Presight Capital Research
Investment Thesis
Presight Capital is an ambitious, frontier-focused venture fund founded by serial entrepreneur Christian Angermayer and co-founder Fabian Hansen. The fund invests in transformative technologies and business models across biotechnology, deep tech, fintech, AI/ML, and other frontier sectors. Angermayer's personal philosophy centers on longevity, life extension, and "quality-adjusted life years" (QALYs) as a framework for understanding transformative biotechnology impact. The fund explicitly focuses on "controversial frontier science," including psychedelics, brain-computer interfaces, and life extension technologies alongside infrastructure bets in undercapitalized global markets.
Sector Focus
Presight Capital maintains a sector-agnostic approach with particular emphasis on:
Primary Focus:
- Biotech & Life Sciences: Drug discovery, psychedelic therapeutics, neurotechnology, longevity research
- Deep Tech: Brain-computer interfaces, novel therapeutics, frontier science
- Fintech: Digital payments, emerging market financial infrastructure
- AI/ML: Applied artificial intelligence, especially in drug discovery and healthcare
- Developer Tools & Infrastructure: Building blocks for innovation across sectors
Notable Investment Areas:
- Psychedelic-assisted therapeutics (Compass Pathways)
- AI-powered drug discovery (AbCellera)
- Neurotech (Blackrock Neurotech)
- Global fintech in emerging markets (AlaanPay)
Stage Focus
Presight invests across a full lifecycle approach, from seed through growth stages:
- Pre-Seed to Seed: Supporting emerging founders with bold ideas
- Series A and beyond: Following into growth-stage companies
- The fund has shown willingness to participate in later-stage rounds (Series B+) for portfolio follow-ons
Check Size
Investment range: $500K - $100M+
- Seed rounds: typically $500K - $5M
- Series A and beyond: $5M - $100M+
- The fund's diverse check size reflects their full-lifecycle investing approach
Lead Tendency
Co-lead and partnership approach: Presight typically co-invests and co-leads rounds with strong partners rather than pursuing solo leadership. Fabian Hansen emphasizes the importance of "always having a partner we work with" for co-investment. This reflects a collaborative philosophy while maintaining significant influence and board representation.
Fund History and AUM
- Fund I: $80M (2019)
- Fund II: $350M (2021, raised in just a few weeks)
- Total AUM: $600M+ across all vehicles
- Backing: Limited partners include AbCellera founder Carl Hansen, former Goldman Sachs CFO Martin Chavez, Uma Thurman, Point72, and prominent family offices
Presight is backed by Apeiron Investment Group, Christian Angermayer's family office with $7 billion+ in assets under management, providing portfolio companies access to a 20-person team and extensive global network.
Recent Activity
Presight has been actively deploying capital with notable recent successes:
Notable Exits:
- AbCellera (drug discovery AI): IPO (2021) - generating exceptional returns
- Compass Pathways (psilocybin-assisted therapy): IPO (2021) - psychedelic therapeutics validation
- Qonto (fintech): Valued at unicorn status
- Razor Group (e-commerce): $400M funding round (2021)
Active Portfolio Achievements:
- 62+ investments across portfolio
- 6+ portfolio unicorns
- 9+ IPOs and public companies
- 4+ acquisitions
Recent Development (2025):
- Launched Presight AI Accelerator with applications opening December 2025 through January 31, 2026, targeting AI startups and entrepreneurs globally
- First cohort achieving $300M+ aggregate valuation
Portfolio Highlights
Major Portfolio Companies Include: AbCellera (IPO), Compass Pathways (IPO), Qonto (fintech unicorn), Razor Group, ATAI Life Sciences, Alto Neuroscience, Alloy Therapeutics, Angiex, Blackrock Neurotech, Bound, Bullish, and 50+ others across biotech, fintech, and AI/ML sectors.
Key Exits & Achievements:
- AbCellera: AI-powered drug discovery platform, IPO 2021
- Compass Pathways: Synthetic psilocybin for depression treatment, IPO 2021
- Qonto: Digital banking for SMEs, unicorn status, global expansion
- Razor Group: E-commerce logistics, $400M Series C led by BlackRock
Team
Christian Angermayer, Founder & General Partner
- German entrepreneur and investor (born 1978)
- Started career as biotech entrepreneur: co-founded Ribopharma (merged 2003, made millions)
- Founder of Apeiron Investment Group ($7B+ AUM)
- Founder/Chairman of ATAI Life Sciences (psychedelic therapeutics)
- Personal investor: $60M in Presight Fund II
- Known for bold vision on longevity and life extension; invests through personal conviction
- Executive film producer; involved in multiple cultural/media ventures
- Co-founder of Plasma (blockchain startup)
Fabian Hansen, Co-founder & General Partner
- General Partner focused on strategic investment decisions
- Background in AI and infrastructure investment
- Previously founder of/involved with Merantix Capital (AI-first investing)
- London School of Economics (LSE) education
- Based in San Francisco; leads operational investment decision-making
- Board roles at Angiex, Alloy Therapeutics, Peptilogics, and other portfolio companies
- Known for deep technical diligence and co-investment strategy
Philipp Schreiber, Principal
- Investment professional focused on deal sourcing and portfolio management
- Part of core investment team executing Presight's investment thesis
- Supports across biotech, fintech, and emerging market opportunities
Broader Team Support:
- Access to 20-person Apeiron Investment Group team
- Global network including billionaire angels, hedge fund managers, and tech/biotech leaders
- Board support and operational expertise across portfolio
Decision Process
Partnership-based decision making: Small, lean investment team (3 core members + Apeiron support) that emphasizes co-investment and partnership. Decisions appear to be made collaboratively between Christian Angermayer (founder vision, relationship leverage) and Fabian Hansen (operational due diligence).
Decision Timeline
Decision timelines vary by stage and firm relationship:
- For strong founder relationships: Rapid (potentially 1-2 weeks)
- For new founders: 2-4 weeks typical diligence
- Co-investor dynamics can accelerate or extend timelines
- Appears to move decisively when thesis alignment is clear
Warm Introductions
Warm introductions preferred but not required: Given the fund's global network and founder-focused approach, strong intros from credible sources are valued. However, Presight's active sourcing and accelerator program suggest they're also sourcing directly.
Typical Involvement
- Board representation: Strong at seed/Series A stages
- Advisor support: Operational and strategic guidance from Angermayer/Hansen
- Follow-on investing: Presight maintains meaningful reserves for portfolio follow-ons
- Network access: Portfolio companies gain access to Apeiron's 20-person team and global network
Founder Preferences
Presight backs:
- Visionary founders with bold, transformative ideas (especially in frontier science)
- Technical founders with deep domain expertise in biotech, AI, or emerging tech
- Experienced founders who have shipped products or built successful ventures
- Internationally-minded founders who understand global markets and can navigate regulatory complexity
- Scientists and technologists: PhDs, published researchers, technical operators preferred in biotech
- Ambitious go-getters: Founders willing to tackle controversial or frontier areas
Geographic Focus
Global with US/Europe emphasis:
- Primary: United States (especially biotech hubs like San Francisco, Boston)
- Secondary: Europe (London, Berlin) - strong network and regulatory expertise
- Emerging markets: Latin America, Middle East, MENA region, Africa
- Asia: Selective investments in tech/biotech hubs
- Fund explicitly positions itself as international bridge between US and Europe
Notable Co-Investors
Presight frequently co-invests with:
- Apeiron Investment Group (fund backer/operator)
- Peter Thiel / Thiel Foundation (AbCellera board)
- Point72 (Fund II LP)
- Leading hedge funds (BlackRock, Victory Park Capital Advisors)
- Other top-tier VCs and family offices
Thesis Summary
Presight Capital is a contrarian, frontier-focused fund betting on transformative science and technology that most traditional VCs avoid. With $600M+ AUM, experienced leadership, and a 20-person support team, Presight has demonstrated exceptional returns through psychedelics, drug discovery AI, and global fintech. The fund's ability to co-lead rounds, access capital across $500K-$100M+, and provide operational support makes it attractive for ambitious founders building in frontier sectors.