Portal Innovations is a venture capital firm that helps exceptional life sciences innovators build their companies where they live. We surround these entrepreneurs with the resources and community they need: Seed capital, fully equipped lab space, and expertise and introductions to other investors and partners.
Our crafted capital™ approach provides management expertise, funding, and lab+work space to turn breakthroughs into businesses.
The Problem
Entrepreneurs struggle and VC firms miss investment opportunities when exceptional scientific innovators do not have the capital, lab space and management skills to grow new life sciences companies where they live. Many of these missed investments are due to the lack of relationships between universities and VCs.
Our Approach
For top life science innovators in emerging biotech ecosystems, we offer a clear path for them to bring their ambitions closer to reality and achieve their next round of funding.
First, we provide things that are scarce: Early-stage funding, fully equipped lab space, and introductions to our trusted, global network — all built on the real-world experiences of our founders, who have taken several life sciences startups public and raised more than $750 million in venture capital.
Second, investors are being drawn to these emerging markets by exceptional faculty at top-tier academic research institutions. Portal is the first mover in these emerging markets, identifying the most promising life sciences technologies and innovators through our university relationships. We then partner with our network of investors and corporations to support these startups together.
Third, Portal has a number of scientists on staff to help with consulting services for our portfolio companies. Whether it’s creating a go-to-market strategy, or analyzing scientific data, we’re here to help and facilitate success in life sciences.
Portal by the numbers
- 32: number of member companies in Chicago
- 50,000: total square feet of lab and office space
- $6M: worth of world-class lab equipment
- 80%+ equipment needs we aim to provide to member companies
From potential to performance.
Our market-based approach identifies the most promising life science startups, and supports them throughout the journey. We engage deeply in every aspect of the business, leveraging our network to tackle each company’s specific challenges and lead them to successful Series A investments with world-class VCs and strategic investors.
Assess
We begin with a deep dive into the prospect company to examine management and strategic needs, leadership team, space requirements, and current funding. At every turn, we’re assessing opportunity and fit.
- Rigorous research and market understanding
- Seeking emerging technologies and novel approaches to big problems
- Build portfolio of high-potential biopharma, med tech, and data sciences ventures
Invest
Once selected, we begin our collaboration with company founders. We understand the many complexities of the biotech business model, and bring deep experience to help startups answer defining strategic questions, overcome roadblocks, and build capability and confidence.
- Support key regulatory and clinical decisions
- Optimize manufacturing and commercial considerations
Build
In the build stage, we work side-by-side with company founders to nurture and accelerate growth. We craft a robust strategic roadmap for value creation, and execute together with urgency and action.
- 12–18 months
- Vested interest in growth and value creation
- Best-in-class business operations, financial and strategic partnerships, and lab equipment
Evolve
From day one, we work with the end game in mind: prosperous execution. We guide our portfolio companies toward the most favorable next step in their journey, be it acquisition or strategic partnership.
- Expertise, partnership, and trust to drive successful outcomes
- Lasting, positive impact