Kern Capital

Kern Capital is a private investment firm specializing in venture capital and private equity investments, with a particular emphasis on the life sciences sector. The firm manages a diversified portfolio that spans from new ventures to established and profitable businesses across various industry sectors. Kern Capital typically invests between $5 million and $15 million in a select number of companies each year, partnering with exceptional management teams for the long term. While the firm often takes active roles on the boards of its portfolio companies, it does not seek involvement in their daily operations.

The firm's investment strategy is opportunistic, focusing on companies with the potential to become market leaders within their niche sectors. While there is a particular focus on the life sciences, Kern Capital remains open to opportunities in other sectors that offer potential for capital-efficient growth and attractive profit margins. The firm has a flexible approach to exit strategies, considering options such as mergers and acquisitions, initial public offerings, recapitalizations, dividends, or other methods to return investor capital.

Kern Capital's founder and general partner, Jay Kern, established the firm in early 2020 to continue his private equity investing with an increased focus on the life sciences. Prior to founding Kern Capital, Jay spent over a decade in private equity investing as Managing Director of Reynolds, DeWitt & Co. in Cincinnati, where he led all acquisitions and venture financings. Notable private life science investments include Riboscience, 4J Therapeutics, Reata Pharmaceuticals (acquired by Biogen), GPN Vaccines, Apton Biosystems (acquired by Pacific Biosciences), Ionetix, PGDx, Concentric Analgesics, and Provider Synergies. Jay holds a JD and MBA from the University of Chicago and a BA from Princeton University.

Kern Capital's mission is to provide capital and advice to help entrepreneurs realize their dreams of creating market-leading businesses. The firm demonstrates its commitment to the success of its investors, management, and portfolio companies by typically serving as the largest personal investors in each of its portfolio companies. Its investors are high-net-worth individuals, family offices, and foundations who share a sense of fair play and excitement about the potential to help grow great businesses. Many have been investing with Kern Capital for almost twenty years and some for even longer.