Investors & Entrepreneurs: Frequently Asked Questions

Our focus, as set by our charter and mission, is on technologies developed within the Partners system by the investigators and clinicians at any Partners entity.

The funding comes from the two main entities in the Partners HealthCare network, the Brigham and Women’s Hospital and the Massachusetts General Hospital.

There are a number of ways to contact the Fund. Since we work closely with the licensing professionals in Research and Licensing, investigators can reach us by contacting licensing managers directly. Investigators can also contact us directly or through other referral sources such as entrepreneurs, other investors or service individuals who have worked with the team in the past.

Any technology, clinician or investigator in the Partners system is eligible for funding. Investigators should contact the Licensing Manager for your entity and department, or contact the Fund Team directly. The Fund Team will arrange a meeting and begin the diligence process described below. Throughout this process the Fund Team works with investigators and many others to evaluate the commercial viability and pathway of the opportunity.

The due diligence involved in investment funding can take up to six months to complete. Once the Fund Team decides to recommend an investment, a proposal is made to the Investment Committee who votes on a decision. If positive, then the time to close the deal on an investment will depend on many factors including, but not limited to, deliverables, demand and presence of co-investors.

The Fund began in March 2007 as a separate LLC entity operating under the Research Ventures & Licensing group within Partners HealthCare. The Fund is a pool of money that can be used to advance the commercialization of Partners HealthCare technologies. Designed as an evergreen fund, the fund is governed by a Board of Managers comprised of the Presidents of the Brigham and Women’s Hospital and the Massachusetts General Hospital and the Chief Academic Officer of Partners HealthCare. Investment oversight is provided by an external, independent Investment Committee composed of experts from industry, venture capital and academia.

The Partners Innovation Fund focuses on the entire Partners HealthCare System and as a result, technologies range from devices, to diagnostics, to therapeutics to information systems. For information on the portfolio or recent investments please click here.