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 Life Science

Vir

Grant in 2023
Vir Biotechnology, Inc. is a clinical-stage immunology company based in San Francisco, California, focused on developing therapeutic products to treat and prevent serious infectious diseases. The company employs a combination of innovative technologies and scientific expertise to enhance the immune response against pathogens. Its pipeline includes several product candidates, such as VIR-2218 and VIR-3434 for hepatitis B, VIR-2482 for influenza A, VIR-1111 for HIV, and VIR-2020 for tuberculosis. Vir's approach integrates various technology platforms, including antibodies, T cells, and small interfering RNA, to manipulate pathogen-host interactions. The company collaborates with multiple organizations, including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, and several pharmaceutical companies, to advance its research and development efforts. Additionally, Vir has established agreements for the manufacturing of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, positioning itself to address emerging infectious diseases. Founded in 2016, Vir Biotechnology aims to make significant advancements in the fight against viral diseases.

Biotalys

Grant in 2021
Biotalys is a green biotech company that employs its proprietary Agrobody technology platform to develop crop protection products. The company develops a new generation of protein-based biocontrol solutions, shaping the future of sustainable and safe food supply. Biotalys' unique protein-based biocontrols combine the high-performance characteristics of chemicals with the clean safety profile of biologicals, making them ideal crop protection agents for both pre- and post-harvest applications. It was incorporated in 2012 and is based in Ghent, Belgium.

Dare Bioscience

Grant in 2020
Daré Bioscience is a healthcare company committed to the development and commercialization of innovative products in women’s reproductive health.

Dare Bioscience

Grant in 2020
Daré Bioscience is a healthcare company committed to the development and commercialization of innovative products in women’s reproductive health.

Landcent

Grant in 2019
Landcent accelerates the fight against global infectious diseases, by developing & delivering affordable, sustainable solutions, that are safe to use at scale.

RJH Biosciences

Grant in 2019
RJH Biosciences focus on development of transfection reagents and delivery agents for nucleic acids. The company distributes its products via its website and undertakes projects on new medical treatments.

one.bio

Grant in 2019
BCD Bioscience, Inc. designs and develops an oligosaccharide library and a roadmap that connects precise carbohydrate structures with their functions as prebiotics and immunomodulators to develop pharmaceutical and food ingredients. It offers a platform for creating and commercializing novel prebiotics, synbiotics, and immuno- modularity therapies for human and animal health. BCD Bioscience, Inc. was formerly known as Calyxo Biosystems, Inc. and changed its name to BCD Bioscience, Inc. in November 2019. The company was incorporated in 2019 and is based in Davis, California.

Univercells

Grant in 2019
Univercells SA, founded in 2013 and based in Gosselies, Belgium, specializes in the design, development, and implementation of single-use bioprocess solutions for biomanufacturing. The company offers a comprehensive range of services, including the design and construction of manufacturing facilities, as well as the maintenance and supply of bulk active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). With a focus on vaccines and biologics, Univercells employs innovative engineering techniques that significantly reduce investment needs by over 75% and lower production costs by up to 90%. Their approach integrates three manufacturing steps—cell culture under perfusion, clarification, and capture—into a simulated continuous mode, enhancing efficiency in the production of antibodies, proteins, and vaccines. Additionally, Univercells has established a strategic partnership with Takeda Pharmaceutical Company to further advance its capabilities in the biomanufacturing sector.

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.
Recursion Pharmaceuticals is a biotechnology company based in Salt Lake City. Recursion combines experimental biology, automation, and artificial intelligence in a massively parallel system to quickly and efficiently identify treatments for any disease which can be modeled at the cellular level. From its initial and continued focus on drug repurposing to treat rare diseases, Recursion has broadened its platform to probe rich data from high-throughput automated screens for a number of indications, including aging, inflammation, infectious disease, and immunology. Recursion is aggressively leveraging technology to build a robust and reliable map of human cellular biology, which will enable a radical shift in the pace and scale at which new treatments will benefit patients.

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.
Danforth Technology Company (DTC) is a venture builder based in St. Louis, Missouri, and operates as a subsidiary of the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center. Its primary role is to facilitate the early-stage development of startup companies that leverage technologies developed by the Center's scientists. DTC focuses on moving scientific discoveries into the marketplace more efficiently by providing intellectual property development, licensing, and entrepreneurship support. The company also offers seed funding and early management assistance to promising startups, enhancing the potential for innovation in plant science and contributing to broader societal goals such as improving human health and environmental sustainability.

Vir

Venture Round in 2017
Vir Biotechnology, Inc. is a clinical-stage immunology company based in San Francisco, California, focused on developing therapeutic products to treat and prevent serious infectious diseases. The company employs a combination of innovative technologies and scientific expertise to enhance the immune response against pathogens. Its pipeline includes several product candidates, such as VIR-2218 and VIR-3434 for hepatitis B, VIR-2482 for influenza A, VIR-1111 for HIV, and VIR-2020 for tuberculosis. Vir's approach integrates various technology platforms, including antibodies, T cells, and small interfering RNA, to manipulate pathogen-host interactions. The company collaborates with multiple organizations, including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, and several pharmaceutical companies, to advance its research and development efforts. Additionally, Vir has established agreements for the manufacturing of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, positioning itself to address emerging infectious diseases. Founded in 2016, Vir Biotechnology aims to make significant advancements in the fight against viral diseases.

Mologic

Grant in 2016
Mologic Ltd. is a diagnostic product developer based in Thurleigh, United Kingdom, founded in 2003. The company specializes in creating innovative solutions for the research market, focusing on areas such as clinical research, diagnostic development, and microbial physiology. Mologic offers a range of products, including lateral flow kits for human Alpha-1 antitrypsin, desmosine ELISA kits for urine assays, and the fMLP assay kit for measuring fMLP in human urine. In addition to its product lineup, Mologic provides services such as assay and reagent development, clinical evaluation studies, and the creation of high-performance antibodies targeting challenging biological entities. The company was established by Paul and Mark Davis, driven by a mission to enhance healthcare and education, thereby improving patient care and quality of life.

Univercells

Grant in 2016
Univercells SA, founded in 2013 and based in Gosselies, Belgium, specializes in the design, development, and implementation of single-use bioprocess solutions for biomanufacturing. The company offers a comprehensive range of services, including the design and construction of manufacturing facilities, as well as the maintenance and supply of bulk active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). With a focus on vaccines and biologics, Univercells employs innovative engineering techniques that significantly reduce investment needs by over 75% and lower production costs by up to 90%. Their approach integrates three manufacturing steps—cell culture under perfusion, clarification, and capture—into a simulated continuous mode, enhancing efficiency in the production of antibodies, proteins, and vaccines. Additionally, Univercells has established a strategic partnership with Takeda Pharmaceutical Company to further advance its capabilities in the biomanufacturing sector.

AgBiome

Grant in 2016
AgBiome, LLC is a biotechnology company based in Durham, North Carolina, that focuses on developing innovative biological products for the agriculture industry. Founded in 2012, AgBiome utilizes advanced genomics and screening technologies to identify plant-associated microbes that enhance plant health, pest resistance, and crop yields. The company manufactures fungicides to protect crops from soil-borne and foliar diseases while also employing a platform that captures and screens diverse microbes for their effectiveness against insects, diseases, and nematodes. AgBiome collaborates with leading agricultural firms to accelerate its discovery process and deliver solutions that address critical challenges in global food production. With a workforce of approximately 87 employees and a state-of-the-art laboratory and greenhouse facility in the Research Triangle Park, AgBiome aims to provide sustainable and effective solutions for farmers facing significant agricultural issues.

AgBiome

Series B in 2015
AgBiome, LLC is a biotechnology company based in Durham, North Carolina, that focuses on developing innovative biological products for the agriculture industry. Founded in 2012, AgBiome utilizes advanced genomics and screening technologies to identify plant-associated microbes that enhance plant health, pest resistance, and crop yields. The company manufactures fungicides to protect crops from soil-borne and foliar diseases while also employing a platform that captures and screens diverse microbes for their effectiveness against insects, diseases, and nematodes. AgBiome collaborates with leading agricultural firms to accelerate its discovery process and deliver solutions that address critical challenges in global food production. With a workforce of approximately 87 employees and a state-of-the-art laboratory and greenhouse facility in the Research Triangle Park, AgBiome aims to provide sustainable and effective solutions for farmers facing significant agricultural issues.

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.