Steve Kafka

General Partner

2019 - Current

S32 is a venture capital firm investing at the frontiers of technology. I seek to work with exceptional scientists and entrepreneurs to build companies that will create vast improvements in patient care and value for the healthcare system. I focus on technologies that advance precision medicine using data, AI, and emerging biology across life science applications. Since joining S32 I have led or co-led more than a dozen investments, and currently serve as Board Director at BigHat Bio, Function Oncology, ROME Therapeutics, and Sunbird Bio.

Executive Chair

2019 - 2021

Enabling earlier detection of multiple cancers as part of routine care, to extend and save lives. Thrive was acquired by Exact Sciences (EXAS) in January 2021.

Executive Chair

2018 - 2020

ArcherDX is a molecular technology company leading the transformation to personalized medicine in oncology and immunology by empowering physicians to apply high-quality genomics in daily clinical care. ArcherDX was acquired by Invitae (NVTA) in October 2020.

Partner

2018 - 2019

TRV is an innovative venture firm where great scientists and creative business thinkers come together to build companies (50+ to date and counting!) that endeavor to create transformational impact for patients and exciting and rewarding professional opportunities for employees.

Director

2018 - 2019

My "Gap (Half-) Year"

2018 - 2018

After an amazing 5+ years helping to build FMI to a place where we provided genomic information to tens of thousands of patients, we helped three dozen biopharma companies accelerate their drug development efforts, and we built our company to more than 700 employees, I decided it was time for a break! I enjoyed more than six months of travel (French/Swiss alps, Crete, around New England), time with my nearly-leaving-the-nest kids, and REST. (I recommend it!). A wonderful "gap year" type experience.

President & Chief Operating Officer

2013 - 2018

Foundation Medicine is a molecular information company at the forefront of bringing comprehensive genomic analysis to routine cancer care. Foundation Medicine's clinical laboratory services help physicians and their patients tailor therapy based on each tumor's molecular subtype. Foundation Medicine was acquired by Roche in 2018.

COO & CFO

2009 - 2012

AILERON Therapeutics is a biopharmaceutical company developing a breakthroughclass of drugs called Stapled Peptides. This new therapeutic modality creates a unique opportunity to exploit potentially thousands of currently "undruggable" targets with applications in all human diseases.

VP, Finance

2006 - 2009

Led finance and strategic planning activities for clinical-stage, publicly-traded biotech company including finance, investor and public relations, financial planning & analysis, purchasing and business operations.

Sr Dir, Finance

2003 - 2006

Led the Financial Planning & Analysis function for this public, commercial-stage biotech company. Also provided operational and strategic P&L support as internal “CFO” for VELCADE, an oncology drug with annual sales exceeding $1 billion.