Deep Science Ventures

Deep Science Ventures (DSV) embarked on its journey in 2016, co-founded by Dominic Falcão and Mark Hammond. Falcão, with a background in philosophy, politics, and economics, had previously spearheaded Imperial College London's science startup program, gaining valuable experience with early-stage science ventures. Hammond, who had collaborated with Falcão at the Imperial Create Lab, brought a diverse academic background spanning neuroscience, AI, and neuropharmacology. Their shared vision was to create a new paradigm for applied science, moving beyond traditional tech transfer models. They aimed to establish an environment where companies could be intentionally formed to address specific, significant global challenges. This 'outcome-first' approach, starting with a societal or environmental problem and then working backward to identify technological and economic solutions, became a cornerstone of DSV's methodology.

From its inception, DSV set out to be more than just a venture capital firm; it positioned itself as a venture creator. The core idea was not to simply find existing intellectual property but to proactively combine scientific knowledge with entrepreneurial scientists to build high-impact ventures from the ground up. The company focuses on critical sectors such as agriculture, computation, climate, and pharmaceuticals. Over the years, DSV has refined its model, now operating on what they describe as version three of their company creation process. A significant development in their evolution has been the establishment of the Deep Science Ventures College and the innovative Venture Science Doctorate (VSD) program. This fully-funded, three-year PhD program is designed to train 'venture scientists,' empowering them to develop new core technologies and launch companies aimed at solving key problems in their respective fields. This initiative underscores DSV's commitment to nurturing talent and fostering a new generation of science entrepreneurs, aiming to significantly increase the number of science-based spin-outs. DSV's approach emphasizes collaboration, working with universities, intergovernmental organizations, and corporate partners to build a robust ecosystem for deep tech innovation.