# Novartis Venture Fund

Novartis Venture Fund is a Venture Capital based in Basel, Switzerland.

## Overview

- **Organization type:** Venture Capital
- **Headquarters:** Basel, Switzerland
- **Region:** Europe
- **Address:** Basel, Switzerland
- **Founded:** 1996
- **Assets under management:** Undisclosed
- **Website:** www.nvfund.com

## Regulatory record

- **Reports private funds:** No

## About

The Novartis Venture Fund was created to foster innovation, drive significant patient benefit, and generate superior returns by nurturing and investing in innovative life science companies. It invests in biotechnology and biopharmaceutical companies at various stages of growth and development. The fund manages over USD 750 million in committed capital and more than 40 portfolio companies across North America and Europe, taking a hands-on approach with board and management.

## Sectors

- Digital Health
- Healthcare Services

## People

- Adam Cotton — Principal, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Anja Koenig — Global Head of NVF, Basel, CH
- Bart Dzikowski — Managing Director, Head of Transactions & Legal, Basel, CH
- Beat Steffen — Managing Director, Basel, CH
- Elena Battistello — Analyst, Basel, CH
- Florian Muellershausen — Managing Director, Basel, CH
- Laura Brass — Managing Director, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Marianne Uteng — Managing Director, Basel, CH
- Mathias Frederiksen — Principal, Basel, CH
- Michelle Ma — Associate, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Samantha Guinn — Analyst, Cambridge, MA, USA

## Questions

### Is the fund's capital entirely from Novartis, and does it invest for financial return or strategic alignment?

The fund invests capital from Novartis AG's balance sheet, making it a single-LP corporate venture fund. It pursues both financial returns and strategic insight, seeking to invest in transformative therapeutics while gaining a window into emerging science. Portfolio companies are not required to enter into commercial agreements with Novartis, which preserves their optionality and the fund's ability to invest based on scientific merit.

### What investment stages and sectors does Novartis Venture Fund target?

The fund operates with a stage-agnostic mandate, investing from seed and early-stage startups through to late-stage and growth companies. Its sector focus is exclusively on life sciences, specifically biotechnology and biopharmaceutical companies developing novel therapeutics. The fund does not invest in medical devices, diagnostics, or health technology platforms, maintaining a strict focus on drug development.

### Who makes the investment decisions at Novartis Venture Fund?

Investment decisions are made by the fund's dedicated internal team, which includes managing directors with deep scientific and investment backgrounds. While the team operates with a degree of independence from the parent company, its governance structure is embedded within Novartis, meaning major commitments are subject to internal approvals that reflect the strategic and financial interests of Novartis AG.

## Related profiles

- [Novartis](https://altss.com/profile/novartis)
- [Nova R Wealth](https://altss.com/profile/nova-r-wealth)

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Last updated: 2026-08-11T15:07:34.613Z

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