Investor Profile: Leaps by Bayer — Thesis, Cheque Size & How to Apply

If you are working on a scientific breakthrough in health or agriculture, here is how to engage Leaps by Bayer. Founded in 2015, this is Bayer's strategic impact-investment unit — it has invested over $2.1 billion in 65+ companies pursuing paradigm-shifting advances in the life sciences. Leaps by Bayer funding is patient, mission-aligned capital for founders solving "ten huge challenges" facing humanity.

Thesis and sweet spot

Leaps invests against ten defined "Leaps" — from curing genetic disease and regenerating tissues to reducing agriculture's environmental impact. The portfolio spans cell and gene therapy, engineered biologics, sustainable agriculture and microbiome science. Bayer committed an additional €1.3 billion to the unit in April 2022, underlining the long-horizon mandate.

Cheque size and fund

Leaps has no publicly stated fixed fund size — it invests Bayer's balance-sheet capital; cumulative investment exceeds $2.1 billion across 65+ companies. Cheques are sized to the science, from seed-stage company creation to growth rounds.

The unit’s 2024 Impact Report put cumulative investment at $1.9 billion-plus across 60+ companies; by September 2026 the figure had grown past $2.1 billion across 65+ companies — a pace of roughly $200 million a year into breakthrough science.

Notable portfolio

Portfolio companies include Robigo (Series A led by Leaps, September 2026 — engineered biologicals for crop protection), Sabanto (oversubscribed Series B, July 2026), Recursion (Leaps led early rounds; IPO April 2021), BlueRock Therapeutics (founded as a JV with Versant Ventures; fully acquired by Bayer), JoynBio (joint venture), Pivot Bio, Pairwise and Apollo Agriculture.

Partners

The unit is headed by Dr. Juergen Eckhardt (EVP and Head of Leaps by Bayer), with investment leadership including Paimun Amini (VP, Agriculture Venture Investments).

Programs, credits and perks

Founders get the Bayer Breakthrough Innovation Forum showcase, deep R&D collaboration with Bayer's scientists, and the joint-venture creation model that built companies like BlueRock and JoynBio from scratch.

The joint-venture creation model — which built BlueRock Therapeutics with Versant Ventures before Bayer acquired it outright — shows Leaps can company-build, not just invest.

How to apply for funding

There is no public application form — founders engage through leaps.bayer.com. The bar is scientific breakthrough potential against one of the ten Leaps challenges; deep-tech founders in health and agriculture should lead with the science.