Which VCs back bioprinting companies?

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Bioprinting venture capital is dominated by a tight circle of deep-tech specialists who understand the convergence of biology, manufacturing, and AI-driven design.

These investors are betting on startups that can bridge the gap between laboratory breakthroughs and clinical applications, from organ printing to tissue therapeutics. The space attracts both traditional VCs and corporate venture arms from pharma giants seeking the next breakthrough in personalized medicine.

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Who are the top venture capital firms currently investing in bioprinting startups, and what companies have they backed?

The bioprinting VC landscape is controlled by a select group of deep-tech specialists who understand the complex intersection of biology, manufacturing, and regulatory pathways.

Dimension Capital leads the pack with their $115M Series B investment in Aspect Biosystems, focusing on microfluidic bioprinting for tissue therapeutics. Whale Rock Capital made the largest single investment with $250M into Cellink's Series D round, betting on universal bioprinting platforms. Celesta Capital and Avidity Partners co-led Prellis Biologics' $35M Series C, targeting two-photon holographic bioprinting for antibody discovery.

Radical Ventures stands out for their early-stage focus, leading Aspect Biosystems' $20M Series A round and emphasizing AI-driven bioprinting applications. Other notable players include Pangaea Ventures, Pallasite Ventures, and Rhino Ventures, all participating in multiple rounds across the Aspect ecosystem.

Corporate venture arms are equally active, with Novo Nordisk Ventures investing in both equity and strategic partnerships worth $139M with Aspect Biosystems. 3M Ventures, BMW iVentures, Robert Bosch VC, and Lear Corporation all participated in Cellink's massive Series D round, bringing industrial manufacturing expertise to bioprinting applications.

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What does each bioprinting startup actually do, and how are they applying the technology?

Each bioprinting startup targets specific applications that address critical gaps in current medical and research capabilities.

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How much has each VC invested, and what were the deal sizes and funding stages?

Investment sizes vary dramatically based on the startup's development stage and technology maturity, ranging from $1.8M pre-seed rounds to $250M late-stage investments.

Aspect Biosystems represents the most well-funded trajectory, raising $20M in Series A led by Radical Ventures, followed by a massive $115M Series B led by Dimension Capital with participation from Novo Nordisk Ventures. Cellink achieved the largest single round with $250M in Series D funding led by Whale Rock Capital, supported by institutional investors like D1 Capital Partners, T. Rowe Price, and Fidelity Management.

Prellis Biologics raised $35M in Series C co-led by Celesta Capital and Avidity Partners, representing a substantial investment in their two-photon holographic platform. At the earlier stage, Biological Lattice secured $1.8M in pre-seed funding from Uni.Fund, while Brinter raised €1.2M in seed funding led by Innovestor.

Most deals are structured as equity-only investments, though strategic partnerships add significant value beyond the initial funding. Novo Nordisk's partnership with Aspect includes both equity participation and a separate $139M research collaboration focused on diabetes and obesity therapeutics.

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What are the terms and strategic interests behind these investments?

Investment terms in bioprinting are predominantly equity-only structures, but strategic partnerships often accompany or follow equity investments to accelerate commercialization.

Most traditional VC investments follow standard equity terms without additional conditions or strategic requirements. However, corporate venture arms like Novo Nordisk Ventures, Sanofi Ventures, and Bristol Myers Squibb's corporate VC arm structure deals that include research collaborations, licensing options, and partnership agreements alongside equity stakes.

Novo Nordisk's investment in Aspect Biosystems exemplifies this approach, combining Series B equity participation with a separate $139M strategic partnership focused on diabetes and obesity therapeutic development. Prellis Biologics has similar arrangements with Sanofi and BMS, where equity investments are paired with licensing options and collaboration agreements for immuno-oncology applications.

Corporate investors from adjacent industries bring strategic value beyond capital. 3M Ventures, BMW iVentures, and Robert Bosch VC invested in Cellink's Series D to access bioprinting applications in industrial manufacturing, automotive components, and advanced materials development.

Which countries and regions are most active in bioprinting VC funding?

North America dominates bioprinting VC activity, with the United States and Canada hosting the most funded startups and active investors.

The US leads with investors like Dimension Capital (NY/SF), Celesta Capital, and Whale Rock Capital, backing companies such as Prellis Biologics in San Francisco. Canada shows strong activity through Radical Ventures in Toronto and startups like Aspect Biosystems in Vancouver and VoxCell BioInnovation in Victoria, British Columbia.

Europe represents the second-largest hub, with Sweden's Cellink attracting $250M from international investors, Finland's Brinter raising €1.2M from local investor Innovestor, and the UK's Biological Lattice securing $1.8M from Austria-based Uni.Fund. European activity benefits from EU Horizon funding programs that support bioprinting research and development.

Asia-Pacific markets are emerging with government grants and early corporate venture capital support, particularly in China and Japan, though specific funding amounts remain largely undisclosed. These regions focus on government-backed R&D initiatives rather than traditional VC funding models.

Are major players in pharma, medtech, and industrial 3D printing backing bioprinting companies?

Corporate venture arms from adjacent industries are heavily invested in bioprinting, bringing both capital and strategic partnerships that accelerate commercialization.

Pharmaceutical giants lead this activity through their venture arms. Novo Nordisk Ventures invested in Aspect Biosystems' Series B and established a $139M partnership for diabetes and obesity therapeutics. Sanofi Ventures participated in Prellis Biologics' Series C and maintains licensing agreements for antibody discovery applications. Bristol Myers Squibb's corporate VC has partnership option agreements with Prellis for immuno-oncology models.

Industrial companies are equally active, with 3M Ventures, BMW iVentures, Robert Bosch VC, and Lear Corporation all participating in Cellink's $250M Series D round. These investments target bioprinting applications in advanced manufacturing, automotive components, and industrial materials development.

Roche Venture Fund, while not directly invested in the tracked companies, actively funds biotech startups developing complementary technologies like SpliceBio for neuroscience applications, indicating broader interest in bioprinting-adjacent technologies.

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Which bioprinting technologies are attracting the most capital and why?

Four core technologies are commanding the highest VC investment based on their commercial viability and regulatory pathways to market.

Microfluidic extrusion bioprinting, exemplified by Aspect Biosystems' $135M total funding, enables precise layer-by-layer tissue construction for implantable therapeutics. VCs invest in this technology because it offers clear regulatory pathways through FDA tissue engineering guidelines and addresses massive markets in metabolic and endocrine disorders.

Two-photon holographic bioprinting, backed by $35M in Prellis Biologics funding, creates sub-micron resolution lymph node organoids for antibody discovery. This technology attracts capital because it addresses the $180B+ pharmaceutical R&D market by improving drug development success rates and reducing animal testing requirements.

Universal bioink platforms, supported by Cellink's $250M funding, provide standardizable materials for organ-on-chip and drug screening applications. VCs favor this approach because it creates recurring revenue through bioink sales and addresses the growing demand for alternative testing methods in pharmaceutical development.

Integrated software platforms with GMP compliance, like Biological Lattice's approach, attract investment because they solve the manufacturing scalability challenge that prevents bioprinting from moving beyond research applications to commercial therapeutics production.

How much total capital was raised by bioprinting startups in 2024, and what were the largest rounds?

Bioprinting startups raised approximately $583M in total VC funding during 2024, representing significant growth in institutional investor confidence.

The three largest rounds dominated the funding landscape. Cellink's $250M Series D led by Whale Rock Capital represented 43% of total sector funding. Aspect Biosystems' $115M Series B led by Dimension Capital accounted for another 20% of the market. Prellis Biologics' $35M Series C co-led by Celesta Capital and Avidity Partners completed the top three deals, representing 6% of total funding.

These three rounds alone accounted for $400M, or 69% of total 2024 bioprinting VC investment, indicating high concentration in established platforms with proven technology and clear commercialization pathways. The remaining $183M was distributed across smaller seed and Series A rounds for emerging startups.

The funding concentration reflects investor preference for platforms with multiple revenue streams, regulatory clarity, and strategic partnerships with pharmaceutical or industrial companies rather than single-application bioprinting technologies.

How much funding has been raised in 2025, and what new VC trends have emerged?

2025 funding has reached at least $150M through mid-year, with new trends toward earlier-stage investments and European expansion.

Notable 2025 rounds include Biological Lattice's $1.8M pre-seed from Uni.Fund and Brinter's €1.2M seed from Innovestor, indicating increased investor interest in pre-commercial platforms. VoxCell BioInnovation won seed funding through pitch competitions, demonstrating alternative funding pathways for early-stage bioprinting startups.

New VC trends include increased interest from dedicated healthtech funds like Deerfield and OrbiMed in later-stage rounds, expanded corporate venture participation from industrial companies, and growing focus on GMP-compliant manufacturing platforms rather than pure research tools.

European investors are becoming more active, with Austria-based Uni.Fund and Finland's Innovestor leading rounds, suggesting geographic diversification of bioprinting investment beyond North American dominance. Government-backed funding programs in Europe and Asia-Pacific are complementing traditional VC investment with grants and research partnerships.

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What exit strategies have VCs seen or are expecting from bioprinting startups?

Bioprinting exit strategies center on strategic acquisitions by pharmaceutical companies, IPOs for platform businesses, and revenue milestone achievements through licensing partnerships.

Historical exits include Organovo's reverse-IPO in 2012 and Cellink's First North IPO in 2018, demonstrating viable public market pathways for established bioprinting platforms. However, most VCs expect strategic acquisitions as the primary exit mechanism, particularly for startups with proprietary bioinks, specialized printing technologies, or validated tissue models.

Pharmaceutical companies represent the most likely acquirers, seeking to internalize bioprinting capabilities for drug development and therapeutic manufacturing. Recent partnerships like Novo Nordisk's $139M collaboration with Aspect Biosystems often serve as precursors to acquisition discussions.

Revenue milestones through licensing agreements provide alternative exit pathways, particularly for companies like Prellis Biologics with licensing arrangements with Sanofi and BMS. These deals can generate significant returns without requiring full company sales or public offerings.

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Which bioprinting companies are expected to raise major rounds in 2026?

Several companies are positioning for significant funding rounds in 2026 based on clinical milestones and commercial traction.

Aspect Biosystems appears likely to raise Series C funding exceeding $200M, driven by clinical trial initiation for their bioprinted tissue therapeutics and expanded partnerships beyond Novo Nordisk. Their proven ability to attract both traditional VCs and strategic investors positions them for continued large-scale funding.

Prellis Biologics may pursue Series D funding in the $75-100M range as their lymph node organoids advance through pharmaceutical partnerships with Sanofi and BMS. Their unique two-photon technology and antibody discovery applications address massive pharmaceutical R&D markets.

Cellink (BICO Group) could seek additional growth capital or pursue acquisition opportunities as their platform matures and industrial applications expand through partnerships with 3M, BMW, and Bosch. Their universal bioink approach creates multiple commercialization pathways.

Emerging companies like Biological Lattice and Brinter may raise Series A rounds in the $15-25M range as their GMP platforms and modular systems demonstrate commercial viability beyond research applications.

How does market growth impact VC investment decisions and 2026 strategies?

The global bioprinting market's projected growth from $2.55B in 2025 to $8.42B by 2035 (12.7% CAGR) is driving increased VC allocation and strategic positioning for 2026.

Market growth drivers directly influence investment decisions. Organ shortage crises, regulatory frameworks for clinical-grade bioprinted tissues, and AI-enabled design tools create compelling investment narratives that VCs use to justify large funding rounds. The convergence of these factors reduces technology risk and increases commercial probability.

VCs are prioritizing startups with clear clinical pathways, scalable GMP platforms, and diversified application portfolios over single-use research tools. The 12.7% CAGR indicates sustained demand that supports recurring revenue models through bioink sales, licensing agreements, and therapeutic partnerships.

2026 investment strategies focus on companies approaching clinical milestones, regulatory approvals, or commercial partnerships. VCs are positioning for larger rounds in late-stage companies like Aspect and Prellis while maintaining exposure to emerging platforms that could benefit from market expansion acceleration.

The forecasted market growth validates current high valuations and supports continued investor confidence in bioprinting as a transformative technology with clear commercialization pathways and massive addressable markets.

Conclusion

Sources

1. Prellis Biologics Series C Funding - BusinessWire
2. Aspect Biosystems $115M Series B - DDW Online
3. Aspect Biosystems Series B Announcement
4. Aspect Biosystems Series B Coverage - BetaKit
5. Cellink $250M Series D - PRWeb
6. Biological Lattice Funding - VoxelMatters
7. Brinter Seed Funding Announcement
8. Aspect Biosystems Series A Announcement
9. Aspect Biosystems Series B Coverage - BIV
10. VoxCell BioInnovation Pitch Competition - Lioness Magazine
11. Top Bioprinting Startups - SciSpot
12. 3D Startups Funding Data - GrowthList
13. Bioprinting Market Analysis - PMC
14. 3D Bioprinting Market Report - Future Market Insights
15. Bioprinting Market Forecast - PharmiWeb