Northpond Ventures

Northpond Ventures is a venture capital firm based in Bethesda, Maryland, with additional offices in San Francisco and Cambridge. Founded in 2018, the firm specializes in growth capital investments across various sectors, including life sciences, biotechnology, diagnostics, digital health, and emerging technologies. Northpond Ventures aims to support innovative companies that are poised to make significant advancements in healthcare and technology, with a focus on building a better future through its strategic investments. As a Registered Investment Adviser, the firm is committed to fostering developments in therapeutics, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and medical technology.

Diana Bernstein

Principal

Tiffany Chen

Associate

Lucy Coassin

Principal

Nick Futrell

Associate

Shaan C. Gandhi

Director

Steve Liapis

Director

Wes Long

Senior Analyst

Madeleine Lundberg

Senior Analyst

Paxton Major

Director

Maddie Maloney

Analyst

Connor McDermott

Vice President

Tinashe Nyanhete

Associate

Merouane Ounadjela

Senior Analyst

Marc Rosenberg

Senior Associate

Michael Rubin

Co-Founder and CEO

Patrick Smerkers

CFO and Partner

Adam Wieschhaus

Managing Director

Stephanie Yan

Associate

Past deals in Genetics

Garuda Therapeutics

Series A in 2025
Garuda Therapeutics is a biotechnology company focused on developing off-the-shelf hematopoietic stem cell therapies aimed at treating life-threatening blood, bone marrow, immune, and metabolic diseases. The company is dedicated to eliminating the reliance on donor or patient cells for blood stem cell transplants. Utilizing advanced technologies, including zebrafish, mice, and human-induced pluripotent stem cells, Garuda Therapeutics conducts research to clone and analyze novel genes and mechanisms critical for blood formation. This innovative approach is designed to provide patients with consistent, durable, and HLA-compatible transgene-free blood stem cell therapies, offering rapid and broad access to life-saving treatments.

Slingshot Biosciences

Series A in 2024
Slingshot Biosciences, Inc. is a biotechnology company based in Emeryville, California, specializing in the development of engineered synthetic cells for diagnostics and therapeutics. Founded in 2012, the company operates within the industrial synthetic biology sector, focusing on delivering innovative solutions that address challenges in research and development. Slingshot Biosciences aims to provide cost-effective and straightforward approaches to enhance drug research by enabling precise measurement and standardization in cell analysis. Their technology eliminates the need for cold-chain storage, facilitating access to advanced diagnostics and therapeutics, particularly for neglected and rare diseases.

Totus Medicines

Series B in 2023
Totus Medicines is a biotechnology company focused on developing innovative therapies for diseases that have been historically difficult to treat. Utilizing advanced chemical biology techniques, the company employs a proprietary platform that enables high-throughput screening of billions of drug candidates against numerous biological targets. This approach allows Totus Medicines to identify effective molecules for traditionally challenging conditions, including cancer, Alzheimer's disease, infectious diseases, and age-related disorders. By harnessing the potential of covalent bonding and cutting-edge drug discovery methods, Totus Medicines aims to translate genetic insights into viable therapeutic options, addressing unmet medical needs across the human genome.

Aro Biotherapeutics

Series B in 2023
Aro Biotherapeutics is a biotechnology company based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, focused on developing a novel protein drug platform known as Centyrins. These small, non-antibody protein scaffolds are designed to enhance treatment efficacy and safety for patients with cancer and other serious diseases. Aro Biotherapeutics has established a wholly-owned pipeline of Centyrins targeted at oncology and immunology applications. The unique structure of Centyrins allows for multi-specificity and the targeted delivery of complex drug payloads, including nucleic acids, which may aid in advancing therapeutic mechanisms and unlocking the potential of genetic medicines. Established in 2017, the company aims to innovate treatments that improve patient outcomes in challenging medical conditions.

Kyverna Therapeutics

Series B in 2023
Kyverna Therapeutics, Inc. is a cell therapy company focused on developing innovative treatments and potential cures for serious autoimmune diseases. Founded in 2018 and based in Berkeley, California, the company utilizes advanced T cell engineering and synthetic biology technologies to target and eliminate autoreactive immune cells that contribute to inflammatory conditions. By addressing the underlying causes of these diseases, Kyverna Therapeutics aims to offer effective solutions for patients suffering from autoimmune disorders.

Garuda Therapeutics

Series B in 2023
Garuda Therapeutics is a biotechnology company focused on developing off-the-shelf hematopoietic stem cell therapies aimed at treating life-threatening blood, bone marrow, immune, and metabolic diseases. The company is dedicated to eliminating the reliance on donor or patient cells for blood stem cell transplants. Utilizing advanced technologies, including zebrafish, mice, and human-induced pluripotent stem cells, Garuda Therapeutics conducts research to clone and analyze novel genes and mechanisms critical for blood formation. This innovative approach is designed to provide patients with consistent, durable, and HLA-compatible transgene-free blood stem cell therapies, offering rapid and broad access to life-saving treatments.

Slingshot Biosciences

Series A in 2023
Slingshot Biosciences, Inc. is a biotechnology company based in Emeryville, California, specializing in the development of engineered synthetic cells for diagnostics and therapeutics. Founded in 2012, the company operates within the industrial synthetic biology sector, focusing on delivering innovative solutions that address challenges in research and development. Slingshot Biosciences aims to provide cost-effective and straightforward approaches to enhance drug research by enabling precise measurement and standardization in cell analysis. Their technology eliminates the need for cold-chain storage, facilitating access to advanced diagnostics and therapeutics, particularly for neglected and rare diseases.

CAMP4 Therapeutics

Series B in 2022
CAMP4 Therapeutics Corporation is a bioinformatics company founded in 2015 and based in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The company specializes in gene regulation circuitry, focusing on the fundamental causes of diseases by manipulating gene expression. Utilizing its proprietary 4-D gene circuitry platform, CAMP4 codifies the activation of approximately 24,000 human genes into a discrete set of combinatorial rules based on existing cellular signaling pathways. This innovative approach allows CAMP4 to effectively control gene production, thereby accelerating the development of new therapies. By employing this technology, the company aims to streamline the drug development process, significantly reducing both the time and risks associated with bringing new medicines to patients.

Code Biotherapeutics

Series A in 2022
Code Biotherapeutics is a next-generation gene therapy company pioneering the development of targeted non-viral gene therapies to treat serious and life-threatening genetic diseases. Code Bio leverages its novel multivalent synthetic DNA delivery platform, 3DNA, which has been engineered to overcome many of the challenges inherent with viral-based gene therapies such as immunogenicity, size and delivery limitations, re-dosability, and manufacturing complexity. The company is advancing an internal pipeline focused on select rare disease programs as well as establishing partnerships to take forward programs in both rare and prevalent diseases.

Ansa Biotechnologies

Series A in 2022
Ansa Biotechnologies, Inc. is a biotechnology company based in Berkeley, California, focused on developing innovative DNA synthesis technology utilizing enzymes. Founded in 2018, the company aims to transform the traditional methods of DNA production, which have remained largely unchanged for decades. Ansa's enzymatic approach promises to be faster, more accurate, and environmentally friendly compared to conventional chemical methods. This advanced technology facilitates the synthesis of gene-length oligonucleotides, enabling medical researchers to create synthetic genes efficiently. Ansa Biotechnologies' offerings are designed to support a wide range of applications in biological research, diagnostics, therapeutics, and biomanufacturing, ultimately accelerating innovation in the field of biotechnology.

DNAnexus

Series H in 2022
DNAnexus, Inc. is a cloud-based provider of genome informatics and data management tools, primarily serving enterprises and organizations involved in genomic medicine. Founded in 2009 and headquartered in Mountain View, California, the company offers a platform that facilitates the analysis of raw sequencing data and the integration of genomic data with clinical information. Its suite of products includes MOSAIC Microbiome for collaborative research on the human microbiome, DNAnexus Apollo for clinico-genomic data exploration, and DNAnexus Titan for data analysis. Additionally, the DNAnexus Portals provide secure online workspaces for cross-disciplinary collaboration, while the Clinico-Genomic Data Solution addresses the need for disease-specific datasets through partnerships with healthcare providers. The company has established itself as a key player in the biopharmaceutical, diagnostic, and academic research sectors, enabling clients to tackle complex challenges in human health with enhanced security and scalability. DNAnexus also maintains a strategic alliance with WuXi NextCODE Genomics and has locations in San Francisco, London, and Prague.

Sherlock Biosciences

Series B in 2022
Sherlock Biosciences, Inc. is a biotechnology company based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, focused on developing innovative molecular diagnostic solutions. The company utilizes advanced engineering biology tools, such as CRISPR and synthetic biology, to create diagnostic platforms capable of delivering accurate and rapid results. Its notable technologies include SHERLOCK, a method for detecting and quantifying specific genetic sequences, and INSPECTR, which is designed for versatile, easy-to-use diagnostics. Sherlock Biosciences aims to serve various applications, including precision oncology, infectious disease identification, food safety, at-home testing, and general disease detection. Founded in 2018, the company is committed to providing affordable diagnostics suitable for diverse settings, including those with low-resource environments.

Kyverna Therapeutics

Series B in 2022
Kyverna Therapeutics, Inc. is a cell therapy company focused on developing innovative treatments and potential cures for serious autoimmune diseases. Founded in 2018 and based in Berkeley, California, the company utilizes advanced T cell engineering and synthetic biology technologies to target and eliminate autoreactive immune cells that contribute to inflammatory conditions. By addressing the underlying causes of these diseases, Kyverna Therapeutics aims to offer effective solutions for patients suffering from autoimmune disorders.

Totus Medicines

Series A in 2021
Totus Medicines is a biotechnology company focused on developing innovative therapies for diseases that have been historically difficult to treat. Utilizing advanced chemical biology techniques, the company employs a proprietary platform that enables high-throughput screening of billions of drug candidates against numerous biological targets. This approach allows Totus Medicines to identify effective molecules for traditionally challenging conditions, including cancer, Alzheimer's disease, infectious diseases, and age-related disorders. By harnessing the potential of covalent bonding and cutting-edge drug discovery methods, Totus Medicines aims to translate genetic insights into viable therapeutic options, addressing unmet medical needs across the human genome.

Kytopen

Series A in 2021
Kytopen, established in 2017 and based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, specializes in the development of a cell therapy platform. This platform facilitates the non-viral delivery of molecules into challenging-to-transfect immune cells, making the process easier, faster, and more cost-effective. The company's proprietary Flowfect™ technology combines microfluidics and automation, enabling researchers to explore new biological discoveries and develop more affordable cell and gene therapies.

Garuda Therapeutics

Series A in 2021
Garuda Therapeutics is a biotechnology company focused on developing off-the-shelf hematopoietic stem cell therapies aimed at treating life-threatening blood, bone marrow, immune, and metabolic diseases. The company is dedicated to eliminating the reliance on donor or patient cells for blood stem cell transplants. Utilizing advanced technologies, including zebrafish, mice, and human-induced pluripotent stem cells, Garuda Therapeutics conducts research to clone and analyze novel genes and mechanisms critical for blood formation. This innovative approach is designed to provide patients with consistent, durable, and HLA-compatible transgene-free blood stem cell therapies, offering rapid and broad access to life-saving treatments.

Slingshot Biosciences

Series A in 2021
Slingshot Biosciences, Inc. is a biotechnology company based in Emeryville, California, specializing in the development of engineered synthetic cells for diagnostics and therapeutics. Founded in 2012, the company operates within the industrial synthetic biology sector, focusing on delivering innovative solutions that address challenges in research and development. Slingshot Biosciences aims to provide cost-effective and straightforward approaches to enhance drug research by enabling precise measurement and standardization in cell analysis. Their technology eliminates the need for cold-chain storage, facilitating access to advanced diagnostics and therapeutics, particularly for neglected and rare diseases.

CAMP4 Therapeutics

Series A in 2021
CAMP4 Therapeutics Corporation is a bioinformatics company founded in 2015 and based in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The company specializes in gene regulation circuitry, focusing on the fundamental causes of diseases by manipulating gene expression. Utilizing its proprietary 4-D gene circuitry platform, CAMP4 codifies the activation of approximately 24,000 human genes into a discrete set of combinatorial rules based on existing cellular signaling pathways. This innovative approach allows CAMP4 to effectively control gene production, thereby accelerating the development of new therapies. By employing this technology, the company aims to streamline the drug development process, significantly reducing both the time and risks associated with bringing new medicines to patients.

Torus Biosystems

Series A in 2021
Torus Biosystems is a biotechnology company founded in 2019 and based in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It specializes in the development of a diagnostic device that facilitates DNA testing for scientific and medical research applications. The company's apparatus is designed for use across various sectors, including consumer products, food safety for humans and animals, personal care, and agriculture. By providing accessible DNA testing solutions, Torus Biosystems aims to enhance the understanding of biochemical agents in both medical and non-medical contexts.

StrideBio

Series B in 2021
StrideBio, Inc. is a gene therapy company based in Durham, North Carolina, focused on developing innovative genetic medicines for rare diseases. Founded in 2015, the company utilizes a proprietary structure-inspired adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector engineering platform to create unique and differentiated vectors. These vectors are designed to improve upon naturally occurring AAV serotypes, addressing limitations of first-generation gene therapies. StrideBio's technologies facilitate gene addition, silencing, and editing, providing potential curative options for patients with severe medical conditions. By combining structural insights with accelerated evolution, StrideBio aims to produce novel AAV capsids capable of evading neutralizing antibodies, ultimately enhancing treatment outcomes for those affected by rare diseases.

Personal Genome Diagnostics

Series C in 2021
Personal Genome Diagnostics, Inc. is a biotechnology company focused on patient-specific analyses of cancer genomes. Established in 2010 and headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland, the company has pioneered technologies for non-invasive "liquid biopsy" approaches, allowing for the detection of tumor-specific alterations in circulating cell-free DNA. Its offerings include the METDetect Assay for identifying MET gene amplifications, LungSelect for detecting actionable genetic alterations in non-small cell lung cancer patients, and PGDx elio plasma resolve, which analyzes various genetic mutations from plasma samples. Additionally, Personal Genome Diagnostics provides RNAcomplete, enabling researchers to extract both RNA and genomic DNA from a single tissue sample, and CancerXOME, which captures and analyzes coding regions of genes. The company collaborates with institutions like Mayo Clinic and partners with KingMed Diagnostics to enhance its research and diagnostic capabilities, thereby empowering oncologists and researchers with crucial genomic insights to combat cancer.

Encodia

Series C in 2020
Encodia, Inc. is a biotechnology company based in San Diego, California, founded in 2015. The company specializes in proteomics research, providing innovative solutions for protein analysis through its proprietary technology. Encodia's platform utilizes a novel reverse-translation process that converts peptide sequence information into a DNA library, facilitating scalable and efficient protein sequencing. This technology allows researchers to gain comprehensive insights into cellular processes, thereby advancing personalized medicine and accelerating the discovery of novel approaches to address complex diseases. By democratizing protein sequencing, Encodia aims to enhance the capabilities of scientists in their pursuit of understanding the proteome.

Aro Biotherapeutics

Series A in 2020
Aro Biotherapeutics is a biotechnology company based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, focused on developing a novel protein drug platform known as Centyrins. These small, non-antibody protein scaffolds are designed to enhance treatment efficacy and safety for patients with cancer and other serious diseases. Aro Biotherapeutics has established a wholly-owned pipeline of Centyrins targeted at oncology and immunology applications. The unique structure of Centyrins allows for multi-specificity and the targeted delivery of complex drug payloads, including nucleic acids, which may aid in advancing therapeutic mechanisms and unlocking the potential of genetic medicines. Established in 2017, the company aims to innovate treatments that improve patient outcomes in challenging medical conditions.

DNAnexus

Series G in 2020
DNAnexus, Inc. is a cloud-based provider of genome informatics and data management tools, primarily serving enterprises and organizations involved in genomic medicine. Founded in 2009 and headquartered in Mountain View, California, the company offers a platform that facilitates the analysis of raw sequencing data and the integration of genomic data with clinical information. Its suite of products includes MOSAIC Microbiome for collaborative research on the human microbiome, DNAnexus Apollo for clinico-genomic data exploration, and DNAnexus Titan for data analysis. Additionally, the DNAnexus Portals provide secure online workspaces for cross-disciplinary collaboration, while the Clinico-Genomic Data Solution addresses the need for disease-specific datasets through partnerships with healthcare providers. The company has established itself as a key player in the biopharmaceutical, diagnostic, and academic research sectors, enabling clients to tackle complex challenges in human health with enhanced security and scalability. DNAnexus also maintains a strategic alliance with WuXi NextCODE Genomics and has locations in San Francisco, London, and Prague.

Codex DNA

Series A in 2019
Codex DNA is a biology company helping researchers with the tools they need to securely design, code, and create synthetic DNA. The company is on a mission to help scientific researchers in both academic and commercial settings with the hardware, software, materials, and methodologies required to rapidly and accurately write large quantities of synthetic genes. To, in effect, build biology. Its gene synthesis portfolio reduces the turnaround time for synthesizing workflows from weeks and months to days and hours and includes the BioXp system, DNA services, Gibson Assembly reagents, and Vmax chemically competent cells. In addition to automating, speeding, and optimizing DNA design and synthesis, Codex DNA and the BioXp system ensure your designs stay in your hands, marrying speed and security for innovators in drug discovery, vaccine development, precision medicine, and beyond. Co-founded by Dan Gibson — the creator of the industry-standard Gibson Assembly methodology — Codex DNA is attempting nothing less than changing everything.

Codex DNA

Series A in 2019
Codex DNA is a biology company helping researchers with the tools they need to securely design, code, and create synthetic DNA. The company is on a mission to help scientific researchers in both academic and commercial settings with the hardware, software, materials, and methodologies required to rapidly and accurately write large quantities of synthetic genes. To, in effect, build biology. Its gene synthesis portfolio reduces the turnaround time for synthesizing workflows from weeks and months to days and hours and includes the BioXp system, DNA services, Gibson Assembly reagents, and Vmax chemically competent cells. In addition to automating, speeding, and optimizing DNA design and synthesis, Codex DNA and the BioXp system ensure your designs stay in your hands, marrying speed and security for innovators in drug discovery, vaccine development, precision medicine, and beyond. Co-founded by Dan Gibson — the creator of the industry-standard Gibson Assembly methodology — Codex DNA is attempting nothing less than changing everything.

Sherlock Biosciences

Series A in 2019
Sherlock Biosciences, Inc. is a biotechnology company based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, focused on developing innovative molecular diagnostic solutions. The company utilizes advanced engineering biology tools, such as CRISPR and synthetic biology, to create diagnostic platforms capable of delivering accurate and rapid results. Its notable technologies include SHERLOCK, a method for detecting and quantifying specific genetic sequences, and INSPECTR, which is designed for versatile, easy-to-use diagnostics. Sherlock Biosciences aims to serve various applications, including precision oncology, infectious disease identification, food safety, at-home testing, and general disease detection. Founded in 2018, the company is committed to providing affordable diagnostics suitable for diverse settings, including those with low-resource environments.

Candel Therapeutics

Series C in 2019
Candel Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to developing and commercializing innovative cancer immunotherapies aimed at improving the lives of cancer patients and their families. The company specializes in viral immunotherapies that utilize genetically modified adenoviruses and herpes simplex virus constructs to target cancer effectively. Candel's approach focuses on preventing the recurrence and progression of cancer with low toxicity, making it particularly suitable for treating less aggressive or slower-growing cancers, such as newly diagnosed prostate cancer. By enhancing treatment outcomes and facilitating faster recovery for patients, Candel Therapeutics strives to make a meaningful impact in the field of oncology.
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