Versant Ventures
This article was originally published in Start Up
Executive Summary
Versant Ventures is a product of the upheaval in venture circles caused by the phenomenal valuations being accorded Internet and telecommunications investments and--at least until the recent biotech resurgence--several dismal years for health care investing. The returns from Internet deals made it hard for health care partners to show their faces at the Monday morning partner meetings, or to muster any interest in their health care deals. The health care partners at Brentwood Ventures, Institutional Venture Partners and Crosspoint Ventures essentially decided to circle the wagons by forming Versant Ventures.