Atlas Venture: A Leader in Biotech Investments and Incubation

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Atlas Venture is a pioneer in biotech investments, with a focus on incubating and nurturing innovative companies.

The firm was founded in 1980 by Bill Marth, Bob Terrell, and Jim Matheson, who recognized the potential of biotechnology to transform human health.

With a strong track record of success, Atlas Venture has made significant investments in companies that have gone on to achieve major milestones, such as the development of groundbreaking treatments and therapies.

Atlas Venture's commitment to supporting entrepreneurs and scientists has helped to drive innovation in the biotech industry, creating new opportunities for patients and advancing the field as a whole.

About Atlas Venture

Atlas Venture is a venture capital firm that has been around since 2006. They have a strong focus on investing in early-stage biotech companies.

Their team is made up of experienced investors who have a deep understanding of the biotech industry. They have a proven track record of success in identifying and backing promising startups.

Atlas Venture has invested in a wide range of biotech companies, from those focused on cancer treatments to those working on gene editing technologies.

Portfolio

Credit: youtube.com, ATLAS VENTURE INTRODUCTION TO INVESTMENTS

Atlas Venture has a diverse portfolio of innovative pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and healthcare companies. They have invested in and built partnerships with companies like Obsidian Therapeutics, which is developing next-generation cell and gene therapies.

Their portfolio companies can be sorted by therapeutic areas, including cell therapy, oncology, autoimmunity, and more. Some of their notable portfolio companies include Dyne Therapeutics, which is focused on developing targeted therapies for genetically-derived muscle diseases.

Atlas Venture has also invested in Cadent Therapeutics, a biotech company that's developing innovative therapies for neurological and psychiatric conditions. Their approach involves rewiring the brain to bring harmony to neural rhythms.

One of their other portfolio companies is Translate Bio, a pharmaceutical company that's using mRNA therapeutics to develop transformative medicine for genetic diseases. Their therapies work to repair protein or gene dysfunctions that cause harm to organs.

Here's a list of some of Atlas Venture's notable portfolio companies:

  • Obsidian Therapeutics: Developing next-generation cell and gene therapies
  • Dyne Therapeutics: Developing targeted therapies for genetically-derived muscle diseases
  • Cadent Therapeutics: Developing innovative therapies for neurological and psychiatric conditions
  • Translate Bio: Using mRNA therapeutics to develop transformative medicine for genetic diseases
  • Q32 Bio: Developing powerful therapies to treat autoimmune and inflammatory diseases
  • deCODE genetics: Focused on the generation, analysis, and understanding of the human genome for large-scale studies of common diseases

Atlas Venture has a strong track record of portfolio exits, with 237 portfolio exits to date. Their latest portfolio exit was Scorpion Therapeutics, which was acquired by Eli Lilly and Company in January 2025.

Investments

Credit: youtube.com, Atlas Venture 2024 Year in Review - B. Booth

Atlas Venture has a diverse team of people from different backgrounds, working together to build breakthrough biotech companies. They have a four-step investment approach to help scientists and businesses achieve their full potential.

The four steps are: Discover, Derisk, Shape, and Strengthen. The company's investment approach helps identify novel ideas and scientific innovations, guide clinical translation, create the right business model and strategy, and position companies for successful development.

Atlas Venture has made 833 investments, with their latest investment being in Be Biopharma as part of their Series C - II on January 15, 2025. They have invested in various companies, including Stipple Bio, nChroma Bio, and Be Biopharma, with amounts ranging from $9.48M to $75M.

Here's a list of some of their notable investments:

  • Be Biopharma: $10M (Series C - II)
  • Stipple Bio: $9.48M (Unattributed VC - II)
  • nChroma Bio: $75M (Series A)

Atlas Venture has also raised funds, including a $250M Opportunity Fund in 2019, which will be invested in existing portfolio companies.

The Investment Approach

Atlas Venture's investment approach is a four-step process that helps scientists and businesses achieve their full potential. This approach is a key part of what sets them apart in the industry.

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The first step is to identify novel ideas and scientific innovations that have the potential to make a significant impact. This is where the team at Atlas Venture uses their diverse expertise to discover new opportunities.

The second step is to derisk, or guide clinical translation, by validating and developing the science and technology. This helps to reduce the risk associated with new ideas and technologies.

The third step is to shape the business model and strategy for each opportunity. This involves creating a plan that will help the company succeed.

The final step is to strengthen the company, positioning it for the successful development and introduction of new drugs into the global market.

Here is a summary of Atlas Venture's investment approach in a step-by-step format:

  1. Discover: Identify novel ideas and scientific innovations with significant impact potential.
  2. Derisk: Guide clinical translation by validating and developing the science and technology.
  3. Shape: Create the right business model and strategy for every opportunity.
  4. Strengthen: Position companies for successful development and introduction of new drugs.

Investments

Atlas Venture has made 833 investments, with their latest investment being in Be Biopharma as part of their Series C - II on January 15, 2025.

Young woman strolling in city street carrying a portfolio case and notebook.
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Their investment approach is a four-step process: Discover, Derisk, Shape, and Strengthen. This helps scientists and businesses achieve their full potential.

The company's investment process is detailed and thorough, with a focus on guiding clinical translation and validating science and technology. This approach has led to successful investments in various biotech companies.

Atlas Venture has invested in a range of biotech companies, including Be Biopharma, Stipple Bio, and nChroma Bio. Their investments have ranged from $9.48M to $75M.

Here's a breakdown of some of their notable investments:

Atlas Venture has also raised a $250M fund for their Opportunity Fund, which will be invested in existing portfolio companies. This fund is a significant milestone for the company, marking their shift to a biotech-only firm.

Their focus on biotech is evident in their investments, with a range of companies working on innovative treatments and therapies. Atlas Venture's investment approach and focus on biotech have made them a significant player in the industry.

Incubated Rectify Lands $100M for Drug Transport Hunt

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Rectify Pharmaceuticals has landed a significant investment of $100 million in financing.

The startup is taking an approach to disease that led to a successful franchise of Vertex Pharmaceutical lung drugs.

This approach is being expanded to more diseases in more organs in the body.

Rectify is Atlas Venture-incubated, which likely provided valuable guidance and support.

1 Acquisition

Atlas Venture has made a significant acquisition in its history. The company acquired NovusPharma on September 20, 1999.

Their latest acquisition was a result of a management buyout. This deal was finalized with a convertible note investment.

The valuation of this acquisition was a substantial $XXM.

Latest News

Be Biopharma, Inc. has closed its $92 million Series C financing, led by new investor Nextech and existing investors such as ARCH Venture Partners and Atlas Venture.

The funding will be used to generate clinical proof-of-concept for BE-101 in the ongoing BeCoMe-9 Phase 1/2 clinical trial for people with hemophilia B.

Credit: youtube.com, Atlas Venture 2024 Year in Review - B. Booth

Joanne Smith-Farrell, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Be Bio, is grateful to their investors for sharing their vision that B Cell Medicines can transform the treatment landscape for a wide range of diseases.

Be Bio's lead programs, BE-101 and BE-102, have best-in-class potential and are poised to revolutionize treatment paradigms across indications.

Melissa McCracken, Ph.D., Partner at Nextech, believes that B Cell Medicines could transform patient care and is excited to partner with Be Biopharma at this pivotal stage.

Fund History

Atlas Venture has a long history of successful fund management. They have managed 25 funds, including Atlas Venture Fund XIV, which closed in 2024.

Atlas Venture Fund XIII, which closed in 2022, had a significantly larger amount of $450M. In comparison, Accomplice Fortuity Pool, which closed in 2020, had a much smaller amount of $110M.

Atlas Venture has also managed funds with unknown amounts, such as Atlas Venture Fund XII and Pride Fund, both of which closed in 2020. These funds had sources listed as 10.

Here's a breakdown of the funds mentioned:

Partners & Customers

Credit: youtube.com, AtlasVenture YinR 2019 Youtube B Booth

Atlas Venture has a diverse range of partners and customers, including AbCellera, a Canadian biotechnology company.

Atlas Venture partnered with AbCellera on August 8, 2022, to collaborate on a new company for therapeutic antibody discovery. This multi-target partnership aims to discover therapeutic antibodies for up to three drug targets that can be developed and commercialized by a stealth-stage Atlas-backed company.

Here are some of Atlas Venture's notable partners and customers:

Atlas Venture has a long history of partnerships, with collaborations dating back to 2011.

Attributes and Activity

Atlas Venture has a rich history, dating back to 1980 when it was originally formed. It has a strong focus on investing in life sciences and technology startup companies.

The firm has a diverse investment portfolio, with a history of raising over $3 billion in investor commitments across nine venture capital funds. Its fifth fund, raised in 2000, was a notable exception, with $705 million in commitments.

Credit: youtube.com, Venture Creation Spotlight: Jason Rhodes (Atlas Venture)

Atlas Venture has a significant presence in the United States, with a focus on New England, Boston, Maine, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont, California, and the San Francisco Bay Area. It also has a history of investing in companies based in Europe.

The firm's investment strategy is quite broad, focusing on a wide range of industries, including payments, SMB, consumer-facing innovation, advances in biology, next-generation infrastructure, security, consumer services, small business infrastructure, fintech, emerging web service companies, next-generation media, gaming, and social technologies. Within life sciences, it focuses on biopharmaceuticals.

Here are some of the specific areas Atlas Venture invests in:

  • Payments
  • SMB
  • Consumer-facing innovation
  • Advances in biology
  • Next-generation infrastructure
  • Security
  • Consumer services
  • Small business infrastructure
  • Fintech
  • Emerging web service companies
  • Next-generation media
  • Gaming
  • Social technologies
  • Enterprise and internet infrastructure
  • Big data and mobile infrastructure
  • Internet-related businesses and communications
  • Biopharmaceuticals

The firm typically invests between $0.25 million to $15 million per transaction, and prefers to be a lead investor, seeking board representation in its portfolio companies.

Frequently Asked Questions

How big is the Atlas Venture Fund?

Atlas Venture Fund has a total of $450 million in its thirteenth fund, raised in March 2022.

Wallace Brekke

Junior Assigning Editor

Wallace Brekke is a seasoned Assigning Editor with a keen eye for detail and a passion for storytelling. With a keen interest in finance and economics, Brekke has honed their skills in assigning and editing articles on a range of topics, including market trends and commodity prices. Brekke's expertise spans a variety of categories, including gold prices and historical commodity prices.

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