Genesys University Seed Fund
Status
ACTIVE
Global HQ
Toronto, Canada
Countries of investment
- Canada
Investment stages
- Pre-Seed
- Seed
Industries
- Life Sciences
- Biotechnology
- Pharma
- MedTech
- Medical Devices
- Diagnostics
About
Genesys University Seed Fund is a Toronto-based venture capital firm focused on backing early-stage life sciences spinouts from University of Toronto and McMaster University. Their focus spans life sciences, biotech, medical devices, therapeutics, and drug development across Canada. The firm supports university-affiliated life sciences founders from pre-seed through seed stages.
Genesys University Seed Fund is a Toronto-based venture capital firm focused on backing early-stage life sciences spinouts from University of Toronto and McMaster University. Their focus spans life sciences, biotech, medical devices, therapeutics, and drug development across Canada. The firm supports university-affiliated life sciences founders from pre-seed through seed stages.
Investment Thesis
Genesys University Seed Fund is a pre-seed and seed stage venture capital firm deploying capital across life sciences, biotech, medical devices, therapeutics, drug development, cancer treatment, and cardiovascular sectors. They invest up to $1M per startup in 10 to 15 university-affiliated life sciences companies, with up to $5M reserved for follow-on into biggest winners. The firm differentiates itself as the first venture fund anchored by University of Toronto and McMaster University, backed by Venture Ontario, Temerty Group, and RBC, modeled after MIT, UPenn, UC Berkeley, and Harvard university venture funds.
Manager's Experience
Co-founded by Kelly Holman and Damian Lamb (both Managing Directors), with Jamie Stiff (Managing Director), Jennifer Williams (Partner and Chief Financial Officer), Sarah Farr (Principal) and associates Stephanie Legere and Laurie Mak. Notable exits include Fusion Pharmaceuticals (acquired by AstraZeneca for $2.4B) and Inversago Pharma (acquired by Novo Nordisk for $1.1B). Portfolio includes Profound Medical, Adapsyn Bioscience, Antegrade Medical, EBT Medical and Flosonics Medical. Based in Toronto and focused on healthcare and life sciences.
Team
Kelly Holman - Managing Director
Jennifer Williams - Partner & CFO
Portfolio
Adapsyn Bioscience
Antegrade Medical
Bios Genomics
CryoStasis
EBT Medical
Enspire DBS Therapy
Feldan Therapeutics
Flosonics Medical
Profound Medical
Veralox Therapeutics