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Decheng Capital

North America, California, United States, Menlo Park

Description

Decheng Capital is a prominent venture capital firm headquartered in Menlo Park, California, with a dedicated focus on the life sciences sector. The firm targets both early and growth-stage companies, spanning a broad spectrum of sub-sectors including therapeutics, medical devices, diagnostics, and digital health. Their investment philosophy centers on identifying and supporting innovative companies that are developing groundbreaking technologies and solutions aimed at addressing significant unmet medical needs globally. Decheng Capital leverages its deep industry expertise and extensive network to provide strategic guidance alongside capital.

Since its inception, Decheng Capital has demonstrated a consistent ability to raise substantial capital, reflecting investor confidence in its specialized approach. The firm successfully closed its first fund, Decheng Capital China Life Sciences USD Fund, L.P., in 2010 with $150 million. This was followed by increasingly larger funds, culminating in the close of Decheng Capital Life Sciences USD Fund IV, L.P., in 2022, which secured $550 million in commitments. This progression in fund size underscores Decheng Capital's growing influence and capacity to deploy significant capital into promising life science ventures.

Decheng Capital typically acts as a lead or co-lead investor, providing substantial capital to its portfolio companies. While specific initial check sizes can vary based on the stage and needs of the company, their investments generally range from several million dollars for early-stage rounds to tens of millions for more mature, growth-stage opportunities. For instance, a typical first check might fall within the range of $5 million for a robust Series A or B, extending up to $40 million for a significant lead position in a later-stage growth round. The firm is known for its long-term commitment, often participating in follow-on rounds to support portfolio companies through various development milestones, from clinical trials to commercialization.

Investor Profile

Decheng Capital has backed more than 59 startups, with 3 new investments in the last 12 months alone. The firm has led 16 rounds, about 27% of its total and boasts 24 exits across its portfolio.

Investment Focus Highlights

  • Concentrates on Series B, Series C, Series A rounds (top funding stages).
  • Majority of deals are located in United States, China.
  • Strong thematic focus on Biotechnology, Health Care, Medical.
  • Typical check size: $5M – $40M.

Stage Focus

  • Series B (32%)
  • Series C (31%)
  • Series A (17%)
  • Post Ipo Equity (5%)
  • Series D (5%)
  • Series E (3%)
  • Series F (3%)
  • Series Unknown (2%)
  • Private Equity (2%)

Country Focus

  • United States (92%)
  • China (7%)

Industry Focus

  • Biotechnology
  • Health Care
  • Medical
  • Pharmaceutical
  • Health Diagnostics
  • Therapeutics
  • Life Science
  • Biopharma
  • Medical Device
  • Oncology
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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 Decheng Capital frequently co-invest with?

OrbiMed
North America, New York, United States, New York
Co-Investments: 13
venBio Partners
North America, California, United States, San Francisco
Co-Investments: 5
HBM Healthcare Investments
Europe, Zug, Switzerland, Zug
Co-Investments: 5
Surveyor Capital
North America, Illinois, United States, Chicago
Co-Investments: 6
Omega Funds
Europe, Geneve, Switzerland, Geneva
Co-Investments: 4
Samsara BioCapital
North America, California, United States, Palo Alto
Co-Investments: 6
Hillhouse Investment
Asia, Central Region, Singapore, Singapore
Co-Investments: 5
RA Capital Management
North America, Massachusetts, United States, Boston
Co-Investments: 5
Longitude Capital
North America, California, United States, Menlo Park
Co-Investments: 6
Foresite Capital
North America, California, United States, San Francisco
Co-Investments: 9

Which angels does Decheng Capital often collaborate with?

LW
North America, Washington, United States, Seattle
Shared Deals: 1
MC
North America, California, United States, San Francisco
Shared Deals: 1
Adrian Cheng
Asia, Hong Kong
Shared Deals: 1
AF
North America, California, United States, Los Angeles
Shared Deals: 1
BH
North America, California, United States, Palo Alto
Shared Deals: 1
BB
North America, California, United States, San Francisco
Shared Deals: 1
Shared Deals: 1

What are some of recent deals done by Decheng Capital?

Ottimo Pharma develops innovative cancer therapies using PD1-VEGFR2 antibodies.

BiotechnologyHealth CarePharmaceutical
Series ADec 19, 2024
Amount Raised: $140,000,000
Aclaris Therapeutics

Malvern, Pennsylvania, United States

Aclaris Therapeutics is a specialty pharmaceutical company engaged in developing dermatologic therapies.

BiotechnologyPharmaceuticalTherapeutics
Post Ipo EquityNov 18, 2024
Amount Raised: $80,000,000
Medtech Technology

Qiantang, Fujian, China

Medtech Technology is a firm that develops innovative ophthalmic medical devices.

Health CareMedical DevicePharmaceutical
Series BSep 14, 2024
Amount Raised: $28,194,826
Aardvark Therapeutics

San Diego, California, United States

Aardvark Therapeutics specializes in small molecule therapeutics for obesity and rare genetic metabolic disorders.

BiotechnologyHealth CareTherapeutics
Series CMay 9, 2024
Amount Raised: $85,000,000
Firefly Bio

San Francisco, California, United States

Firefly Bio specializes in Degrader Antibody Conjugates (DACs) which combine the unique strengths of ADCs with selective protein degraders.

BiotechnologyMedical
Series AFeb 15, 2024
Amount Raised: $94,000,000
Nalu Medical

Carlsbad, California, United States

Nalu Medical is a medical technology company that develops innovative solutions for patients with chronic neuropathic pain.

Health CareMedicalMedical Device
Series EJan 3, 2024
Amount Raised: $85,000,000
Adela

Foster City, California, United States

Adela creates develops technologies centered around detecting high-risk conditions like cancer through routine blood tests.

BiotechnologyHealth CareHealth DiagnosticsMedical
Series ASep 25, 2023
Amount Raised: $48,000,000
Cellares

South San Francisco, California, United States

Cellares is a life sciences technology company that develops the Cell Shuttle to automate cell therapy manufacturing.

BiotechnologyLife ScienceManufacturingMedicalTherapeutics
Series CAug 23, 2023
Amount Raised: $255,000,000
CG Oncology

Irvine, California, United States

CG Oncology is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of oncolytic immunotherapies to combat cancer.

BiotechnologyHealth CareHealth DiagnosticsOncology
Series FAug 2, 2023
Amount Raised: $105,000,000
Upstream Bio

Waltham, Massachusetts, United States

Upstream Bio focuses on developing an antibody therapy for the treatment of severe asthma.

BiotechnologyHealth CarePharmaceuticalTherapeutics
Series BJun 8, 2023
Amount Raised: $200,000,000