Thierry Laugel

Thierry Laugel is a prominent figure in the European biotechnology and healthcare investment landscape. He is the co-founder and Managing Partner of Kurma Partners, a key European player in financing innovation in healthcare and biotechnology.12

Professional Background

Thierry Laugel has over 25 years of experience in the life sciences sector, both in venture capital and industry.1 His educational background includes:

• PharmD (Doctor of Pharmacy)
• PhD in Pharmacology
• MBA from INSEAD12

Career Highlights

• Early Career: Started in 1992 as an R&D Project Manager for Laboratoires Fournier in Tokyo.1
• Biotech Experience: Joined Flamel Technologies in 1996, managing the company's development-stage portfolio.12
• Venture Capital: Moved into investments in 1998, first at Caisse des Dépots (CDC), then at AGF Private Equity (Allianz Group) in 2005.1
• Kurma Partners: Co-founded Kurma Partners in 2009, where he currently serves as CEO and Managing Partner.13

Investment Experience

Thierry has led investments in more than 25 companies, including notable names like Actelion, Arpida, Targacept, Adocia, and Erytech.1 He currently serves on the boards of several companies, including Alize Pharma 3, Ermium, Horama, Minoryx, Blink Biomedical, Talix, Meiogenix, and Pathoquest.1

Investment Philosophy

Laugel and Kurma Partners focus on:

• Innovative healthcare technologies, primarily in Europe
• Novel therapies and tools for patient diagnosis and monitoring
• Early-stage investments, with 40% of their portfolio built on projects they develop themselves
• Investments ranging from very small amounts (€10,000) up to €15 million1

Thierry emphasizes the importance of team composition, complementary skills, and shared values in startups. He also stresses the need for patience in biotech investments, as they may take longer to generate returns compared to other sectors.1

LinkedIn username: thierry-laugel-414b9814