Venture Capital for Life Scientists: How to work with, for, start, or invest in a venture capital firm Paperback – December 13, 2025

Venture Capital for Life Scientists is a practical roadmap for scientists who want to turn breakthrough biology into funded companies—and for those curious about joining or starting a venture capital firm themselves.Written by scientist-founder-investor Will Alaynick, PhD, this book explains how venture capital really works in biotechnology, medical devices, diagnostics, and life science tools. Starting from the basics of financial markets and the “valley of death,” it walks you through fund structures, portfolio strategy, term sheets, and exit paths, always with examples drawn from real companies such as Genentech, Moderna, Illumina, CRISPR startups, and more.You’ll learn how to:Decide when a project should become a startup instead of another paper or grantBuild founding teams, structure equity, and protect IP in life science venturesNavigate SBIRs, non-dilutive funding, venture rounds, and milestone-based financingPrepare for due diligence, negotiate investor terms, and manage your board and burn rateExplore career paths “at the intersection of science and capital,” from operating roles to investingWhether you’re a PhD or MD in the lab, a founder raising your first round, or an investor entering life sciences from tech or finance, Venture Capital for Life Scientists gives you a structured, scientist-friendly guide to working with, working for, starting, or investing in a life science venture capital firm. Read more