
Westlake Village BioPartners
Description
Westlake Village BioPartners is a prominent venture capital firm based in Westlake Village, California, dedicated to incubating and building early-stage life sciences companies. Founded in 2018 by veteran biotech leaders Sean Harper, M.D., and Beth Seidenberg, M.D., the firm leverages its deep scientific and operational expertise to support groundbreaking therapeutic and technology platforms. Their investment philosophy centers on a hands-on approach, often partnering with entrepreneurs from inception and guiding companies through critical development stages, including clinical proof-of-concept.
The firm has demonstrated significant fundraising success, securing substantial capital to fuel its investment strategy. In 2018, Westlake Village BioPartners closed its inaugural fund, Fund I, with $320 million in commitments. Building on this momentum, they successfully raised $500 million for their second fund, Fund II, in 2021, bringing their total capital under management to approximately $820 million. This robust financial backing enables them to make meaningful investments in promising ventures within the biotechnology and life sciences sectors.
Westlake Village BioPartners typically targets significant initial investments to provide substantial runway for their portfolio companies. Their first checks generally range from $20 million to $60 million, reflecting their commitment to providing ample capital for early-stage development and critical milestones. Furthermore, the firm has the capacity to invest up to $100 million over the life of a company, demonstrating a long-term commitment to their portfolio and the potential for follow-on funding as companies progress. This strategic deployment of capital underscores their ambition to foster the growth of transformative life sciences enterprises.
Investor Profile
Westlake Village BioPartners has backed more than 25 startups, with 4 new investments in the last 12 months alone. The firm has led 8 rounds, about 32% of its total and boasts 3 exits across its portfolio.
Investment Focus Highlights
- Concentrates on Series B, Series A, Series C rounds (top funding stages).
- Majority of deals are located in United States, United Kingdom, Canada.
- Strong thematic focus on Health Care, Biotechnology, Medical.
- Led 1 rounds in the past year.
- Typical check size: $20M – $60M.
Stage Focus
- Series B (36%)
- Series A (32%)
- Series C (16%)
- Convertible Note (4%)
- Series Unknown (4%)
- Seed (4%)
- Series D (4%)
Country Focus
- United States (92%)
- United Kingdom (4%)
- Canada (4%)
Industry Focus
- Health Care
- Biotechnology
- Medical
- Therapeutics
- Life Science
- Pharmaceutical
- Biopharma
- Cloud Computing
- Oncology
- Genetics
Frequently Asked Questions
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