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Brian Chee is a Managing Partner at Polaris Partners, a leading private investment firm. He is known for his expertise in healthcare and life sciences investments, bringing extensive operational and financial experience to his role.
Brian Chee primarily invests in innovative companies within the healthcare and life sciences sectors. His focus areas include biotechnology, medical devices, pharmaceuticals, and diagnostics, across various stages of company development.
Brian Chee works as a Managing Partner at Polaris Partners. Polaris Partners is a private investment firm with offices in Boston, Massachusetts, and San Francisco, California.
Brian Chee is a Managing Partner at Polaris Partners in Boston, Massachusetts, where he co-leads the firm's Polaris Growth Fund. Joining the firm in 2004, he has spent two decades directing growth equity investments and lower middle market buyouts across the technology and healthcare software sectors. In December 2022, he co-led the closing of the $400 million Polaris Growth Fund II to back profitable, founder-owned businesses, including portfolio companies like Icertis. Prior to his investment career, he served for five years as a Captain in the United States Army. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics and Engineering from the United States Military Academy at West Point and an MBA from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth. His current focus remains on bridging engineering and business strategy to scale growth-stage B2B software and tech-enabled services.
Brian Chee serves as a highly respected Managing Partner at Polaris Partners, a prominent private investment firm renowned for its strategic investments in healthcare and technology. With a career spanning decades, Chee has established himself as a key figure in identifying and scaling groundbreaking companies, particularly within the dynamic life sciences and healthcare sectors. His leadership at Polaris Partners is instrumental in shaping the firm's investment strategy and fostering the growth of its diverse portfolio.
Chee's investment focus is primarily centered on healthcare innovation, encompassing a broad range of areas including biotechnology, medical devices, pharmaceuticals, and diagnostics. He is deeply committed to backing companies that are developing transformative solutions to address significant unmet medical needs. His expertise extends across various stages of company development, from early-stage ventures requiring strategic guidance to more mature companies seeking growth capital and operational support. This comprehensive approach allows him to contribute meaningfully to the success of portfolio companies, helping them navigate complex regulatory landscapes and achieve commercialization milestones.
Before joining Polaris Partners in 2002, Brian Chee brought a wealth of operational and financial experience to the firm. He notably co-founded and served as CFO for two Polaris-backed companies, gaining firsthand experience in building and scaling innovative enterprises. Prior to his entrepreneurial endeavors, Chee held a significant role as Vice President of Corporate Development at Boston Scientific, a global leader in medical technology. His career also includes valuable experience in management consulting at CSC Index and in public accounting at Price Waterhouse. This diverse background, coupled with an MBA from Harvard Business School and a BS in Accounting from Boston College, provides him with a unique perspective on both the strategic and financial aspects of venture investing.
Throughout his tenure at Polaris Partners, Brian Chee has been involved in numerous successful investments that have made a substantial impact on the healthcare industry. His notable board roles and investments include companies such as Alimera Sciences (ALIM), ArQule (acquired by Merck), BIND Therapeutics (acquired by Pfizer), deCODE genetics (acquired by Amgen), Ironwood Pharmaceuticals (IRWD), Momenta Pharmaceuticals (acquired by Johnson & Johnson), Seres Therapeutics (MCRB), Sirtris Pharmaceuticals (acquired by GlaxoSmithKline), and T2 Biosystems (TTOO). These examples highlight his consistent ability to identify promising ventures and guide them toward successful outcomes, often resulting in significant advancements in patient care and substantial returns for investors. Brian Chee's strategic vision and hands-on approach continue to drive innovation and value creation within the life sciences investment landscape.