Venrock Investment Strategy and Portfolio

Venrock's investment strategy is focused on identifying and supporting innovative companies that have the potential to disrupt markets and drive growth.

The firm's investment approach emphasizes the importance of partnering with entrepreneurs and management teams who share their vision and values.

Venrock's investment portfolio is comprised of a diverse range of companies across various industries, including healthcare, technology, and finance.

One notable aspect of Venrock's investment strategy is their emphasis on making early-stage investments, often in the seed or Series A rounds.

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Venrock was founded by Laurance S. Rockefeller in January 1946 as Rockefeller Brothers, Inc., one of the first postwar venture-capital operations.

He started with a capitalization of $1.5 million and had eight partners, including his five brothers and sister Abby, as well as two non-family members.

The firm became known as Venrock in 1969, and Laurance S. Rockefeller shifted his investment focus to science and technology-based enterprises.

His investment interests spanned various fields, including aviation, aerospace, electronics, and nuclear power.

Venrock closed its seventh fund in July 2014 with 8 partners, each fund totalling $450 million.

It closed its eighth fund in January 2017 with 15 partners, also with a total of $450 million.

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Venrock has a long history of investing in innovative companies, with over $2.5 billion invested in more than 440 companies. This has resulted in 125 initial public offerings, making them a successful venture capital firm.

Their investment portfolio includes well-known companies like Intel, Apple, and Check Point Software, as well as emerging tech companies like Dapper Labs and Astranis. They've also invested in healthcare companies such as Illumina and Millennium Pharmaceuticals.

Venrock has made a total of 1,129 investments, with their latest investment being in Interos as part of their Series D - II on October 25, 2024.

Venrock has an impressive track record of investments, with over $2.5 billion invested in more than 440 companies. This has resulted in 125 initial public offerings.

One of the key sectors that Venrock focuses on is information technology, where it has invested in companies like Intel and Apple.

In the healthcare sector, Venrock has made significant investments, including in Illumina and Millennium Pharmaceuticals.

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Venrock has also invested in emerging technologies, such as nanotechnology, with early funding of Nanosys and the nanotech division of Du Pont.

Some notable healthcare investments made by Venrock include athenahealth, Grand Rounds, and HealthSouth Corporation.

Here are some of the notable companies in Venrock's portfolio:

Venrock invests in a variety of sectors, with a notable presence in Life Sciences, having made 114 investments in this area.

The firm also has a significant number of investments in Enterprise Applications, with 94 investments to date.

In contrast, High Tech and Enterprise Infrastructure have received fewer investments, with 60 and 46 investments respectively.

Consumer investments are also on the lower side, with only 24 investments made by Venrock.

Other sectors, including those not mentioned here, have accounted for 241 investments.

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Venrock's portfolio includes several companies that have gone public through an IPO. One notable example is Artiva Biotherapeutics, which went public on July 19, 2024. This was Venrock's latest portfolio exit.

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Artiva Biotherapeutics was first invested in by Venrock on February 22, 2021, in a Series B round worth $120 million. This investment was a significant milestone for the company, marking a major step towards its eventual IPO.

Venrock's portfolio also includes other companies that have gone public through an IPO, such as Apogee Therapeutics and LianBio. Apogee Therapeutics went public on July 14, 2023, after being first invested in by Venrock on December 7, 2022. LianBio, on the other hand, went public on November 1, 2021, after receiving a $310 million investment from Venrock in October 2020.

Here's a list of some of the companies that have gone public through an IPO in Venrock's portfolio:

Venrock closed its 10th fund at a whopping $650 million, a significant increase from its previous funds.

This fund was raised in a different market environment, one that required greater follow-on reserves.

Cooley advised Venrock on the close of its 10th fund, with partners Eric Doherty and John Clendenin leading the team.

Venrock has a history of partnering with entrepreneurs to build successful companies, particularly in technology and healthcare.

Its portfolio includes notable companies like 10X Genomics, Apple Computer, and Illumina.

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Venrock has a select group of strategic partners and customers, which has helped drive its success. One notable partner is CoinFund, with whom Venrock partnered on April 4, 2018.

Venrock's partnership with CoinFund was a significant milestone, as it marked a focus on long-term investments in the blockchain space. This partnership was announced on April 8, 2018.

Venrock has also partnered with Venturebeat, a well-known technology media company. This partnership was established on April 18, 2013.

Venrock's partnerships with CoinFund and Venturebeat demonstrate its commitment to working with innovative businesses and organizations. Both partnerships have helped Venrock stay at the forefront of the industry.

Here are Venrock's strategic partners and customers, listed in a table:

Venrock has been mentioned in a research brief by CB Insights Intelligence Analysts, specifically on March 5, 2024.

This mention occurred in a report published on the same date, March 5, 2024.

Over the past 40 years, 1811 investors have co-invested in Venrock's portfolio companies, including funds and angels.

Venrock's co-investment network is impressive, with 600 investors entering a company along with them. This includes investors like RA Capital Management, which has co-invested with Venrock in 19 companies.

New Enterprise Associates and Frazier Healthcare Partners are notable co-investors of Venrock, having co-invested in 7 and 7 companies respectively before Venrock's involvement. These partnerships demonstrate the value of co-investment in supporting startups.

A total of 815 investors have invested in Venrock's portfolio after their investments, with top investors including Fidelity Investments, SVB, and GGV Capital, who have co-invested in 13, 12, and 8 companies respectively.

Here are some key co-investors of Venrock: