Steve Kafka joined the firm then named Section 32, now branded S32, as managing partner in November 2019. He was previously founding CEO and executive chairman of Thrive Earlier Detection, acquired by Exact Sciences in January 2021, executive chairman of ArcherDX, acquired by Invitae in October 2020, and president and chief operating officer of Foundation Medicine, acquired by Roche in 2018. He was a partner and venture partner at Third Rock Ventures and held earlier roles at Aileron Therapeutics, Infinity Pharmaceuticals, Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Strategic Decisions Group and Forrester Research. BigHat Biosciences lists him on its board as managing partner of Section 32, and he holds a PhD in political economy and government from Harvard University and an A.B. in economics and political science from Stanford University.
Education
Ph.D. Political Economy and Government, Harvard University
A.B. Economics and Political Science, Stanford University
Previous Experience
Forrester Research
Strategic Decisions Group
Millennium Pharmaceuticals
Vice President of Finance, Infinity Pharmaceuticals
COO and CFO, Aileron Therapeutics
President and Chief Operating Officer, Foundation Medicine (acquired by Roche in 2018)
Executive Chairman, ArcherDX (acquired by Invitae in October 2020)
Founding CEO and Executive Chairman, Thrive Earlier Detection (acquired by Exact Sciences in January 2021)
Notable Investments
BigHat BiosciencesExai BioThrive Earlier DetectionFunction OncologyC2i GenomicsROME TherapeuticsBigHat Bio
Board Seats
BigHat Biosciences
Career Timeline
2018
Roche acquired Foundation Medicine, where he had been president and chief operating officer.
2019
Joined Section 32, now S32, as managing partner in November.
2021
Exact Sciences acquired Thrive Earlier Detection, where he was founding CEO and executive chairman.
2022
Named as the Section 32 partner on the firm's $75 million Series B financing of BigHat Biosciences.