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Key people at Pier 70 Ventures.
Pier 70 Ventures is a venture capital firm identifying, funding, and empowering entrepreneurial companies focused on impact-driven innovation. The firm invests in disruptive healthcare technologies, providing capital, mentorship, and global network access. They prioritize cultivating diverse teams to build sustainable, high-growth businesses.
The firm’s operational philosophy stems from a commitment to equitable private equity, recognizing inclusive investment drives superior financial returns. Its leadership applies deep investment and operational expertise, combined with a robust global network, guiding portfolio companies. This experience forms the foundation for fostering market progress.
Pier 70 Ventures serves entrepreneurs seeking strategic partners and investors pursuing financial returns alongside societal impact. Its vision extends to driving innovation that shapes health’s future and creates an equitable world. The firm targets a triple bottom line, balancing market returns, wealth creation for diverse founders, and local economic and social benefits.
Key people at Pier 70 Ventures.
Pier 70 Ventures has 2 tracked investments across 2 companies. The latest tracked deal is $5.2M Series A Extension in KayoThera in July 2023.
| Date | Company | Round | Lead Investor(s) | Co-Investor(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 19, 2023 | KayoThera | $5.2M Series A Extension | Thong LE | Andy Hill Cancer Research Endowment Fund, BioAdvance, National Institutes OF Health, NEW Jersey Health Foundation, WRF Capital |
| Sep 27, 2022 | DocSpera | $10.0M Series B | Johnson & Johnson Innovation, Pier 70 Ventures | — |
Pier 70 Ventures is a venture capital firm founded in 2017, headquartered in Seattle with offices in Indianapolis, New York, San Francisco, and Seattle, specializing in early-stage investments in disruptive healthcare technologies.[1][2][3][4] Its mission centers on "Venture Boldly" by funding impact-driven innovation that advances health outcomes, generates superior financial returns, and pursues a triple bottom line: market-driven returns for limited partners, wealth creation for diverse entrepreneurs, and local economic impact through job creation and innovation ecosystems.[2][3] The firm's investment philosophy emphasizes empowering bold, diverse entrepreneurs with capital, mentorship, operational expertise, and global networks to build high-growth, sustainable companies that transform healthcare and society.[1][2][3]
Pier 70 significantly influences the startup ecosystem by sourcing talent beyond traditional hubs, providing access to Fortune 200 leaders, universities, governments, and investors, and focusing on team diversity to drive governance and value creation in healthcare.[2][3] This hands-on approach accelerates portfolio growth while fostering equitable wealth and community benefits.[1][3]
Pier 70 Ventures was founded in 2017 by R. Miller Adams, who serves as Co-Founder and Managing Partner, alongside key leaders like Dr. Preetha Ram (Managing Partner), Ms. Leisl Kleindl-Schelling (Chief Financial Officer), and Mr. Leland Melvin (Venture Partner).[4] Based initially in Seattle, the firm evolved from a focus on private equity to a differentiated venture strategy targeting early-stage healthcare disruptors, expanding to multiple U.S. locations to enhance deal sourcing and support.[3][4] Its growth reflects a commitment to "finding brilliance beyond the usual places," leveraging the team's blend of industry leaders, entrepreneurs, private equity veterans, and technologists to build a global network and operational edge.[2][4]
Pivotal to its evolution has been the "Venture Boldly" ethos, emphasizing impact alongside returns, with a fund launched in June 2022 to fuel this mission.[2][3][4]
Pier 70 Ventures rides the wave of healthcare technology disruption, where AI, biotech, and digital health tools address rising demands for equitable, efficient patient outcomes amid aging populations and post-pandemic shifts.[1][2] Its timing aligns with surging VC interest in impact investing, where healthcare startups promise both profitability and societal good, amplified by market forces like regulatory support for innovation and demand for diverse-led ventures.[3] By focusing on underrepresented entrepreneurs and U.S.-wide scaling, the firm influences the ecosystem through job creation, knowledge expansion, and bridging traditional hubs with emerging ones like Seattle and Indianapolis, fostering resilient innovation pipelines.[2][3]
Pier 70 Ventures is poised to expand its franchise with its 2022 fund and beyond, targeting more early-stage healthcare breakthroughs amid trends like personalized medicine, telehealth scalability, and AI-driven diagnostics.[4] Evolving regulations, global health investments, and diversity mandates will shape its trajectory, potentially amplifying influence through larger funds and international partnerships. As it ties back to its core mission of venturing boldly, Pier 70 stands to redefine healthcare VC by proving impact and returns can coexist, empowering the next wave of transformative entrepreneurs.[2][3]
