After an initial closing in November 2015, V-Bio Ventures now expands its already impressive investor roster and establishes itself as one of Europe’s largest early stage life sciences investment funds.
The Ghent-based life science fund V-Bio Ventures has announced the final closing of its first fund. While the fund was already up and running in November of last year, the team has now further increased its capital to manage a total of €76 million. New participants in the fund include UGent, Gimv, BNP Paribas Fortis Private Equity and federal investment vehicle FPIM/SFPI. They complete the already existing supporters Korys, ARKimedes, KULeuven and the European Investment Fund (EIF).
V-Bio hasn’t been idle in its first year: the fund has invested in three promising young companies. Orionis Biosciences and Confo Therapeutics are two spin-outs from VIB, exemplifying V-Bio’s close relationship with the research institute. UK-based eye specialist Oxular Ltd (formerly Precision Ocular Ltd) was identified as a third opportunity.
Also the fund’s team expanded since last year. Ward Capoen joined from Candrian Investment group while Katja Rosenkranz, originally from Munich and with extensive tech transfer experience, gives the team some international flair. Together with Managing Partners Christina Takke and Willem Broekaert, they form the team of seasoned professionals behind V-Bio Ventures.
