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Erasca Ventures
Erasca Ventures was founded by Jonathan E. Lim in 2019, a biotech entrepreneur who previously co-founded Ignyta (acquired by Roche in 2017) and served as...
Erasca Ventures
Erasca Ventures was founded by Jonathan E. Lim in 2019, a biotech entrepreneur who previously co-founded Ignyta (acquired by Roche in 2017) and served as its CEO. The firm is structured as a venture capital fund connected to Erasca, a clinical-stage biotechnology company, though it operates as an independent investment vehicle. The strategy focuses on early-stage biotech and pharmaceutical companies, particularly in oncology, precision medicine, and therapeutic platforms. Erasca Ventures typically leads or co-leads Seed and Series A rounds, deploying capital alongside co-investors. Known portfolio companies include Erasca (therapeutics), and the firm has participated in rounds for Synthis Therapeutics and other undisclosed startups. Geographic focus spans the US (California, Massachusetts, New York, Washington) and Germany (Leverkusen). Total AUM is not publicly disclosed. The firm maintains a lean team of professionals across seven offices: Pasadena (HQ), Leverkusen, San Francisco, Boston, New York, Seattle, and Waltham. As of 2024, the firm has not publicly announced new funds or exits. No philanthropic structures or separate vehicles are known. The structural differentiator of Erasca Ventures is its hybrid identity — it is both a corporate venture arm supporting Erasca's pipeline and an independent fund investing in external biotechs. This allows it to source deals through scientific networks while maintaining the flexibility to back non-competing startups, a rare architecture in biotech venture.
General information
Firm type
Corporate Venture Capital
Year founded
2019
AUM
Undisclosed (Altss estimate)
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
Pasadena
Corporate office
Pasadena, CA, United States
Additional offices
Leverkusen, Germany · San Francisco, CA · Boston, MA · New York, NY · Seattle, WA · Waltham, MA
Principals
Jonathan E. Lim
Founder & Managing Partner
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who runs investment decisions at Erasca Ventures?
Jonathan E. Lim is the Founder and Managing Partner, making investment decisions in collaboration with a small team of industry experts. Lim previously founded Ignyta, a precision oncology company acquired by Roche in 2017.
How does Erasca Ventures source proprietary deal flow?
The firm sources deal flow through the scientific and clinical networks of its team, including connections from Erasca's drug development pipeline and academic collaborations. It also leverages its geographic presence in biotech hubs like Boston and San Francisco.
Is Erasca Ventures structured as a corporate venture fund or an independent fund?
Erasca Ventures operates as a corporate venture capital fund that is linked to Erasca, the biotech company, but it invests in external startups as an independent fund. This hybrid structure allows it to back non-competing biotechs while accessing proprietary science from Erasca's ecosystem.
What investment stages does Erasca Ventures typically target?
The firm focuses on Seed and Series A rounds in early-stage biotech and pharmaceutical companies. It typically leads or co-leads rounds and provides follow-on capital for later stages.
Which sectors does Erasca Ventures explicitly avoid?
The firm avoids non-therapeutic areas such as medical devices, diagnostics, and healthcare services, concentrating exclusively on drug discovery and development in oncology and related fields.
What is the relationship between Erasca Ventures and Erasca the company?
Erasca Ventures was founded by the same entrepreneur who launched Erasca, and it shares strategic ties with the company. However, it is a separate legal entity that invests in external biotechnologies, not solely in Erasca's internal programs.
How does Erasca Ventures differ from typical family offices?
Erasca Ventures is a venture capital firm, not a family office, though it manages a concentrated pool of capital. Its mandate is purely biotech investing, and it lacks the multi-asset diversification or philanthropic structures common to family offices.
Profile maintained by Altss using OSINT (open-source intelligence), regulatory filings, licensed data partners, and verified direct submissions. Read the methodology. Last updated: . Continuous refresh with full update cycles at least every 30 days.
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