The Business of Big Ideas

The Research Triangle Region's strong concentration of universities, contract research organizations (CROs), and tech companies creates a thriving ecosystem for startups and entrepreneurs that attract investments from both local and global Venture Capital firms.

Last year, Triangle startups raised more than $2 billion through 159 deals, which accounted for 90% of the funding and 77% of the deals in North Carolina.

Looking back on the past decade, there have been 490 VC deals that have a combined value of $5.9 billion in the Triangle.

Investor Highlights

Wide open lobby at Alexandria Center for AgTech. A standout feature is the DNA wall lining the lobby, containing colored sequences and patterns.

Alexandria Venture Investments

One of the most active venture capital firms in the region, Alexandria Venture Investments seeks to create clusters and invest in companies focused on advancing human health. Located in the Research Triangle Park, Alexandria is well-connected to the region’s resources and aware of the challenges and opportunities facing startups in the life science, Agtech and technology industries. Venture investments include Biopharma, Diagnostics, Research Tools, AgTech and Technology.

Part of Alexandria Venture Investments, the Alexandria Seed Capital is a new model created to catalyze life science and Agtech seed-stage investment. In this model, partners are not required to commit capital in a typical fund model, but are offered allocations to a range of deals that Alexandria chooses to invest in. This gives partners the options to choose what ventures they want to support.

  • Most Active Biopharma Investor by new deal volume in 2017-2018, as recognized by Silicon Valley Bank
  • #1 venture capital investor in the healthcare sector by U.S.-based deal volume in 2018, as recognized by Forbes
  • $892M Book Value (as of December 31, 2018)
  • 140+ Direct Private Investments
  • 45+ IPO Exits between 2013 and 2018
  • 10+ M&A Exits between 2013 and 2018
View of Durham Bulls stadium from the announcer box.

Hatteras Venture Partners

Hatteras Venture Partners (HVP) is a venture capital firm based in Durham, N.C. with a focus on seed and early-stage opportunities across the healthcare continuum from transformational therapies to disruptive technologies. The firm has more than $550 million in capital commitments under management and has deployed five funds. As the most active venture capital firm in the region, HVP invested in five Triangle Region companies in 2018.

In 2019, HVP announced the first closing of Hatteras Venture Partners VI, LP (HVP VI), with $94 million in deployable capital toward an ultimate target fund size of $200 million. The investment firm continues to invest in our region, with the recent announcement of backing life science company Shattuck Labs, which is expected to raise $202 million in its IPO.

Successful regional companies in previous funds include:

  • G1 Therapeutics
  • StrideBio
  • NeuroTronik, Inc.
  • Bivarus, Inc.

CED Innovators Report

Read more about the record-setting investments made in North Carolina and the Research Triangle Region in this year's Innovators Report

Recent VC News

Triangle precision medicine, drug research firm Metabolon lands $25M in new capital

January 25, 2023
 Metabolon is gearing up to further drive its global mission in precision medicine and drug research through study of the metabolome with $25 million in new equity funding. The metabolome refers to the complete set of small-molecule chemicals found within a biological sample. Metabolon recently signed a testing agreement with Mayo Clinic. Metabolon studies more than genetics […]