Ysios Capital Launches $108M BioTech Fund InceptionBio

Jan de Vries · 2026-03-27

Here's some exciting news from the European venture capital scene. Ysios Capital, a Spanish VC firm that's been a major player in life sciences since 2008, just announced a new fund called InceptionBio. They're targeting about $108 million (that's €100 million converted) to specifically boost BioTech startup creation from the ground up. It's not just a plan on paper either. The fund has already completed its first closing, which is a solid start. They've got backing from Spain's Centro para el Desarrollo Tecnológico y la Innovación (CDTI) through its SICC Innvierte program. This kind of public-private partnership is a big deal—it shows a real commitment to turning great science into real companies. ### What's the Big Idea Behind InceptionBio? Think of it as a catalyst. The whole point is to get involved at the very beginning. We're talking about identifying brilliant scientific discoveries in universities and research centers, then building actual companies around them. Joan Perelló, the Managing Partner at Ysios, put it perfectly. He said Spain has "world-class science" and a unique chance to turn that into companies that help patients globally. InceptionBio is their tool to work hand-in-hand with scientists and entrepreneurs from day one. The goal? To accelerate the translation of lab breakthroughs into new therapies, especially for areas with high unmet medical needs.  ### How Will the Fund Actually Work? Their strategy is two-fold. First, they'll be mining Spain's excellent research institutions for promising technology transfer opportunities. Second, they're on the lookout to attract international scientific assets that can be developed within Spain's growing ecosystem. - Focus on early-stage: This isn't for later-stage companies. It's for the initial, risky phase of company creation. - Build from science: Every investment starts with high-quality, differentiated scientific research. - Create a hub: The broader mission is to establish Spain as a leading European BioTech center. They already have a pipeline of opportunities under review and aim to help launch at least three new BioTech companies by 2026. That's a tangible goal. ### Why This Matters for the Ecosystem Ysios isn't new to this game. They manage over $432 million in assets and have a strong track record. They've invested in more than 40 BioTech companies and have been part of some major exits, like Takeda's acquisition of Tigenix. Arturo Urrios, a Partner at Ysios, sees InceptionBio as the connector. It's meant to "connect science, entrepreneurship and investment" to accelerate company creation across Europe, with a clear focus on Spain. This fund essentially broadens their ability to engage earlier, complementing their existing investment approach. For anyone watching the European BioTech space, this is a significant move. It signals deeper, more foundational support for innovation, starting with the spark of an idea and nurturing it all the way through. It's about building the next generation of companies that can make a real difference.