Shahram Seyedin-Noor
Managing Partner at Civilization Ventures
Shahram Seyedin-Noor
Managing Partner at Civilization Ventures
San Francisco, California
Overview
Work Experience
Founder + Managing Partner
2017 - Current
Civilization Ventures invests in visionary founders who are leading the future of health tech and biology-driven innovation. We are mentor capitalists who aim to be the first check and lead investor in highly disruptive companies in the life sciences and healthcare, including diagnostics, AI / digital health, and therapeutics (AI, gene/cell therapies, regenerative medicine). Our team comprises serial entrepreneurs and industry thought leaders who work tirelessly to help each of our portfolio companies succeed. Inquiries to info@civilizationventures.com. In 2024, our portfolio company Replace was acquired by Tome Bio to lead the race in developing genetic medicines as curative treatments for disease. In 2022, we celebrated the acquisition of CRISPR gene editing pioneer Rewrite Therapeutics - where Shahram was lead investor and sat on the Board - by Intellia (NASDAQ: NTLA). We had our first "unicorn" exit in 2018 with the public listing of gene and cell therapy leader Rocket Pharma (NASDAQ: RCKT). Civilization Ventures has had 10 exits to date.
Co-Founder + CEO ➟ Executive Chairman
2010 - 2017
Inspirna is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing first-in-class drugs that target key pathways in cancer progression. Our discovery platform - which can be applied to virtually any tumor type - has yielded novel therapeutic targets for several high-unmet need cancer types, including triple-negative breast, brain and colorectal cancer. As founding CEO and later Executive Chairman, I negotiated our first license out of Rockefeller University and helped build a team of executives to push forward four independent programs. The company has raised $150 million from leading biotech investors. The name Inspirna evokes "inspired by RNA", as microRNAs form the framework for our discovery platform.
Angel Investor
2007 - 2017
Angel investor in innovative health tech companies such as Omada Health (ranked #3 most innovative healthcare company in 2015 by Fast Company), Counsyl (acquired by Myriad Genetics), Avantome (acquired by Illumina), Bina (acquired by Roche), and drchrono (acquired by EverCommerce). Outside of healthcare, I also invested in several tech startups, including Tubi TV (acquired by Fox). The common theme: inspiring teams working on transformative technologies that could have a positive global impact.
Co-Founder + CEO
2010 - 2014
I founded and led GraphDive from inception through its acquisition by Sociable Labs, an enterprise marketing company. GraphDive built a proprietary personalization platform to drive user engagement. Our investors included Crosslink Capital, Correlation Ventures and prominent angel investors.
CFO + VP of Corporate Development
2006 - 2009
NextBio built the leading software platform for genomics analysis powering personalized medicine. I joined NextBio as founding CFO when it was a pre-revenue, angel-funded startup and helped raise institutional financing to grow the team tenfold. During my tenure, we negotiated and closed over $25 million in transactions with investors, customers and strategic partners such as Merck, Eli Lilly, and Elsevier. NextBio was acquired by Illumina (Nasdaq: ILMN), a leader in the life sciences.
Vice President
2005 - 2006
Investment banking professional responsible for the execution of M&A and financing transactions for technology companies such as DivX (IPO) and Somera Communications. Structured deals, procured private equity investors and led term sheet negotiations.
Associate
2002 - 2005
Advised technology startups and VCs on venture financing transactions. Represented companies such as Amgen, Genitope and Nuvelo on intellectual property, securities and business matters. Advised PG&E in landmark $13 billion corporate restructuring.
Associate
2000 - 2002
Investment banking professional responsible for advising leading technology companies on a variety of strategic and financial matters, including M&A, LBO and equity/debt financing transactions. Clients included public companies such as Inktomi, Cadence and Sun.
Associate
1999 - 2000
Advised technology companies on public equity offerings, over $10 billion in M&A transactions and dozens of financings. Executed stock and ADS offerings on NASDAQ and the Neuer Markt. Clients included Tibco, Openwave and Garage Technology Ventures.