Daniela Couto

Daniela Couto is a prominent figure in the venture capital landscape, currently serving as a General Partner at BioGeneration Ventures (BGV), a leading pan-European early-stage venture fund. She joined BGV in 2015 and has played a crucial role in its operations and investment strategies.

Education and Early Career

Daniela holds a Master of Science (MSc) degree in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Minho, graduating cum laude, and a PhD in BioEngineering from Instituto Superior Técnico (IST-UTL), where she collaborated with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) through the MIT-Portugal Program. Her doctoral research was conducted in the lab of Charles L. Cooney at MIT.12

Professional Experience

Before her tenure at BGV, Daniela served as the CEO of Cell2B, a cell therapy company she co-founded, focusing on treatments for graft-versus-host disease and other immunological conditions. She was also the managing director of Staten Biotechnology, one of BGV’s portfolio companies, from 2015 to 2018, where she was instrumental in strategic collaborations with notable companies like argenX and Novo Nordisk.124

Investment Focus

At BGV, Daniela specializes in investments in early-stage companies across various sectors, including pharmaceuticals and biotechnology. Her investment range typically spans from $100K to $1M, with a sweet spot around $500K.3 She is particularly passionate about transforming scientific ideas into therapeutic products that positively impact patients' lives.12

Current Role

In addition to her role at BGV, Daniela serves on the board of Catalym and continues to engage closely with founders and management teams to drive innovation within the life sciences sector.4 Her leadership and expertise have made her a respected figure in the venture capital community, particularly in healthcare-related investments.