard Gaster?
- Richard Gaster combines Harvard-affiliated plastic surgery training and experience as a cancer dad with translational medicine leadership at Pliant, focusing on mechanistically novel aging, CNS, and metabolic disease approaches.
- Where does Richard Gaster work?
- Richard Gaster is Managing Partner at venBio Partners and Board director at Attralus and Board director at Ventyx Biosciences and Director & Chairman at Aeovian Pharmaceuticals.
- What does Richard Gaster invest in?
- Richard Gaster invests in Biotech, Healthtech.
- What check size does Richard Gaster write?
- Richard Gaster typically writes checks of $20M – $30M.
- What boards does Richard Gaster sit on?
- Richard Gaster holds tracked board seats at 14ner Oncology, Aeovian Pharmaceuticals.
- What companies has Richard Gaster invested in?
- Investments tracked here include 35Pharma, Akero, Alumis, Harmony Biosciences, Pharvaris, Ventyx Biosciences.
- Where did Richard Gaster go to school?
- Richard Gaster studied at Stanford University School of Medicine (Doctor of Medicine (M.D.), Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP)); Harvard Medical School (Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Resident Physician); Stanford University (Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Bioengineering).
Same school
Also attended Stanford University School of Medicine91
Jeffrey FinerVenture Partner at Third Rock VenturesRebecca MancusiInvestor at Third Rock VenturesSebastian CaliriInvestment Team at 8VCAlex MorganInvestor at Khosla VenturesLauren PopovAssociate at Westlake Village BioPartnersClare OzawaManaging Director at Versant Ventures
+ 85 more
Also attended Harvard Medical School176
Niko BonatsosVerdict Capital founder and pre-consensus investor formerly at General CatalystAnthony PhilippakisInvestor at GV (Google Ventures)Ben RobbinsInvestor at GV (Google Ventures)David ReshefInvestor at GV (Google Ventures)Krishna YeshwantInvestor at GV (Google Ventures)Morgan CheathamPartner and Head of Healthcare and Life Sciences at Breyer Capital
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+ 170 more
Also attended Stanford University2,000
Peter ThielCo-founder & Partner at Founders FundReid HoffmanCo-founder of LinkedIn; Partner at GreylockKeith RaboisManaging Director at Khosla VenturesGarry TanPresident & CEO of Y CombinatorAlfred LinPartner at Sequoia CapitalAnn Miura-KoCo-founding Partner at Floodgate
+ 1,994 more
Also attended University of Pennsylvania1,026
Brian ActonCo-founder of WhatsApp; co-founder of Signal FoundationKunal BahlCo-founder of Snapdeal; co-founder of Titan CapitalDasha MaggioPartner at Felicis Ventures, writer on venture capital and founder psychologyNancy WangInvestor at Felicis VenturesLeah von SiemensPartner at Manta Ray VenturesEghosa OmoiguiFounder and Managing General Partner at EchoVC Partners
+ 1,020 more
Shared employers
Also worked at Arrakis Therapeutics9
Alan WaltsVenture Partner at Advent Life SciencesNeil KubicaTherapeutics at GENERAL INCEPTIONSasa VucinicManaging Partner and Co-Founder at North Base MediaNikolaInvestment Committee Member at ACF InvestorsNikola TrbovicManaging Partner at SV Health InvestorsJakob LovenPartner at Nextech Invest
+ 3 more
