Ysios Capital Launches $108M BioTech Fund for Startups

Jan de Vries · 2026-03-27

Spain's Ysios Capital just made a major move in the life sciences world. They've launched a new fund called InceptionBio, and it's got a serious target: $108 million. That's right, they're putting over a hundred million dollars specifically into BioTech company creation and early-stage project development. It's not just talk, either. The fund has already completed its first closing. They've got backing from Spain's Centro para el Desarrollo Tecnológico y la Innovación (CDTI) through its SICC Innvierte program. This public-private partnership is a big deal for accelerating innovation. Joan Perelló, Managing Partner at Ysios, will lead the charge alongside partner Arturo Urrios. They're not new to this game. They've been at it since 2008, managing over $432 million in assets across their funds. ### Why This Fund Matters for BioTech So what's the big idea here? It's about bridging a critical gap. Spain has incredible scientific research happening in its universities and labs. The challenge has always been turning that brilliant science into viable, global companies. That's exactly where InceptionBio aims to step in. Perelló put it perfectly: "Spain has world-class science and a unique opportunity to translate that science into globally impactful BioTech companies." The fund wants to engage at the very earliest stages, working hand-in-hand with researchers to build solutions that actually help patients.  ### The Strategy Behind the Investment InceptionBio isn't just throwing money at ideas. Their strategy is focused and deliberate. They're looking at two main avenues: - **Technology Transfer:** Taking discoveries from universities and research centers and building companies around them. - **Early-Stage Companies:** Investing in promising young BioTech firms that are just getting off the ground. The goal is to create a pipeline. They already have investment opportunities under advanced review and aim to support at least three new BioTech company creations by 2026. That's a tangible target. ### Building a Spanish BioTech Hub There's a larger vision at play here. Ysios doesn't just want to fund companies; they want to build an ecosystem. By focusing on Spain, they aim to establish the country as a leading hub for BioTech innovation in Europe. This means attracting international scientific assets to be developed locally, too. It's about making Spain the place where groundbreaking therapies are born. Urrios explained, "InceptionBio was created to connect science, entrepreneurship and investment... to accelerate company creation across Europe, with a clear focus on Spain." ### A Proven Track Record You might wonder if Ysios can pull this off. Well, their history speaks for itself. They've invested in more than 40 BioTech companies. They've guided six companies to NASDAQ exits and completed ten major mergers and acquisitions. Some of their notable deals include: - Takeda's acquisition of Tigenix for $486 million - Qiagen's purchase of STAT-Diagnostica for $186 million - Vifor Pharma's Sanifit acquisition for $405 million These aren't small numbers. They demonstrate a real ability to identify potential and guide companies to successful exits. That experience is invaluable for the new startups InceptionBio will support. ### The Bottom Line for Innovators If you're a scientist with a breakthrough or an entrepreneur with a bold idea in life sciences, this fund represents a significant opportunity. It's specifically designed to de-risk the earliest, most challenging phase of company creation. The combination of Ysios's expertise, substantial capital, and public-sector support through CDTI creates a powerful launchpad. It's about more than just funding; it's about having partners who understand the long, complex journey from lab bench to patient bedside. In a sector where development timelines are measured in years and costs can be astronomical, having this kind of specialized, early-stage support could be the difference between an idea gathering dust and a therapy changing lives. That's the real promise of InceptionBio.