Strategic guidance for technical founders in biotech
Hey {{first_name|default:there}}, it’s Vadim 👋
Welcome to Week 3 of the 6 Week Investor Sourcing Intensive!
Quick recap:
This week, we're going after the most opaque (but potentially the most powerful) capital source in biotech: family offices.
Here's why they matter:
Family offices write $250K-$2M+ checks at early stages, which is the sweet spot for most early-stage biotech founders
They have more flexible time horizons than VCs, since they don't have a mandate to return capital within a fixed period (often, they're the ones investing into VC funds in the first place)
They're often mission-driven - meaning that they may not need your company to produce “venture-style” returns to be viewed as successful investment
And when they move, they move fast
The challenge? They're invisible by design. Not because they don't want to speak to you, but because they're constantly on the receiving end of funding requests - from startups, VCs, PE funds, private wealth managers… you name it.
And even when they do commit to investing in biotech, they typically don't have the bandwidth or the scientific bench to evaluate and diligence a large volume of deals.
But they're not impossible to find. And they're not impossible to get investment from.
Doing so, however, is less about the tactics of fundraising (the lists, the outreach) and more about mindset - and a reframe.
Let me explain.