Empirical Ventures

Empirical Ventures specializes in identifying and supporting groundbreaking scientific innovations at their earliest stages. The firm strategically positions itself as a catalyst for transformative technologies by focusing exclusively on pre-seed and seed funding rounds for deep science startups. With a forward-looking investment philosophy, Empirical seeks out entrepreneurs developing solutions with potential for extraordinary long-term impact—technologies that could fundamentally reshape industries and human capabilities over the coming century.

The investment team at Empirical brings together expertise spanning multiple scientific disciplines, venture capital experience, and entrepreneurial backgrounds. This multidisciplinary approach enables them to effectively evaluate highly technical opportunities across fields including advanced materials, quantum computing, biotechnology, and energy systems. Their due diligence process is notably rigorous, combining scientific assessment with market potential analysis to identify innovations with both technical merit and commercial viability.

Portfolio companies backed by Empirical typically demonstrate exceptional intellectual property foundations, often emerging from leading research institutions and laboratories. The firm provides more than just capital—offering strategic guidance on technology commercialization pathways, connections to industry partners, and support in building scientific teams. Empirical's investment thesis centers on the belief that scientific breakthroughs can create entirely new markets rather than simply improving existing ones, leading them to favor bold, paradigm-shifting approaches over incremental innovations.

While maintaining a global perspective on scientific advancement, Empirical has established particularly strong networks within innovation hubs like Boston, the San Francisco Bay Area, and emerging biotech centers. The firm typically invests between $500,000 and $3 million in initial rounds, though they often participate in follow-on funding for their most promising portfolio companies. Empirical's long-term investment horizon distinguishes them from many seed-stage investors, as they recognize that deep science ventures frequently require extended development timelines before achieving significant commercial milestones. This patient capital approach has positioned them as a preferred partner for scientists and engineers working on ambitious technological challenges.