Action Potential Venture Capital

Action Potential Venture Capital was a strategic venture capital fund launched by GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) in 2013. The fund was established with a significant initial commitment of $50 million, signaling GSK's intent to become a leader in the emerging field of bioelectronic medicine. Its primary mission was to identify, invest in, and nurture companies developing innovative technologies that leverage the body's electrical signals to treat a wide range of chronic diseases. This initiative represented a strategic pivot for GSK, extending its research and development focus beyond traditional pharmaceutical and vaccine approaches into novel therapeutic modalities.

The fund's investment strategy was deeply aligned with GSK's long-term R&D objectives, aiming to stimulate the growth of the bioelectronic medicine ecosystem. Action Potential Venture Capital sought out early-stage companies and groundbreaking technologies with the potential to revolutionize healthcare by targeting specific neural pathways to modulate disease. The investments were not solely driven by financial returns but by the strategic imperative to advance scientific understanding and therapeutic applications in this nascent field, fostering a pipeline of potential future treatments for conditions like inflammatory diseases, metabolic disorders, and neurological conditions.

During its active investment period, which appears to have concluded around 2016, Action Potential Venture Capital made several key investments in promising startups within the bioelectronic space. A significant outcome and evolution of this strategic endeavor was the formation of Galvani Bioelectronics in 2016, a joint venture between GSK and Verily (an Alphabet company). This collaboration represented a substantial commitment of £540 million over seven years, dedicated to the research, development, and commercialization of bioelectronic medicines. This move effectively integrated the strategic vision of Action Potential VC into a dedicated, large-scale R&D entity, further solidifying GSK's commitment to the field.