Unicorn Capital is the management company for PharmMed Innovations venture Fund. We invest in medical innovations development, joining together the efforts of scientists, entrepreneurs, medical and industrial professionals to help breakthrough scientific idea grow into world-class medical products available for patients
OUR TEAM
Malik Ilya
lawyer, ASB Consulting Group
Ilya graduated with a bachelor's degree from the Russian State University of Justice and a master's degree from the Moscow City Pedagogical University with a degree in Corporate Lawyer. Currently studying in graduate school in economics.
The main specialization is Russian corporate law and M&A transactions. He also has experience in the field of venture investments, sanctions and anti-corruption compliance.
Main achievements:
In addition to his studies, he is a candidate for master of sports in basketball and graduated from a music school.
The main specialization is Russian corporate law and M&A transactions. He also has experience in the field of venture investments, sanctions and anti-corruption compliance.
Main achievements:
- participated in the structuring and comprehensive support of more than 35 international venture transactions worth over $30 million;
- participated in the structuring of 18 Russian M&A transactions worth more than $15 billion, as well as in their subsequent implementation.
In addition to his studies, he is a candidate for master of sports in basketball and graduated from a music school.
Старший аналитик
Vadim Gorbunov
Investment manager
Vadim Valentinovich Gorbunov is an investment manager with more than 12 years of experience in large Russian state-owned banks. He specializes in the analysis of investment projects, project financing, stock market research and debt instruments. Before joining Unicorn Capital Partners, Vadim held the position of investment manager at Pharmstandard Ventures, where he was involved in financial and investment analysis of projects, structuring and negotiating the terms of transactions.
Graduated with honors from the Department of Biophysics, Faculty of Physics, Moscow State University. M.V. Lomonosov.
Graduated with honors from the Department of Biophysics, Faculty of Physics, Moscow State University. M.V. Lomonosov.
Старший аналитик
Alexey Matskevich
Scientific Expert
Alexey has been a scientific expert at Unicorn Capital Partners since November 2023. Before that, he worked as a researcher in Sweden (Karolinska Institute), USA (Thomas Jefferson University), France (IBMC, Louis Pasteur University), Switzerland (Zurich University, University of Lausanne) and in biotechnology companies in Russia (TeraMAB LLC, Ivix LLC, GC BioProcess). Gained extensive knowledge and practical experience in the fields of immunology, molecular biology and gene therapy, as well as experience in the development and promotion of innovative biological products. He is a co-author of more than 30 articles, including Science, Cell, Nature Biotechnology, Blood and others.
Graduated with honors from the Faculty of Biology of Moscow State University. M.V. Lomonosov, majoring in physiology in 1996. Ph.D. specializing in biochemistry and pathophysiology.
Graduated with honors from the Faculty of Biology of Moscow State University. M.V. Lomonosov, majoring in physiology in 1996. Ph.D. specializing in biochemistry and pathophysiology.
Старший аналитик
NATALIA MUSHENKOVA
Senior Analyst
Nataliya serves as senior analyst at Unicorn Capital Partners since June 2019. Nataliya has scientific experience as oncoimmunologist and 10+y experience in biopharma and investments. Served as a senior scientific expert at Pharmstandard Ventures (former InBio Ventures), IBC Generium. Has a broad expertise in current technologies such as cell therapy, antibodies and ADC, vaccines, SMTs, oncolytic viruses as well as existing unmet needs in various indications. Participates in scientific due diligence of pharmaceutical projects. Nataliya works as expert at Skolkovo Foundation since 2017 and a member of mini-grant committee.
Natalia graduates as MS in biochemistry from Moscow State University (2001). Has got PhD in molecular biology in immunology from Institute of Bioorganic chemistry RAS), accomplished 2-y educational course in Oncoimmunology, sponsored by Cancer Research Institute (USA).
Natalia graduates as MS in biochemistry from Moscow State University (2001). Has got PhD in molecular biology in immunology from Institute of Bioorganic chemistry RAS), accomplished 2-y educational course in Oncoimmunology, sponsored by Cancer Research Institute (USA).
Старший аналитик
ELIZAVETA ROZHDESTVENSKAYA
Managing Partner
Managing PartnerManaging Partner at Unicorn Capital Partners since April 2023. Prior to taking the position, she worked as Deputy Executive Director of the NTI (National Technological Initiative) Venture Fund (2022-2023), and previously served as Executive Director of the private venture fund Primer Capital (2016-2022).
Elizaveta has over 10 years of experience in launching and managing public and private venture funds, leading and supporting biopharmaceutical projects, as well as developing partnerships with scientific, commercial and state institutions.
Elizaveta has over 10 years of experience in launching and managing public and private venture funds, leading and supporting biopharmaceutical projects, as well as developing partnerships with scientific, commercial and state institutions.
Elizaveta made multiple presentations at scientific and industrial conferences,and co-authored several patents.
She was a member of the Board of Directors of OncoAtlas and Botkin.AI, and the Supervisory Board of ACTICOR BIOTECH (Series A, IPO Euronext).
In 2002 Elizaveta graduated from the Faculty of Mechanics and Mathematics of Lomonosov Moscow State University, then in 2007 she graduated from the Faculty of Biology of Lomonosov Moscow State University.
She was a member of the Board of Directors of OncoAtlas and Botkin.AI, and the Supervisory Board of ACTICOR BIOTECH (Series A, IPO Euronext).
In 2002 Elizaveta graduated from the Faculty of Mechanics and Mathematics of Lomonosov Moscow State University, then in 2007 she graduated from the Faculty of Biology of Lomonosov Moscow State University.
ALEXEY VINOGRADOV
Managing Partner & CEO
Alexey is a co-founder and holds leadership position at Unicorn Capital Partners since its inception in December 2019. Previously, in 2017-2019, served as head of Pharmstandard ventures (venture arm of Russia’s leading pharmaceutical company), and as a managing partner at its predecessor company, Inbio ventures (2013-2017). From 2010 to 2013 Alexey was a part of Bioprocess capital investment team, which was Russia’s first biotech-focused venture fund.
Some of his recent Board of Director appointments include: Aquinox pharmaceuticals (Series C, IPO NASDAQ: AQXP, exit on positive phase 2 data); Protagonist therapeutics (Series B, Series C, IPO NASDAQ, partnered with Janssen in >$1B transaction); Argos (lead investor in Series E, IPO NASDAQ); Allena (Series B, Series C, IPO NASDAQ); Avelas biosciences (lead investor in Series C); TearSolutions (lead investor in Series B). 8 out of 11 investments went public on NASDAQ. Some of the valuable syndication partners included Third Rock Ventures, JJDC, Frazier, Bessemer, Forbion, Pfizer ventures, HBM, TVM, Avalon.
Alexey graduated as MS (1995) and then as PhD in biochemistry (2000) from Moscow State University; 2000-2002 – postdoctoral fellow at the lab of biomolecular sciences, Wageningen University, the Netherlands.
Alexey graduated as MS (1995) and then as PhD in biochemistry (2000) from Moscow State University; 2000-2002 – postdoctoral fellow at the lab of biomolecular sciences, Wageningen University, the Netherlands.
VASILY AVSEENKO
Managing Partner
Vasily joined Unicorn Capital Partners in December 2023.
Vasily has accumulated successful experience in the creation and development of innovative projects and products in the pharmaceutical and scientific and technological fields, in project management and companies.
11 years in pharmaceuticals: management, R&D, investments, GR, production, technology transfer (Pharmimex, Binergy, Sphere-Pharm, Pharma Bio, ChemRar...); 15 years in the field of investments and technology startups: management, investments, sales, communications (RUSNANO, RDIF...);
6 years of scientific activity: microscopy, nanotechnology, molecular biology, DNA/RNA/proteins. (IBH RAS).
In 1997, he graduated from the Physics Department of Lomonosov Moscow State University with a degree in biophysics, completed postgraduate studies in molecular biology at the Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry named after M.M. Shemyakin and Yu.A. Ovchinnikov. In 2005, he received an MBA degree in the program "Management of innovative projects, Investments and Risks" at the Russian Academy of National Economy
Vasily has accumulated successful experience in the creation and development of innovative projects and products in the pharmaceutical and scientific and technological fields, in project management and companies.
11 years in pharmaceuticals: management, R&D, investments, GR, production, technology transfer (Pharmimex, Binergy, Sphere-Pharm, Pharma Bio, ChemRar...); 15 years in the field of investments and technology startups: management, investments, sales, communications (RUSNANO, RDIF...);
6 years of scientific activity: microscopy, nanotechnology, molecular biology, DNA/RNA/proteins. (IBH RAS).
In 1997, he graduated from the Physics Department of Lomonosov Moscow State University with a degree in biophysics, completed postgraduate studies in molecular biology at the Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry named after M.M. Shemyakin and Yu.A. Ovchinnikov. In 2005, he received an MBA degree in the program "Management of innovative projects, Investments and Risks" at the Russian Academy of National Economy
Target Medicals is a private biotech company committed to discovery and development of aldosterone synthase inhibitor, a first-in-class drug for treatment of cardio-metabolic disorders caused by aldosterone overproduction, including drug-resistant arterial hypertension, chronic heart failure, chronic kidney disease, diabetic nephropathy, etc.
http://target-medicals.com/
Celsus is an artificial intelligence for analyzing X-ray images and computed tomograms. The company has been operating since 2018.
Currently, the company's products are available on the market for various fields of research on modalities:
- mammography,
- chest X-ray
- fluorography,
- computed tomography of the brain,
- CT scan of the chest.
All Celsus solutions are certified as a medical device in Russia and Europe (CE mark), included in the register of domestic software.
Celsus is a leader in the field of medical artificial intelligence.
In Russia, the company occupies more than 40% of the available market for medical image analysis.
The leader of the Moscow experiment on the use of artificial intelligence in radiology.
He is actively working in foreign markets.
Currently, the company's products are available on the market for various fields of research on modalities:
- mammography,
- chest X-ray
- fluorography,
- computed tomography of the brain,
- CT scan of the chest.
All Celsus solutions are certified as a medical device in Russia and Europe (CE mark), included in the register of domestic software.
Celsus is a leader in the field of medical artificial intelligence.
In Russia, the company occupies more than 40% of the available market for medical image analysis.
The leader of the Moscow experiment on the use of artificial intelligence in radiology.
He is actively working in foreign markets.
https://celsus.ai
We invest in startups developing:
New drugs, including small molecules, biological and cellular products, gene therapy, and their delivery vehicles;
Medical devices, including diagnostic devices;
Software for medical use, including AI approaches.
We are interested in all areas of medicine. The preference is given to projects in medium or early stage of development; however, projects at any stage of development can be accepted, from seed to late-stage. Size of investment is individual and depends on the funds required to achieve the nearest value inflection point, but in no case more than 10% of the Fund can be committed to one project. Target companies should be private legal entities, preferably in Russian jurisdiction. We are open to investing in foreign companies, provided that at least 70% of our investment will be spent in Russia.
If your product:
• aims to address unmet medical needs,
• needs authorization for use by a medical regulatory authority,
• has the global market potential,
• has a rigorous scientific basis and potential advantage in efficacy/safety versus the competition on the market and in development,
• complies with the principles of evidence-based medicine,
• has protected intellectual property or a reasonable plan to obtain such protection, we will be glad to meet you and discuss the possibility of our cooperation.
• aims to address unmet medical needs,
• needs authorization for use by a medical regulatory authority,
• has the global market potential,
• has a rigorous scientific basis and potential advantage in efficacy/safety versus the competition on the market and in development,
• complies with the principles of evidence-based medicine,
• has protected intellectual property or a reasonable plan to obtain such protection, we will be glad to meet you and discuss the possibility of our cooperation.
To start the assessment process, please send us a non-confidential presentation (ppt or pdf) about your project/company, containing:
• Description of the problem it is solving,
• Presentation of the core team;
• Scientific and technological novelty;
• Results of the conducted research;
• Advantage over existing approaches;
• Development plan, need for financing;
• Plan for the protection of;
• Your contacts
• Description of the problem it is solving,
• Presentation of the core team;
• Scientific and technological novelty;
• Results of the conducted research;
• Advantage over existing approaches;
• Development plan, need for financing;
• Plan for the protection of;
• Your contacts
CONTACTS