Anja Harmeier, head at Roche Venture Fund, is one of the 100 leading corporate venturing professionals in our 2026 Powerlist.
Roche Venture Fund has long held a distinctive position within corporate VC: an evergreen investor that operates with the discipline and selectivity of a top‑tier financial VC, while retaining privileged access to one of the world’s largest healthcare groups. It was therefore notable when Anja Harmeier returned at the start of the year to lead the Switzerland‑listed pharmaceutical company’s venturing arm, following the retirement of long‑serving head Carole Nuechterlein.
Harmeier is no stranger to RVF. She served on the investment team between 2016 and 2020, having previously worked in neuroscience and rare disease research at Roche. Her career since leaving the fund has further deepened her operational and entrepreneurial credentials. She spent four‑and‑a‑half years as chief executive of Rewind Therapeutics, a developer of remyelination technologies, and before that was a partner at BB Pureos Bioventures.
“It is an honour to succeed Carole Nuechterlein – my former boss who taught me the ropes when I started out in venture capital,” Harmeier said on her appointment. “Even though her shoes are large to fill, I am excited about this opportunity to build on her incredible legacy.”
RVF manages CHF 750m ($940m) and invests globally in pharmaceuticals, diagnostics and digital health. It remains more selective than its Swiss peer Novartis, having made only a handful of public investments since early 2025.
Recent deals include Mission Therapeutics’ $13.3m round, SpliceBio’s $13.5m series B and GlycoEra’s $13m raise.
Over the past year, the fund has sharpened its strategy around high‑conviction investments in next‑generation therapeutic platforms. Rather than spreading capital across numerous early‑stage bets, RVF has leaned into larger, syndicate‑driven financings in areas such as gene editing, RNA medicines and AI‑enabled drug discovery. In early 2026, it joined Novartis and Alphabet’s GV in EpiBiologics’ $107m round, building on a 2025 alliance with Repertoire Immune Medicines.
Within the global CVC landscape, RVF continues to stand out for its consistency. While many corporate funds ebb and flow with shifting internal priorities, RVF has maintained a reputation for scientific depth, long‑term commitment and syndicate credibility. Under Harmeier’s leadership, the proposition is even clearer: disciplined capital, deep science and a reliable bridge between venture‑backed innovation and global pharmaceutical scale.
The GCV 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.
Here’s a snapshot of their recent deals:
