Breakout Labs
Breakout Ventures (also known as Breakout Labs) is a San Francisco-based early-stage venture capital firm investing in science-driven technology companies across biotech, tech-bio, deep tech, hard tech, and chem tech sectors, most recently closing Fund III at $114 million.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2013
- HeadquartersSan Francisco, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Breakout Labs does
Breakout Ventures (operating publicly as Breakout Labs) is a San Francisco-based early-stage venture capital firm that invests at the frontier of science-driven technology. Founded in 2013, the firm deploys capital into companies building transformative products across biotech, tech-bio, deep tech, hard tech, and chem tech sectors. Its named portfolio spans diagnostic platforms for immune-mediated diseases (Cytovale), sustainable biofabrication (Modern Meadow), in vivo gene therapy (STRM.BIO), mycelium-grown materials (EcoVative Design), AI-enabled cancer immunotherapy (Noetik), precision autoimmune therapeutics (Epana Bio), high-yield biomanufacturing (ZymoChem), and carbon dioxide-to-chemicals transformation (Twelve).
The firm operates as a classic early-stage venture capital fund. Breakout raises capital from limited partners and deploys it into portfolio companies, generating returns through fund management fees and carried interest on investment gains. The firm does not develop proprietary technology itself; its edge is operational and selection-driven, described in firm materials as "conviction from Day One" early investing, rigorous partnership focused on inflection points, and access to a catalytic network of corporates, strategic partners, and next-stage investors. The investment team is positioned as scientists and operators with technical depth and commercial fluency. Distribution is direct: the firm engages founders through its contact page, LinkedIn, Twitter, Medium, and newsletter channels.
In March 2026, Breakout closed Fund III at $114 million, continuing a decade-plus strategy of backing founders building what it describes as category-defining companies powered by science. Leadership includes co-founders Peter Thiel, Ajay Royan, Lindy Fishburne, and Jim O'Neill, alongside portfolio director Julia Moore and scientific director Hemai Parthasarathy. The firm operates with a small team of 1-10 employees from San Francisco.
Breakout Labs firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Breakout Labs
- Legal name
- Breakout Ventures
- Website
- https://breakoutlabs.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2013
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Breakout Ventures (also known as Breakout Labs) is a San Francisco-based early-stage venture capital firm investing in science-driven technology companies across biotech, tech-bio, deep tech, hard tech, and chem tech sectors, most recently closing Fund III at $114 million.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Breakout Labs industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Venture Capital
- NAICS
- Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940), Other Financial Vehicles (525990), Other Financial Investment Activities (5239)
- SIC
- Investment Advice (6282)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Early-Stage Venture Capital (Series A/B) (FSANAAAB)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Sector-Focused Venture Capital (Vertical Specialists) (FSANAAAD)
Keywords
Where Breakout Labs is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Francisco
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
Breakout Labs business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
Breakout Labs product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Breakout Labs (legally Breakout Ventures) is a venture capital firm that invests early-stage capital into founders building scientific innovation companies across biotech, tech-bio, deep tech, hard tech, and chem tech sectors. The firm provides not only capital but also operational support, technical guidance, and access to a network of corporates, strategic partners, and next-stage investors to help portfolio companies reach inflection points.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Breakout Ventures Fund III
Companies that use Breakout Labs
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Breakout Labs technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Breakout Labs partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators1 record
Recent moves4 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Breakout Labs competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Lux Capital: Early-stage venture firm investing in deep tech, science, and frontier technology companies. Directly comparable to Breakout given its sector focus on biotech, advanced materials, climate, and space, with a thesis-driven, conviction-led investment style.
- Flagship Pioneering: Science-driven venture firm that creates and funds breakthrough biotechnology companies from internal ideation. Comparable to Breakout given shared focus on biotech and science innovation, though Flagship operates a more originator-heavy model.
- Material Impact: Early-stage venture firm investing in transformative companies at the intersection of materials science, manufacturing, and sustainability. Comparable to Breakout given shared thesis on advanced materials and deep tech investing.
- Breakthrough Energy Ventures: Venture fund backed by high-profile investors and focused exclusively on climate and deep tech innovation. Comparable given shared focus on transformative science companies in climate, materials, and biotech (e.g., Twelve).
- DCVC (Data Collective Venture Capital): Deep tech venture firm investing in early-stage companies applying computational and engineering breakthroughs to transform industries. Highly comparable given overlap in deep tech, biotech, climate, and materials thesis investing.
- ARCH Venture Partners: Long-tenured early-stage venture firm focused on science-driven companies in biotech, advanced materials, and clean energy. Comparable given its decades-long specialization in scientific innovation and similar portfolio categories.
Broad incumbents
- Khosla Ventures: Large, established venture firm with significant allocation to deep tech, biotech, and science-driven frontier technologies. Comparable given its substantial science innovation portfolio, though broader in stage and sector than Breakout.
Emerging players
- Prelude Ventures: Early-stage venture firm investing in deep tech, science, and engineering-driven founders. Comparable given shared focus on pre-seed and seed science-driven innovation, though typically earlier stage than Breakout.
- Section 32: Venture firm founded by Bill Maris focused on science, technology, and healthcare innovation. Comparable given its sector specialization and thesis-driven early-stage investing in biotech and deep tech.
- Petri.bio: Early-stage venture firm investing in bio and engineering-driven companies at the frontier of biology. Comparable given shared focus on biotech, synbio, and science-driven founders building category-defining companies.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Breakout Labs social profiles
Digital presenceBreakout Labs financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Breakout Labs leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Breakout Labs funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Breakout Labs M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments39 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Breakout Labs
What does Breakout Labs do?
Breakout Labs (legally Breakout Ventures) is a venture capital firm that invests early-stage capital into founders building scientific innovation companies across biotech, tech-bio, deep tech, hard tech, and chem tech sectors. The firm provides not only capital but also operational support, technical guidance, and access to a network of corporates, strategic partners, and next-stage investors to help portfolio companies reach inflection points.
Is Breakout Labs a public or private company?
Breakout Labs is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was Breakout Labs founded?
Breakout Labs was founded in 2013. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Breakout Labs based?
Breakout Labs is headquartered in San Francisco, United States, in the North America region.
Who are Breakout Labs's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Lux Capital, Flagship Pioneering, Material Impact, Breakthrough Energy Ventures, DCVC (Data Collective Venture Capital) and ARCH Venture Partners. Khosla Ventures is listed as a broad incumbent. Emerging players are Prelude Ventures, Section 32 and Petri.bio.
Does Breakout Labs have an API?
No public API is recorded for Breakout Labs.
What industry is Breakout Labs in?
Breakout Labs's product category is Venture Capital. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSANAAAB, Early-Stage Venture Capital (Series A/B), with a secondary code of FSANAAAD, Sector-Focused Venture Capital (Vertical Specialists). Its NAICS code is 523940 and its SIC code is 6282.