F-Prime

AI agents are already playing important roles as recommendation and information gathering engines for e-commerce. However, this application only scratches the surface of AI’s potential in online marketplaces. Very soon, AI agents won’t just find a desired product or service for users —?they will also autonomously execute the payment. Empowering AI agents to complete transactions without human intervention will unlock a new era of efficiency and convenience in both consumer and business transactions, and represents a new wave of innovation in global commerce. Abdul Abdirahman explores the nascent field of agentic payments for The Financial Revolutionist. Startups in this category are building something totally new, and while we're clear-eyed about the massive challenges that face them, we're also very excited about their potential. In 2025, we are closely watching startups building key infrastructure such as KYA and agentic fraud tooling; AI payment orchestration; AI stablecoin wallets; and specialized APIs. Read the full piece via the link below ??

In honor of #RareDiseaseDay, we’re proud to spotlight the latest installment in our Pioneering Progress series—featuring Vyndaqel?/Vyndamax?, a groundbreaking therapy approved by the FDA to treat transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTR), a rare and life-threatening condition. Since its FDA approval in May 2019, Vyndaqel/Vyndamax has exemplified F-Prime’s commitment to advancing innovative treatments that transform patient care. Its success has not only changed lives but also paved the way for future therapies that target the root cause of ATTR amyloidosis. From a pivotal research discovery to a first-in-class therapy, this journey underscores the power of scientific innovation and strategic investment in reshaping the future of rare disease treatment. #ATTR #Amyloidosis #RareDisease #ScientificBreakthrough Read Pioneering Progress: The Vyndaqel and Vyndamax Story in our LinkedIn article below or find the link in the comments.

In my last two stories about how venture capitalists are using AI, we discussed?how investors are currently leveraging data science?to help source and make decisions about potential investments, including why VCs have been slow to adopt AI. We also explored the results of a survey that highlighted?how, where, and why data scientists on VC teams are using AI, and what effect it’s having on the work of the firms they work at. Today, we're closing out this series with a short overview of three potential futures we see for AI in VC, each with vastly different outcomes for the industry. Will AI in VC create true differentiation between firms? Or will it be commoditized? Would love to hear your thoughts.

??Exciting news! F-Prime has once again been recognized by Endpoints News as a top investor in biopharma in 2024! ?? Innovation in healthcare is driven by bold ideas and strong partnerships, and we’re proud to support visionary companies pushing the boundaries of science and medicine. As we continue into 2025, we remain committed to advancing patient care through strategic investments and collaboration. Full list in the comments. #biopharma #healthcare #vc

?? The $15.5T SMB Wealth Transfer Nobody’s Talking About ?? Everyone’s buzzing about the Great Wealth Transfer—$84.4T in liquid assets passing hands over the next 20 years. But what about the $15.5T in private business wealth? Unlike stocks or cash, you can’t just wire a family business into the next generation’s bank account. ?? 63% of private business wealth is owned by boomers and older generations. ??♂? Only 52% of heirs actually want to take over the family business. ?? And many SMBs don’t have a succession plan in place. So what happens when millions of business owners retire? Enter: a huge market opportunity for startups solving SMB succession. ?? A wave of new players are tackling business ownership transfers—from acquisition marketplaces like Baton and GetAcquired to AI-enabled solutions like OffDeal and Private Market Labs. Employee ownership models (think ESOPs & EOTs) like Common Trust are also gaining traction, helping preserve company legacies. And when all else fails, startups like SimpleClosure and Sunset step in to handle dissolutions. Traditional expectations of passing businesses down the family line aren’t enough to handle the coming wave of retirements. The industry needs better infrastructure, smarter marketplaces, and new financing solutions. At F-Prime, we’ve spent 50+ years backing fintech builders—from Alibaba to Toast. And we couldn’t be more excited about the next generation of founders tackling SMB succession. Who else is building in this space? Let’s talk! ?? #SMBsuccession #employeeownership #fintech cc Sarah Lamont, Jaylen Darling, F-Prime https://lnkd.in/gD6QN4Wj

#Science2Startup?is taking place this May hosted by F-Prime, Atlas Venture, 5AM Ventures, Osage University Partners (OUP), and RA Capital Management.? The symposium is a unique opportunity for researchers to present their #startup ideas to leading #biotech and #pharma execs, VCs, and entrepreneurs in the Boston/Cambridge area.?? To learn more about the event or to get involved, please email us at [email protected], visit www.science2startup.com and follow us on LinkedIn Science2Startup.

Part 2 in Am Ramesh's deep dive on data science in the VC ecosystem is here! For this story, we surveyed more than 50 data scientists across the industry about where they spend their time, and how effective they think their efforts are across various categories of work —?all mapped onto the framework Am described in Part 1. Next up: a look into the future for data in VC.

?? Applications Open: F-Prime 2025 Fellowship! F-Prime is accepting applications for our 2025 Fellowship Program this summer from June 2nd – August 8th. ? If you're passionate about life sciences, healthcare, technology, or crypto venture capital, this is your chance to gain hands-on experience and help build transformative companies. Be part of a team that champions breakthrough science and innovation! Learn more and apply today (the deadline to submit is Friday, March 14th) ? Life Sciences - ?https://lnkd.in/eBHZst3E Healthcare IT and Services (HITS) - https://lnkd.in/e4iewuc8 Crypto - https://lnkd.in/eW-E66-v #venturecapital #fellowship #entrepreneurship #vc??

We highly recommend diving into how the F-Prime tech team's Am Ramesh and his data scientist peers across the VC ecosystem operate. In this story, Am identifies five categories for data science & engineering work in VC: 1. Sourcing: Use data to identify high-quality, timely investment opportunities. 2. Pipeline Management: Improve the management and prioritization of companies at each pipeline stage through data-driven approaches. 3. Network Management: Map and analyze the firm’s networks to identify gaps and track changes in real time. 4. Company Evaluation: Systems that help more easily diligence companies, with the goal of eventually automating out some diligence task. 5: Portfolio Management: Automate portfolio health tracking, covering performance, competitive landscape, and team changes. He then assigns degrees of impact different types of data science work can have on fund performance. As part of this effort, he also conducted a survey of our fellow data scientists working in VC to gauge where they believe their work has been most impactful — and will publish the results next week. Stay tuned!

Thanks to everyone who came out for our latest evening with Boston Female Founders & Funders in Back Bay. This community keeps getting bigger and better every time we get together! Interested in joining us next time? Contact Betsy Mulé or Sarah Lamont.