About This Fund
DCVC Bio is a specialized venture capital fund focused on deep tech life sciences, established in 2018 by Data Collective (DCVC) as a dedicated vehicle for early-stage investments at the intersection of computational biology, synthetic biology, artificial intelligence, and frontier biotechnology. The fund was co-founded and managed by Dr. Kiersten Stead and Dr. John Hamer, who joined from Monsanto Growth Ventures, alongside DCVC Managing Partners Matt Ocko and Zachary Bogue. DCVC Bio targeted $250 million in commitments, with a Form D notice of exempt offering filed with the SEC in May 2019.
The fund's investment thesis centers on companies that harness fundamental science and deep technology to solve hard problems in human health, agriculture, and synthetic biology. DCVC Bio targets founders applying AI, computation, and biological engineering to drug discovery, crop protection, bio-based materials, and other life sciences applications that require deep interdisciplinary expertise. This approach reflects the broader DCVC philosophy of backing 'deep tech' — companies whose innovations are rooted in scientific and engineering breakthroughs rather than incremental software improvements.
DCVC Bio's portfolio includes investments in AbCellera (antibody discovery; acquired by Eli Lilly), Creyon Bio, Umoja Biopharma, BioPhero, Elo Life Systems, MycoWorks (mycelium-based materials), and Sabanto (autonomous farming). The original DCVC Bio fund is closed; the platform has subsequently raised DCVC Bio II ($350M, 2020 vintage) and DCVC Bio III ($400M, 2024 vintage), demonstrating consistent LP demand and portfolio validation of the deep tech life sciences strategy. The fund is based in Palo Alto and San Francisco, California.