Leaps by Bayer
Leaps by Bayer is the impact-focused corporate venture capital arm of Bayer AG, founded in 2015 to invest off the company balance sheet in transformational biotechnologies across human health and agriculture. It backs and co-founds companies pursuing ten defined breakthrough goals (the leaps), such as regenerating lost tissue, curing genetic diseases and reducing the environmental impact of farming. The unit has deployed more than USD 1.9 billion across 60-plus ventures, often co-founding companies (BlueRock, Century, Joyn Bio, Oerth Bio, Unfold) alongside partners like Versant, Ginkgo Bioworks, Temasek and Arvinas. Several holdings have been absorbed into Bayer (BlueRock) or exited via trade sale and IPO. It is led by Juergen Eckhardt and operates from Berlin and the United States as an evergreen strategic investor rather than a fixed-life fund.
Leaps by Bayer is a Berlin venture capital firm with €1.8B AUM, 47 active companies and 9 exits.
- ·8 exits in the last 5 years · consistent DPI cadence.
- ·Average hold across 9 realized deals: 3 years.
- ·Top sector focus: Biotech (55% of portfolio).
Sector breakdown
56 companiesGeography breakdown
8 geographiesKey facts
Recent exits
Leaps by Bayer sold Capstan Therapeutics to AbbVie in 2025 after 3 years.
Leaps by Bayer exited Kojin Therapeutics in 2025 after 4 years.
Leaps by Bayer took Boundless Bio public in 2024 after 1 year.
Leaps by Bayer took Metagenomi public in 2024 after 4 years.
Coverage notes
1 fund tracked, 56 portfolio companies (47 active · 9 realized). Verified weekly from public filings and deal announcements.
Investment team
Senior partners. Hand-checked from public filings and the firm's own site.
Funds & portfolio
Every fund Leaps by Bayer has raised, with its portfolio companies. Hand-checked from public filings.
Leaps by BayerActiveEvergreen2015€1.8B47 assets9 exitsEvergreen2015 · 11yr€1.8B479
Unrealized
47 held| Company | Entry |
|---|---|
| 65Lab Biotech · Singapore | 2023 |
| Ada Health HealthTech · Germany | 2021 |
| Aferna Bio AgTech · US | 2022 |
| Affini-T Therapeutics Biotech · US | 2022 |
| Amfora FoodTech · US | 2021 |
| AMR Action Fund Healthcare · US | 2020 |
| Andes AgTech · US | 2021 |
| Bloom Science Biotech · US | 2021 |
| Celea Therapeutics Biotech · US | 2026 |
| Cellino Biotech Biotech · US | 2022 |
| ChrysaLabs AgTech · Canada | 2023 |
| Corxel Pharma · China | 2024 |
| Deka Biosciences Biotech · US | 2021 |
| Dewpoint Therapeutics Biotech · US | 2019 |
| EarthOptics AgTech · US | 2021 |
| Edifice Health HealthTech · US | 2021 |
| eGenesis Biotech · US | 2019 |
| Fork & Good FoodTech · US | 2023 |
| FutuRx Biotech · Israel | 2020 |
| Gandeeva Therapeutics Biotech · Canada | 2022 |
| Grao Direto AgTech · Brazil | 2018 |
| Guardian Agriculture AgTech · US | 2021 |
| Huma HealthTech · UK | 2021 |
| Immunitas Therapeutics Biotech · US | 2021 |
| Indapta Therapeutics Biotech · US | 2022 |
| Khloris Biosciences Biotech · US | 2019 |
| Leaf Agriculture ClimateTech · US | 2026 |
| Mozart Therapeutics Biotech · US | 2021 |
| NextPoint Therapeutics Biotech · US | 2023 |
| NuCicer FoodTech · US | 2022 |
| Nuvig Therapeutics Biotech · US | 2024 |
| Oerth Bio AgTech · US | 2019 |
| Pairwise ClimateTech · US | 2018 |
| Paratus Sciences Biotech · US | 2023 |
| Rantizo AgTech · US | 2020 |
| Recode Therapeutics Biotech · US | 2022 |
| Sabanto AgTech · US | 2026 |
| SonoThera Biotech · US | 2026 |
| Souffle Therapeutics Biotech · US | 2025 |
| Sound Agriculture AgTech · US | 2021 |
| Sudo Biosciences Biotech · US | 2024 |
| Triumvira Therapeutics Biotech · US | 2020 |
| Ukko HealthTech · US | 2021 |
| Unfold AgTech · US | 2020 |
| Vesigen Therapeutics Biotech · US | 2020 |
| WellTheory HealthTech · US | 2025 |
| Woebot Health HealthTech · US | 2022 |
Realized
9 exits| Company | Entry | Exit | Type | Buyer | MOIC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BlueRock Therapeutics Biotech · US | 2016 | 2019 | Trade Sale | Bayer | – |
| Boundless Bio Biotech · US | 2023 | 2024 | IPO | – | – |
| Capstan Therapeutics Biotech · US | 2022 | 2025 | Trade Sale | AbbVie | – |
| Century Therapeutics Biotech · US | 2019 | 2021 | IPO | – | – |
| Joyn Bio AgTech · US | 2017 | 2022 | Trade Sale | Ginkgo Bioworks | – |
| Kojin Therapeutics Biotech · US | 2021 | 2025 | – | – | – |
| Metagenomi Biotech · US | 2020 | 2024 | IPO | – | – |
| Recursion Pharmaceuticals Biotech · US | 2020 | 2021 | IPO | – | – |
| Senti Biosciences Biotech · US | 2021 | 2022 | IPO | – | – |
Frequently asked questions
- What investment strategy does Leaps by Bayer focus on?
- Leaps by Bayer focuses on VC, Growth strategies in the private equity space.
- How many portfolio companies does Leaps by Bayer have?
- Leaps by Bayer has 47 active portfolio companies and 9 completed exits and 1 fund tracked on GP Intel.
- Where is Leaps by Bayer headquartered?
- Leaps by Bayer is headquartered in Berlin, Germany.
- What is Leaps by Bayer's assets under management?
- Leaps by Bayer manages approximately €1.8B in assets under management.
- When was Leaps by Bayer founded?
- Leaps by Bayer was founded in 2015.
- What sectors does Leaps by Bayer invest in?
- Leaps by Bayer invests across Healthcare, Consumer.
- What are Leaps by Bayer's recent exits?
- Recent realized exits by Leaps by Bayer include: Capstan Therapeutics (2025) to AbbVie; Joyn Bio (2022) to Ginkgo Bioworks; BlueRock Therapeutics (2019) to Bayer.
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