Procyon Ridge writes first checks into biotech, chemistry, and defense startups.
Therapeutics (small molecules and biologics), gene & cell therapies, drug discovery (hardware and software), diagnostics, medical devices, synthetic biology, and research tools.
Generally not a fit: consumer wearables, supplements, and nootropics.
Novel synthetic chemistry, advanced materials, polymers, catalysis, and process chemistry — including dual-use applications spanning biotech and defense.
Generally not a fit: heavy-industry and commodity-scale chemicals.
Kinetic capabilities, defense-relevant materials science, hardware, and dual-use technologies with a credible path into the DOD.
Generally not a fit: most non-kinetic, software-only capabilities.
We back exceptional founders from any institution, at any stage of their career.
That said, an important part of our thesis is backing founders from WashU, Brown, and Israel's flagship universities. This focus reflects our personal, academic, and/or philanthropic connections to each.
Note: Procyon Ridge is not officially affiliated with any of these institutions.
We write checks of up to $500,000, including before there's a product, deck, or even a registered company. Capital is just the entry point. What we actually do is work alongside founders through the hardest parts of building a biotech, chemistry, or defense company.
From FDA pathways and EAR export controls to DOD acquisition and ITAR compliance, we help you think through the regulatory landscape from day one so your science and strategy can develop together.
University spin-outs face unique licensing challenges. We help founders navigate these processes and work through tech transfer agreements without losing momentum.
The first few hires define a company's trajectory. We help founders think through who to bring on first, how to structure equity, and how to attract scientific advisors.
We help founders identify and pursue NIH SBIR/STTR grants, DOD programs, and foundation funding to extend runway without giving up more equity.
When you're ready to raise a seed or Series A, we open doors to the right investors and help you sharpen the narrative before you're in the room.
Our relationships span researchers, clinicians, and operators. We make the introductions that move things forward.
Jonathan founded Procyon Ridge to back early-stage biotech companies emerging from the institutions he knows best. He is currently an M.D. candidate at the Washington University School of Medicine (Class of 2029), where he is involved in clinical and translational research. He is also a graduate of Brown University (Class of 2025), earning an Sc.B. in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology and an A.B. in Business Economics. At Brown, he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa and authored an honors biochemistry thesis on the development of a novel method for the detection of aneuploidy in Candida species.
Jonathan has a particular passion for tactical medicine, having volunteered at a trauma ICU in Eastern Ukraine in 2024. In his free time, he enjoys reading about geopolitics and military technology. Outside of investing, Jonathan is an avid alpine climber and mountain biker, and was formerly ranked top 10 nationally in snowboard racing.
Jason advises Procyon Ridge Capital, drawing on his 25+ years of experience in private equity, venture capital, and angel investing. The Jason & Donna Weiss family office is the capital behind Procyon Ridge. Jason was involved in the co-founding of several companies early in his career that were the source of his family office capital and has since founded and co-founded several investment vehicles.
Jason also has extensive experience in public markets, having served as CEO of two blank-check companies: Aldabra 2 Acquisition Corp., which raised $414M in its 2007 IPO and subsequently acquired the paper and packaging assets of Boise Cascade LLC in a transaction valued at more than $1.6 billion; and Aldabra Acquisition Corporation, which raised $55.2M in its 2004 IPO and merged with Great Lakes Dredge & Dock, the largest dredging services provider in North America, in a transaction valued at more than $400 million.
Outside of investing, Jason is deeply involved in philanthropy focused on animal welfare and Israel. Most recently, Jason and his wife Donna financed the founding of the Brown University Center for Alternatives to Animals in Testing. JD, Harvard Law; BA, University of Michigan.
If you're a founder working on something in biotech, chemistry, or defense, we want to hear from you. We respond to every pitch.
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