Fresenius, a Germany-based global, therapy-focused healthcare company, is expanding its access to innovation networks through Fresenius Ventures, its own corporate venture capital fund that invests in founders, technologies, and business models from early financing rounds through to the growth stage. The newly-established unit combines venture capital with medical, regulatory, and operational expertise and provides access to clinical, scientific, and academic networks.
The fund has an intended investment volume of more than €200m (US$228m) over the next five years, and will target growth fields adjacent to Fresenius’ existing strategic platforms (Bio)Pharma, MedTech, and Care Provision. Potential investment areas of Fresenius Ventures include precision nutrition, microbiome research, new modalities, and digital care provision solutions. Investments will be made in line with Fresenius’ capital allocation approach.
“Fresenius Ventures is a strategic instrument of #FutureFresenius,” said Michael Sen, CEO of Fresenius. “Through targeted investments in promising healthcare innovators, we gain early access to breakthrough technologies, new ideas, and entrepreneurial talent, [which] enables us to strengthen our innovation capabilities within the healthcare ecosystem and tap into adjacent growth fields while consistently strengthening Fresenius.”
The fund will be led by Dr Thomas Michael Thestrup, an experienced healthcare and corporate venture capital expert. He has more than 15 years of experience in research, health tech, and the pharma industry. Thestrup joins Fresenius from Angelini Ventures. Prior to Angelini Ventures, he worked for Lundbeck as director of Corporate Business Development and Strategy. He also worked in Global Business Development at UCB as well as Life Science Ventures at Sunstone Capital.
