Arcus Ventures

Arcus Ventures is a New York-based venture capital firm founded in 2007 by Steven L. Soignet and James B. Dougherty, dedicated exclusively to oncology-focused life sciences companies. The team brings deep experience across clinical and academic medicine, drug development, hospital management, healthcare consulting, and private equity — a multi-disciplinary foundation that informs both investment selection and portfolio support. The firm closed a cancer-focused fund at $45 million in August 2014. Arcus leads rounds and targets three opportunity types: innovative biopharmaceuticals or drug delivery platforms in development, medical device companies approaching pre-marketing approval, and commercial-stage service businesses with positive revenue. Check sizes of $1 million to $5 million are deployed at Series A and Series B stages across North America and Europe. Notable portfolio companies include Cleave Therapeutics, Exosome Diagnostics, XTuit Pharmaceuticals, TRACON Pharmaceuticals, T2 Biosystems, and Vascular Pathways, collectively spanning drug discovery, diagnostics, biopharmaceuticals, and medical devices. Arcus Ventures' singular sector focus is its defining characteristic: by investing only in oncology, the firm develops a depth of scientific and commercial judgment that generalist healthcare funds cannot replicate. Soignet and Dougherty's combined clinical and entrepreneurial backgrounds allow them to evaluate not only the science but the regulatory and commercial pathway — providing portfolio companies with guidance that is specific, experienced, and directly applicable to the challenges of bringing cancer therapies to market.