Next Sequence

Our planet is facing a multitude of urgent challenges; from climate change, dwindling natural resources and rapid urbanisation, to a growing demand for accessible healthcare. These pressing issues call for innovative and sustainable solutions that only scientific advancements can provide. Deep Science as an Asset Class.We invest in scientific breakthroughs that together advance human capability and create financial returns. We’re looking for: Entirely new technologies developed from fundamental research IP-rich innovations with competitive defensibility Solutions to real problems in Life Sciences, Advanced Materials, TechBio, Photonics and Quantum Hardware, Robotics and Automation, AgChem/Tech and DeepTech We offer portfolio exposure to deep science investments supported by a best-in-class due diligence process conducted by experienced entrepreneurs, operators, investors and scientists Investing with Empirical Ventures. ACCESS: leading pre-seed and seed rounds by leveraging our market-leading due diligence and domain expertise, opening doors to the best deals and co-investors SELECTION: our robust, highly selective process identifies cutting-edge scientific advances from the UK R&D landscape with the most compelling commercial opportunities SCALE: Our track record presents unparalleled opportunities to scale our portfolio companies and attract the best follow-on investors and talent POSITION: Our approach increases the probability of reaching Series A, a key inflection point for pre-seed and seed investors.

Unreasonable inventors are combining cutting edge scientific discoveries with the world's biggest challenges to build the next generation of global companies. These are the companies we create and invest in at Main Sequence. We have over $500m under management from lean-in LPs who help our portfolio to prosper. We are investing in the difficult to build companies others struggle to support. Our co-founder is Australia's $1.3b annual budget science agency - CSIRO We invest from seed to Series B, starting our journey as early as possible, driving advantage into our portfolio. Our Advantage Deep tech inventors need more. We have custom built Main Sequence to be ready to help you solve some of the world's greatest challenges with science. We are hands-on and have built a services offering to support founders alongside our capital. Our story Main Sequence was created by CSIRO to address the ‘valley of death’ between research and commercialisation. It solves the world’s greatest challenges by turning our scientific breakthroughs into the next century’s giants. Main Sequence’s origins within CSIRO reflect its commitment to amplifying connections between industry, research and infrastructure to accelerate deep technology development, and reinvesting economic returns from commercialisation back into science. CSIRO Innovation Funds 1 and 2 managed by Main Sequence, have invested in 39 companies since establishment in 2017. These companies have created over 1,200 jobs by working with partners in industry, CSIRO, and 22 Australian universities. The $240 million first CSIRO Innovation Fund , built on a cornerstone investment by government and CSIRO has completed its portfolio and invested in 27 companies since establishment in 2017. The second $300 million CSIRO Innovation Fund commenced investing mid-2021 and had already invested in 12 companies by the end of 2021. Following the Government’s announcement on 1 February 2022 of a reform agenda to accelerate commercialisation of research and collaboration with industry, including $150m support for CSIRO investment in future CSIRO Innovation Funds, Main Sequence welcomes the opportunity to continue to work closely with universities to commercialise Australian research and build Australian companies addressing global challenges. Each of our portfolio companies has some advantage delivered by either one of Australia's 43 universities or an industrial research organisation such as CSIRO. In some cases this exists before we invest, in others we facilitate it as part of the companies pathway to scale and impact.

Our business is to turn scientists into entrepreneurs who can save lives and save the planet (we call this “human and planetary health”). Personal, 1 on 1, with IndieBio’s Team We are not an assembly line. You are not a widget. Every startup is unique and needs devoted attention. Most startup programs have a meeting with you once a week. We talk to you almost every day. We sit with you, desk to desk, as we work. These rapid touchpoints speed up your iteration cycles and are critical to your evolution into a successful startup. You get direct access to the team that helped build so many iconic companies over the years. Most accelerators are designed to spot the one company in 10 that might be big one day. At IndieBio, every startup matters. You are our first priority. Your success is our only business model. We only invest in companies that come through our accelerator. Our Alumni are Our Greatest Asset All new startups get the benefit of a trusted community with 199 alumni who are happy to share their wisdom. Going through IndieBio is an incredible bonding experience. We teach a philosophy and mindset that is uniquely ours. You’ll become emotionally and intellectually attached to your fellow batch mates. You’ll remember them the rest of your life. This deep connection informs the next years to come. IndieBio is our startups’ birthplace. Everyone visits home. Every generation of startups gets the benefit of alumni help, and then they repay the favor to the new batch. First, we can start funding you and working with you earlier, long before you’re ready to be in the intensive program. We’ve done this up to 9 months in advance. So even if you haven’t graduated yet, or haven’t yet gone full-time on the startup, we recommend you still apply. We Believe in Diversity 44% female. First, second, and third time founders. 36 nationalities. Post-docs and corporates. Ages 21 to 75. Diversity is a core thesis for IndieBio. We find talent that many others overlook. Some of the greatest companies of tomorrow are hiding in plain sight, today, right now. It’s just that nobody listens long and hard enough to recognize the brilliance and the potential. If other investors have told you that you’re “too early,” well, that’s our sweet spot. We’ve funded paper plans, where no science has been done yet–and created hugely successful companies that way. Perhaps the greatest endorsement is how many alumni have returned to IndieBio to create their second company. Choose SOSV as your Partner IndieBio’s parent is SOSV, which has $1 billion in assets under management, and is consistently a Top Quartile VC. SOSV runs programs around the world in robotics, biotech, mobile ecommerce, fintech, automated manufacturing, food, and cryptocurrencies. The firm was founded by Sean O’Sullivan, who had also been an entrepreneur and a humanitarian. In 2020, during the heat of the pandemic – when others were retreating – we were the most active investor in the US. We are now the 4th most active early stage investor in India. Our climate tech portfolio alone is worth over $6 billion. Partners for the Long-term The journey begins with $525,000 and our intense program. But we continue to invest meaningfully in every round. 80% of our capital is deployed post-accelerator. We recommend choosing your investors wisely. We offer the biggest checks in the accelerator industry, but that’s just the beginning. SOSV, our venture fund, is spread around the globe and manages $1.4 billion (as of September 16, 2022). We target a long-term ownership of around 10%, and we continue to invest at Seed through Series C. We are a long-term partner, not just a first-check accelerator. At IndieBio, we are in touch with thousands of investors, and we have co-invested with well over 400 firms. The SOSV network is even greater.

CDL has designed a new approach to enterprising research and innovation, nurturing an entrepreneurial mindset through expert opinion, funding opportunities, research analysis, and business development support. CDL’s objective-setting process enhances the performance of technical founders who learn from the insights of experienced entrepreneurs, increasing their probability of success. The Program involves:Mentorship from select entrepreneurs and angel investors: the Fellows and Associates Intensive full-day sessions with the CDL Mentors take place every eight weeks with the purpose of assessing progress and setting new short-term objectives. Fellows and Associates provide professional judgment (entrepreneurial knowledge) to help guide CDL Ventures and prioritize actions. The program is designed for early-stage, science-based technology companies, though we consider all applicants based on their potential to scale and the viability of their product. CDL’s objective-setting process enhances the performance of technical founders who learn from the insights of experienced entrepreneurs, increasing their probability of success. Opportunities to raise capital CDL Mentors are made up of a carefully selected group of exited entrepreneurs, angel investors, and partners from leading venture capital firms. These participants often invest in ventures that demonstrate a track record of achieving their objectives. Advice on technology roadmaps from CDL’s Chief Scientists World-renowned experts from leading academic institutions provide technical feedback to founders and advise the Fellows and Associates on objectives related to technology validation. Business development support from top students Business school students work to support ventures including developing financial models, evaluating potential markets, and fine-tuning strategies for scaling. Twelve locations globally CDL operates five sites in Canada, three in the United States and four in Europe. Launched in 2012 at the Rotman School of Management at University of Toronto, the program has now expanded with locations in Oxford (Saïd Business School, University of Oxford), Paris (HEC Paris), Atlanta (Scheller College of Business, Georgia Institute of Technology), Madison (Wisconsin School of Business, University of Wisconsin-Madison), Seattle (University of Washington, Foster School of Business), Berlin (European School of Management and Technology), Tartu (Delta Management School, University of Tartu), Vancouver (Sauder School of Business, University of British Columbia), Montreal (HEC Montréal), Calgary (Haskayne School of Business, University of Calgary), and Halifax (Rowe School of Business, Dalhousie University).

Positron Ventures helps and funds Europe-based scientist-entrepreneurs who are pursuing moonshots for (planetary) health. We invest in scientist-entrepreneurs working on a breakthrough in their field, across the natural sciences. We back teams from day one in their pursuit of solving a major global challenge. We do this with pre-seed investments and, wherever needed, support across all aspects of building a company. If you are looking for funding, check out our investment criteria and shopping list, and our view on when to engage. If you think there might be a match, contact us at startups@positron.vc. Scientists who have not yet spun out a company but are interested in doing so, please check our scientist resources.