Forbion has touted its “landmark” 2.3 billion euro ($2.6 billion) fundraise across two funds as a new record for the European life sciences-focused VC firm.
The cash, raised across the Forbion Growth Opportunities Fund IV and Forbion Ventures Fund VIII, will be used to support around 30 “high potential” biotechs, according to an Oct. 6 release. Some of these investments have already been completed.
The Netherlands- and Germany-based VC firm said it had seen “strong investor demand,” with Eli Lilly among a range of “high-calibre” investors that also include German VC firm KfW Capital and Missouri-based nonprofit the Kauffman Foundation.
Today’s announcement exceeds the 2 billion euros that Forbion announced had been raised back in 2024 across two predecessor funds: Forbion Growth Opportunities III and Forbion Ventures VII.
“Our successful fundraising gives us significant dry powder in a market characterized by a general shortage of capital,” Forbion Managing Partner and co-founder Sander Slootweg said in this morning’s release.
“This allows us to select the most exciting biotech companies for investment,” Slootweg added. “We will continue to focus on building and scaling those companies that develop the most paradigm-shifting treatments, addressing true unmet needs and delivering societal impact.”
Over its 20 years, Forbion has financed 142 companies. Those include London-based gene therapy startup Beacon Therapeutics, which was named one of Fierce Biotech’s Fierce 15 on Monday, as well as small molecule medicines company Gate Bioscience, which expanded its collaboration with Lilly on the same day.
Earlier this year, Forbion was among the heavyweight European venture capital firms that joined together to make the case for more urgently needed funding in the continent's biotech ecosystem.
The state of biotech funding is one of the hot topics being discussed at Fierce Biotech's high-impact event in London next month. Find out more information and register by clicking on the banner below:
