Karl D. Handelsman is the founder and Managing Partner, Codon Capital, and a key contributor and builder in the US biotech innovation ecosystem. Through his network and leadership, he drives Codon Capital to intensely focus on the best biotech targets for investments. The key criteria are the team, the technology, and the investment syndicate. Karl is looking for what he calls “an unfair technology advantage, a team uniquely qualified around that technology opportunity, and multiple routes to success.” Without knowing the technology and the team, he notes, the what if should look “impossible” to the outside world.
The key: find something disruptive, and be confident that technical success will generate a great return on invested capital, and as importantly, make the stock options valuable for those doing the work. Repeat entrepreneurs who can build even bolder startups are the limiting resource, and Karl considers it a privilege to work with them as an investor.