When you are capable enough to have served as chief science advisor to Bill Gates, people are very likely to take your word for things. And that is something that is certain to come in handy when you are planning a capital fund of your own. Boris Nikolic, former chief advisor for science and technology to Bill Gates, has just announced the closure of Biomatics Capital Partners’ debut fund.
Biomatics Capital Partners, is a new healthcare and life sciences VC firm that has closed its debut fund of $200 million. The firm has a pretty different approach in its choice of founders and managing directors and both of them, have had some serious experience in investments and science and technology.
While Boris Nikolic is a physician who served as chief advisor for science and technology to Bill Gates earlier, Julie Sunderland held the position of director of Program Related Investments for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Together, the two bring a rich experience of handling a very diverse portfolio of companies to the table.
Nikolic has been investing in both for-profit and non-profit enterprises. Similarly, Sunderland headed the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation’s $1.5 billion strategic investment pool and invested into companies that dealt with global health and education issues. While there, Sunderland oversaw investments into as many as 50 companies.
Speaking about the new fund, Sunderland said:
It’s our goal to seek out radically innovative solutions — the outliers. By combining the best of science with sound investment practices, we are looking to create extraordinary financial value for our investors and a pathway to better patient outcomes.
Sunderland and Nikolic have together funded nine companies already, including Grail, Denali Therapeutics etc.
Meanwhile, Biomatics Capital Partners plans to invest in as many as 20 companies in its first round. With $200 million in the kitty, it has more than enough funds to proceed with its plans. The firm plans to keep the size of its investments somewhere between $5 million to $10 million.
