Organization · Venture Capital
Mission BioCapital
Mission BioCapital is a life science venture capital firm based in San Francisco and Cambridge, focusing on early-stage investments in biotech companies. They emphasize a company creation model alongside traditional funding.
Overview
What Mission BioCapital does
What Mission BioCapital is
Mission BioCapital is a life science venture capital firm based in San Francisco and Cambridge, focusing on early-stage investments in biotech companies. They emphasize a company creation model alongside traditional funding.
How it participates in the startup ecosystem
The current public profile supports funder capabilities. Each capability below is shown separately so organization identity and role-specific information do not get conflated.
Operational profile
Organization status and context
Organization status describes the entity itself. Funding and program availability appear within the relevant capability profile.
- Operational status
- Active
- Organization type
- Venture Capital
- Founded
- Founded in 2009
- Approximate age
- About 17 years
- Structured capabilities
- Funder
- Last reviewed
- March 26, 2026
Official channels
Find Mission BioCapital elsewhere
Open the official website or a supported primary organization account.
Capability profile
Mission BioCapital as a funder
Investment thesis
Mission BioCapital focuses on early-stage life science investments, emphasizing company creation alongside traditional funding. They aim to accelerate scientific solutions from discovery to clinical application.
Focus narrative
Mission BioCapital invests in early-stage life science companies, emphasizing mentorship, collaboration, and respect for founders. The firm operates out of its fifth fund, which has a total size of $275 million, and supports companies across various sectors within life sciences, including therapeutics, drug delivery, and lab tools. Their investment strategy is designed to nurture scientific advancements and bring innovative solutions to market.
Value beyond capital
Mission BioCapital adds value to its portfolio companies through a combination of early-stage capital, mentorship, and strategic partnerships. The firm emphasizes collaboration and innovation, providing not just funding but also access to shared lab space and resources. Their unique company creation model allows them to work closely with founders and researchers, fostering an environment that accelerates the development of groundbreaking scientific solutions.
Focus and fit
- Stages
- Pre-seed · Seed · Series A
- Sectors
- Biotech & Life Sciences
- Regions
- Global · North America
Availability
- Currently deploying
- Yes
Portfolio and track record
- Recorded portfolio count
- 10
- Recorded notable exits
- Caribou Biosciences, Zymergen, and Alector
Portfolio context
Notable portfolio companies include: Caribou Biosciences: Focused on developing genome-edited allogeneic cell therapies for human diseases. Exited with an IPO in July 2021. Zag Bio: Developing therapies targeted at the thymus to generate central immune tolerance. Active investment since 2023. Symbiome: Leveraging microbiome research for skin health products. Active since 2017. Photoswitch: Created advanced tools for membrane biology discoveries. Exited in 2021. PanTher Therapeutics: Developing localized cancer therapies through minimally invasive methods. Active since 2017. Circle Pharma: Operates a discovery engine for cell permeable macrocyclic peptide therapeutics. Active since 2013. Pionyr Immunotherapeutics: Focused on cancer immunotherapies targeting the tumor microenvironment. Exited in 2020. Nocion Therapeutics: Developing treatments for neurogenic inflammation. Active since 2018. QurAlis: Developing precision medicines for ALS and other neurologic diseases. Active since 2018. Alector: Aiming to harness the immune system to cure neurodegenerative diseases. Exited with an IPO in February 2019.
Common questions
What to know about Mission BioCapital
Upseed classifies Mission BioCapital under the Venture Capital organization type. Its current public profile includes funder capabilities.
Source and update disclosure
Know what this page is based on
Source basis
Public organization and program material, official websites, and structured Upseed records.
Last reviewed
March 26, 2026
Known limits
Capability profiles appear only when a structured public profile also contains decision-useful role evidence. Terms and availability can change.
Upseed is an independent guide. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by the organization described on this page.