BioRock Ventures

BioRock Ventures is a Palo Alto, California-based seed-stage venture capital firm founded in 2019, dedicated to accelerating the development of novel medicines. The firm invests in early-stage biopharmaceutical companies developing novel FDA-regulated therapeutic drugs, covering all disease areas, development stages, and therapeutic modalities. BioRock operates two funds — BioRock Ventures I and Fund II — and leads rounds with checks up to $2 million at angel, seed, and Series A stages. The firm is led by Dr. Mary Wheeler, PhD, MBA, Founding Managing Partner, with over two decades of experience in the therapeutics startup sector. With 15 investments concentrated in biotech and pharma, BioRock's portfolio includes Immusoft (gene-modified B cell therapies for rare diseases), Primmune Therapeutics, and Veana Therapeutics — all working within drug discovery and early-stage clinical development. The firm focuses on companies addressing unmet medical needs with scientifically rigorous approaches, prioritizing therapeutic innovation over platform plays. BioRock Ventures leads its rounds, positioning itself as a conviction-driven, science-first investor at the earliest stages of biopharmaceutical company formation. Dr. Wheeler's deep operating background in therapeutics startups allows the firm to evaluate scientific merit with the rigor of an insider, not just a financial analyst. For founders navigating the early challenges of building biopharma companies — from IND-enabling studies through seed fundraising — BioRock provides both capital and an experienced scientific partner committed to the long development timelines that novel therapeutics require.