Santé Ventures Raises $130 Million Debut Healthcare Venture Fund

AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Santé Ventures announced today that the firm has closed its debut venture capital fund with $130 million in committed capital, the maximum amount permitted in the original offering targeted at $100 million. The healthcare-focused fund invests primarily in seed and early-stage companies developing innovative new medical technologies and healthcare services.

“by focusing exclusively on healthcare, accessing an extensive network of industry contacts and leveraging our complementary operating, medical and financial perspectives, Santé delivers superior company-building expertise to entrepreneurs and portfolio investments, which in turn generates attractive returns for our limited partners.”

Santé Ventures was founded by three managing directors with deep, complementary experience in the healthcare industry and venture investing. Douglas D. French is the past President and CEO of Ascension Health, one of the largest integrated health delivery systems in the country with $14 billion in revenue. In 2001, Doug created Ascension Health Ventures (AHV), a $125 million corporate venture fund. Joe Cunningham, MD is the past Chief Medical Officer of an Ascension hospital and served alongside Doug as vice-Chair of AHV’s investment committee. In 2004, Doug left Ascension and joined Joe to form a private firm to invest their own capital. Over the ensuing four years, they worked closely with Kevin M. Lalande of Austin Ventures to build the firm’s healthcare practice. Austin Ventures is one of the oldest and most established venture firms in the country with $3 billion under management across nine funds. Collectively, the Santé team has invested more than $100 million in venture capital in two dozen healthcare companies over the last decade, yielding to date four Initial Public Offerings totaling $2.8 billion in first-day market capitalization, four trade sales, and 15 remaining privately held companies.

“We founded Santé Ventures on a simple premise,” said the managing directors in a prepared statement, “by focusing exclusively on healthcare, accessing an extensive network of industry contacts and leveraging our complementary operating, medical and financial perspectives, Santé delivers superior company-building expertise to entrepreneurs and portfolio investments, which in turn generates attractive returns for our limited partners.”

Santé Ventures invests nationally with a focus on the Central US, and has offices in Austin, Texas and Nashville, Tennessee. The firm maintains a close working relationship with Austin Ventures.

About Santé Ventures

Santé Ventures is a dedicated healthcare venture capital firm founded by three former managers from Austin Ventures, Ascension Health Ventures and Ascension Health. The fund invests in early-stage companies developing innovative new medical technologies and healthcare services. For more information, please visit www.santeventures.com.