New Venture Fund for Autism Innovation & Investment

A New Fund Dedicated to Autism Innovation

Following his son’s diagnosis with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in 2018, experienced investor Christopher Male encountered a landscape he wasn’t prepared for.

Initially, his understanding of “autism” was limited to the term itself, as he recalls.

Identifying Gaps in Autism Care

Driven to support his son, Male thoroughly researched the subject and discovered a community and marketplace that was notably fragmented and often at odds.

He observed that existing solutions were frequently expensive, involved lengthy delays, and lacked a solid scientific foundation.

This led him to believe a deeper understanding of the market dynamics was crucial.

Motivated by both entrepreneurial spirit and a desire to improve outcomes for his child and others, Male partnered with Brian O’Callaghan to establish the Autism Impact Fund (AIF) earlier this year.

The Autism Impact Fund's Mission

The AIF aims to fundamentally reshape how autism is diagnosed, treated, and experienced through a venture-capital model.

To date, the fund has invested in seven companies in their early stages of development.

Rob Sarrazin, formerly of GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), joined AIF as its chief investment officer and managing partner.

Male and Sarrazin collaboratively oversee the fund’s daily operations.

The Scale of the Need

According to the CDC, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) affects approximately 1 in 54 children and impacts millions of families globally.

“We envisioned the Autism Impact Fund as the primary investment and innovation hub for the autism community,” Male stated.

“The current system is profoundly flawed, presenting a significant societal challenge, and our objective is to enact meaningful change.”

A Shift in Focus

Male previously managed his family’s investment office and subsequently launched his own venture fund.

However, he emphasizes that his current role is the most impactful of his career.

Expert Guidance

AIF has assembled a distinguished advisory board, including Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi, Jennifer Frist from the Frist Center for Autism & Innovation at Vanderbilt University, and Bob Nelsen, co-founder and managing director of ARCH Venture Partners.

Fundraising and Investment Strategy

While Male refrained from disclosing the identities of AIF’s Limited Partners (LPs), he indicated they comprise high-net-worth institutions and family offices.

The fund is currently engaged in fundraising efforts, which are progressing favorably, according to Male.

“Investor response has been very encouraging, and we are exceeding our initial projections,” he reported.

AIF focuses on direct investments across diverse sectors – including biology, environmental factors, and behavioral science – and at various funding stages.

The fund deliberately prioritizes for-profit companies to avoid duplication of efforts with nonprofit organizations.

A Professional Investment Approach

“We are seasoned investment professionals,” Male clarified.

“Furthermore, we are actively fostering collaboration within the community, engaging with academics, governmental bodies, nonprofits, and foundations.”

Portfolio Highlights

AIF’s portfolio includes Axial, developing gut-targeted small molecule therapies for core autism symptoms; BioROSA, focused on creating a biomarker for autism; Floreo, offering AI-powered virtual reality therapies; and Joshin, a digital care platform for individuals with special needs – recently highlighted by TechCrunch.

BioROSA, a Boston-based startup founded by John Slattery and Marie Causey in 2018, is pioneering a biomarker to identify ASD in children as young as 18 months.

“This could significantly lower the average age of diagnosis, which currently exceeds four years and disproportionately affects minority and low-income populations,” Male explained to TechCrunch.

BioROSA has secured over $3 million in funding, including a round with AIF participation in July.

“Our company is built upon robust academic research,” Slattery stated.

“Our aim is to enable earlier detection and transform the standard of diagnostic care.”

The investments made by AIF have the potential to dramatically improve the lives of families affected by autism – a profoundly meaningful outcome.