A16Z Partners Up with Lilly to Launch Biotech Ecosystem Venture Fund

Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) has announced the formation of the Biotech Ecosystem Venture Fund (BEVF) in collaboration with Eli Lilly and Company.

The BEVF, managed by a16z, will invest up to $500 million in therapeutic platforms and advanced technology companies focused on developing new medicines and disease treatments. The fund’s investment strategy aims to complement traditional venture funding by adopting a long-term perspective to help disruptive companies better leverage advancements in biological science, engineering, and artificial intelligence.

“The Biotech Ecosystem Venture Fund seeks to enable visionary founders to create enduring solutions in biotech and healthcare,” said Vineeta Agarwala, M.D., Ph.D., a general partner at a16z. “Combining our strengths as organizations will empower founders with not only the venture backing needed to advance groundbreaking technologies, but also the resources needed to strategically select the most promising application areas for these platforms.”

Eli Lilly’s contribution to the fund goes beyond capital. Through its Catalyze360 initiative, the company will offer additional support, including funding, lab space, and R&D resources. Catalyze360 is structured around three pillars—Lilly Ventures, Gateway Labs, and ExploR&D—designed to accelerate biotech innovation.

“Catalyze360 was created to accelerate the success of emerging biotech startups by providing access to people, tools, capabilities, and expertise that is traditionally hard for early-stage companies to reach,” said Nisha Nanda, Ph.D., a group vice president at Catalyze360.

Andreessen Horowitz invests in seed, venture, and growth-stage technology companies across multiple industries, including AI, bio + healthcare, fintech, and enterprise software. The firm manages $565 billion in assets across various funds and is headquartered in Menlo Park, California, with additional offices in San Francisco and New York City.