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V-Bio Ventures

We are a life sciences fund investing throughout Europe in start-up and early-stage companies with high growth potential. Our articles cover investment-related topics in life sciences, including innovation trends, the latest business themes and exciting updates on our portfolio companies.
Picture of V-Bio Ventures

V-Bio Ventures

We are a life sciences fund investing throughout Europe in start-up and early-stage companies with high growth potential. Our articles cover investment-related topics in life sciences, including innovation trends, the latest business themes and exciting updates on our portfolio companies.

Mind Over Money: US vs. European Investment Psychology in Biotech

Early-stage biotech investing has always demanded a high tolerance for uncertainty, and an uncanny ability to predict which fledgling technologies will one day reshape health. But one silent force shapes investment outcomes more often than we admit: psychology. At the intersection of capital and culture, we find a compelling and underexplored story — the differences between investors in the US and Europe, and how these contrasts play out in biotech.

The FDA Reset and its Ripple Effect on European Biotech

In the past two years, a rapid succession of FDA policy shifts has fundamentally reshaped the regulatory landscape. These changes have created uncertainty for biotech companies around the world — lengthening development timelines, increasing demands for upfront capital, and amplifying modality-specific risks. European investors should now consider explicit regulatory strategies as essential to the success of their portfolio.

ATB Therapeutics: Antibody Seeker Missiles for Cancer and Autoimmune Diseases

Antibodies have long held promise as a ‘magic bullet’ for cancer therapies, yet many antibody-drug conjugates face issues with toxicity and resistance. Belgian startup ATB Therapeutics is producing a new type of weaponized antibodies, using plants as mini factories for safe, effective cancer and autoimmune treatments.

Improving biotech decisions by fostering team debate

What makes a biotech company soar or crash? Usually, people cite a combination of cutting-edge science, experienced team, smart business strategy and adequate funding. But there is another less obvious factor that is equally critical for company performance: the internal dynamics of the team. So how can a company create a culture of constructive disagreement to foster better decision-making?

Germany’s Biotech Sector: Time to Wake the Sleeping Giant

Germany has long been considered a “sleeping giant” in European biotech—full of promise, but slow to rise. The country boasts world-class research institutions, a strong industrial base, and a rich pool of scientific talent. Yet for years, Germany has lagged behind smaller neighbors like Belgium, Denmark, and Switzerland when it comes to biotech start-up activity, early-stage investment, and company creation. But now, a shift may be underway—what will it take for the German giant to stir?

A frozen conveyor belt: Solutions for the funding bottleneck in European biotech

European biotech is braving another turbulent cycle. IPOs remain scarce, M&A sluggish, and the lack of liquidity is leaving both innovators and Venture Capitalists struggling to raise funds. But new solutions—including stronger secondary markets—could help restore momentum and build a more resilient, thriving European ecosystem.

Europe’s biotech reckoning: turning disruption into opportunity

Just as European biotech began its post-COVID rebound, it now finds itself grappling with a fresh set of global challenges. The re-election of Donald Trump and his ‘America First’ agenda, alongside mounting economic uncertainty and geopolitical shifts have all sent shockwaves through the industry. With shifting capital flows, upended regulatory expectations, and deep insecurity among biotech entrepreneurs, VCs and LPs, we ask: can Europe turn these lemons into lemonade?

A double-edged sword: VC timelines are getting longer in biotech

The biotechnology sector has always been characterized by long, uncertain timelines. But with increasing scientific, regulatory, and market complexities, biotech development is now taking longer and costing more than ever before. Investors are being faced with a growing gap between initial investment and successful exit, and it’s vital for entrepreneurs to know how to handle this shift.

The intertwined nature of human and animal health

The world is more interconnected than ever. But our global network goes beyond humans: the health of all people on Earth is intimately dependent on the wellbeing of our ecosystems – our animals, plants, microbes, and the atmosphere that sustains us all. In this article, Belgian veterinary scientist Jan Spaas shares his thoughts on the ‘One Health’ approach from the WHO, and the bi-directional link between human and animal health.

From lab to market: the life cycle of a biotech startup 

From initial discovery to market-ready product, biotech development is a complex multi-phase process, where strategic partnerships, continuous innovation and careful navigation of regulatory landscapes are crucial for long-term success. Despite this complexity (or perhaps because of it), entrepreneurs and VCs seldom take a step back to consider the full trajectory of this journey. In this article, we’ll explore the typical life cycle of a biotech startup, examining the key milestones and hurdles encountered along the way.

AstriVax Therapeutics shoots for the stars with impactful immunotherapies 

In line with its stellar name, AstriVax Therapeutics is a rising star in Belgian biotech. The company launched in 2022 with €30 million – the largest seed round ever raised by a KU Leuven spin-out – and rapidly became a clinical-stage company, using its plug-and-play platform to fast-track development of vaccines and immunotherapies.

Human-first drug discovery: how start-ups can stay ahead of the game 

Every start-up team ponders the all-important question: how to convince investors to fund their idea? Currently, the fundraising landscape is particularly challenging for most early-stage biotech ventures. A fortunate few are raising exorbitant rounds, allowing them to advance their products through preclinical development, but many others are struggling to find the funding they require. In this article, we share our investor perspective on what can help companies to stand out from the crowd, given recent advancements in drug development.

More good drugs than ever: a boon for society but a challenge for company coffers

In recent decades, the biotech and pharmaceutical sectors have experienced unprecedented progress, reshaping patient care through the introduction of cutting-edge therapies. A stream of novel drugs has emerged at an increasingly rapid pace, for conditions lacking approved treatments or as improved treatments where existing drugs fell short in terms of efficacy, safety, or convenience. But is the health innovation industry falling victim to its own burgeoning success?

Zapping weeds: RootWave’s herbicide-free weed control solution 

RootWave’s technology kills weeds using electricity, offering farmers an eco-friendly alternative to chemical herbicides. The eWeeding solution supports our transition towards a more sustainable agricultural industry, protecting the health of both people and the planet.

The rise and recalibration of sustainable agrifood investments: lessons for us all

There has been an unprecedented surge of investments in sustainable agriculture and food technologies in the last decade, but that trend now appears to have reversed into a free fall in funding. This pattern of promise-to-disillusionment perfectly matches the hype cycle previously demonstrated by breakthrough technologies in other sectors. Can we forge a path forward for sustainable agrifood start-ups?