Olympus launches second VC fund with $150m commitment

Core Insights - Olympus Corporation has committed $150 million to establish OIV Fund II, targeting investments in promising medtech startups within the gastrointestinal, urology, and respiratory sectors [1] - The fund is described as 'stage-agnostic', focusing on early to growth-stage companies globally that offer therapeutic solutions for specific medical specialties [2] - OIV Fund I, the inaugural fund, had a capital allocation of $50 million and invested in nine medtech startups, including On Target Laboratories and Universal Diagnostics [3] Investment Strategy - OIV Fund II aims to create a pipeline of M&A opportunities, partnerships, and valuable market insights [1] - The fund will continue to support existing portfolio companies from OIV Fund I, which was launched in 2021 [2] - Olympus's chief strategy officer emphasized the commitment to investing in startup teams developing unique solutions in endoscopy-enabled care [4] Management and Partnerships - Cerity Partners Ventures will continue to manage OIV's second fund, having partnered with Olympus since the launch of the first fund [4] - The collaboration aims to leverage technical strengths, industry relationships, and expertise to support leading entrepreneurs [5] Market Positioning - Olympus is focusing on carving out a position in the market with its investments in GI startups, including the establishment of Swan EndoSurgical Robotics, which aims to develop an endoluminal surgical robotics platform [5][6] - Swan's goal is to enhance minimally invasive treatment options for GI tract lesions or tumors by addressing ergonomic limitations of manual endoscopy [6]