Ysios Capital Launches $108M BioTech Fund for Startups

Jan de Vries · 2026-03-27

Here's some news that caught my eye recently. Ysios Capital, a Spanish venture capital firm that's been deep in the life sciences game since 2008, just announced a major new move. They're launching a fund called InceptionBio, and they're targeting a cool $108 million to pour into BioTech startup creation and early-stage projects. Think of it as a dedicated engine for turning brilliant scientific ideas into real companies. The fund's already closed its first round, which is a great sign of early momentum. ### What's the Fund All About? InceptionBio isn't just throwing money at existing companies. Its core mission is company creation. They want to identify high-quality science—often sitting in universities and research centers—and build entirely new ventures around it. Their focus is squarely on Spain, aiming to transform the country's "world-class science" into globally impactful BioTech firms. Joan Perelló, the Managing Partner at Ysios, put it perfectly. He said, "Spain has world-class science and a unique opportunity to translate that science into globally impactful BioTech companies." The goal is to work hand-in-hand with the scientific ecosystem from the very beginning, building companies that create real solutions for patients.  ### The Strategy and the Players So, how will they do it? The strategy is two-fold. First, they'll tap into local Spanish assets through technology transfer. Second, they'll actively seek out and attract international scientific projects that can be developed within Spain. It's about bolstering the entire ecosystem. A key partner here is the CDTI (Centro para el Desarrollo Tecnológico y la Innovación) through its Innvierte program. This public-private collaboration is a big deal—it's designed to accelerate tech transfer and boost the competitiveness of Spain's R&D system. Joan Perelló and partner Arturo Urrios will be leading the charge. Arturo Urrios highlighted the opportunity: "We see a significant opportunity to identify differentiated scientific assets, translate them into high-potential companies, and attract the talent and capital needed to develop them." ### Ysios Capital's Track Record You might be wondering, can they pull this off? Well, Ysios isn't new to this. They manage over $432 million in assets and have a serious history to back up their ambitions. - They've invested in more than 40 BioTech companies. - They've successfully navigated six NASDAQ exits and ten mergers and acquisitions. - Their portfolio includes major names like SpliceBio and Minoryx Therapeutics. - They've been part of landmark deals, including Takeda's acquisition of Tigenix for roughly $486 million. This experience gives them a huge advantage in knowing what it takes to guide a startup from a lab concept to a market-ready therapy. ### What's Next for InceptionBio? The fund isn't starting from zero. They already have a pipeline of investment opportunities under advanced review. Their tangible goal? To support the creation of at least three new BioTech companies by 2026. For anyone in the U.S. looking at the European BioTech scene, this is a significant development. It signals concentrated, early-stage capital and expertise flowing into a specific region with strong scientific foundations. It's about building from the ground up, and that's often where the most transformative innovations begin. Keep an eye on Spain—this fund aims to make it a leading hub for BioTech creation.