Made in Melbourne, for the world.
Bringing together experienced investors, founders and operators, we are united by the belief that dedicating capital to research commercialization is the key to bringing transformational ideas into the world.
Our mandate
Our primary focus is on spinouts built upon research intellectual property, however we can also invest in existing companies if the link to the University of Melbourne is strong. We lead rounds and can invest from A$500,000 to A$5m+.
We invest from seed to pre-IPO across all sectors, though our primary disciplines are life sciences and physical sciences. We invest in globally competitive, high impact companies founded by researchers, students and alumni of the University of Melbourne and its affiliated institutes.
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How we create value
01
It all starts with our founders and their ideas.
The University of Melbourne’s researchers are pioneers in a diverse range of cutting edge fields, from precision medicine to advanced materials.
02
A unique partnership with the University of Melbourne
We have privileged access to these ideas through our affiliation with the University of Melbourne and we work hand in hand with academic founders to shape and nurture these ideas into exciting investment opportunities.
03
Transforming ideas into spinouts
We engage with academics early, as early as the ideation stage, and help develop ideas into investible companies with the help of our Founder-In-Residence team.
04
Dedicated investment team with deep domain expertise
Our investors have commercial experience and deep domain expertise in our focus areas of life sciences, deep tech and climate tech. This allows us to critically evaluate technologies and their potential as venture investments.
05
From seed and beyond
We invest at seed and beyond, with the capacity to continue backing outstanding portfolio companies with follow-on investment in future rounds. Our commitment to our companies extends beyond capital, to hands-on support from our team and access to our global network of syndicate investors, talent and expert advisors.
Our values
Daring
We are a team of investors, founders, and operators with deep knowledge of the areas of science where we invest, united by the belief that dedicating capital to research commercialization is the key to bringing transformational ideas into the world.
Excellence
We strive for excellence in everything we do. We take pride in our work and maintain a relentless focus on delivering outstanding value and impact for our investors, founders, and ecosystem.
Curiosity
We are a team of investors, founders, and operators with deep knowledge of the areas of science where we invest, united by the belief that dedicating capital to research commercialization is the key to bringing transformational ideas into the world.
Integrity
We act with integrity, respect, and fairness in all our interactions. We hold ourselves accountable to the highest standards and always seek to align our actions with our words.
Partnership
We are part of an ecosystem made possible by strong partnerships and a collaborative mindset. Our success grows from this ecosystem and contributes to it in return. We embrace the power of teamwork in everything we do.
Fun
We take what we do very seriously, but we try not to take ourselves too seriously. We celebrate our wins and believe that finding joy in our work is central to achieving extraordinary results.
Our story
Tin Alley Ventures was founded in 2022 as a joint venture between the University of Melbourne and Tanarra Capital, a leading alternative asset manager.
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Building
on a commitment to impactful research
The University of Melbourne has always been a driving force in discovery, research and education, with a thriving ecosystem of precincts, expertise and programs to encourage research translation. The launch of Tin Alley Ventures and the Genesis Pre-Seed Fund in 2022 is part of that commitment to maximise global, societal and economic impact from research.
Transforming
visionary ideas into reality
We are a team of investors, founders and operators with deep knowledge of the areas of science where we invest, united by the belief that dedicating capital to research commercialization is the key to bringing transformational ideas into the world.
Creating
lasting impact and commercial success
We are proud to be supporting this world-class research and innovation ecosystem with dedicated capital and talent to create lasting impact and commercial success.
Our ecosystem
The University of Melbourne is globally recognized for research and innovation, alongside its rich ecosystem of research institutes, innovative companies and world-leading facilities. Together, these form our starting substrate for creating transformational businesses.
Melbourne Connect
Florey Institute
Jumar Bioincubator
Walter and Eliza Hall Institute
Doherty Institute
Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre
Fishermans Bend Innovation Precinct
Cremorne Digital Hub
St Vincent’s Institute
The University of Melbourne
The Royal Women's Hospital
Murdoch Children's Research Institute
The Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne
Our ecosystem in numbers
A$1.5bn
in research spend annually
100+
research centres and institutes affiliated with the University of Melbourne
40+
hospitals, medical research institutes and biomedical organisations in the Melbourne Biomedical Precinct
8,500+
researchers at the University of Melbourne and affiliated medical research institutes
Testimonials
We are a team of investors, founders and operators with deep knowledge of the areas of science where we invest, united by the belief that dedicating capital to research commercialization is the key to bringing transformational ideas into the world.
Professor Mahdi Disfani
Co-founder, Porous Lane
"We had an exceptionally fruitful journey with TAV. The process to investment helped us to understand our market sectors, growth strategy and market channels better. The advice from TAV, its network of mentors and advisors and the due-diligence and strong communication culture led us to a much stronger position in the market. TAV has been instrumental in cultivating a culture of entrepreneurial and research commercialization through supporting the start-up ecosystem, mentorship, advice and direction."
Dr Jonathan Bernardini
Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer, Proxima Bio
"Working with the TAV team has been tremendously rewarding and energising. From the outset, TAV has struck the balance between guidance and empowerment, connecting us with passionate entrepreneurs and experts, and trusting us to bring our vision to life. TAV is truly committed to building the UoM start-up ecosystem. Our company, Proxima Bio, was founded by two UoM researchers and is a concrete example of this approach in action."
Professor Vihandha Wickramasinghe
Co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer, exteRNA
"Tin Alley Ventures team have been terrific – they have a long term view with an international mindset. They are communicative, responsive and genuinely interested in investing in first-in-class assets and approaches. This is atypical of many Australian based venture funds and this approach is needed to ensure that Australia has a globally competitive biotech sector. They are a breath of fresh air to work with. I like the fact that TAV have founders-in-residence that aim to come up with their own commercially viable ideas and to then reach out to leaders in the Melbourne precinct. This is an innovative approach."
Professor Spencer Williams
Director, Gallant Bio
Associate Dean, Enterprise and Innovation, Faculty of Science
"Working with Tin Alley Ventures to found Gallant Bio has been an exciting journey in transforming groundbreaking University of Melbourne research into real-world impact. They are dedicated to building high-performing teams, shaping company culture, and equipping founders for successful commercialization. With a strategic, global outlook, they seamlessly connect research with industry, building the key connections that will assist in turning innovation into success."
Dr Megan Coomer
Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer, Cell Bauhaus
"Securing the early support of Tin Alley Ventures was a huge milestone for Cell Bauhaus. They brought extensive experience in university IP commercialisation and with this helped to establish a path forward as we moved from academic research to commercial development."
Professor Robin Batterham
Emeritus Kernot Professor of Engineering
Former Chief Scientist of Australia
"Research without impact is little more than entertainment. And impact demands reaching out, and that in an entrepreneurial manner. It is right that the University of Melbourne is striving to enhance and speed up this outreach. Tin Alley Ventures have already demonstrated success in making this process happen. TAV has a team with analytical skills based on deep knowledge of fundamentals, a network both technical and commercial that is very comprehensive and an energy level that is admirable."
Associate Professor Garron Dodd
Founder and Chief Scientific Officer, Gallant Bio
"My experience with the TAV team has been transformative—they’ve guided me through the transition from academia to the startup world with invaluable support. Their expertise has been instrumental in pitching to investors, building a strong executive and advisory team, and establishing the foundation of my company. TAV is shaping a culture of entrepreneurship within the University of Melbourne and the Parkville precinct by unlocking the commercial potential of our world-class scientific research, enabling us to deliver impactful innovations to the global market."
