The T1D Fund: A Breakthrough T1D Venture, LLC, an impact investment fund focused on accelerating life-changing solutions to treat, prevent, and ultimately cure type 1 diabetes (T1D), announced the launch of a $150m+ fundraising campaign to expand its capital base and accelerate promising T1D programmes.
Across its more than 25 portfolio companies, ranging from seed to public stage, the fund invests in companies driving innovation across a spectrum of differentiated T1D approaches.
The fund’s capital-raising efforts have been bolstered by several initial contributions, including a $12m lead donation from the Bukhman Foundation and $25m from Breakthrough T1D. Established by Anastasia and Igor Bukhman in 2023, the Bukhman Foundation aims to improve lives and create a better world through support of medical research and arts and culture.
“The scale and pace of T1D innovation have never been more promising, and our investment strategy is designed to meet this moment with the necessary capital and expertise in the pursuit of curative therapies,” said Elizabeth Mily, CEO of the T1D Fund.
“The extraordinary early support from the Bukhman Foundation, which is intimately engaged with the T1D ecosystem, is a profound validation of our model and our power to drive meaningful progress—one that we proudly share with our partners at Breakthrough T1D and The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust.”
The new capital raise is aimed at expanding the T1D Fund’s investment scope, allowing for larger-scale investments in promising companies to treat, prevent, and ultimately cure T1D. This expansion will also enable the fund to explore T1D applications for a wider array of emerging therapies, including novel modalities and new target mechanisms. With a broad mandate of driving towards a cure, the fund is leveraging its expertise to identify and advance promising therapeutics in T1D.
“The T1D Fund has proven to be a vital catalyst, helping to turn groundbreaking research into real solutions for patients,” said Anastasia Bukhman, co-founder of the Bukhman Foundation.
“Our donation reflects a strong commitment to the community and confidence in the Fund’s investment strategy to advance high-potential innovation for those living with T1D.”
The Fund serves as a source of critical capital for its companies while also serving as a strategic thought partner by leveraging its deep disease expertise and extensive network across the T1D and life sciences spectrum.
With over $200m assets under management (AUM), the fund expects to double its AUM in the near-term to advance leading-edge T1D programmes toward key clinical inflection points. Its unique model enables investment of philanthropic capital into for-profit ventures, creating a continuous cycle of progress. Proceeds from successful exits are redeployed into new investments with an aim to accelerate future T1D programme development, thereby maximizing donor contributions and ensuring a profound, lasting impact.
“We must capitalize on our momentum. The T1D Fund’s larger scale empowers us to increase our investments and more powerfully champion T1D innovation,” said Jay Eastman, chair of the T1D Fund’s board.
“Now is the crucial moment to elevate our support for promising companies, demonstrating our conviction as we align with partners and investors who trust our expertise. Born out of a vision to help bridge the gaps in T1D drug development, the fund has far surpassed the founders’ initial expectations, becoming a transformative force driving breakthroughs in T1D.”
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