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Ampersand Capital Partners

North America, Massachusetts, United States, Wellesley

Description

Ampersand Capital Partners is a highly specialized middle-market private equity firm with a singular and dedicated focus on the healthcare sector. Established in 1988, the firm boasts a long and consistent track record of investing in and building leading companies across various segments of healthcare, including outsourced services, diagnostics, life sciences tools, and specialty manufacturing. This deep sector specialization allows Ampersand to leverage extensive industry knowledge and a broad network to identify promising opportunities and support the strategic growth of its portfolio companies.

The firm's investment strategy primarily involves growth equity and buyout transactions, targeting companies with strong fundamentals and significant growth potential. Ampersand distinguishes itself by partnering closely with founders and management teams, providing not only capital but also strategic guidance and operational expertise. Their approach emphasizes driving organic growth, optimizing operational efficiencies, and facilitating strategic add-on acquisitions to create substantial value over their investment horizon.

Ampersand typically deploys significant capital into its portfolio companies. Their equity investments generally range from $20 million to $150 million per transaction, reflecting their focus on established, growing middle-market businesses. The firm has a robust capital base, demonstrated by the successful closing of Ampersand VIII, a fund totaling $1.2 billion, in 2021. This substantial capital allows them to execute complex transactions and provide ample resources for their portfolio companies' expansion initiatives. Their long history and focused strategy underscore their position as a prominent and reliable partner in the healthcare private equity landscape.

Investor Profile

Ampersand Capital Partners has backed more than 69 startups, with 2 new investments in the last 12 months alone. The firm has led 32 rounds, about 46% of its total and boasts 33 exits across its portfolio.

Investment Focus Highlights

  • Concentrates on Private Equity, Series Unknown, Series A rounds (top funding stages).
  • Majority of deals are located in United States, Germany, The Netherlands.
  • Strong thematic focus on Biotechnology, Health Care, Manufacturing.
  • Led 2 rounds in the past year.
  • Typical check size: $20M – $150M.

Stage Focus

  • Private Equity (38%)
  • Series Unknown (28%)
  • Series A (10%)
  • Series B (9%)
  • Series D (4%)
  • Series C (4%)
  • Debt Financing (1%)
  • Post Ipo Equity (1%)
  • Series F (1%)
  • Series E (1%)

Country Focus

  • United States (84%)
  • Germany (4%)
  • The Netherlands (3%)
  • Australia (3%)
  • New Zealand (1%)
  • United Kingdom (1%)
  • Spain (1%)

Industry Focus

  • Biotechnology
  • Health Care
  • Manufacturing
  • Pharmaceutical
  • Medical
  • Telecommunications
  • Wireless
  • Medical Device
  • Software
  • Life Science
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FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Learn who this investor regularly partners with—both firms and angels—and explore their latest activity.

Who does Ampersand Capital Partners frequently co-invest with?

Sevin Rosen Funds
North America, Texas, United States, Dallas
Co-Investments: 4
Oak Investment Partners
North America, Connecticut, United States, Wilton
Co-Investments: 3
Diamondhead Ventures
North America, California, United States, Menlo Park
Co-Investments: 4
Nexus Medical Partners
North America, Massachusetts, United States, Quincy
Co-Investments: 2
Benaroya Capital
North America, Washington, United States, Bellevue
Co-Investments: 2
New England Partners
North America, Massachusetts, United States, Quincy
Co-Investments: 2
VC
North America, California, United States, Palo Alto
Co-Investments: 2
Venrock
North America, California, United States, Palo Alto
Co-Investments: 3
Telecom Partners
North America, New York, United States, New York
Co-Investments: 3
Signal Lake
North America, Connecticut, United States, Westport
Co-Investments: 2

What are some of recent deals done by Ampersand Capital Partners?

Lexington Medical, Inc.

Billerica, Massachusetts, United States

Boston-based medical device company that manufactures minimally invasive surgical stapling solutions.

Health CareManufacturingMedical Device
Private EquityApr 17, 2025
Amount Raised: $37,793,238
VIVEbiotech

San Sebastian, Pais Vasco, Spain

VIVEbiotech is a GMP Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) specialized in Lentiviral vectors.

BiotechnologyManufacturing
Private EquityDec 4, 2024
Julius Clinical

Zeist, Utrecht, The Netherlands

Julius Clinical specializes in distinct therapeutic areas that offer a full-service proposal or separate functional service.

Health CareHospitalPharmaceutical
Private EquityNov 28, 2023
ProtaGene

Heilbronn, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany

ProtaGene is a CRO partner for the biopharmaceutical, cell, and gene therapy industries.

BiopharmaBiotechnologyTherapeutics
Private EquityNov 20, 2023
Genezen

Indianapolis, Indiana, United States

Genezen offers contract process development, GMP viral vector production, transduced cell manufacturing, and testing services.

BiotechnologyGeneticsManufacturing
Series UnknownNov 2, 2023
Amount Raised: $18,500,000
Vernal Biosciences

Burlington, Vermont, United States

Vernal Biosciences specializes in high-purity mRNA for research and clinical use.

BiotechnologyLife ScienceMedical
Series AJun 27, 2023
Amount Raised: $20,000,000
NanoImaging Services

San Diego, California, United States

NanoImaging Services (NIS) provides cryo-EM imaging services to the pharmaceutical and biotechnology communities.

BiotechnologyNanotechnologyPharmaceutical
Private EquityJun 12, 2023
Sterling Medical Devices

Moonachie, New Jersey, United States

Sterling Medical Devices is a custom electro-mechanical and software solution provider for the medical device industry.

Health CareMedicalMedical Device
Private EquityJun 23, 2022
AnaBios

San Diego, California, United States

AnaBios provides contract research services for biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries.

BiotechnologyMedicalPharmaceutical
Series CJun 7, 2022
Amount Raised: $6,499,999
Vernal Biosciences

Burlington, Vermont, United States

Vernal Biosciences specializes in high-purity mRNA for research and clinical use.

BiotechnologyLife ScienceMedical
Series AJun 2, 2022
Amount Raised: $21,000,000