Breakout Ventures

Breakout Ventures is a San Francisco-based venture capital firm founded in 2016, focused on early-stage investments in creative bioscience companies. The firm is dedicated to supporting startups that leverage the convergence of biology, chemistry, and technology to develop bio-based solutions aimed at improving human health and sustainability​. Breakout Ventures has raised significant capital, including a $112.5 million Fund II, to back innovative companies at the intersection of technology and biology. Their investment portfolio includes companies like Immusoft, which is working on genetically modifying B cells for sustained therapeutics, and Checkerspot, which uses synthetic biology to produce bio-derived oils​. The firm's investment strategy targets areas such as synthetic biology, cell and gene therapy, biomanufacturing, and carbon transformation, supporting companies from seed to scale. Notable portfolio companies include Cytovale, which focuses on diagnosing immune-mediated diseases, and Ecovative Design, which uses mycelium technology for sustainable materials. The Breakout Ventures team, led by managing partners Lindy Fishburne and Julia Moore, brings extensive experience in supporting science-driven companies. The firm originated from Breakout Labs at the Thiel Foundation, which has a strong history of advancing early-stage deep science startups​.