Lux Capital

Platform biotechs may be less in vogue, but there’s still a compelling path forward. I discussed what it takes to build a successful platform company in 2024 with BioPharma Dive highlighting three key considerations. #1: Think about the lead indication from day one. The days of building a platform first and hoping it finds a target are gone. Build the platform around the target, not the other way around. #2: The popular strategy—starting with a lower-risk, lower-value target to prove out the platform before pursuing a higher-value one—is no longer as viable as it was. You must begin with the high-value target right out of the gate. #3: You only get one “true-believer” round. After that, new investors will judge you solely on the value of the assets you’ve generated. Despite challenging markets, the quality of platform biotechs I'm seeing is higher than ever. Excited about what this generation can achieve. Thanks to BioPharma Dive and Gwendolyn Wu for the opportunity to share these thoughts

🚨 Funding announcement 🚨 Thrilled to back Bluenote as they transform pharma with AI-powered breakthroughs. Their platform is eliminating manual bottlenecks to accelerate drug development—getting critical medicines to patients sooner 🧬 ✨ More below in the exclusive from Andrew Dunn at Endpoints News 👇 https://lnkd.in/dmsXtkMR

🚨 Big News 🚨 Thomas Reardon is joining us as a Venture Partner! From helping build Internet Explorer at Microsoft to founding Lux fam co CTRL-Labs (acquired by Meta), he's been reshaping human-computer interaction. Reardon's already advising Lux portfolio companies like Osmo (generative AI for sustainable aroma molecules) and EvolutionaryScale (generative AI for biology)! He is a true scientist-entrepreneur who will help our founders bridge breakthrough science and successful commercialization 🧪 🔬 🦠 Read the full piece here: https://lnkd.in/dsYhySdh

We're thrilled to work with Standard Metrics to empower our portfolio companies with automated reporting, real-time benchmarking and data-driven insights to accelerate growth 🚀

My latest game with Lux Capital on EVs is almost out and timely. The shock in the EV industry has been a long time coming, with many of my China-hand colleagues waving the red flag for over 10 years. World-class industries need extensive ecosystems and decades to research and build, while companies & governments need dynamic leaders to understand the cross-sector complexities involved. #energy #electricalvehicles #ev #games #industrialpolicy #corporatestrategy #automotives #china #batteries #internationalbusiness #policy #wargames #risk #geopolitics https://lnkd.in/gF4e7PVc

Benchling’s "State of Tech in Biopharma" report is here 🧪 🧬 🔬 It’s a must-read for anyone tracking the intersection of technology and life sciences. AI models like AlphaFold and EvolutionaryScale’s ESM3 are transforming science. But the right tech infrastructure is just as critical. Without the tools to connect wet and dry labs, standardize data, and scale workflows, even the best AI models fall short. The report highlights that only 14% of large biopharma companies — and just 3% of small ones — are prepared for AI at scale. At Lux, we’re proud to support companies like Benchling and EvolutionaryScale as they drive the convergence of biotech and AI, laying the foundation for faster, smarter drug discovery.    Read the report to explore how AI is reshaping the future:https://lnkd.in/eAdXV9Ck

BIG NEWS: Introducing Lux Labs 🧪🔬 Brilliant scientists + proven ideas + freedom to build = turning sci-fi into sci-fact For too long, we've watched ideas get stuck in the limbo between research labs and the real world. Whether it's university IP red tape, corporate bureaucracy, or the challenge of building the right team - great innovations often stay trapped in the lab. Lux Labs is our way of giving transformative ideas the entrepreneurial scaffolding they need to thrive: ⚡ Navigating IP rights and incorporation ⚡ Strategic funding from seed to scale ⚡ Access to elite technical networks ⚡ Startup guidance from battle-tested experts We're formalizing what we've already done with 20+ successful companies including: 💡 Aeva (next-gen autonomous sensing) 💡 EvolutionaryScale (gen AI for bio) 💡 Kurion (nuclear waste cleanup) 💡 Osmo (digitizing scent via AI/ML) 💡 Variant Bio (genome based drug discovery) While we'll continue our traditional venture investing ($100K-$100M checks), Lux Labs doubles down on our commitment to turn the impossible into the inevitable. Let's build the future 🚀 More 👇 on how we're creating & building companies from scratch READ 📕 https://lnkd.in/eTcNUNHU WATCH 📺 https://lnkd.in/eteeT2vd

Science and politics don't always mix well.... Last week, in a thought provoking op-ed for RealClearPolitics, our Josh Wolfe argues that Scientific American presidential endorsement may alienate those we need to persuade rather than change minds. The real issue: both US parties neglect long-horizon scientific research investment, CRUCIAL for peace and economic power! We urgently need the US government to invest in cutting-edge scientific discovery. This maintains our national defense, deters aggression, spawns new industries, and gives America the advantage in Great Power competition. 🧪 🧬 🔬 🇺🇸 Read the full piece here: https://lnkd.in/ekCVCbBA

A decade into their journey, the world needs Maven Clinic more than ever before. We’re excited to support the Maven team as they continue to drive innovation for women and families in this next phase of growth.

Deena Shakir of Lux Capital says every company needs an answer to AI adoption, efficiency and application https://trib.al/Ng5RNN4