Action Potential Venture Capital Limited

Action Potential Venture Capital Limited is a corporate venture capital fund established by GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) to invest in companies pioneering bioelectronic medicines and technologies. The fund was launched in 2013 with an initial commitment of $50 million, aiming to build a portfolio of five to seven companies over five years. Its first investment was in SetPoint Medical, a California-based company developing implantable devices for treating inflammatory diseases. The fund focuses on startups pursuing bioelectronic medicine concepts, existing companies with technologies interacting with the peripheral nervous system, and companies advancing technology platforms for these treatments. It operates in close connection with GSK’s Bioelectronics R&D unit, supporting research from early development toward patient-ready therapies. The fund is based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and managed by a dedicated team.

The fund's investment strategy includes targeting new start-up companies that aim to pursue the vision of bioelectronic medicines, existing companies with technologies that interact with the peripheral nervous system through first-generation devices that can stimulate or block electrical impulses, and companies advancing technology platforms that will underpin these treatment modalities. The fund intends to build a portfolio of five to seven companies over the next five years, focusing on these areas to drive innovation in the field of bioelectronic medicines.

As of March 2020, Action Potential Venture Capital has made nine investments, including companies like CVRx, Cala Health, NeuSpera Medical, SetPoint Medical, and Saluda Medical. The fund's approach is to invest in companies that are at the forefront of developing bioelectronic medicines and technologies, aiming to address diseases that have been difficult to treat with conventional molecular medicines. By supporting these companies, the fund seeks to advance the field of bioelectronic medicine and contribute to the development of new treatment options for patients.