Kouki Harasaki is the Founding / Managing Partner at Bioluminescence Ventures.

Dr. Harasaki has over 20 years of biomedical science experience working across major health systems, research institutes, biopharmaceutical corporations, technology companies, and venture capital firms. Prior to founding Bioluminescence Ventures, he was Managing Director at M12 / Microsoft Ventures, where he led Life Sciences investments and helped develop Microsoft corporate strategy in the field. Before M12, Dr. Harasaki was a senior Partner at Andreessen Horowitz (Bio Fund).

Prior to his time in venture, Dr. Harasaki held Drug Discovery, Animal Pharmacology, Strategy, Finance, and Business Development roles at Novartis AG and Baxalta/Shire. He has led over $600M in financing deals that have funded more than 25 therapeutics programs across stages (discovery to marketed), across therapeutic areas (CVM, Immunology, Oncology, Neuro/CNS), and across modalities (small molecules, biologics, genome editors, cell therapies). He earned a BA in Molecular/Cell Biology from Cornell University, a PhD in Clinical Biochemistry from the University of Cambridge (Wellcome Trust Fellow), and an MBA from Harvard Business School (Robert S. Kaplan Fellow).

Chloe Kim, Ph.D. joined Bioluminescence Ventures as a Partner in 2022. Dr. Kim is a biomedical engineer / cell biologist by training with scientific expertise across regenerative medicine, oncology, immunology, and neuroscience. Prior to joining BLV, she worked in business development and corporate strategy at a major Korean biopharmaceutical company. Prior to that, she worked as a life science strategy consultant at Charles River Associates in San Francisco, where she specialized in commercial strategy projects for oncology and immunology therapeutics. Dr. Kim holds both a Ph.D. and an M.S. in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and a B.S. in Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering from UC Berkeley.

Negin Mokhtari, Ph.D. joined Bioluminescence Ventures as a Partner in 2023 and brings a blend of scientific expertise, operational experience, and investment skills to the firm. Prior to joining Bioluminescence Ventures, Dr. Mokhtari was part of the investment team at Genoa Ventures, focusing on the convergence of biology and technology, and serving on the board of multiple companies. She brings hands-on operational experience in therapeutics and diagnostics gained from her involvement in multiple startups at different developmental stages. Her roles have spanned from spinning off startups in drug and gene delivery and drug screening as a founding team member to late-stage commercial operations in product and business development at Freenome. Dr. Mokhtari holds a Ph.D. in Precision Medicine and Drug Delivery from UC San Diego (Moores Cancer Center) and a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities.

Andy Seid joined Bioluminescence Ventures as a Partner in 2023. Mr. Seid brings extensive experience spanning investment banking and operational expertise within the biopharmaceutical sector. Prior to BLV, he served as director in the global healthcare group at Bank of America where he partnered with CEOs, CFOs and board members in identifying and executing financial and strategic outcomes through fundraising (IPOs, follow-ons, private placements) and M&A transactions. He held similar roles at Leerink Partners and UBS and collectively has led over 50 completed transactions in the life sciences space. As a biopharma operator, he has driven successful corporate, business development and strategic finance outcomes across small and large biopharmaceutical companies including at Genentech and Sangamo. Andy holds a B.A. with a double major in Molecular and Cell Biology and Economics from UC Berkeley.

Shailaja Uttamsingh, Ph.D. joined Bioluminescence Ventures as Partner in 2023. Dr. Uttamsingh brings two decades of experience in drug development and lifecycle management of oncology therapies. She has a passion for taking drugs from discovery, through IND, to clinical proof-of-concept. Prior to joining BLV, she served as head of clinical science at Exelixis where she led and advanced several clinical programs in the growing portfolio and played a key role in business development strategy and external collaborations. Previously, she held roles in clinical development, medical affairs and clinical operations at Celgene (acquired by BMS), Oncomed, Genentech and Amgen, working on antibodies, ADCs, cell therapies, immune checkpoint inhibitors and targeted therapies. Dr. Uttamsingh holds a Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences from Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, an M.S. in Biotechnology from the MS University of Baroda, India, and a B.S. in Physiology from Presidency College, Calcutta, India.