Zhizhong Yao
InvestorPartner at Sofinnova Partners
Paris, France
Writes $100K – $5M checks · typically $1.5M
About
Yao is a Partner in Sofinnova's Biovelocita Strategy, having joined in 2015 as an analyst focused on early-stage biotech and biopharmaceutical investments. He previously was a Human Frontier Science Program Cross-Disciplinary Fellow at the French National Institute of Agriculture Research and holds a PhD in Chemistry and Chemical Biology from Harvard and a Bachelor's from Peking University.
Contact· published on Zhizhong's own website
Invests in
Biotech
Experience
- Stealth StartupChief Executive Officercurrent2024 — presentParis, Île-de-France, France
- Sofinnova PartnersPartner - Sofinnova Acceleration Strategy BiovelocITAcurrent2023 — present
- Sofinnova PartnersPrincipal - Sofinnova Capital Strategy2015 — 2024Paris Area, France
- EnsocellDirector Board of Directors2023
- Mablink BioscienceBoard Observer2022 — 2023
- DISCO Pharmaceuticals GmbHDirector Board of Directors2022 — 2023
- GlycoEra AGBoard Observer2021 — 2023
- Mnemo therapeuticsBoard Observer2019 — 2023Paris Area, France
- Polyneuron Pharmaceuticals AGBoard Observer2019 — 2022Basel Area, Switzerland
- NodThera LimitedBoard Observer2018 — 2020Cambridge, United Kingdom
- French National Institute for Agricultural ResearchHuman Frontier Science Program (Cross-disciplinary Fellows)2013 — 2015Jouy-en-Josas, France
Skills & more
Human Resources (HR)Business PlanningCRO ManagementGrant PreparationIntellectual PropertyBusiness DevelopmentBoard of DirectorsOperations ManagementDue DiligenceBoard Governancefund raisingVenture Capital
+2 more
board directorsStrategic PlanningLanguages Chinese · English · French
From Zhizhong's professional profile.
Investments
Per the firm's website.
Colleagues at Sofinnova Partners
Agnès Pauquet
Head of Human Resources at Sofinnova Partners
Ahmed Fourati
Investor Relations and Reporting Officer at Sofinnova Partners
Aishwarya Parthasarathy
Associate, Digital Medicine Strategy at Sofinnova Partners
Alex Leech
Partner, Biovelocita Strategy at Sofinnova Partners
Alexandra Abreu
Analyst, Crossover Strategy at Sofinnova Partners
Andrew M. Weiss
Venture Partner at Sofinnova Partners
Anis Belmili
Fund Accountant at Sofinnova Partners
Ankeet Jethwa
Senior Associate, Capital Strategy at Sofinnova Partners
Frequently asked questions
- Who is Zhizhong Yao?
- Yao is a Partner in Sofinnova's Biovelocita Strategy, having joined in 2015 as an analyst focused on early-stage biotech and biopharmaceutical investments. He previously was a Human Frontier Science Program Cross-Disciplinary Fellow at the French National Institute of Agriculture Research and holds a PhD in Chemistry and Chemical Biology from Harvard and a Bachelor's from Peking University.
- Where does Zhizhong Yao work?
- Zhizhong Yao is Partner at Sofinnova Partners.
- What does Zhizhong Yao invest in?
- Zhizhong Yao invests in Biotech.
- What check size does Zhizhong Yao write?
- Zhizhong Yao typically writes checks of $100K – $5M.
- What boards does Zhizhong Yao sit on?
- Zhizhong Yao holds tracked board seats at DISCO, EnsoCell, GlycoEra, Mablink Bioscience, Mnemo, Nodthera.
- Where did Zhizhong Yao go to school?
- Zhizhong Yao studied at Kauffman Fellow; Harvard University (PhD, Chemistry and Chemical Biology/Systems Biology); Peking University (BS, Chemistry and Molecular Engineering).
Same school
Also attended Harvard University1,556
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+ 1,550 more
Also attended Peking University143
Erica WuInvestment Director at Intel CapitalGiuseppe IademarcoHead of Global Partnership at P101 VenturesLucy BradyHead of Product at Giant Ventures Global LlpLuke TangManaging Partner at G Vision CapitalJonathan BarekChief Operating Officer at Next47Raaj RayatPrincipal at AirTree Ventures
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Shared employers
Also worked at Stealth Startup351
Andrew ChenGeneral Partner at Andreessen HorowitzGabriel PereyraCo-founder & President of HarveyErica VanInvestment Director at Intel CapitalHemamAdvisor at Clear VenturesHamish GarnettAssociate at Manta Ray VenturesFranz KoflerInvestor at Next Frontier Capital
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Also worked at Sofinnova Partners48
Anne HorganPartner at Cambridge Innovation CapitalLaetitia SchwabPrincipal at SR One Capital ManagementAntoine Papiernik PapiernikChairman and Managing Partner at Sofinnova PartnersGraziano SeghezziManaging Partner at Sofinnova PartnersMichael KrelPartner at Sofinnova PartnersHenrijette RichterManaging Partner at Sofinnova Partners
+ 42 more
