Polymerase Capital

Founder and Managing Director Thomas Chalberg, Ph.D., leads investment decisions. Chalberg is a scientist by training with operating experience as co-founder of Genascence, a gene therapy company targeting osteoarthritis. His investment decisions are informed by this deep domain expertise in molecular biology and clinical development.

The firm targets early-stage venture investments in the biotechnology and healthcare services sectors. Chalberg's scientific background suggests a focus on seed through Series A companies where technical due diligence—interrogating the underlying biology—is the critical path to an investment decision.

Polymerase Capital operates as an asset manager structured around a single principal. The firm does not publicly market itself as a single-family office, but its lean operator profile—one named Managing Director, no disclosed external Limited Partners—aligns with a founder-run investment vehicle deploying personal or closely-held capital.

Deal flow appears to originate from Chalberg's scientific network and operating history. His co-investors at Genascence include DeepWork Capital, and his professional affiliations span the World Economic Forum and Bohemian Grove. These networks, combined with his academic and clinical research connections in gene therapy, likely surface opportunities before they reach broader venture auctions.

The firm's known activity centers on direct venture investments rather than fund-of-fund commitments. Its co-investment relationships are deal-specific—partnering with entities like DeepWork Capital on Genascence—rather than LP positions in blind-pool venture funds.

The firm co-invests on a deal-by-deal basis, often alongside syndicate partners with overlapping scientific interests. Known co-investors include Brian Kotzin and Jackson Streeter of DeepWork Capital, both board members of Genascence, indicating a preference for syndicates where each party brings distinct technical or operational value beyond capital.

Thomas and Stefanie Chalberg direct philanthropic support to the Foundation Fighting Blindness and the Menlo Park-Atherton Education Foundation. These vehicles are separate from the investment entity, though the focus on retinal disease research overlaps thematically with Chalberg's scientific background in gene therapy and ophthalmology.