Fresh From Co-Founding Massively Financed Juno Therapeutics, Arch Venture Partners Banks $400 Million+ To Back New Biotechs

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SEATTLE, Aug. 27, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- ARCH Venture Partners, one of the largest U.S. technology venture firms investing in the development of seed and early-stage advanced technology companies, today announced that its eighth venture fund closed with more than $400 million in subscriptions. ARCH Venture Fund VIII exceeded its $250 million subscription target by more than $150 million.

ARCH Venture Partners logo

"The enthusiasm behind Fund VIII shows the strength and potential of our approach to finding and funding new platform technology companies that can transform their industries through disruptive innovation," said ARCH co-founder and Managing Director Robert Nelsen.

ARCH will deploy this fund exclusively in early-stage technologies that can fundamentally change the healthcare, energy, and materials sectors. ARCH's search for disruptive technologies is global, with technology sourcing or investment primarily in the United States but also in countries where the company has extensive scientific and business relationships, including Canada, Ireland, Iceland, South Korea, China, and Japan.

Recent Events

In the past 24 months, portfolio companies in ARCH funds have had nine public offerings and six M/A events, including four of the most oversubscribed biotech IPO's in decades, Agios Pharmaceuticals (AGIO), Bluebird Bio (BLUE), Receptos (RCPT), and Kythera Biopharmaceuticals (KYTH). Additional exits include Ikaria, Ahura Scientific, deCODE Genetics, Sage Therapeutics (SAGE), Fate Therapeutics (FATE), BIND Therapeutics (BIND), Crystal IS, and Achaogen (AKAO).

The next generation of promising companies includes Juno Therapeutics, Siluria Technologies, 908 Devices, VentiRx Pharmaceuticals, AgBiome, Xtera Communications, and Twist Biosciences.

Real Venture Capital

For nearly 30 years, ARCH has defined itself as a "real" venture capital firmseeking risk and backing disruptive technology in biologic and physical sciences, where breakthrough technology matters. The same co-founders, Robert Nelsen, Keith Crandell, and Clint Bybee have been with the firm since its inception. Steve Gillis, Kristina Burow, Paul Thurk, and Mark McDonnell have since joined them.

"ARCH has a unique global view on innovation with an excellent network of the best scientific talent, leadership teams, analysts and industry connections that allows us to both originate companies and groom them for success," said Keith Crandell, co-founder and Managing Director.

Among many landmark investments, ARCH seeded the largest genomics company in the world, the producer of the largest K-6 math curriculum, the creator of the first process that economically converts natural gas to gasoline, the developer of a nasal flu vaccine, the first nanotechnology company, the first social network to hit $100 million in revenue, and the company that developed the leading chemical weapon detection technology for the TSA and military.

Co-Investments

In addition to commitments made to Fund VIII, ARCH's relationships with its limited partners, strategic investors, and crossover investors have the potential to support rapid, large-scale funding for pioneering companies like Juno Therapeutics. Juno, in which ARCH was the co-founder and sole early-stage venture capital investor, earlier this month announced $300 million in first-year funding.

"The additional capital that we can source from our limited partners, corporate partners, and public funds means we have the ability to bring as much as $200 million into a single company," said Nelsen.

About ARCH Venture Partners

ARCH Venture Partners, one of the largest early-stage technology venture firms in the U.S., invests in the development of seed and early-stage advanced technology companies. ARCH enjoys special recognition as a leader in the commercialization of technologies developed at academic institutions, corporate research groups and national laboratories. ARCH invests primarily in companies it co-founds with leading scientists and entrepreneurs, concentrating on bringing to market innovations in life sciences and physical sciences. ARCH has raised approximately $1.9 billion of committed capital through eight venture funds to date and has funded more than 180 new ventures over its 28-year history. The firm has offices in Chicago, Seattle, Austin, and San Francisco. www.archventure.com

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SOURCE ARCH Venture Partners

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