In a world where cutting-edge science moves faster than ever, one new player is stepping in with serious momentum.
Meet AN Venture Partners (ANV)—a biotech-focused venture capital firm with deep roots in both San Francisco and Tokyo.
And now, they’ve just closed their first fund at a whopping $200 million (¥29 billion).
That’s a bold statement—and a big win for global biotech innovation.
A Cross-Continental Investment Powerhouse
The fund, AN Venture Partners I, has attracted support from more than 20 Limited Partners (LPs).
Leading the charge are big-name Japanese institutions like Japan Investment Corporation, Shionogi & Co., Otsuka Pharmaceutical, MUFG Bank, and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation.
That kind of backing signals real confidence in what ANV is building—and where it’s headed.
From Early Experiments to Late-Stage Trials
So, where will the money go? According to Managing Partner Ken Horne, ANV plans to invest across the entire biotech lifecycle—from early, unproven ideas to late-stage clinical development.
They’re keeping an open mind when it comes to technology and disease focus, but the goal is crystal clear: support science with the potential for major clinical breakthroughs.
And whether that science comes from universities, pharmaceutical spin-offs, or collaborative teams, ANV is ready to jump in.
Japan Is the Starting Point, But the Vision Is Global
While the fund has global ambitions, Japan will be a central focus—especially given the country’s growing biotech potential.
ANV aims to be more than just a check writer; they’re planning to co-create companies from the ground up, working directly with scientists and founders to build startups that can compete on the world stage.
Backed by ARCH and Already Making Moves
Founded in 2022 through a partnership with ARCH Venture Partners, ANV is already off to a strong start.
The firm has invested in seven companies so far, including Capacity Bio, Typewriter Therapeutics, City Therapeutics, and Imbria Pharmaceuticals.
Each one reflects ANV’s core philosophy—back science that matters, and scale it globally.
Supporting Japan’s Biotech Boom
ANV isn’t just building companies—they’re also helping shape policy.
The firm is working in alignment with Japan’s national goal of becoming a global biotech leader by 2030.
As part of this mission, ANV has been recognized as a certified venture capital firm by AMED, Japan’s leading medical research agency.
They’re also collaborating closely with top-tier academics, government agencies, and the Cabinet Office, helping to accelerate innovation and turn groundbreaking research into real-world solutions.
Bringing Silicon Valley’s Startup Energy to Japan
One of ANV’s standout initiatives is the Science-to-Startup (S2S) event, which they brought to Japan for the first time in November 2024.
The event brought together nearly 200 scientists, founders, and investors, all focused on one thing—translating life science research into viable startups.
By creating these connections, ANV is helping to build a thriving biotech ecosystem in Japan—one where cutting-edge science doesn’t just live in labs, but finds a path to market and patient impact.
Looking Ahead: Bold Ideas, Global Reach
With Fund I officially closed and a growing portfolio already underway, AN Venture Partners is just getting started.
As biotech continues to evolve at lightning speed, ANV is positioning itself at the intersection of deep science, global collaboration, and visionary investing—and it’s clear they’re betting big on what the future of medicine can look like.