Thong Le

Seattle

Thong Q. Le joined the Gates Foundation in December 2024 and serves as Investment Director and Managing Partner of the Strategic Investment Fund (SIF), the impact investment arm responsible for using equity, debt, and guarantee investment tools to further the philanthropic goals of the organization. Thong brings more than 25 years of investment experience in the life sciences industry, with a strong track record of making impactful investments that improve lives and of shaping effective investment strategies and deal-making processes.

Thong brings a wealth of experience as a successful entrepreneur and senior investment strategist. Prior to joining the Gates Foundation, Mr. Le served as Senior Managing Director and Chairman of Accelerator Life Science Partners (ALSP), a venture capital firm focused on developing next-generation life science companies. Since joining ALSP in 2013, he crafted a strategic direction and led the firm’s expansion beyond the Pacific Northwest while delivering strong strategic and financial returns.  He served as a director and founding President & CEO of more than a dozen ALSP portfolio companies, including Petra Pharma (substantial acquisition by a global pharmaceutical company in May 2020), Rodeo Therapeutics (acquired by Amgen Inc. for up to $721 million in March 2021), and Lodo Therapeutics (acquired by Zymergen in May 2021, now Ginko Bioworks).

Prior to ALSP, Thong spent nearly 15 years as Managing Director at WRF Capital, the venture investment arm of the Washington Research Foundation, where he financed and supported the growth of early-stage life sciences and technology companies.

Thong received his A.B. in Government from Harvard University and completed postgraduate studies in business at Templeton College, Oxford University.