
Samsara BioCapital
Description
Samsara BioCapital is a prominent venture capital firm based in Palo Alto, United States, dedicated to investing in and building next-generation biotechnology companies. Established with a clear focus on the life sciences sector, Samsara BioCapital seeks to partner with entrepreneurs who are developing novel therapeutics to address significant unmet medical needs across various disease areas, including oncology, neuroscience, and rare diseases. The firm leverages the deep scientific and operational expertise of its team to support its portfolio companies from inception through commercialization.
Samsara BioCapital employs a flexible investment strategy, deploying capital across all stages of development, from company formation and seed rounds to late-stage private and even public companies. The firm often takes on lead or co-lead investor roles in funding rounds, demonstrating its commitment to its portfolio companies and its confidence in their potential. This hands-on approach, combined with substantial financial backing, positions Samsara BioCapital as a key enabler of innovation in the biotech industry.
The firm has demonstrated significant fundraising success, which underpins its capacity for substantial investments. Samsara BioCapital Fund I, L.P., closed in 2017 with $230 million, followed by Samsara BioCapital Fund II, L.P., which raised $410 million in 2021. These significant fund sizes enable the firm to make meaningful initial investments and provide follow-on capital to support the long and capital-intensive development cycles characteristic of biotechnology. Their typical first check sizes reflect this capacity, ranging from early-stage commitments to leading substantial growth rounds.
Investor Profile
Samsara BioCapital has backed more than 151 startups, with 22 new investments in the last 12 months alone. The firm has led 20 rounds, about 13% of its total and boasts 58 exits across its portfolio.
Investment Focus Highlights
- Concentrates on Series B, Post Ipo Equity, Series A rounds (top funding stages).
- Majority of deals are located in United States, United Kingdom, Canada.
- Strong thematic focus on Biotechnology, Health Care, Therapeutics.
- Led 5 rounds in the past year.
- Typical check size: $5M – $75M.
Stage Focus
- Series B (28%)
- Post Ipo Equity (25%)
- Series A (20%)
- Series C (13%)
- Series D (5%)
- Series Unknown (4%)
- Seed (3%)
- Series E (1%)
- Undisclosed (1%)
Country Focus
- United States (87%)
- United Kingdom (4%)
- Canada (4%)
- France (1%)
- China (1%)
- Germany (1%)
- Switzerland (1%)
- Denmark (1%)
Industry Focus
- Biotechnology
- Health Care
- Therapeutics
- Medical
- Pharmaceutical
- Life Science
- Biopharma
- Health Diagnostics
- Information Technology
- Oncology
Frequently Asked Questions
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