Billionaire family offices back healthcare and biotech startups in August
CNBC · 2026-09-03
Family offices made 52 direct investments in private companies in August, with approximately 20% targeting biotech startups, according to Fintrx data. These investments are contributing to a venture capital rebound in biotechnology, fueled in part by the artificial intelligence boom, particularly for biopharma startups with drugs already undergoing testing. Notable investments include Bezos Expeditions and Gates Frontier participating in a $188 million Series E round for LifeMine Therapeutics, an AI-driven drug discovery company, and Stanley Druckenmiller’s Duquesne Family Office backing Epicrispr Biotechnologies in a $90 million Series C round for a gene therapy developing startup. U.S. and European biopharma startups raised $12.6 billion in the first half of 2026, marking a five-year high, although investors are generally writing fewer checks, with more funding directed towards later-stage companies.