STRATEGY
With Yale as our largest investor, and with strong ties to Yale’s scientific, engineering, and clinical faculty, as well as with all elements of Yale’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, we are uniquely positioned to identify extraordinary investment opportunities based on Yale research.
But our focus is not on Yale alone. More than half of our portfolio companies hold licenses to Yale technology. Our ties in Connecticut extend well beyond the ivy-covered walls of Yale, with relationships with the University of Connecticut, Jackson Labs, Connecticut Innovations, and the State’s strong support of new ventures.
SWEET SPOT
Catalyzing company formation with management expertise and capital around the deep resources of intellectual property at Yale and other Connecticut institutions.
PEOPLE
People are the most important ingredient in successful start-ups. We generally spend considerable time with scientists and entrepreneurs both before and after making investments, helping to develop and refine the business strategy, recruiting management, developing and helping to implement partnering strategies, securing laboratory and equipment financing, and establishing a firm financial base.
Investment Size
Our initial investments may range from several hundred thousand dollars to $1 million or more, with substantial capital reserved for follow-on investments. For example, we might invest $250,000 to fund needed proof of concept work, $1. 0 million in a first (“Series A”) investment round, with additional capital reserved for subsequent rounds. As a broad and sound investor base is critical to both a company’s success and to attractive investment returns, we expect to build an investment syndicate with other institutional investors early in each company’s development.
Areas of Interest
Areas of particular interest: Life Sciences, including therapeutics, medical devices, diagnostics, research tools and services, digital health, materials, healthcare, and healthcare services; clean technology, with an emphasis on green chemistry; information technology including mobile and social web. We generally spend considerable time with scientists and managers both before and after making investments, developing and refining the business strategy, recruiting management, developing and helping to implement partnering strategies, securing laboratory and equipment financing, etc.
Yale & New Haven
While there is no requirement that companies be located in or near New Haven, that is our focus and we believe the New Haven area to be an excellent location for a life sciences focused technology business given: Affordable office and laboratory space Access to a highly skilled workforce Proximity of Yale University, research hospitals, and a number of large pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies as well as other large technology companies Excellent quality of life, with appealing choices of places to live, a rich mix of restaurants and cultural events, and easy access to outdoor recreational activities on the ocean, on the lakes, and in the mountains of New England.