Start Codon
Start Codon is a pre-seed/seed investment fund and venture builder that builds successful life science and healthcare/wellbeing start-ups across the UK.
We focus on companies that have disruptive platform technologies with therapeutics, diagnostics, MedTech and/or digital health applications which address unmet needs. We invest in everything from university, corporate and institution ‘spin outs’, to entrepreneurs who have generated their own proprietary IP.
Our initial investments start from £250,000 and we can also provide additional/follow-on financing if certain criteria is met. Alongside our investment, as we are also a venture builder, we provide much needed and additional value-add over and above a traditional investor by helping founders to build and scale their venture from the ground up. This includes providing our companies with access to our ‘START’ venture building programme, through which we work hand-in-hand with our founders and their teams to help them craft their vision and to establish, build and scale their businesses. The START programme includes regular hands-on support from our experienced management team (which has a breadth of experience in product development, commercial strategy, legal and operations and HR/people management), mentorship from accomplished biotech and pharma executives and other industry leaders, access to a wide ranging and broad network of investors and industry partners and invites to regular events, seminars and educational sessions.
In addition, our portfolio companies may also get the opportunity to present their technology and company to a wide range of national and international investors and pharma and business partners at our annual ‘Innovation Showcase’. By providing this support, we ensure that our portfolio companies hit their key milestones, scale at pace and thrive in a competitive market.
In order to apply for funding from us, entrepreneurs should complete the application form on our website. In addition to hearing from entrepreneurs spinning out of universities and other institutions, we encourage entrepreneurs with innovative life science/healthcare/wellbeing solutions developed outside of the more traditional life sciences/ healthcare/wellbeing arena (e.g. with self-generated IP or ideas) to apply for investment. Start Codon will also consider investments in early stage spin out opportunities from existing corporates.
Start Codon has a sizeable investment portfolio of exciting companies that is growing. We expect to invest in between 36 – 48 companies from our current fund before January 2025.