New Science Ventures Research
Investment Thesis
New Science Ventures, LLC (NSV) is a Greenwich, Connecticut and London-based venture capital firm founded by former McKinsey & Company directors Somu Subramaniam and Tom Lavin. NSV invests in companies pursuing novel, fundamental scientific approaches to address large, global unmet needs in two broad sectors: Life Sciences (pharmaceuticals, biologics, medical devices, diagnostics) and Information Technology (semiconductors, telecom infrastructure, satellite/aerospace, AI/ML hardware, security, and enterprise software). The firm's stated strategy is to look for companies addressing markets greater than $1 billion, with differentiated, IP-protected value propositions and strong management teams. NSV explicitly favors contrarian, company-specific bets and is willing to invest outside traditional tech and life-science hubs, going "where the science is." With over $1 billion in AUM and 150+ investments made over its history (per CB Insights), NSV is one of the more prolific deep-tech/life-sciences crossover investors in its category.
Stage Focus
NSV invests across both early and late stage companies -- from formation-stage life-science and deep-tech ventures through growth-stage financings (e.g., Glydways' $170M Series C in 2026). The firm does not appear to specialize narrowly in one stage; it builds "virtual" business model teams suited to a company's specific stage of development and stays engaged through multiple financing rounds and value inflection points.
Check Size
No specific check-size range is published. Given the firm's participation in rounds ranging from small biotech financings (Trellis Bioscience's $9M Series C) to large late-stage rounds (Glydways' $170M Series C), NSV appears flexible on check size depending on stage and syndicate structure.
Lead Tendency
NSV explicitly states it looks for "the right investment teams and syndicates -- willing to lead, follow, or be sole investors." This is a flexible, syndicate-driven approach rather than a strict lead-only or follow-only mandate.
Recent Activity
NSV has been active through 2026, with portfolio companies generating frequent news: Glydways closed an oversubscribed $170M Series C (co-led by Suzuki Motor Corporation, ACS Group, and Khosla Ventures) as autonomous vehicle networks began entering public operation; Trellis Bioscience closed a $9M Series C to advance its calpurbatug (TRL1068) antibody program; PlanetIQ won multiple U.S. government contracts (NASA, NOAA, and a $15M U.S. Air Force STRATFI award) for its GNSS radio-occultation satellite data business; and Paragraf continued expanding its graphene electronics product line (PMF2000 and PMF2002 GFET platforms) while adding industry veterans to its advisory committee and board.
Portfolio Highlights
NSV's portfolio spans dozens of companies across both sectors. Notable exits include Ventyx Biosciences (acquired by Eli Lilly), Akarna Therapeutics and BioVex (both acquired by Amgen/Allergan lineage), Dezima Pharma (acquired by Amgen), Ception Therapeutics (acquired by Cephalon), K2M (acquired by Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe), Conor Medsystems (acquired by Johnson & Johnson), Lightwire (acquired by Cisco), Vaultive (acquired by CyberArk), Paradigm Diagnostics (acquired by Exact Sciences), Seahorse Bioscience (acquired by Agilent), and Phase Four (assets acquired by Quantum Space). Active portfolio highlights include Achronix Semiconductor (eFPGA technology), Paragraf (graphene electronics), Glydways (autonomous mobility networks), PlanetIQ (satellite weather data), biomodal (epigenetic/liquid-biopsy tools), TigerConnect (clinical communication platform), and zeotap (enterprise customer data platform, recently named a G2 High Performer).
Team
- Somu Subramaniam, Managing Partner -- Co-founder of NSV; former McKinsey & Company director who led the firm's Strategy, Technology, and Healthcare practices and served on its Investment Committee. B.Tech from IIT, MBA from Harvard Business School. Sits on the boards of Achronix, Antevia Networks, Avari Wireless, Ferric, Glydways, OSCPS Motion Sensing, Pakal Technologies, Paragraf, Resolve Therapeutics, and Vimalan Biosciences.
- Tom Lavin, Partner -- Co-founder of NSV; 30+ years in investment banking and finance, formerly head of real estate investment banking at First Boston/Smith Barney and head of commercial mortgage lending at MetLife. A.B. from Wesleyan, MBA from Harvard. Sits on the boards of Achronix and Dali Wireless.
- Jean-Pierre Bizet, Partner and Senior Advisor -- Joined 2015; former CEO of D'Ieteren and of GIB Group; former McKinsey director in Paris; professor of strategy at Universite Libre de Bruxelles. PhD in Applied Economics, MBA from Harvard.
- Andrew Abrams, Partner -- Joined as Associate in 2016, made Partner in 2020; formerly J.P. Morgan healthcare investment banking (London). Natural Sciences/Biochemistry degrees from Cambridge, MBA from Harvard. Based in NSV's London office; sits on boards of Trellis Bioscience and Vimalan Biosciences.
- Brenda Marex, Partner and Chief Financial Officer -- Joined 2010; previously fund controller at Cerberus Capital (~$8B AUM) and Controller/VP at Citigroup Alternative Investments. CPA (New York).
- Matt Crotty, Controller -- Joined October 2025; previously Director at SteelBridge Consulting and Senior Director of Fund Services North America at TMF Group / Venture Back Office. CPA (North Carolina).
Decision Process
With a small partnership (four investing partners plus a senior advisor) and board seats held directly by partners across the portfolio, NSV appears to operate as a partnership-driven decision process rather than a solo-GP or large investment-committee model.
Founder Preferences
NSV favors technical, science-driven founding teams with strong, defensible IP and differentiated approaches -- often in markets or geographies overlooked by mainstream Silicon Valley and biotech-hub investors.
Geographic Focus
Headquartered in Greenwich, Connecticut, with an office in London (Michelin House, Fulham Road). Portfolio companies span the US, UK, and continental Europe (e.g., Novadip and Resolve Therapeutics collaborators in Belgium), reflecting the firm's stated willingness to "go where the science is" outside traditional hubs.