Sunstone Life Science Ventures

Profile

Sunstone Life Science Ventures is an independent European venture capital investment firm. Our purpose – and passion – is to seek out, enable and empower the most promising life science therapeutics innovations. We help turn new science into new products, improving outcome for patients. And we help create value for innovators, investors and health care systems around the world.

We were founded in 2007 by an international team of industry experts combining entrepreneurial, operational and financial experience. This means we have the experience, the competencies and the networks to carefully select and then fully support our portfolio companies with both funding and business development and more.

We are committed to working hands-on with our portfolio companies to build value. We work closely with management and board members and also offer the competencies of our experienced Business Development Board. This board consists of leading international Life Science executives who have all been involved hands-on in licensing, partnerships and M&A’s on the buy-side.

We believe that the founder/investor relationship works best when built on a balanced foundation of respect and honesty. Building a successful start-up is rarely a straightforward process, and most companies experience troubles at some point in time. In that situation, everyone is best served by having an honest and collaborative relationship.

Sunstone Life Science Ventures focuses on investment opportunities based on novel therapeutics for humans; with strong potential for global success. We typically make our initial investment in companies raising Series A or B rounds, but in some cases even earlier. See more in our Investment Strategy

To date, Sunstone Life Science Ventures has invested in more than 45 life science companies and several successful IPOs and large M&A transactions have been completed from our portfolio so far (see below).

The road from innovation to market in the life sciences area often demands both large-scale and long-term investments. Accordingly, we more often than not co-invest with other funds and institutional investors. We encourage and welcome both (co-) investors and innovators to contact us to open a dialogue.

Investment Strategy
& Management
Sunstone Life Science Ventures invests in early-stage life science companies developing novel therapeutics for humans. Our geographical scope is Europe including UK with particular emphasis on the European life science hubs.

Our point of entry differs depending on the type of opportunity; however, we usually invest when drug candidates are in the pre-clinical or clinical phase I.

Sunstone Life Science Ventures’ investment strategy has a strong industry focus vis-à-vis potential buyers of our portfolio companies. Since we believe that most exits in the life science sector will continue to take place in the M&A space, we prefer business models suitable for this exit route.

To appear on the radar of potential acquirers, we invest in opportunities that truly stand out in terms of both science and market positioning. We seek opportunities which target unmet medical needs in commercially attractive markets, and we seek products which, once approved, are likely to receive attractive reimbursement and pricing structures.

We have a preference for companies targeting niche markets. Opportunities aimed at specialty pharma and orphan drug indications are especially interesting to us, and oncology continues to be an important area, for society and for investors alike.

We believe that the single most important factor when developing a successful company is the quality of the management team. This does not mean that we only invest in savvy entrepreneurs with a strong track record. But less experienced management teams should be open to change if needed to accelerate the company.

We are committed to working hands-on with our portfolio companies to build value. In order to do so, Sunstone is represented on the board of directors and works closely with the management team and the other board members to develop the company.

As an extra, unique offering, aimed at building the value of our portfolio companies, we offer access to Sunstone’s Business Development Board, established in 2007 and consisting of leading Life Science executives who have all been involved hands-on in licensing, partnerships and M&A’s on the buy-side.

Sunstone Life Science Ventures Fund I was established at the inception of Sunstone in 2007. The total committed capital is EUR 200 million. The investment strategy included therapeutics, medical technology and diagnostics. The fund is no longer making new investments.

Sunstone Life Science Ventures Fund II was established at the inception of Sunstone in 2007. The total committed capital is EUR 86 million and the fund invested in 12 new portfolio companies. The investment strategy included therapeutics, medical technology and diagnostics. The fund is no longer making new investments.

In 2010, Sunstone took over management of the former BankInvest Biotechnology Funds. The funds are no longer making new investments.

Sunstone Life Science Ventures Fund III was established in 2012. The total committed capital is EUR 80 million and the fund invested in 11 new portfolio companies. The investment strategy included therapeutics, and medical technology. The fund is no longer making new investments.

Sunstone Life Science Ventures Fund IV was established in 2019. The total committed capital is EUR 92 million. The investment strategy is focused entirely on therapeutics. The fund is currently building the portfolio and is actively pursuing new investment opportunities.