About
Venture Partner at Versant with extensive experience leading drug discovery across small molecule, biotherapeutic, and technology platforms. Previously co-founded and served as CEO of Interline Therapeutics, was CSO of Denali Therapeutics, and held drug discovery leadership roles at Genentech, Roche, Novartis, and Revolution Medicines. He works with entrepreneurs to build new companies from early-stage science.
Experience
- Versant VenturesVenture Partnercurrent2024 — present
- Interline TherapeuticsCEO2020 — 2024San Francisco Bay Area
- Denali TherapeuticsChief Scientific Officer and Head of Discovery2015 — 2020
- REVOLUTION MedicinesSenior Director of Chemistry2015
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical ResearchDirector of Medicinal and Analytical Chemistry2011 — 2015San Francisco Bay Area
- GenentechProject Leader2009 — 2011
- Roche PharmaceuticalsPrincipal Research Scientist2002 — 2008Roche Palo Alto
Skills & more
Drug Discovery27Medicinal Chemistry25Drug Development6Organic Synthesis7Biotechnology11Life Sciences14Organic Chemistry6Drug Design32HPLC2Analytical Chemistry2Biochemistry4Chemistry6
+2 more
ChromatographyPharmaceutical IndustryFrom Zach's professional profile.
Colleagues at Versant Ventures
Alex Mayweg
Managing Director at Versant Ventures
Alicia Levey
Venture Partner at Versant Ventures
Andrew Jefferson
Operating Partner at Versant Ventures
Ariel Kantor
Principal at Versant Ventures
Barbara Lubash
Managing Director at Versant Ventures
Beckie Robertson
Venture Advisor at Intuitive Ventures
Brad Bolzon
Chairman, Managing Director at Versant Ventures
Brian Atwood
Managing Director at Versant Ventures
Frequently asked questions
- Who is Zach Sweeney?
- Venture Partner at Versant with extensive experience leading drug discovery across small molecule, biotherapeutic, and technology platforms. Previously co-founded and served as CEO of Interline Therapeutics, was CSO of Denali Therapeutics, and held drug discovery leadership roles at Genentech, Roche, Novartis, and Revolution Medicines. He works with entrepreneurs to build new companies from early-stage science.
- Where does Zach Sweeney work?
- Zach Sweeney is Venture Partner at Versant Ventures.
- Where did Zach Sweeney go to school?
- Zach Sweeney studied at Harvard University (NIH Postdoctoral Fellowship, Chemistry); University of California, Berkeley (PhD, Chemistry); Stanford University (BS, Chemistry).
Same school
Also attended Harvard University1,970
Alfred LinPartner at Sequoia CapitalChris DixonFounder & Managing Partner of a16z crypto at Andreessen HorowitzSarah TavelVenture Partner at BenchmarkDanny RimerPartner at Index VenturesLaela SturdyManaging Partner at CapitalGBill GatesCo-founder of Microsoft; Chair of the Gates Foundation
+ 1,964 more
Also attended University of California, Berkeley1,765
Byron DeeterPartner at Bessemer Venture PartnersSteve WozniakCo-founder of AppleTony XuCo-founder & CEO of DoorDashAli GhodsiCo-founder & CEO of DatabricksRyan PetersenFounder & CEO of FlexportDave JohnsonCo-founder & CEO of Dash Bio
+ 1,759 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
Shared employers
Also worked at Interline Therapeutics1
Also worked at Denali Therapeutics3
Also worked at REVOLUTION Medicines4
Also worked at Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research169
Rebecca JamesInvestor at Index VenturesScott BillerInvestor at GV (Google Ventures)Freya Svedberg-KeatingInvestor at MedicxiAndrea AmadorCompliance Manager at Inveready Technology Investment GroupAbbie CelnikerInvestor at Third Rock VenturesJesper GromadaInvestor at Third Rock Ventures
+ 163 more