# Benjamin Yerxa

> Benjamin Yerxa is a Series A investor at Foundation Fighting Blindness backing Health Care. See 5 investments, check sizes, portfolio. Updated Aug 2026.

- Type: Angel Investor
- Fund: [Foundation Fighting Blindness](https://shizune.co/investors/profile/foundation-fighting-blindness)
- Location: Durham, United States
- Total investments: 5
- Last investment: Jun 2022
- Lead investor: 60%
- Last updated: Aug 2026
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-yerxa-35665a8

Benjamin Yerxa is a Series A investor at Foundation Fighting Blindness in Durham focused on Health Care and Therapeutics. Benjamin Yerxa is the current CEO of Opus Genetics. He previously worked at Atsena Therapeutics as a Board Member. Benjamin Yerxa attended the University of California, San Diego.

## Investment focus

### Industry

| Industry | Investments | Share |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Health Care | 4 | 80% |
| Therapeutics | 3 | 60% |
| Biotechnology | 2 | 40% |
| Genetics | 1 | 20% |
| Wellness | 1 | 20% |

8 industries tracked in total.

### Stage

| Stage | Investments | Share |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Series A | 2 | 40% |
| Seed | 1 | 20% |
| Series B | 1 | 20% |

## Investments

| Company | Description | Amount | Stage | Date | Website |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Nacuity Pharmaceuticals | Nacuity Pharmaceuticals is a pharmaceutical company that aims to develop a breakthrough treatment for retinitis pigmentosa (“RP”) and potentially other ophthalmological indications.Nacuity has assembled an accomplished team and has received significant financial and technical support from the Foundation Fighting Blindness (FFB). FFB aims to driveresearch providing prevention, treatments and cures for people affected by blinding retinal diseases. FFB has invested nearly $700 million in this effort Over the last 46 years. FFB is a significant supporter of Dr. Campochiaro’s research and has committed to fund a substantial portion of Nacuity’s Phase 1 and Phase 2 trials through a milestone-based matching program grant to Nacuity in support of our NPI-001 development program. | $16.5M | Series B | Jun 15, 2022 |  |
| Opus Genetics | Opus Genetics is a clinical-stage ophthalmic biopharmaceutical company developing gene therapies for the treatment of inherited retinal diseases (IRDs) and small molecule therapies for other ophthalmic disorders. The company's pipeline includes gene therapies based on adeno-associated virus (AAV) aimed at treating inherited retinal conditionssuch as Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA), bestrophinopathy, and retinitis pigmentosa. Its leading candidate, OPGx-LCA5, is currently in a Phase 1/2 trial for mutations related to LCA5 and has displayed promising early outcomes. Other initiatives encompass OPGx-BEST1, a gene therapy targeting BEST1-related retinal degeneration, as well as a small molecule therapy for diabetic retinopathy that is ready for Phase 3, which has been developed under a Special Protocol Assessment with the FDA. | $19M | Seed | Sep 22, 2021 |  |
| Vedere Bio ll | Vedere is developing cutting-edge gene therapy products to restore functional vision to patients who have suffered vision loss from Inherited Retinal Degenerations (IRDs), as well as other causes of both genetic and non-genetic vision loss. While the vast majority of ocular gene therapies only limit the rate of inevitable vision loss, we aim torestore lost vision regardless of a patient’s underlying genetics or their stage of disease. | $77M | Series A | May 18, 2021 |  |
| Atsena Therapeutics | Atsena Therapeutics is a clinical-stage gene therapy company focused on developing treatments for inherited retinal diseases. Their clinical programs include therapies for X-linked retinoschisis (XLRS) and GUCY2D-associated Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA1). Atsena utilizes an adeno-associated virus (AAV) technology platform, including a novelspreading capsid (AAV.SPR), to target specific retinal conditions. Their ongoing research aims to prevent blindness caused by genetic mutations and is powered by their innovative approach to ocular gene therapy. |  | Series A | Dec 16, 2020 |  |
| Atsena Therapeutics | Atsena Therapeutics is a clinical-stage gene therapy company focused on developing treatments for inherited retinal diseases. Their clinical programs include therapies for X-linked retinoschisis (XLRS) and GUCY2D-associated Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA1). Atsena utilizes an adeno-associated virus (AAV) technology platform, including a novelspreading capsid (AAV.SPR), to target specific retinal conditions. Their ongoing research aims to prevent blindness caused by genetic mutations and is powered by their innovative approach to ocular gene therapy. | $8.2M | Series A | Apr 01, 2020 |  |

5 of 5 investments shown.

## Co-investors
- [Hatteras Venture Partners](https://shizune.co/investors/profile/hatteras-venture-partners) — VC Fund, 2 deals together
- [OUP (Osage University Partners)](https://shizune.co/investors/profile/osage-university-partners) — VC Fund, 2 deals together
- [Abingworth](https://shizune.co/investors/profile/abingworth-management) — VC Fund, 1 deal together
- [Atlas Venture](https://shizune.co/investors/profile/atlas-venture) — VC Fund, 1 deal together
- [Mission BioCapital](https://shizune.co/investors/profile/bioinnovation-capital) — VC Fund, 1 deal together
- [Bios Partners](https://shizune.co/investors/profile/bios-partners) — VC Fund, 1 deal together

## About Foundation Fighting Blindness

VC Fund · Columbia, United States

The Foundation intends to provide preventions, treatments & cures for people affected by entire spectrum of retinal degenerative diseases.

5 contacts available at Foundation Fighting Blindness.

| Name | Title | Profile |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Alan Landis | CEO & Founder | https://shizune.co/investors/profile/alan-landis-2 |
| Benjamin Yerxa | CEO | https://shizune.co/investors/profile/benjamin-yerxa |
| Claire Gelfman | Chief Scientific Officer | https://shizune.co/investors/profile/claire-gelfman |
| Jason Menzo | President & Chief Operating Officer | https://shizune.co/investors/profile/jason-d-menzo |
| Jonathan Chester | Strategic Council Finance Officer | https://shizune.co/investors/profile/jonathan-chester |

## Similar investors

### Similar stage
- [Antler](https://shizune.co/investors/profile/antler-be9c) — VC Fund
- [Alumni Ventures](https://shizune.co/investors/profile/alumni-ventures-group) — VC Fund
- [General Catalyst](https://shizune.co/investors/profile/general-catalyst-partners) — VC Fund

## FAQ

### What does Benjamin Yerxa invest in?

Benjamin Yerxa invests primarily in Health Care, Therapeutics and Biotechnology startups, most often at Series A and Seed stage. Most of the 5 investments tracked by Shizune back companies in United States. The Investment Focus section breaks down every industry, stage and country in the portfolio.

### When did Benjamin Yerxa last invest?

The most recent investment recorded for Benjamin Yerxa closed in Jun 2022. Shizune tracks 5 investments in total for this profile, including round sizes, stages and portfolio companies, all sourced from confirmed public funding rounds and refreshed monthly.

### Is Shizune's investor data accurate?

Yes — every stat on this profile is calculated from confirmed public funding rounds monitored across hundreds of sources since 2020. This profile was last refreshed in Aug 2026 and is updated monthly. Spotted something off? Use the “Suggest an edit” link near the top of the page.

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