Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is a prominent grant-making organization co-founded by Bill and Melinda Gates in 2000, headquartered in Seattle, Washington, with additional offices in Washington, D.C.; New Delhi, India; Beijing, China; and London, United Kingdom. The foundation focuses on improving global health, enhancing education, and providing support to at-risk families, particularly in the Pacific Northwest. It actively promotes strategies that assist low-income families and works towards greater equality in various sectors. The foundation is also involved in investment management, overseeing an endowment that includes a diverse portfolio primarily in public equity and fixed income markets, while excluding tobacco-related investments. Its trustees include Bill Gates, Melinda Gates, and Warren Buffett.

Carolyn Ainslie

Chief Financial Officer

Brandi Bogosian

Deputy Director, Investment Reporting

Jennifer Deger

Director of Finance and Controller

Sue Desmond-Hellmann

Chief Executive Officer

Past deals in New England

Hyperfine

Grant in 2023
Hyperfine Research Inc. specializes in developing portable magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanners, aimed at making medical imaging more accessible. Founded in 2014 and based in Guilford, Connecticut, the company focuses on general anatomical brain imaging and addresses various medical conditions, including headaches, strokes, non-specific muscle weakness, encephalopathy, spinal cord compressions, diabetic foot disease, and musculoskeletal trauma. Within a year of its establishment, Hyperfine successfully produced its first images, and it has since improved the quality and functionality of its imaging technology. The company’s mission is to democratize healthcare by ensuring that medical imaging is available to people worldwide.

Enko Chem

Series C in 2022
Enko Chem discovers and develops novel products for farmers to protect their crops from pests and diseases. Their proprietary technology platform represents a revolutionary approach to rapidly discover safe and economical solutions that are needed to ensure sustainable food production. It was founded in 2017 and headquartered in Woburn, Massachusetts.

Interise

Grant in 2022
Interise is a small and medium businesses company located in Boston.

Butterfly Network

Grant in 2022
Butterfly Network designs a medical imaging device that reduces the cost of real-time and three-dimensional imaging and treatment. Jonathan M. Rothberg, Nevada Sanchez, and Tyler S. Ralston founded it in 2011, with its headquarters in Guilford in Connecticut.
Particles for Humanity transforms early-stage medical technology into products for people living in low-resource settings. Its development plans include a portfolio of products for improving vaccination and reducing malnutrition. Its rigorous product development process is based on end-user input and is focused on financially sustainable product opportunities.

TomorrowNow.org

Grant in 2021
TomorrowNow is a global non-profit helping vulnerable communities adapt to climate change.

CRISPR Therapeutics

Grant in 2020
CRISPR Therapeutics is focused on the development of transformative medicines using its proprietary CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing platform. CRISPR/Cas9 is a revolutionary technology that allows for precise, directed changes to genomic DNA. They have licensed the foundational CRISPR/Cas9 patent estate for human therapeutic use from their scientific founder, Dr. Emmanuelle Charpentier, who co-invented the application of CRISPR/Cas9 for gene editing. CRISPR Therapeutics’ vision is to cure serious human diseases at the molecular level using CRISPR-Cas9. The company is headquartered in Basel, Switzerland and has operations in London, UK.
Particles for Humanity transforms early-stage medical technology into products for people living in low-resource settings. Its development plans include a portfolio of products for improving vaccination and reducing malnutrition. Its rigorous product development process is based on end-user input and is focused on financially sustainable product opportunities.

E25Bio

Grant in 2020
E25Bio specializes in the development of rapid diagnostic tests for epidemic fever viruses. It is dedicated to preventing severe downstream health outcomes with the use of mobile, fast, real-time reporting to create unprecedented large datasets to guide informed and timely responses for the control of disease spread. The company was founded in 2018 and is headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Enko Chem

Series B in 2020
Enko Chem discovers and develops novel products for farmers to protect their crops from pests and diseases. Their proprietary technology platform represents a revolutionary approach to rapidly discover safe and economical solutions that are needed to ensure sustainable food production. It was founded in 2017 and headquartered in Woburn, Massachusetts.
Particles for Humanity transforms early-stage medical technology into products for people living in low-resource settings. Its development plans include a portfolio of products for improving vaccination and reducing malnutrition. Its rigorous product development process is based on end-user input and is focused on financially sustainable product opportunities.

Lyndra Therapeutics

Grant in 2019
Lyndra Therapeutics is a biotechnology company focused on developing ultra-long-acting oral medications designed to replace daily pill regimens. By providing sustained-release therapies that can be administered weekly or even monthly, the company aims to enhance medication adherence and improve health outcomes. Their innovative approach includes polypill strategies that consolidate multiple medications into a single dose, thereby increasing safety and efficacy while potentially reducing overall healthcare costs. Lyndra Therapeutics is actively developing treatments for a range of conditions, including Alzheimer's disease, cardiovascular and metabolic disorders, psychiatric conditions, opioid use disorders, immunology, HIV, malaria vector control, and oral contraceptives. Established in 2015 and headquartered in Watertown, Massachusetts, the company seeks to make a significant impact on global health through its advanced therapeutic solutions.

Manus Bio

Grant in 2019
Making nature accessible and affordable for a growing society.It is estimated that the world’s population will increase by more than 35% by 2050, reaching 9 billion people. Crop production will need to more than double in order to feed these people and meet the consumer needs of a developing world. With very little land remaining for agricultural expansion, they as a society need to find ways to maximize the use of their world’s resources. Plants produce a variety of rare natural products which are used in their daily lives as flavors, fragrances, food ingredients, cosmetics, vitamins, pharmaceuticals and agricultural chemicals. They strive to reduce their dependence on land- and resource-intensive practices by recreating natural processes through biotechnology.
Particles for Humanity transforms early-stage medical technology into products for people living in low-resource settings. Its development plans include a portfolio of products for improving vaccination and reducing malnutrition. Its rigorous product development process is based on end-user input and is focused on financially sustainable product opportunities.

Vedanta Biosciences

Series C in 2018
Vedanta Biosciences is a developer of immunotherapies designed to treat immune-mediated and infectious diseases. The company's immunotherapies include a suite of proprietary assays to select pharmacologically potent strains, vast proprietary datasets from human interventional studies, and facilities for cGMP-compliant manufacturing of rationally-defined bacterial consortia in powder form, enabling physicians to access live bacteria drug to treat autoimmune and inflammatory diseases easily. It was founded in 2010 and is headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Butterfly Network

Series D in 2018
Butterfly Network designs a medical imaging device that reduces the cost of real-time and three-dimensional imaging and treatment. Jonathan M. Rothberg, Nevada Sanchez, and Tyler S. Ralston founded it in 2011, with its headquarters in Guilford in Connecticut.

Manus Bio

Grant in 2018
Making nature accessible and affordable for a growing society.It is estimated that the world’s population will increase by more than 35% by 2050, reaching 9 billion people. Crop production will need to more than double in order to feed these people and meet the consumer needs of a developing world. With very little land remaining for agricultural expansion, they as a society need to find ways to maximize the use of their world’s resources. Plants produce a variety of rare natural products which are used in their daily lives as flavors, fragrances, food ingredients, cosmetics, vitamins, pharmaceuticals and agricultural chemicals. They strive to reduce their dependence on land- and resource-intensive practices by recreating natural processes through biotechnology.

Visterra

Series C in 2017
Visterra, Inc. engages in pharmaceutical drug research and development of therapeutic and diagnostic products for infectious diseases. It also provides structure-based design of therapeutics and diagnostic platforms, based on an understanding of glycobiology and glycochemistry. The company was formerly known as Parasol Therapeutics, Inc. and changed its name in May 2010. Visterra, Inc. was founded in 2007 and is based in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Vaxess Technologies

Grant in 2017
Vaxess Technologies, Inc. is a biotechnology company based in Boston, Massachusetts, founded in 2011. It specializes in developing and commercializing silk biomaterial technologies aimed at improving vaccine delivery and storage. The company has created the MIMIX microneedle platform, which facilitates transdermal delivery of vaccines and therapies, and the MATRIX formulation and drying platform, which enhances the stability of vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostic products. By utilizing a silk-derived protein, Vaxess enables vaccines to be stored and transported without refrigeration, thereby reducing distribution costs and increasing access to essential healthcare products globally.

Affinivax

Series A in 2016
Affinivax, Inc. is a biotechnology company based in Lexington, Massachusetts, that specializes in developing vaccines using its innovative Multiple Antigen Presenting System (MAPS) technology. This approach allows for the combination of protective polysaccharides and proteins in a single vaccine, aiming to enhance the immune response against various infectious diseases. Affinivax focuses on a range of pathogens, including Streptococcus pneumoniae, which poses significant health risks to both children and adults. The company seeks to create vaccines that provide broader disease coverage and address infectious diseases lacking effective immunization strategies. Founded in 2014, Affinivax benefits from insights provided by leading experts in infectious diseases and vaccines, and it has secured support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, along with exclusive licensing rights from Boston Children’s Hospital for its MAPS technology.

Moderna

Grant in 2016
Moderna, Inc. is a biotechnology company based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, founded in 2010. It specializes in the development of therapeutics and vaccines utilizing messenger RNA technology, which instructs cells to produce proteins essential for various biological functions. The company's extensive pipeline includes 40 mRNA development candidates targeting a range of therapeutic areas such as infectious diseases, oncology, cardiovascular diseases, and rare genetic disorders. Moderna gained significant recognition with its COVID-19 vaccine, which was authorized for use in the United States in December 2020. The company maintains strategic partnerships with organizations such as AstraZeneca, Merck & Co., and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, enhancing its research capabilities and manufacturing processes. Additionally, it has research collaborations with esteemed institutions like Harvard University.

Synlogic

Series A in 2014
Synlogic, Inc. is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, specializing in the discovery and development of synthetic biotic medicines aimed at treating metabolic, inflammatory, and cancer-related diseases. The company’s lead therapeutic program, SYNB1618, is an oral therapy currently in Phase I/IIa clinical trials for the treatment of phenylketonuria. Additionally, Synlogic is developing SYNB1891, an intratumoral synthetic biotic medicine that is undergoing Phase I clinical trials for the treatment of solid tumors and lymphoma. The company is also exploring synthetic biotics for more common conditions, including inflammatory bowel disease and secondary hyperoxaluria. Synlogic has established a collaboration with Ginkgo Bioworks to advance its development of these innovative therapies.

Genocea Biosciences

Grant in 2014
Genocea Biosciences, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company specializing in the discovery and development of innovative cancer immunotherapies and vaccines to address significant unmet medical needs. Based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the company utilizes its proprietary ATLAS platform to profile patients' CD4+ and CD8+ T cell immune responses to identify potential targets within their tumors. Genocea's key programs include GEN-009, an adjuvanted neoantigen peptide vaccine currently in phase I/IIa clinical trials, GEN-011, a neoantigen adoptive T cell therapy, and GEN-010, a neoantigen vaccine initiative. The company also develops immunotherapies for other conditions, such as GEN-003, which targets genital herpes, and maintains pre-clinical programs focused on personalized cancer vaccines. Through its AnTigen Lead Acquisition System, Genocea is committed to advancing vaccine and immunotherapy solutions for various diseases.

Visterra

Series A in 2013
Visterra, Inc. engages in pharmaceutical drug research and development of therapeutic and diagnostic products for infectious diseases. It also provides structure-based design of therapeutics and diagnostic platforms, based on an understanding of glycobiology and glycochemistry. The company was formerly known as Parasol Therapeutics, Inc. and changed its name in May 2010. Visterra, Inc. was founded in 2007 and is based in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

CONNECT.ED

Grant in 2013
CONNECT.ED is an education technology company based in Boston, Massachusetts, founded in 2002. The company develops a web-based platform that empowers learners by providing essential information and resources for academic and career decisions. CONNECT.ED serves a diverse audience, including students, educators, parents, administrators, and employers, facilitating their transitions from education to the workforce. With a reach of over 20 million registered learners, 5,000 educational institutions, and 130,000 employers across 40 countries, the platform helps users navigate their educational journeys, find colleges and high schools, and access the support needed to achieve their academic goals.

BetterLesson

Venture Round in 2012
BetterLesson, Inc. develops and offers a professional development platform for teachers. Its platform connects teachers to their personal coaches for setting professional development challenges and objectives, creating individualized learning plans, and making teaching strategies. It provides a searchable database to users to find lesson plans, classroom materials, and instructional resources from teachers; browse various documents, presentations, lessons, units, and courses; and share curriculum and connect with fellow educators. BetterLesson, Inc. was incorporated in 2008 and is based in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Visterra

Series A in 2012
Visterra, Inc. engages in pharmaceutical drug research and development of therapeutic and diagnostic products for infectious diseases. It also provides structure-based design of therapeutics and diagnostic platforms, based on an understanding of glycobiology and glycochemistry. The company was formerly known as Parasol Therapeutics, Inc. and changed its name in May 2010. Visterra, Inc. was founded in 2007 and is based in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Genocea Biosciences

Series C in 2012
Genocea Biosciences, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company specializing in the discovery and development of innovative cancer immunotherapies and vaccines to address significant unmet medical needs. Based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the company utilizes its proprietary ATLAS platform to profile patients' CD4+ and CD8+ T cell immune responses to identify potential targets within their tumors. Genocea's key programs include GEN-009, an adjuvanted neoantigen peptide vaccine currently in phase I/IIa clinical trials, GEN-011, a neoantigen adoptive T cell therapy, and GEN-010, a neoantigen vaccine initiative. The company also develops immunotherapies for other conditions, such as GEN-003, which targets genital herpes, and maintains pre-clinical programs focused on personalized cancer vaccines. Through its AnTigen Lead Acquisition System, Genocea is committed to advancing vaccine and immunotherapy solutions for various diseases.

YourBio Health

Grant in 2011
Seventh Sense Biosystems, Inc. develops a push-button blood collection device that enables patients to collect their own blood anywhere. It offers TAP that enables users to draw blood through a painless one-step process. Seventh Sense Biosystems, Inc. was formerly known as Newco LS 13, Inc. The company was founded in 2007 and is based in Medford, Massachusetts.