Hakan Goker and Owen Lozman jointly lead M Ventures and are among the 100 leading corporate venturing professionals in our 2024 Powerlist.
Hakan Goker and Owen Lozman jointly lead M Ventures, the corporate venturing arm of the Germany-based pharmaceutical company Merck Group, which has made more than 70 investments since they assumed leadership in 2021.
Goker oversees the unit’s biotechnology investments, which encompass healthcare and life sciences, while Lozman manages technology investments, spanning electronics, frontier tech and sustainability.
Since its establishment in 2009, initially as MS Ventures, the Netherlands-based unit has invested in more than 80 startups. It operates across four distinct domains: healthcare, life sciences, performance materials, and new businesses. Merck’s strategic initiatives also encompass the Merck Accelerator and collaborative programmes aimed at furthering innovation in biotech and therapeutics.
Recent investments include taking part in the $175m series C round raised by Celestial AI, which develops an optical interconnectivity technology for data centres and AI platforms. M Ventures also participated in the $82m series C round for Swiss immuno-oncology treatment developer Nouscom.
There have been some notable exits in the past year as well. Calypso, a Merck spinout, entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by Novartis for $425m.
Goker joined M Ventures in 2013, following his tenure as a partner at VC firm Aescap Venture, where he focused on European opportunities. He holds a PhD in oncology from the Institute of Cancer Research at the University of London, as well as a bachelor’s degree from University College London.
Lozman joined M Ventures in February 2018, having transitioned from his previous position as head of new platform R&D for Merck’s electronics business in Germany. He holds a PhD in physical organic chemistry from the University of Leeds.
The Global Corporate Venturing Powerlist represents the 100
individuals spearheading the future of the corporate venturing industry.
These individuals excel in terms of their venturing approach and structure, number and quality of portfolio companies and in their contributions to the corporate venturing profession.
