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Breakout Ventures is a venture capital firm founded in 2016 and based in San Francisco, California. The firm emerged from Breakout Labs, a Thiel Foundation initiative aimed at supporting scientific innovation. Breakout Ventures focuses on investing in science-driven companies, particularly those innovating at the intersection of biology, chemistry, computation, and artificial intelligence.
As of now, Breakout Ventures manages a total of $114 million across its funds, with its most recent fund, Fund III, being its largest. The firm primarily invests at the pre-seed, seed, and Series A stages, targeting early-stage companies in the life sciences and industrial sectors. Breakout Ventures has built a reputation for its high-conviction investment strategy, emphasizing urgency and execution in transforming scientific advancements into market solutions.
Breakout Ventures targets early-stage investments in sectors such as biotech, healthcare, artificial intelligence, industrial technology, and deep tech. The firm is particularly interested in companies that are developing innovative solutions in gene therapy, sustainable materials, and precision medicine. Their investment strategy is characterized by high-conviction bets on scientific innovation, aiming to identify inflection points before they gain market recognition.
The firm typically writes checks ranging from $500,000 to $5 million, allowing them to support founders with significant capital as they navigate the complexities of bringing scientific advancements to market. Breakout Ventures seeks to partner with exceptional founders who are pursuing novel hypotheses that can lead to scalable impact and significant opportunities.
Breakout Ventures has a diverse portfolio of companies that exemplify its focus on scientific innovation. Notable portfolio companies include:
Additionally, Breakout Ventures achieved a notable exit with Surf Bio, which was acquired by Halozyme for $400 million.
Lindy Fishburne — Managing Partner. Lindy has extensive experience in venture capital and scientific innovation, having previously worked with Breakout Labs and other notable firms.
Julia Moore — Managing Partner. Julia co-leads the firm and brings a strong background in investment and operational strategy, focusing on life sciences.
Dana Watt, PhD — Partner. Dana has a PhD in a relevant scientific field and contributes deep expertise in scientific research and innovation.
Sridhar Iyengar — Venture Partner. Founder and CSO of Elemental Machines, Sridhar has a strong background in technology and operational leadership.
Coco Krumme — Venture Partner. Founder of Leeward Co, Coco brings experience in entrepreneurship and investment.
Rebecca Nugent — Venture Partner. VP of HTP Operations at Tessera Therapeutics, Rebecca has expertise in operational strategy within the biotech sector.
Walter Solomon — Venture Partner. Walter has a diverse background in venture capital and scientific innovation.
Ilan Zipkin — Venture Partner. Founder and CEO of Supercede Therapeutics, Ilan has experience in biotech and therapeutic development.
To pitch Breakout Ventures, founders should use the preferred channel of their website or email. A well-structured pitch deck should include an overview of the business model, market opportunity, team background, and scientific innovation. Founders can expect a response within a few weeks, and warm introductions are encouraged to enhance the likelihood of engagement.
In 2024, Breakout Ventures led a $21 million Series A investment in ZymoChem, a company focused on biomanufacturing chemicals. This investment highlights the firm's commitment to supporting innovative companies in the life sciences sector.
Additionally, Breakout Ventures achieved a notable exit with Surf Bio, which was acquired by Halozyme for $400 million, showcasing the firm's ability to identify and support high-potential startups.
What are Breakout Ventures' investment criteria?
Breakout Ventures invests in early-stage companies primarily in the biotech, healthcare, AI, and industrial sectors. They focus on scientific innovation and seek to back founders pursuing novel hypotheses with significant market potential.
How can startups apply or pitch to Breakout Ventures?
Startups can pitch Breakout Ventures through their website at breakout.vc or via email at contact@breakout.vc. They recommend including a clear overview of the business model, market opportunity, and team background in the pitch.
What makes Breakout Ventures different from other VC firms?
Breakout Ventures emphasizes a high-conviction investment strategy focused on scientific innovation. Their team possesses deep operator and scientific expertise, allowing them to provide strategic guidance and support to portfolio companies.
What is the geographic scope of Breakout Ventures' investments?
Breakout Ventures primarily invests in companies based in the United States, focusing on early-stage opportunities within the life sciences and industrial sectors.
What is the typical check size for investments?
Breakout Ventures typically invests between $500,000 and $5 million in their portfolio companies, allowing them to support founders with substantial capital as they grow their businesses.
What kind of post-investment involvement does Breakout Ventures have?
Breakout Ventures actively engages with its portfolio companies, providing strategic guidance, operational support, and access to their network of industry experts to help navigate the complexities of scientific innovation and market entry.
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