Novo Ventures
Novo Holdings manages DKK 694 billion in assets for the Novo Nordisk Foundation across life science and capital investment platforms, serving as controlling shareholder of Novo Nordisk and Novonesis globally.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1999
- HeadquartersBagsværd, Denmark
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Novo Ventures does
Novo Holdings A/S is the holding and investment company wholly owned by the Novo Nordisk Foundation, one of the world's largest enterprise foundations. The firm manages Total Assets under Management of DKK 694 billion (EUR 93 billion) as of year-end 2025 and operates through seven specialised investment teams covering the full life cycle: Seed Investments (36 companies, DKK 4 billion portfolio), Venture Investments (53 companies, DKK 17 billion), Principal Investments (15-16 companies, DKK 87-99 billion), Capital Investments (DKK 114 billion diversified book), Planetary Health Investments (25 companies, DKK 8.25 billion), Asia Investments (12 companies, USD 512 million), and Quantum Investments (DKK 1.4 billion committed). It is also the controlling shareholder of Novo Nordisk and Novonesis, holding all A shares and significant B shares in each, with governance obligations written into the Foundation's Articles of Association.
The business is structured as an evergreen investment platform that generates Total Income and Investment Returns through dividends, capital appreciation, and realised gains on the Novo Group companies and on the broader investment portfolio. Novo Holdings invests directly in life science companies (biotechnology, medical technology, bioprocessing) and quantum technologies, while Capital Investments manages a multi-asset book spanning public equities, private equity, real assets, bonds, venture capital and credit. In 2025, the firm recorded Total Income and Investment Returns of DKK 21 billion (EUR 2.7 billion), a 9.2% constant-exchange-rate return on the Investment Portfolio, and a 10-year average return of 8.6%, supported by an active exit cadence (Hemab Therapeutics Nasdaq IPO, Nalu Medical to Boston Scientific, Clario to Thermo Fisher, LimmaTech to Eli Lilly, KabaFusion to Nautic Partners).
Novo Holdings distributes capital through direct proprietary deal flow and through co-investment partnerships with leading healthcare-specialist investors (Bain Capital, OrbiMed, RA Capital, Sofinnova, Forbion, Sanofi Ventures) and pan-European growth platforms such as the Scaleup Europe Fund (EUR 500 million founding commitment). The firm operates from offices in Hellerup (Copenhagen headquarters), Boston, San Francisco, London, Singapore, Shanghai and Mumbai, with around 130 investment professionals and a 54% international workforce. Its competitive positioning rests on patient capital from the Foundation, an in-house SeedLab for early-stage validation, deep life science expertise reinforced by ownership of Novo Nordisk and Novonesis, and an engaged ownership model that combines board representation with cross-portfolio strategic support.
Novo Ventures firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Novo Ventures
- Legal name
- Novo Holdings A/S
- Website
- https://novoholdings.dk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1999
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Novo Holdings manages DKK 694 billion in assets for the Novo Nordisk Foundation across life science and capital investment platforms, serving as controlling shareholder of Novo Nordisk and Novonesis globally.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Novo Ventures industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Life Science Investment Management
- NAICS
- Offices of Other Holding Companies (551112), Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940), Management of Companies and Enterprises (55111)
- SIC
- Investment Advice (6282)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Family Office Investment Platforms & Direct Investing (PE/VC/Co-Invest) (FSAAADAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Healthcare & Life Sciences Growth Equity (FSANACAB), Sector-Focused Venture Capital (Vertical Specialists) (FSANAAAD)
Keywords
Where Novo Ventures is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Bagsværd
- HQ country
- Denmark
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices7 records
Markets served
Novo Ventures business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Investment Portfolio Returns: Novo Holdings generates returns through managing and investing the assets of the Novo Nordisk Foundation. The company earns returns through capital appreciation, dividends, and realized gains from its investment portfolio spanning life science and capital investments. Returns support the Foundation's philanthropic activities.
- Controlling Shareholder Returns: As controlling shareholder of Novo Nordisk (28.1% equity, 77.3% votes) and Novonesis (25.5% equity, 63.4% votes), Novo Holdings receives dividends and benefits from the success of these world-leading life science companies. Novo Nordisk delivered 10% sales growth in 2025 and Novonesis delivered 7% organic sales growth.
- Life Science Investment Returns: Investments in life science companies at all stages (seed through principal/private equity) generate returns through exits, IPOs, and ongoing portfolio value appreciation. In 2025, Total Income and Investment Return was DKK 21 billion.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Investment Management Services |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Novo Ventures product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Novo Holdings A/S is a holding and investment company that manages the assets and wealth of the Novo Nordisk Foundation. It invests in life science companies at all stages of development through dedicated Seed, Venture, Principal, Planetary Health, Asia, and Quantum Investments teams, while also managing a diversified portfolio of equities, bonds, real estate, infrastructure, and private capital investments. Total Assets under Management reached DKK 694 billion (EUR 93 billion) at year-end 2025.
Product overview
Novo Ventures (Novo Holdings A/S) is a holding and investment company that manages the assets and wealth of the Novo Nordisk Foundation. The company operates a multi-team investment platform comprising Seed Investments, Venture Investments, Principal Investments, Capital Investments, Planetary Health Investments, Asia Investments, and Quantum Investments. These investment teams collectively manage Total Assets under Management of DKK 694 billion as of year-end 2025. The company is the controlling shareholder of Novo Nordisk and Novonesis (the Novo Group companies) and invests in life science companies at all stages of development. In addition to life science investments, the company manages a broad portfolio of equities, bonds, real estate, infrastructure, and private equity assets.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Seed Investments
- Venture Investments
- Principal Investments
- Capital Investments
- Planetary Health Investments
- Asia Investments
- REPAIR Impact Fund
- Quantum Investments
Quantifiable outcome
- DKK 21 billion Total Income and Investment Return in 2025
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Novo Ventures
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments7 records
Ideal customer profiles6 records
Novo Ventures technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Novo Ventures partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.
- European EnergycoreNovo Holdings partnered with Sampension and European Energy to boost green transition in Denmark and Sweden. Partnership started with DKK 650 million (EUR 87 million) for land purchase for solar and wind farms, with potential investments up to DKK 1.5 billion through debt financing.
- Novo Nordisk FoundationflagshipNovo Nordisk Foundation is the sole owner of Novo Holdings. The Foundation is one of the world's largest enterprise foundations, established in 1924, with a vision to improve people's health and sustainability of society and the planet.
- Novo NordiskflagshipNovo Nordisk is controlled by Novo Holdings with 28.1% equity and 77.3% voting shares. Novo Nordisk is a global healthcare company driving change to defeat serious chronic diseases, built on heritage in diabetes.
- NovonesisflagshipNovo Holdings controls Novonesis (formed 2024 by merger of Novozymes and Chr. Hansen) with 25.5% equity and 63.4% votes. Novonesis is a global biosolutions company leveraging microbiology to transform how the world produces, consumes and lives.
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Quantum Computing ProgrammecoreNovo Nordisk Foundation initiative to establish one of the world's first fully functional and generally applicable quantum computers, supporting Novo Holdings' Quantum Investments strategy.
- Quantum FoundrycoreNovo Nordisk Foundation initiative fully owned by the Foundation developing quantum materials and quantum chips as well as associated fabrication tools.
- BioInnovation Institute (BII)coreBII is Denmark's official NATO DIANA accelerator site. Deep Tech Lab – Quantum operated by BII is a key partner in the quantum ecosystem alongside Niels Bohr Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Aarhus University, and Danish National Metrology Institute.
- Kelun BiotechcoreLicensed global rights (excluding Greater China and several Southeast and West Asian countries) for WIN378 anti-TSLP antibody from Kelun Biotech.
- Harbour BioMedcoreLicensed global rights (excluding Greater China and several Southeast and West Asian countries) for WIN378 anti-TSLP antibody from Harbour BioMed.
- Qyuns TherapeuticscoreLicensed global rights (excluding Greater China) for WIN027 bispecific antibody from Qyuns Therapeutics.
Scale indicators30 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Novo Ventures competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- KKR Health Care Strategic Growth: KKR's Health Care Strategic Growth platform invests in growth-stage healthcare companies. Broad incumbent comparable to Novo Holdings Principal Investments given larger overall firm scale and broader sector exposure.
- Blackstone Life Sciences: Blackstone Life Sciences is the dedicated life sciences arm of Blackstone, investing across stages. Broad incumbent comparable to Novo Holdings given mega-fund scale advantage in PE/VC space globally.
- Wellington Management: Wellington Management is a global investment manager with significant healthcare and life sciences investment capabilities. Broad incumbent comparable to Novo Holdings Capital Investments given institutional asset management scale.
- Carlyle Global Healthcare: Carlyle's Global Healthcare team invests across the healthcare value chain from venture to buyout. Broad incumbent in healthcare PE/VC comparable to Novo Holdings Principal Investments given Carlyle's broader fund portfolio reach.
Direct peers
- Forbion: Forbion is a European life sciences venture capital firm investing across stages in biotech and medtech. Comparable to Novo Venture Investments in European focus and stage range; co-investor with Novo on Coultreon Biopharma.
- OrbiMed: OrbiMed is a dedicated healthcare investment firm managing multiple funds across venture, growth, and public equity stages. Directly comparable to Novo Holdings given its life sciences specialization across stages; co-investor on Windward Bio with Novo Holdings.
- Patient Square Capital: Patient Square Capital is a healthcare-dedicated private equity firm investing across growth and buyout stages. Directly comparable to Novo Holdings Principal Investments in stage range and healthcare focus; similar check size profile.
- Bain Capital Life Sciences: Bain Capital Life Sciences is a healthcare and life sciences-focused investment platform spanning venture through growth equity. Closely comparable to Novo Ventures/Principal Investments in stage range and therapeutic focus; existing co-investor with Novo Holdings in HST Pathways.
- RA Capital Management: RA Capital is a healthcare-focused crossover fund investing across public and private life sciences companies. Directly comparable to Novo Venture Investments given shared crossover investing approach; co-investor with Novo on Windward Bio.
- ARCH Venture Partners: ARCH is a sector-focused venture capital firm creating and investing in life sciences and technology companies from inception. Directly comparable to Novo Seed Investments and early-stage Venture Investments in creating breakthrough biotech companies.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Novo Ventures social profiles
Digital presenceNovo Ventures financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Novo Ventures leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles32 records
Novo Ventures subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries4 records
Novo Ventures funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Novo Ventures M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments80 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Novo Ventures
What does Novo Ventures do?
Novo Holdings A/S is a holding and investment company that manages the assets and wealth of the Novo Nordisk Foundation. It invests in life science companies at all stages of development through dedicated Seed, Venture, Principal, Planetary Health, Asia, and Quantum Investments teams, while also managing a diversified portfolio of equities, bonds, real estate, infrastructure, and private capital investments. Total Assets under Management reached DKK 694 billion (EUR 93 billion) at year-end 2025.
Is Novo Ventures a public or private company?
Novo Ventures is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Novo Ventures founded?
Novo Ventures was founded in 1999. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Novo Ventures based?
Novo Ventures is headquartered in Bagsværd, Denmark, in the Europe region.
How does Novo Ventures make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Investment Portfolio Returns are the primary driver. The others are controlling Shareholder Returns and life Science Investment Returns.
Who are Novo Ventures's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are KKR Health Care Strategic Growth, Blackstone Life Sciences, Wellington Management and Carlyle Global Healthcare. Direct peers are Forbion, OrbiMed, Patient Square Capital, Bain Capital Life Sciences, RA Capital Management and ARCH Venture Partners.
Does Novo Ventures have an API?
No public API is recorded for Novo Ventures.
What industry is Novo Ventures in?
Novo Ventures's product category is Life Science Investment Management. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAAADAH, Family Office Investment Platforms & Direct Investing (PE/VC/Co-Invest), with a secondary code of FSANACAB, Healthcare & Life Sciences Growth Equity. Its NAICS code is 551112 and its SIC code is 6282.