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§ Venture Capital · San Francisco, CA, USA
Biotech venture capital for early-stage, growth-stage companies developing transformative therapeutics.
Key people at Bioluminescence Ventures.
Founded in 2022 by Kouki Harasaki, Bioluminescence Ventures is a San Francisco-based venture capital firm that invests in early-stage and growth-stage biotechnology companies developing next-generation medicines and transformative therapeutics. Emerging from stealth in late 2023, the firm manages $477 million in assets across two investment vehicles, which includes a $350 million inaugural fund raised from U.S. and multinational institutional limited partners. Operating primarily within the life sciences sector, the firm provides equity financing to startups focused on breakthrough biology, preventative treatments, and innovative drug discovery. Its investment portfolio features several notable biotech enterprises, including Ascidian Therapeutics, Ensoma, Nido Biosciences, ReCode Therapeutics, and SURGE Therapeutics, the latter of which received a $32 million Series B round led by the firm. Additionally, the firm participated in a $100 million seed funding round for the in vivo delivery company Nvelop Therapeutics.
Bioluminescence Ventures (BLV) is a San Francisco-based biotechnology venture capital firm investing in next-generation medicines with a mission to translate transformative science into first-in-class or best-in-class therapeutics addressing major unmet medical needs. The firm focuses on four key sectors: Breakthrough Biology, Drug Discovery Platforms, Genetic Medicines Platforms, and Computational Biology Platforms. BLV aims to accelerate the development of innovative therapies by partnering closely with mission-driven leaders and providing capital, expertise, and operational support, especially during a challenging financing environment for biotech startups. With $477 million in assets under management across two funds, BLV invests primarily in early to growth-stage companies (Series A to C), emphasizing speed and efficiency in deal execution to help startups advance toward clinical testing and patient impact[1][2][3].
Bioluminescence Ventures was conceptualized and founded to address the need for financing breakthrough biomedical platforms during what it describes as a golden age of biomedical innovation coupled with a difficult financing climate. The firm emerged from stealth in 2023 with $477 million in assets under management. Its founding and managing partners include Kouki Harasaki, who emphasizes a fast, conviction-driven investment approach to support young biotech companies. The firm’s name metaphorically reflects its mission: like bioluminescence in nature, it aims to be a guiding light for patient impact by supporting visionary founders and CEOs with capital and expertise over the long term[1][2][3].
Bioluminescence Ventures rides the wave of accelerating biomedical innovation, capitalizing on advances in biology, genetics, and computational methods to enable faster drug discovery and development. The timing is critical as the biotech sector faces both unprecedented scientific opportunity and a challenging financing environment, making BLV’s rapid, conviction-driven investment approach particularly valuable. By focusing on platform companies that can apply core technologies across multiple therapeutic areas, BLV influences the ecosystem by enabling scalable innovation and helping to bridge the gap between early science and clinical impact. Their leadership in financing rounds and operational support helps reduce barriers for startups aiming to deliver transformative medicines to patients[1][2][3].
Looking ahead, Bioluminescence Ventures is positioned to continue expanding its influence in biotech venture capital by backing platform-driven, high-impact therapeutics companies. Trends such as genetic medicine, computational biology, and breakthrough biological discoveries will shape their investment focus. As the firm matures, it may deepen its role in guiding startups through clinical milestones and potentially broaden its geographic and sector reach. BLV’s commitment to speed, data-driven conviction, and long-term partnership suggests it will remain a key player in accelerating the translation of biomedical innovation into patient therapies, illuminating the path forward in a complex and evolving biotech landscape[1][2][3].
Key people at Bioluminescence Ventures.
Bioluminescence Ventures has 26 tracked investments across 15 companies. The latest tracked deal is $53.0M Series U in Ensoma in September 2025.
