Longview Innovation, a US-based venture firm focused on university spinouts, is joining life sciences and industrial venture capital firm Anzu Partners, creating the North America University Innovations Fund in the process.
The fund will both include Longview’s existing portfolio and make future investments.
Michael Burychka, co-founder and chief executive of Longview Innovation, will become managing partner of the North America University Innovations Fund.
Other Longview leadership will also remain in place: Longview’s lead investment manager and managing director, Jason Smith, will continue managing the North America University Innovations Fund portfolio. Brandon Fleischman, Longview’s general counsel, will serve as general counsel of the joint platform.
Longview Innovation began as an offshoot of UK-based firm IP Group in 2014 and operated as IP Group Inc. until a rebrand in 2023.
The firm has established relationships with a series of US institutions – Johns Hopkins University, the University of Washington, the University of Pennsylvania, Columbia University, Princeton University, and Yale University – as well as US Department of Energy Laboratories.
“Longview was founded to bridge the gap between groundbreaking academic research and the commercial infrastructure needed to bring it to market. By joining Anzu, we gain access to a broader industrial and life sciences platform, deep operational expertise, and capital to continue to back the companies we brought to life originally as part of IP Group plc.”
– Michael Burychka
Longview has traditionally focused on areas including medtech, synthetic biology, advanced materials and clean energy, targeting early-stage commercialisation and supporting founders through the licensing and company formation processes.
“We’ve long respected Longview’s team and their deep relationships across the academic and innovation ecosystems. Their strong network and mission align closely with ours, and together we can unlock even more potential from North America’s research institutions.”
– Whitney Haring-Smith, managing partner at Anzu Partners
Anzu Partners has some $1bn in assets under management.