In a bittersweet turn of events, Reed Jobs, the 34-year-old son of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, has come full circle in his fight against cancer. Having lost his father to pancreatic cancer eight years ago, Jobs now runs a venture capital firm dedicated to funding companies that focus on preventing people from dying of cancer.
After his father's death, Jobs couldn't shake off the feeling of helplessness in the face of such a tragic loss. However, this personal experience eventually led him to shift gears and pursue a new passion – using his wealth and influence to support cutting-edge research and treatment options for cancer patients.
Under his helm, Jobs' firm has made significant strides in the healthcare space. With $263 million raised from its first fund, the company has invested in 20 promising startups, including gene therapy firm Tune Therapeutics and AI drug development startup Chai Discovery.
The firm's latest fundraising efforts have yielded impressive results, with Jobs announcing that it has secured over $200 million for a second fund, bringing the total target size to $350 million. Heavy-hitter investors, including biotech giant Amgen, Memorial Sloan Kettering, MIT, and venture capitalist John Doerr, are backing the firm's mission.
At its core, Yosemite aims to tackle some of the most complex types of cancer – those that have a high mortality rate and limited treatment options. Jobs believes that many of these cancers can be effectively managed with early detection, targeted therapies, and continuous monitoring, driving down mortality rates over time.
While Yosemite is an unusual venture capital firm in that it also gives no-strings-attached grants to scientists, Jobs sees this hybrid model as essential for fostering breakthroughs in cancer research. As he puts it, "We have to step up, for our researchers and just for the state of science in America right now."
The company's investments are indicative of the tremendous progress made in cancer treatment over the past 15 years. With companies like Merck's Keytruda and CAR-T cell therapy making significant strides, Jobs is optimistic that new breakthroughs will continue to emerge.
In an exclusive interview with Forbes, Jobs outlined his vision for the firm, citing gene therapy as a promising area of focus. He also expressed enthusiasm for cancer vaccines, which could not only protect against the disease but also boost the immune system of those already afflicted.
As Reed Jobs continues to drive innovation in the fight against cancer, one thing is clear – his legacy as a philanthropist and entrepreneur will be remembered for years to come.
After his father's death, Jobs couldn't shake off the feeling of helplessness in the face of such a tragic loss. However, this personal experience eventually led him to shift gears and pursue a new passion – using his wealth and influence to support cutting-edge research and treatment options for cancer patients.
Under his helm, Jobs' firm has made significant strides in the healthcare space. With $263 million raised from its first fund, the company has invested in 20 promising startups, including gene therapy firm Tune Therapeutics and AI drug development startup Chai Discovery.
The firm's latest fundraising efforts have yielded impressive results, with Jobs announcing that it has secured over $200 million for a second fund, bringing the total target size to $350 million. Heavy-hitter investors, including biotech giant Amgen, Memorial Sloan Kettering, MIT, and venture capitalist John Doerr, are backing the firm's mission.
At its core, Yosemite aims to tackle some of the most complex types of cancer – those that have a high mortality rate and limited treatment options. Jobs believes that many of these cancers can be effectively managed with early detection, targeted therapies, and continuous monitoring, driving down mortality rates over time.
While Yosemite is an unusual venture capital firm in that it also gives no-strings-attached grants to scientists, Jobs sees this hybrid model as essential for fostering breakthroughs in cancer research. As he puts it, "We have to step up, for our researchers and just for the state of science in America right now."
The company's investments are indicative of the tremendous progress made in cancer treatment over the past 15 years. With companies like Merck's Keytruda and CAR-T cell therapy making significant strides, Jobs is optimistic that new breakthroughs will continue to emerge.
In an exclusive interview with Forbes, Jobs outlined his vision for the firm, citing gene therapy as a promising area of focus. He also expressed enthusiasm for cancer vaccines, which could not only protect against the disease but also boost the immune system of those already afflicted.
As Reed Jobs continues to drive innovation in the fight against cancer, one thing is clear – his legacy as a philanthropist and entrepreneur will be remembered for years to come.
he went from feeling helpless to using his wealth & influence to support cancer research 
i think its awesome that hes raising so much money for startups working on gene therapy & AI drug development 
it makes you feel hopeful about the future of cancer treatment 
and its great to see heavy hitters like amgen & memorial sloan kettering backing his mission too 
... I was on this beach with my best friend from childhood, but then we both woke up and realized it was just a sandcastle we were standing in front of 
. Anyway, back to Reed Jobs – what's really interesting is that he's using his platform to support startups that focus on prevention rather than just treatment. I mean, have you ever thought about the impact of pollution on cancer rates? It's crazy how connected our health is to the environment 
...
He's taking his personal loss and turning it into something amazing – funding research and treatments that could save millions of lives. I mean, can you imagine what his dad Steve would think if he knew his son was on a mission like this? 
It's crazy to think that $263 million is being raised for startups working on gene therapy and AI drug development... that's just wild! 
and can we talk about how cool it is that he's giving no-strings-attached grants to scientists? game changer!!! 
i swear by apple products and now reed jobs is showing me why i love them even more 
... but at the same time, isn't he just profiting off his dad's legacy? Like, shouldn't he be getting paid for his own work instead of using his family name to secure funding? And what's up with all these big-name investors throwing money around? Is it really that easy to just give away cash to researchers? 
.
i'm not even going to lie if i ever get cancer i hope reed's firm can find a cure 
$263 million is insane btw how does he do it tho? 
. It shows that even one person can make a significant impact when they use their resources for good 
. And let's be real, $350 million for cancer research is a pretty huge deal 
! #CancerResearchMatters #ReedJobsForACure #GivingBack