Funds for venture capitalists

Three extra venture capital fund managers have been approved under the federal government’s Innovation Investment fund.

Two will concentrate on the life sciences, both at the early stages of development.

Yuuwa Capital is a WA-based, $40 million fund aimed at investing in seed-stage life sciences and IT technology ventures. The fund managers say they have strong linkages to WA tertiary institutions.

Yuuwa is aiming at a portfolio of 12 investees with an average capital commitment of $2.5 million. It already has private capital committed of $20 million.

The IB Australian Bioscience Fund is a private equity-style venture capital fund of $40 million. It aims to focus on private bioscience companies at an early stage of development. Former Intersuisse analyst Dr Darren Grubb is part of the management team.

The other group is Andover Venture Partners, which aims to invest in clean technology, new media, IT and in the life sciences. It aims to raise $80 million.

The government will commit capital of $20 million to each fund, matched by a minimum dollar-for-dollar investment from the private sector.