Top 4 Nevada Biotech Startup Investors and Funds (2026)

The best Nevada investors for biotech startups are Battle Born Venture, the state's venture capital program; Desert Forge Ventures, a Las Vegas fund that backs biotech and healthcare companies; Reno Seed Fund, a Northern Nevada angel fund; and AngelNV, the angel network run by StartUpNV. Most of them expect a real Nevada connection, so check each fit before you pitch.

Nevada's biotech scene is young but moving. BioTech Vegas launched in 2025 as a nonprofit coalition of public, private, and academic leaders, and in March 2026 Roseman University opened Roseman Bioventures, a 120,000-square-foot life science incubator on its Summerlin campus.

Do you have a biotech startup idea that could answer a real public need? Then this list, along with our guide to the top investors in Nevada, is meant for you.

Who Are the Top 4 Investors Funding Biotech Startups in Nevada?

Battle Born Venture

• Website: Battle Born Venture

• Type: State venture capital program

• Focus Sectors: Sector agnostic (no gambling, alcohol, cannabis, firearms, real estate, investment firms, or lenders)

• Funding Stage: Early stage, with recurring revenue (exceptions below)

• Check Size: Up to $1 million per company over time, and no more than $500,000 in the first round

• Present in: Nevada

• Recent Investments: VisionAid, NeuroReserve, Adaract, and Beloit Kombucha (2023)

Battle Born Venture is Nevada's state venture capital program. It was created in 2013, is overseen by the Governor's Office of Economic Development, and is funded through the federal State Small Business Credit Initiative. It has celebrated five exits.

It does not lead rounds. Instead, it co-invests with professional investors such as venture capital firms, corporate venture arms, and incorporated angel funds, joining deals from $200,000 to $20 million in total size and investing up to half of a round. Your company needs a Nevada business license and address, and it must be a C-corp or S-corp, because Battle Born does not invest in LLCs.

Biotech founders should note the exceptions to its recurring-revenue rule. Startups spun out of Nevada's research universities, or affiliated with projects supported by the Knowledge Fund, don't need revenue. Deep technology companies with active SBIR or STTR contracts may also qualify.

Desert Forge Ventures

• Website: Desert Forge Ventures

• Type: Venture capital fund (Fund I)

• Focus Sectors: Deep tech, biotech, and healthcare

• Funding Stages: Pre-Seed, Seed, and Series A

• Check Size: $100,000 to $1 million (as reported by the Las Vegas Global Economic Alliance)

• Present in: Las Vegas, Nevada

Desert Forge Ventures launched on May 1, 2025, led by Len Jessup, a former president of UNLV. The fund grew out of a collaboration with UNLV and gives preference to startups with a UNLV tie or a strong presence in the Las Vegas Valley and the Southwest.

It also recruits startups from outside Nevada, but its investment is contingent on relocating to Las Vegas. Desert Forge invests in several startups based at Roseman Bioventures, the life science incubator mentioned above.

Reno Seed Fund

• Website: Reno Seed Fund

• Type: Angel fund (founded 2019)

• Focus Sectors: Early-stage, technology-enabled companies, including health care and biotech

• Funding Stages: Pre-Seed, Seed, and Seed+

• Present in: Northern Nevada and the Mountain West

• Health Investments: Astrocyte Pharmaceuticals and Osteoboost Health

Reno Seed Fund is a Reno-based angel fund founded in 2019, set up with help from the Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada and local angel investors. It leads or co-leads investments alongside syndication partners.

Its health-related portfolio includes Astrocyte Pharmaceuticals and Osteoboost Health, so it is worth a look if you're building a biotech company in Northern Nevada.

AngelNV

• Website: AngelNV

• Type: Angel investor network run by StartUpNV, a nonprofit startup accelerator

• Focus Sectors: Revenue-generating Nevada startups (not biotech specific)

• Investment: $400,000 combined (angel funds plus state matching) to a winning startup

• Present in: Las Vegas, Nevada

• Track Record: 15 Nevada startups funded since 2020

AngelNV launched in 2020 as part of StartUpNV, a nonprofit statewide startup incubator and accelerator. Accredited investors pool money in the AngelNV Conference Fund, the state's SSBCI program matches it, and the result is a $400,000 investment in a winning startup.

It isn't a biotech fund, but its free entrepreneur bootcamp is a practical way to get a biotech pitch in front of Nevada angels. More Las Vegas names are in our guide to angel investors in Las Vegas.

Wrap-Up:

So, there's your list of Nevada funds and angel groups that back biotech and other early-stage startups.

Before we wrap up, here is one hidden secret about why most startups fail to secure an investment. In most screening decks, investors expect a killer startup idea that could lead its industry. Your startup may have the perfect solution, but you need a strong hook to prove it right at the start.

A hook can be a shocking statistic, a powerful story, or a bold problem-solution statement. One great way to master the art is to study companies like Airbnb or Uber, which are known for clear, punchy introductions. Reading guides on creating pitch decks is a great way to get started.

Frequently Asked Questions About Nevada Biotech Investors