Investor Profile: Forbion — Thesis, Cheque Size & How to Apply

Forbion is a life sciences venture capital firm based in Naarden in the Netherlands, and the largest venture fund in Europe focused exclusively on life sciences, according to BioPharma Dive. It backs companies developing novel therapeutics for areas of significant unmet medical need. For biotech founders, how to get funding from Forbion depends less on a pitch deck than on strong science, an experienced team and a credible path through clinical development.

Thesis

Forbion is therapy-area agnostic. It looks for high-quality life sciences companies developing novel therapeutics that could significantly advance medicine, prioritising unmet medical need over any single disease area. Its strategy spans company creation, early-stage venture investment and later-stage growth capital, so it can support a company from its first financing through to scale.

Sectors and stages

Forbion invests in therapeutics-focused biotechnology, including drug discovery and development companies at preclinical and early clinical stages, as well as later-stage biopharmaceutical companies in Europe and North America. Its Ventures funds back early biotechs; its Growth Opportunities funds provide growth capital to scaling companies.

Fund size and cheque size

In October 2026 Forbion raised €2.3 billion across two funds, its largest fundraising to date, bringing total assets under management to approximately €7.5 billion. The two vehicles are Forbion Growth Opportunities Fund IV and Forbion Ventures Fund VIII, expected together to finance around 30 companies. Individual cheque sizes are not publicly disclosed. Its previous pair, raised in October 2024, totalled nearly €2.1 billion.

Notable portfolio

Over its history Forbion has financed 142 companies, including 37 businesses it created itself, and its portfolio companies have produced 21 approved medical products reaching more than 1.6 million patients. Recent investments named in its 2026 announcement include Sling Therapeutics and Solstice Oncology. Earlier portfolio companies include Capstan Therapeutics, Mariana Oncology and Aiolos Bio, acquired by large pharmaceutical firms, and MapLight Therapeutics, which went public.

Partners and team

Forbion was co-founded by managing partner Sander Slootweg, who has described the firm's large 2026 raise as giving it significant dry powder in a capital-constrained market. Robbert van de Griendt is general partner for investor relations and impact. The firm's investor base for its latest funds includes Dutch pension investors MN and PGGM, KfW Capital, the Kauffman Foundation and pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly and Company.

Programs, credits and perks

Forbion does not run a public accelerator or a credits programme. Its company-creation work is its closest equivalent: it builds ventures around promising assets and experienced teams rather than only backing existing companies. Portfolio support centres on scientific and clinical judgement, syndicate building with specialist co-investors, and follow-on capital through its growth funds.

How to apply for funding

There is no public application portal or open call for founders, and no published application timetable was found in the sources reviewed. Founders normally reach Forbion through its website or through specialist introductions, with a package that leads on the science: mechanism, differentiation, unmet need, preclinical or clinical evidence, intellectual property, team track record and financing plan. Forbion typically leads its syndicates, so expect deep scientific diligence.