A cancer diagnosis rarely leads to a venture fund, but for Ben Freeberg, it became the catalyst for building one. As Founder and Managing Partner of Oncology Ventures, Ben transformed a firsthand experience with broken cancer care into a focused investment strategy aimed at fixing the system from the inside out.

Here's a glimpse of what you'll learn:

00:12 Introduction and Welcome
01:17 The Origin Story of Oncology Ventures
04:56 Challenges and Surprises in Fundraising
07:07 Superpowers of Oncology Ventures
10:02 Fund Performance and Future Plans
17:28 Impact on Patient Lives
21:39 The Role of Stand-Up Comedy in Venture Capital
24:38 Life in Austin and Closing Remarks

In this episode,

Host Brian Smiga speaks with Ben Freeberg about the moment his professional trajectory changed forever. After surviving cancer, and navigating delayed diagnoses, fragmented care, and costly inefficiencies, Ben recognized that the biggest opportunities in oncology weren't just in new drugs, but in the infrastructure, data, and care delivery systems surrounding them. That realization became the foundation for Oncology Ventures.

Also, Ben explains how a specialist venture model can outperform in complex healthcare markets. He breaks down why Oncology Ventures avoids drug development risk, how its strategic LP base of cancer centers and healthcare operators creates a powerful sourcing and commercialization advantage, and what it takes to underwrite early-stage oncology companies before the market fully validates them. The conversation also covers fund construction, co-investment discipline, and the real-world patient impact already generated, demonstrating how strong business models and meaningful outcomes can scale together.

From cancer survivor to founder of Oncology Ventures: Ben Freeberg's journey