Philosophy
Cymba X focuses on converting fundamental advances in biological science into either multi-decade investments or stand-alone companies. We constantly explore the landscape of new knowledge and seek to align our rewards with those of our investors and society at large.
We are patient capital willing to take risk during periods of great uncertainty and will only invest when projects or technologies are priced fairly or at a discount to intrinsic scientific value to maintain a wide margin of safety.
Founder
Brad J. Schmier, PhD, is a molecular biologist and life science investor based in the greater New York City region. Brad earned a bachelor’s degree from Washington University in St. Louis with majors in finance and English literature, a PhD in molecular biology and biochemistry from the Miller School of Medicine at the University of Miami, and was a postdoctoral fellow and senior scientist at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City. Brad has more than a decade of molecular biology experience with expertise in RNA degradation and RNA repair. His research interests center on the fate of DNA and RNA after high doses of ionizing radiation. Prior to his career in science, he worked as a real estate investor in the greater Miami area and has nearly two decades of experience investing in real estate and biotechnology. When free from nucleic acids, Brad loves being a dad and husband, spending time with family and friends, speaking Spanish, and generally to be absorbed by books, guitar, basketball, and art.
Senior Scientist & Investment Officer
Jake Hebert, PhD, is a chemical biologist and investor focused on companies innovating in the biotechnology and life science industries. Jake earned a BS in biochemistry from Siena College and a PhD in chemical biology from the Weill Cornell Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at Cornell University. During his PhD, Jake gained expertise in the techniques of protein biochemistry, CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing, and viral gene delivery. His scientific interests lie broadly at the intersection of protein/cellular engineering and their application towards next generation therapeutics, diagnostics, and platform technologies. Prior to joining Cymba X, Jake worked at Regeneron Pharmaceuticals in the clinical-scale manufacturing of therapeutic antibodies for human trials. In his free time, Jake enjoys cycling, playing golf, and honing his culinary skills in the kitchen.
Venture Partners
Amy Cayne Schwartz, JD, is the President and General Counsel of Genome Project-write (GP-write). Amy has assumed various roles for GP-write including development of the 501(c)(3) and corporate governance structures and nine working groups ranging from technology to ethics and education. Currently, Amy is focused on launching a virtual foundry and incubator for genome writing and redesign including the creation of a first-of-its kind CAD platform for genome design. Amy is also Co-Founder of Base Pair-Go, an engineering biology certification platform with the mission of democratizing access to synthetic biology education. Prior to GP-write, Amy was an Associate at Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft in Real Estate Finance and Securitization law, and also practiced at Nixon Peabody in the areas of Complex Litigation and Real Estate Finance. Amy holds a BA in Political Science from the University of Pennsylvania and studied at the London School of Economics (LSE). She earned a JD from Fordham University School of Law, where she was a member of the Intellectual Property, Media and Entertainment Law Journal. When time permits, Amy coaches boys' ice hockey, practices ballet and yoga, enjoys long hikes and camping with her family, and reads historical fiction with a focus on politics and economics.
Tommy Liu, MBA, is the founder and CEO of Sprucewood Capital Management, a private investment firm based out of Westport, CT that deploys capital in both public and private companies. Prior to founding Sprucewood Capital Management, Tommy worked in the hedge fund, private equity, venture capital and investment banking industries. Tommy earned a dual degree Master’s in Business Administration from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) and a Masters of Arts in international studies. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Washington University in St. Louis. In his spare time, Tommy enjoys spending time with his daughters, traveling with his family, and playing basketball and tennis.
