OS Fund
TypePrivate
Founded2014
FounderBryan Johnson, Jeff Klunzinger
HeadquartersChicago
ProductsVenture capital
WebsiteOSFund.co

OS Fund is an American venture capital fund that invests in early-stage science and technology companies.[1]

Firm

Bryan Johnson created OS Fund in October 2014, a year after selling Braintree to eBay for $800 million.[2] He devoted $100 million from the sale to establishing the fund. Johnson and Jeff Klunzinger serve as the fund's general partners.[3][4]

The fund draws its name from the acronym for operating system (OS), the software that underlies the basic functions of computers and provides a foundation for other applications. OS Fund focuses on investment in technologies and platforms in genomics, synthetic biology, computationally derived therapeutics, advanced materials, and diagnostics.[5]

In September 2015, OS Fund published the methodology it uses to evaluate investments in the field of synthetic biology. In order to promote the brand, Johnson said the fund publicly released the "playbook" on its website to encourage others to invest in emerging sciences.[6]

Origins

Johnson has said he launched the fund in response to a pullback in federal support of research and development,[3] and because of a general reluctance by more traditional venture capital firms to make science-related investments.[7]

Investments

OS Fund focuses on early-stage, computationally driven companies that utilize artificial intelligence and machine learning to develop platform technologies in genomics, synthetic biology, computationally derived therapeutics, advanced materials, and diagnostics.

Notable OS Fund investments include the following:

  • Ginkgo Bioworks, a Boston-based biotechnology company that uses genetic engineering to produce bacteria with industrial applications; recently valued at $4.2 billion.[8][9][10]
  • Atomwise, a San Francisco-based developer of an AI-powered drug discovery platform.[11]
  • twoXAR, now rebranded as Aria Pharmaceuticals an AI-driven drug discovery platform.[12]
  • Catalog, a Boston company focused on harnessing DNA to store data. The company recently showed it could store 14 gigabytes of data from Wikipedia.org in DNA molecules.[13]
  • Matternet, the builder and operator of drone logistics networks to transport goods on demand. In 2019, they partnered with UPS to transport medical samples across hospital systems as well as UPS and CVS Pharmacy to make at-home prescription deliveries.[14]

References

  1. ↑ "OS Fund LLC: Private Company Information". Bloomberg. Retrieved 8 June 2015.
  2. ↑ Dameron, Emerson (October 21, 2014). "Departed Braintree founder starts $100 million venture fund". Built In Chicago. Retrieved 7 June 2015.
  3. 1 2 Mims, Christopher (October 20, 2014). "Humanity's Last Great Hope: Venture Capitalists". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
  4. ↑ "About". OS Fund. Retrieved 8 June 2015.
  5. ↑ Johnson, Bryan (October 20, 2014). "Rewrite the OS, Change the World". Medium. Retrieved 7 June 2015.
  6. ↑ Knapp, Alex (September 15, 2015). "Braintree Founder Unveils Open Source Playbook For Science Investors". Forbes. Retrieved October 8, 2015.
  7. ↑ "Manifesto". OS Fund. Retrieved 8 June 2015.
  8. ↑ Gormley, Brian (March 18, 2015). "Ginkgo Bioworks Raises $9M to 'Engineer' Food Flavors, Fragrances". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 8 June 2015.
  9. ↑ Buhr, Sarah. "Why The First YC-Backed Biotech Company May Just Be The Future Of Pharma". TechCrunch. Retrieved 8 June 2015.
  10. ↑ "Ginkgo Bioworks Secures $45 Million from Viking Global, OS Fund, Y Combinator and Felicis Ventures" (Press release). Boston: Business Wire. July 23, 2015. Retrieved October 8, 2015.
  11. ↑ Buhr, Sarah (June 3, 2015). "YC Alum Atomwise Raises $6 Million To Further The Advancement Of Artificial Intelligence In Drug Discovery". TechCrunch. Retrieved October 8, 2015.
  12. ↑ Klunzinger, Jeff (2018-07-24). "Moving drug discovery into the fast lane: OS Fund invests in twoXAR's AI-driven approach". Medium. Retrieved 2019-11-01.
  13. ↑ Castellanos, Sara (2020-02-05). "Where Computing Is Headed—Beyond Quantum". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved 2020-05-25.
  14. ↑ Mangalindan, JP (October 20, 2014). "Crazy, insane start-ups are this tech investor's meat and potatoes". Fortune. Retrieved 8 June 2015.
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