JD

Jerel Davis

Managing Director at Versant Ventures

Greater Vancouver Metropolitan Area

Overview 

Jerel Davis is the Managing Director at Versant Ventures, overseeing investments in various biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies. With a PhD from Stanford University and a background in leading successful Series A to Series D investments in companies like Firefly Bio and Turnstone Biologics, he has demonstrated expertise in corporate development, venture capital, and strategic planning within the life sciences industry. Davis also serves as the Lead Board Director at Chinook Therapeutics, showcasing his leadership and strategic acumen in guiding companies towards successful growth and commercialization.

Work Experience 

  • Managing Director

    2011 - Current

    Current companies: Ventus Tx, Turnstone, Tentarix, Santa Ana Bio, FireFly Tx, Kolm Tx, Fable Tx Previous companies: Chinook Tx (KDNY), RayzeBio, (RYZB), BlueRock (Acq. Bayer), Crispr Tx (CRSP), Repare Tx (RPTX), Quanticel Pharmaceuticals (Acq. Celgene), Akero Therapeutics (AKRO), Inception 4 (Acq. Iveric), Inception 5 (Acq. Roche), Northern Biologics (Acq. AZ and BI), Nested Tx, Graphite Bio

Versant Ventures caters to the healthcare sector with early and later stage venture, private equity, and debt financing investments.

  • Board Chair

    2020

Ventus Therapeutics develops small molecule drugs that target autoimmune diseases, inflammatory diseases, and cancer.

Raised $370,150,000.00 from Michael J. Fox Foundation.

  • Board Member

    2022

  • Board Member

    2022

Santa Ana Bio is a biotechnology company focusing on precision immunology for autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.

Raised $176,024,658.00 from Andreessen Horowitz, RTW Investments, Access Biotechnology and Google Ventures.

  • Board Member

    2020

Tentarix creates innovative protein therapeutics with uniquely combined bioactivities that leverage synthetic biology.

Raised $93,000,000.00 from Gilead Sciences, Amplitude Venture Capital, Versant Ventures and Samsara BioCapital.

  • Board Member

    2015

Turnstone Biologics is a privately-held clinical stage biotech company.

Raised $132,699,979.00 from Brace Pharma, Ridgeback Capital, PFM Health Sciences, Point72, Northleaf Capital Partners, Surveyor Capital, Sixty Degree Capital, Teralys Capital, JM Family Enterprises and Versant Ventures.

  • Board Member

    2020

  • Board Member

    2022 - 2023

Nested Therapeutics aims to advance precision oncology medicine by finding new driver mutations.

Raised $125,000,000.00 from Avidity Partners, Foresite Capital, Goldman Sachs Asset Management, Section 32 and Cowen Healthcare Investments.

  • Lead Board Director

    2019 - 2023

  • Board Member

    2020 - 2023

RayzeBio is a pharmaceuticals company that develops targeted radiopharmaceutical drugs for cancer.

Raised $418,000,000.00 from Soleus Capital, Ally Bridge Group, Viking Global Investors, Laurion Capital Management, Wellington Management, Sands Capital Ventures and Sofinnova Investments.

Education 

Articles About Jerel

Relevant Websites