ARCH Venture Partners

Pioneering Strategies for Technology Commercialization

ARCH Venture Partners invests in the development of seed and early stage advanced technology companies that have the potential to grow rapidly into successful businesses. We invest primarily in companies we co-found with leading scientists and entrepreneurs, concentrating on bringing to market disruptive innovations in life sciences, physical sciences and information technology, and specialize in the spaces where they converge.

We enjoy special recognition as a leader in the successful commercialization of technologies developed at academic research institutions, corporate research groups and national laboratories.

Before the Buzzwords

Our team has deep scientific bench strength to locate and understand nascent technologies long before they grow to become the popular industries of the day. Our first nanotechnology investment was in 1989 (Nanophase Technologies) … our first gene therapy and vaccine investments in 1992 (GenVec and Aviron) … our first digital biology company was founded in 1993 (Illumina) … our first cleantech company in 1994 (Eichrom Technologies) … and our first social networking investment in 1996 (Classmates.com). The buzzwords hadn't been formed yet, but the science, the technology and the opportunities were all sound.

Partnering Excellence

ARCH has worked with exceptional entrepreneurs as well as academic and industry partners to build more than 150 companies. Among the ARCH-funded companies that are now public firms or were acquired are Illumina, Aviron, Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, NeurogesX, Caliper Life Sciences, Classmates.com, XenoPort, New Era of Networks, Trubion Pharmaceuticals, GenVec, Array BioPharma, Ahura Scientific, ALIS, MicroOptical Devices, Adolor, Everyday Learning, Innovalight, and R2 Technology.