Burrill & Company

G. Steven Burrill founded the firm in 1994 after a 28-year career at Ernst & Young, where he directed the firm's global biotechnology practice. He is a CPA by training and served on the boards of numerous life science companies. His network across pharmaceutical, agricultural, and diagnostic companies formed the origination engine for Burrill's investments.

The firm invested across venture capital and growth equity stages, targeting human therapeutics, diagnostics, healthcare IT, and agricultural biotechnology. Its funds backed platform technologies, drug development companies, and wellness-focused enterprises. The firm also had a dedicated media business tracking industry trends.

The 2008 financial crisis strained portfolio companies and limited-partner liquidity, leading to capital calls going unmet. In 2014, the SEC charged G. Steven Burrill with misusing approximately $4.7 million from Burrill-managed funds for personal expenses. He settled without admitting guilt, was barred from the securities industry, and the firm ceased active fund management.

After his securities-industry bar, Burrill co-founded Evolv Ventures, a firm investing in food technology, synthetic biology, and agricultural biotechnology. Evolv has backed companies developing alternative proteins, precision fermentation, and sustainable food systems. The firm operates with a different structure and is not a successor to Burrill & Company's fund family.

In 2007, the firm closed Burrill Life Sciences Capital Fund III at $350 million, its largest venture vehicle. The fund invested in biotech, diagnostics, and wellness companies primarily in the U.S. and Europe. Earlier funds included Burrill Biotechnology Capital Fund and Burrill Agbio Capital Fund, targeting agricultural and industrial biotechnology.

No. Burrill & Company ceased active fund management following the SEC action in 2014. The firm's separate entities, including the conference and media businesses, were wound down or sold. The brand name no longer represents an active investment manager.

The firm ran a major annual life sciences conference that brought together biotech CEOs, pharmaceutical executives, and institutional investors. Its media division published the Burrill Report, a widely read industry analysis. This combined visibility and data operation gave Burrill proprietary insight into emerging technologies and potential portfolio companies before they launched formal fundraising processes.