Investing in a healthier future.

Aurelie Nowack is currently Principal at V-Bio Ventures, which she joined in 2022.

Before joining V-Bio Ventures, she spent more than 10 years in the life science industry. Aurelie worked at BASF as Manager of Technology Acquisition, Collaborations and Innovation. Prior to joining the fund, Aurelie was Business Development Manager at the technology transfer office of life sciences institute VIB.

Aurelie obtained a PhD in Genetics from the University of Cologne, Germany at the Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research, an MSc in Plant Biotechnology from Wageningen University, the Netherlands and a BSc in Biology from Imperial College London, UK.

Charles Margarit is currently Associate at V-Bio Ventures, which he joined in 2022.

Charles holds a PhD in the chemistry of alternative energy and has postdoctoral experience in molecular and synthetic biology. After studying the electrocatalytic reduction of carbon dioxide at Harvard University, he switched fields to investigate the directed evolution of RuBisCO in yeast at the VIB and KU Leuven. He has been authored on 10 academic papers in high-impact journals.

Christina Takke co-founded V-Bio Ventures in 2015 and has since been a Managing Partner of the firm.

Before launching V-Bio Ventures, Christina spent over 15 years in European Venture Capital, as consultant, analyst and investment manager. In her last position Christina was a partner at Forbion Capital Partners, were she led and managed a series of successful investments in biopharmaceutical and pharmaceutical companies.

Christina has a scientific background, holding a PhD in Developmental Biology from the University of Cologne, Germany, and an MSc in Biology from the University of Darmstadt, Germany.

Dennis Pedri is currently Analyst at V-Bio Ventures, which he joined in May 2024. Prior to joining V-Bio Ventures, Dennis did an internship as an analyst at Divergent Capital in New York.

Dennis obtained a PhD in Biomedical Sciences from VIB – KU Leuven, with a thesis on melanoma transcriptional regulation. During the years he built an extensive expertise in the oncology field, was co-author on a patent-application originated from his research line and published several high-impact papers.

Dennis holds a Msc in Cellular and Molecular Biotechnology and a BSc in Biomolecular Sciences and Technologies from the University of Trento, Italy.

Katja Rosenkranz is currently Partner at V-Bio Ventures, which she joined in 2016.

Before joining V-Bio Ventures, Katja spent more than 12 years in the life science venture business. She worked as an analyst at Polytechnos Venture-Partners and as CBO/CFO at Advitos (formerly Hepa Wash). Subsequently, Katja was a senior investment and project manager at Ascenion, where she managed the Spinnovator initiative and progressed early academic inventions into spin-offs.

Katja holds a PhD and MSc in Biochemistry from Witten/Herdecke University, Germany, and an Executive MBA in Medical Devices and Healthcare Management from the IBST, Tuttlingen, Germany.

Martin Solleveld is currently Finance Manager at V-Bio Ventures and has been involved since its inception in 2015.

Martin has extensive experience with financial management in general and with venture capital in particular (amongst which ABN Amro Private Equity, AAC Life Sciences, Forbion, Thuja Capital), as well as biotech companies (for example Pharming, Crucell, Uniqure, ProQR Therapeutics). Martin has been an independent financial manager & consultant since 2004. Before that, Martin worked for several years as manager and consultant at Arthur Andersen (predecessor of Deloitte) in the field of business process management and as an auditor at EY.

Martin has a BSc in business administration and a MSc in Business Process Management & IT. Tom Schwarz is member of the strategic advisory board of V-Bio Ventures.

Shelley Margetson joined V-Bio Ventures in December 2020 as Managing Partner.

Prior to joining V-Bio Ventures, Shelley spent over 20 years in executive roles in both finance and business, across  various European biotechnology companies. As CFO of Merus (MRUS) she managed the Initial Public Offering on the Nasdaq in May 2016 and as CEO of Gadeta she closed a ‘build to buy’ deal with Kite/Gilead. Shelley has managed funding rounds, business exits and negotiated international business transactions, spanning three continents.

Shelley has a finance/business background, holds a BA in business economics and is a member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants.

Ward Capoen is currently Partner at V-Bio Ventures, which he joined in 2016.

Ward has a PhD in molecular biology research and worked at VIB/UGent, the John Innes Centre and Harvard Medical School. His expertise spans both plant and animal models, and ranges from fundamental to translational research. Before joining V-Bio Ventures, Ward worked as a senior analyst at Candriam Investors Group (formerly Dexia Asset Management), where he was responsible for investment analysis of early-stage listed biotech companies.

Ward holds a PhD in Biotechnology from the University of Gent, Belgium. He also has an MBA from Vlerick Business School, Leuven, Belgium.

Willem Broekaert co-founded V-Bio Ventures in 2015 and has since been a Managing Partner of the firm.

Before setting up V-Bio Ventures, Willem spent over 15 years working in VC-backed life sciences companies as entrepreneur, consultant and executive. He was founder and CEO of Fugeia NV (now owned by Cargill), and Vice President R&D of CropDesign NV (now part of BASF). Before joining CropDesign NV, Willem was professor of Plant Biotechnology and Plant Pathology at the University of Leuven, Belgium.

Willem holds an MSc and PhD in BioScience Engineering from the University of Leuven, Belgium, and a Master’s degree in agricultural economics from IGIA/ESSEC in Paris, France.