Zhizhong Yao
InvestorPartner at Sofinnova Partners
Paris, France
Writes $100K – $5M checks · typically $1.5M
Find your path to Zhizhong
478 people in our graph share verified history with Zhizhong — schools, employers, funds. One of them is your warm intro.
Erica VanunlockedZhizhong: together at Stealth Startup (2025–2026)
×10Zhizhong: together at Stealth Startup
Zhizhong: together at Nodthera
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 Planning
Languages Chinese · English
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
Andy Weiss
Operating Advisor at Sonder Capital
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).
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Also attended Peking University244
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Shared employers
Also worked at Stealth Startup482
Andrew ChenGeneral Partner at Andreessen HorowitzGabriel PereyraCo-founder & President of HarveyErica VanInvestment Director at Intel CapitalHemamAdvisor at Clear VenturesArhaan A.Deeptech Fellow at Clear VenturesHamish GarnettAssociate at Manta Ray Ventures
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Also worked at Sofinnova Partners78
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
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