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Forbion
Forbion was established in 2006 by Sander Slootweg and Geert-Jan Mulder, both veterans of the European life sciences venture industry.
Forbion
Forbion was established in 2006 by Sander Slootweg and Geert-Jan Mulder, both veterans of the European life sciences venture industry. The firm is headquartered in Naarden, the Netherlands, with an additional office in Munich, Germany, positioning it at the center of two of Europe's densest biotech clusters. Unlike a generalist venture firm, Forbion exclusively targets the life sciences sector, focusing on therapeutics, medical devices, and digital health across the European and North American markets. The firm's strategy spans the full drug-development lifecycle through distinct fund vehicles. Its early-stage funds back platform and asset-centric biotech companies, while its later-stage growth funds support clinical and pre-commercial enterprises. Confirmed portfolio companies include NewAmsterdam Pharma, argenx, and F2G, reflecting a thesis built on novel mechanisms of action. Forbion frequently leads or co-leads financing rounds and has participated in syndicates with major transatlantic crossover investors. The geographic footprint concentrates on Europe, with select exposure to North American assets, and the firm has completed multiple exits via public listings on both Euronext and Nasdaq. Forbion closed its Forbion Ventures Fund VI at EUR 470 million in 2023 and its Forbion Growth Opportunities Fund II at EUR 450 million in the same year, bringing total assets under management to over EUR 2 billion at that time (per the firm, 2023). In May 2024, Forbion announced it had raised more than EUR 2 billion across its latest flagship fund families, pushing total raised since inception past EUR 3 billion (per the firm, May 2024). The firm operates adjacent vehicles including a dedicated co-investment structure, and its team includes partners with deep operating and clinical development experience. Forbion's structural edge lies in its concentration risk model applied inversely. While most venture managers spread bets across sectors to diversify, Forbion's singular focus on life sciences gives it a sourcing and diligence franchise that generalists cannot easily replicate. By operating multiple fund sizes under one specialist roof, it can back a company from seed round to IPO without the pressure of external syndicate assembly, giving it both pricing power and a long-term seat at the table.
General information
Firm type
Asset Manager
Year founded
2006
AUM
Undisclosed
Location
Region
Europe
Country
Netherlands
City
Naarden
Corporate office
Naarden, Netherlands
Additional offices
Munich, Germany
Principals
Sander Slootweg
Managing Partner and Co-Founder
Geert-Jan Mulder
General Partner and Co-Founder
Bart Bergstein
General Partner
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who runs investment decisions at Forbion?
The Managing Partners, Sander Slootweg and Geert-Jan Mulder, together with General Partner Bart Bergstein, form the core of the investment committee. Decisions are made collectively by the partnership, which includes additional partners with specialized scientific and clinical expertise across the firm's early-stage and growth funds.
How does Forbion source proprietary deal flow?
Forbion sources proprietary opportunities through deep networks in European academic medical centers, research institutions, and a track record of company creation. The firm also operates a formalized company-building strategy, originating assets in-house and placing experienced management teams before seeking a Series A lead, which minimizes auction risk.
Does Forbion participate in fund commitments or only direct deals?
Forbion operates as a direct investor, acquiring equity stakes in private biotechnology and medical technology companies. The firm does not make fund-of-fund commitments or allocate to external venture managers. All capital is deployed through direct, active portfolio construction across its dedicated venture and growth equity vehicles.
What investment stages does Forbion typically target?
Forbion targets the full spectrum from seed and series A rounds through to late-stage crossover financings. Its early-stage funds invest in preclinical and Phase I companies, while its Growth Opportunities funds focus on clinical-stage and pre-commercial enterprises, often providing the final private capital before an IPO.
Which sectors does Forbion explicitly avoid?
Forbion stays strictly within the life sciences arena, avoiding non-healthcare technology, consumer internet, fintech, and industrial investments entirely. Within life sciences, the firm has historically shown less activity in pure healthcare services or HCIT, concentrating instead on therapeutics and medical devices with strong intellectual property.
How is Forbion related to its North American entity?
Forbion North America LLC operates as an affiliated entity within the Forbion group to facilitate investment in and management of U.S. portfolio companies. The core investment decision-making and fund management remain centered with the European-based partnership, led by the same Managing Partners.
What is Forbion's known posture on co-investments alongside external GPs?
Forbion actively invites limited partners into direct co-investment opportunities through a dedicated co-investment vehicle. When investing alongside other venture firms in syndicates, Forbion typically requires a board seat and maintains a policy of leading or co-leading rounds to exert meaningful governance influence over its portfolio companies.
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