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Safar Partners

North America, Massachusetts, United States, Cambridge

Description

Safar Partners is a Cambridge, Massachusetts-based venture capital firm specializing in deep technology investments. The firm primarily targets disruptive innovations emerging from leading academic institutions, particularly Harvard and MIT, leveraging their proximity to these research hubs. Safar Partners' investment thesis centers on transforming groundbreaking scientific and engineering research into commercially viable enterprises.

The firm adopts a flexible investment approach, engaging with companies from the seed stage through to growth rounds. Their portfolio spans a diverse array of high-tech sectors, including artificial intelligence and machine learning, robotics, biotechnology, advanced materials, and quantum computing. Safar Partners aims to provide not just capital but also strategic guidance and operational support to help these complex technologies scale and achieve market penetration.

Safar Partners has demonstrated significant fundraising success, having raised a total of $180 million across two funds. Their latest vehicle, Safar Partners Fund II, closed in 2021 with $100 million in commitments, building on their earlier $80 million fund. The firm typically deploys initial investments ranging from $1 million to $10 million, with the capacity to participate in larger follow-on rounds as portfolio companies mature. As of late 2023, Crunchbase indicates Safar Partners has made approximately 59 investments and achieved 6 exits, underscoring their active role in the deep tech ecosystem.

Investor Profile

Safar Partners has backed more than 63 startups, with 5 new investments in the last 12 months alone. The firm has led 14 rounds, about 22% of its total and boasts 2 exits across its portfolio.

Investment Focus Highlights

  • Concentrates on Series A, Seed, Series Unknown rounds (top funding stages).
  • Majority of deals are located in United States, China.
  • Strong thematic focus on Health Care, Biotechnology, Artificial Intelligence (AI).
  • Led 2 rounds in the past year.
  • Typical check size: $1M – $10M.

Stage Focus

  • Series A (25%)
  • Seed (24%)
  • Series Unknown (19%)
  • Series B (17%)
  • Convertible Note (6%)
  • Pre Seed (3%)
  • Series D (2%)
  • Series E (2%)
  • Series C (2%)

Country Focus

  • United States (98%)
  • China (2%)

Industry Focus

  • Health Care
  • Biotechnology
  • Artificial Intelligence (Ai)
  • Information Technology
  • Medical
  • Manufacturing
  • Energy
  • Renewable Energy
  • Robotics
  • Clean Energy
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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 Safar Partners frequently co-invest with?

The Engine
North America, Massachusetts, United States, Cambridge
Co-Investments: 8
Fine Structure Venture
North America, Massachusetts, United States, Boston
Co-Investments: 4
Climate Capital
North America, California, United States, San Francisco
Co-Investments: 3
Starlight Ventures
North America, Florida, United States, Miami
Co-Investments: 3
Taihill Venture
North America, Massachusetts, United States, Boston
Co-Investments: 3
Castor Ventures
North America, Massachusetts, United States, Boston
Co-Investments: 3
Lowercarbon Capital
North America, Wyoming, United States, Jackson
Co-Investments: 6
MassVentures
North America, Massachusetts, United States, Boston
Co-Investments: 4
Hostplus
Oceania, Victoria, Australia, Melbourne
Co-Investments: 4
Alumni Ventures
North America, New Hampshire, United States, Manchester
Co-Investments: 4

Which angels does Safar Partners often collaborate with?

MT
North America, Nevada, United States, Stateline
Shared Deals: 1
AL
North America, New York, United States, Rochester
Shared Deals: 1
Shared Deals: 1
BG
North America, Washington, United States, Seattle
Shared Deals: 2
DS
North America, New York, United States, Saint James
Shared Deals: 1
CP
North America, California, United States, San Francisco
Shared Deals: 1
David Siegel
North America, United States
Shared Deals: 1
BY
North America, North Carolina, United States, Raleigh
Shared Deals: 1
David Blundin
North America, Massachusetts, United States, Boston
Shared Deals: 1
AZ
North America, New York, United States, Rochester
Shared Deals: 1

What are some of recent deals done by Safar Partners?

Solidec

Houston, Texas, United States

Solidec is the pathway to emission-free compounds, beginning with hydrogen peroxide.

Pre SeedJul 30, 2025
Amount Raised: $2,000,000
Syntis Bio

Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Syntis Bio operates as a late-stage preclinical company that develops oral therapies for obesity, diabetes, and rare diseases.

Health CareMedicalTherapeutics
Series AJul 1, 2025
Amount Raised: $33,000,000
Finwave Semiconductor

Waltham, Massachusetts, United States

Finwave Semiconductor develops a 3DGaN technology designed to enhance 5G devices.

Information TechnologyManufacturingSemiconductor
Series BMay 14, 2025
Amount Raised: $8,200,000
Turing

Woburn, Massachusetts, United States

Turing is a digital solutions provider that harnesses the power of AI to optimize asset performance across the entire water value chain.

Artificial Intelligence (AI)ConsultingInformation ServicesMachine LearningSoftware
Series UnknownFeb 26, 2025
Amount Raised: $14,000,000
QuEra Computing

Boston, Massachusetts, United States

QuEra Computing is a neutral-atoms-based quantum computing startup, located in Boston, near Harvard University.

ComputerConsumer ResearchQuantum Computing
Convertible NoteFeb 11, 2025
Amount Raised: $230,000,000
Lightsynq

Brighton, Massachusetts, United States

Lightsynq develops universal optical quantum interconnects that bridge the gap to large-scale quantum computers.

Information TechnologyQuantum ComputingWeb Development
Series ANov 19, 2024
Amount Raised: $18,000,000
Circe

Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Circe is decarbonizing food production through fermentation

AgricultureFarmingFood Processing
SeedSep 12, 2024
Amount Raised: $5,000,000
Ancilia Biosciences

New York, New York, United States

Ancilia Biosciences offers bacterial therapeutics that address the microbiome's viral components.

BiotechnologyHealth CareLife Science
Series UnknownJul 17, 2024
Amount Raised: $4,200,000
Tender Food

Somerville, Massachusetts, United States

Tender Food is a food technology startup that creates alternative meats that replicate the texture, taste, and consistency of real meat.

Alternative ProteinFood and BeverageFood ProcessingNutrition
Series AJun 17, 2024
Amount Raised: $11,000,000
Lucy Therapeutics

Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States

Lucy Therapeutics develops treatments for mitochondrial diseases and neurodegenerative disorders by targeting mitochondrial proteins.

BiotechnologyHealth CareMedicalPharmaceuticalTherapeutics
Series UnknownMay 28, 2024
Amount Raised: $12,500,000