# Markus Wanko

> Markus Wanko is a seed investor at xista science ventures backing Biotechnology. See 8 investments, check sizes, portfolio. Updated Aug 2026.

- Type: Angel Investor
- Fund: [xista science ventures](https://shizune.co/investors/profile/ist-cube)
- Total investments: 8
- Last investment: Jan 2022
- Lead investor: 63%
- Last updated: Aug 2026
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markus-wanko-a006071

Markus Wanko is a seed investor at xista science ventures focused on Biotechnology and Risk Management. After a successful fifteen-year career in investments and strategy consulting, Markus started TWIST, IST’s tech transfer organisation, and has been driving the development of IST PARK, the technology park adjacent to IST Austria. His background is in venture capital investing with Safeguard Scientifics and the European Investment Fund, strategyconsulting with the Boston Consulting Group, and principal investment with QIA, the state fund of Qatar. He has supported several startups in the process, energy and tech industries, is a member of IST’s tech transfer committee, is the panel head for Science Foundation Ireland‘s Technology Innovation Award, and is a member of the investment committee of Accent, a local incubation program. He has an MBA from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Sloan School, an MSc from TU Vienna, and an MIM from WU Vienna and HEC Paris.

## Investment focus

### Industry

| Industry | Investments | Share |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Biotechnology | 2 | 25% |
| Risk Management | 1 | 13% |
| Machine Learning | 1 | 13% |
| Predictive Analytics | 1 | 13% |
| Information Technology | 1 | 13% |

7 industries tracked in total.

### Stage

| Stage | Investments | Share |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Seed | 2 | 25% |
| Series A | 2 | 25% |
| Pre-Seed | 1 | 13% |

## Investments

| Company | Description | Amount | Stage | Date | Website |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ribbon Biolabs | Ribbon Biolabs defines new standards for molecular biology by applying innovative methods for DNA synthesis. | $19.7M | Series A | Jan 31, 2022 |  |
| Ribbon Biolabs | Ribbon Biolabs defines new standards for molecular biology by applying innovative methods for DNA synthesis. | $19.7M | Series A | Jan 31, 2022 |  |
| Ribbon Bio | Ribbon Biolabs defines new standards for molecular biology by applying innovative methods for DNA synthesis. | $20.2M | Series A | Jan 31, 2022 |  |
| Ribbon Biolabs | Ribbon Biolabs defines new standards for molecular biology by applying innovative methods for DNA synthesis. |  | Seed | Mar 08, 2019 |  |
| Ribbon Biolabs | Ribbon Biolabs defines new standards for molecular biology by applying innovative methods for DNA synthesis. |  | Seed | Mar 08, 2019 |  |
| Prewave | Prewave and stems from five years of advanced machine learning research. |  | Pre-Seed | May 01, 2018 |  |
| Prewave | Prewave and stems from five years of advanced machine learning research. |  | Pre-Seed | May 01, 2018 |  |
| Ribbon Bio | Ribbon Biolabs defines new standards for molecular biology by applying innovative methods for DNA synthesis. |  | Seed |  |  |

8 of 8 investments shown.

## Co-investors
- [tecnet equity](https://shizune.co/investors/profile/tecnet-equity) — VC Fund, 6 deals together
- [Hadean Ventures](https://shizune.co/investors/profile/hadean-ventures) — VC Fund, 3 deals together
- [xista science ventures](https://shizune.co/investors/profile/ist-cube) — VC Fund, 3 deals together
- [Lansdowne Partners](https://shizune.co/investors/profile/lansdowne-partners) — VC Fund, 3 deals together
- [XISTA Science Ventures](https://shizune.co/investors/profile/xista) — VC Fund, 3 deals together
- [Speedinvest](https://shizune.co/investors/profile/speedinvest) — VC Fund, 2 deals together

## About xista science ventures

VC Fund · Klosterneuburg, Austria

We invest in deep tech startups and academic spin-offs with a strong innovation based on science, engineering and technology. We invest as lead investor in pre-seed and seed stages and have the ability to follow on in later rounds. We understand the needs of science and tech based startups and offer tailored support for entrepreneurs. We areembedded in the venture capital scene, yet understand the language of science and the world of research. Thanks to our diverse team, our expertise and experience in technology, entrepreneurship, finance, legal, IP, and strategic consulting will support your startup right from the start.

5 contacts available at xista science ventures.

| Name | Title | Profile |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Alexander Fischl | Tech Transfer Associate | https://shizune.co/investors/profile/alexander-fischl |
| Bernhard Petermeier | Partner | https://shizune.co/investors/profile/bernhard-petermeier |
| Kavita Surana | Principal | https://shizune.co/investors/profile/kavita-surana |
| Markus Wanko | Founder and Managing Partner | https://shizune.co/investors/profile/markus-wanko |
| Alexander Schwartz | Partner | https://shizune.co/investors/profile/alexander-schwartz-fcf4 |

## 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
- [Right Side Capital Management](https://shizune.co/investors/profile/right-side-capital-management) — VC Fund

## FAQ

### What does Markus Wanko invest in?

Markus Wanko invests primarily in Biotechnology, Risk Management and Machine Learning startups, most often at Seed and Series A stage. Most of the 8 investments tracked by Shizune back companies in Austria. The Investment Focus section breaks down every industry, stage and country in the portfolio.

### When did Markus Wanko last invest?

The most recent investment recorded for Markus Wanko closed in Jan 2022. Shizune tracks 8 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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