About Breslin

Our Commitment to Excellence since 1996

Breslin has achieved remarkable success for clients through strategic investments and tailored financial solutions, enhancing growth and innovation across all sectors that involve human kind. Our dedication to integrity and client success drives our focus on delivering exceptional results both in private equity and corporate development services.

Legacy

Founded in 1996, Breslin emerged as a trusted partner in private equity, developing a pioneering approach to secondary transactions.

Mission

To deliver exceptional value through trusted advisory, strategic partnerships, and market intelligence - empowering our clients to achieve lasting success through high-quality, results-driven solutions.

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Our support

We relentlessly support our clients within the private equity space - not just as active brokers but advisors. By creating strategic market connections and crafting tailored solutions, we drive lasting value for our clients and their partners.

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1996 - Founding

Breslin is founded, marking the beginning of a focused and forward-looking journey in private equity, with a clear vision to support innovation and growth in the Biotechnology and Life Science sectors.

2004 - Industry Pioneer

Breslin becomes one of the early pioneers in secondary private equity transactions across the Life Sciences, industrials and non-cyclicals industries. 

2009 - Diversified Financial Services

Building on its transactional expertise, Breslin expands its corporate finance capabilities. The firm begins offering strategic advisory services to support fundraising, M&A, and structured financing.

2014 - Strategic Growth and Advisory

The advisory team is significantly expanded to serve a broader range of clients and sectors. This includes deeper transactional capabilities, deep sector expertise across more verticals.

2016 - Direct Investing Begins

Breslin launches its direct investment activities, backing high-potential early-stage and growth-stage companies. The firm takes an active investment approach and participating in management, supporting critical phases of company development.

Present - Global Reach

Today, Breslin operates with a truly international footprint, serving institutional investors across the globe. Its offices span across Switzerland, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Germany.

Management Team

Dr. David Karabelnik

Dr. David Karabelnik is an entrepreneur and corporate finance specialist in the life sciences and pharmaceutical sectors. He is the founder and CEO of Breslin AG. Previously, he founded and managed Breslin Biotech AG, a Swiss-based life sciences venture capital firm launched in partnership with Dresdner-Allianz. Dr. Karabelnik has held six board positions, including with GPC and 4SC, and has acted as an advisor and investor for Deutsche Bank and Commerzbank. Over the course of his career, he has successfully led two companies through initial public offerings.

Earlier in his career, Dr. Karabelnik worked with various biotech and venture capital firms in San Francisco. He also co-founded and led Anawa Laboratories, a Swiss contract research organization serving the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. Under his leadership, Anawa grew to 60 employees across Switzerland and Germany before being acquired by MDS Pharma Services.

Dr. Karabelnik holds a PhD in biochemistry from ETH Zurich, where his doctoral research focused on drug-induced lipidosis. He has held multiple post-doctoral teaching and research positions at both ETH Zurich and the University of Zurich.

Dr. Detlef Wollweber

Dr. Detlef Wollweber is an expert in the life sciences sector, with a focus on pharmaceuticals, medical technology, and agro-industries. His core competencies include strategy, business development, and financing.

He has been with Breslin since 2013 alongside running his own consulting practice. Prior to that, he served as CEO of Bayer Innovation GmbH and Bayer Innovation Ventures GmbH, and held advisory roles with Bayer Pharma AG, Bayer CropScience AG, Fraunhofer ISC (ongoing), and several start-ups.

Earlier, Dr. Wollweber was head of research at Bayer CropScience AG and held senior roles across Bayer’s research, manufacturing, and marketing divisions. He was also seconded to the International Food Policy Research Institute in Washington, DC.

He holds a diploma and PhD in organic chemistry from Ruhr University Bochum, is named on over 30 patents, and lectured at the University of Düsseldorf for more than a decade.

Klaus Berding

Klaus Berding brings over 25 years of experience in banking and consulting, with a focus on the life sciences and technology sectors. Since 2003, he has led his own corporate finance and advisory firm, LSFA – Life Science & Financing, and has been part of Breslin’s operating team since 2005.

He is a co-founder and board member of Amypopharma, an Italian spin-off from UNIMIB, and has served for more than a decade as a coach and expert reviewer at European venture capital events organized by TechTour.

Earlier in his career, Klaus held senior positions at Dresdner Kleinwort, beginning in equity research and later advancing to corporate finance. As SVP and Director in the Chemicals & Healthcare Industry Group, he helped expand the bank’s international equity and IPO business, including establishing a joint initiative with an Israeli investment bank. He participated in or led over 40 IPOs, capital market transactions, spin-offs, and M&A mandates.

Klaus holds an MBA from Ruhr University Bochum and a post-graduate degree from the DVFA (Association of German Investment Professionals). He has completed specialized training in life sciences business development and venture capital, and is a member of the House of Pharma, supporting innovation in Germany’s Rhein-Main life sciences ecosystem.

Dr. Martin Schnee

Dr. Martin Schnee is a financial analyst and advisor with a strong scientific background in chemistry and biotechnology. An associated partner at Breslin since 2010, he identifies and evaluates business opportunities across the life sciences and chemical sectors.

He is the founder of Schnee Research, a financial research firm focused on industrial chemistry and biotech, and collaborates with AlphaValue, Europe’s largest independent financial research company. His prior experience includes analyst roles at Commerzbank, research boutiques, and a rating agency, covering biotech, pharma, medtech, and chemicals.

Dr. Schnee holds a PhD in chemistry from Goethe University Frankfurt and is a certified credit and biotech equity analyst. He is a member of DVFA, GDCh, and CLIB, and serves as a non-executive director at a gene therapy biotech company in Germany.

Nathan Breslin

Nathan Breslin

Strategic Development and Fundraising
Zurich, Switzerland

Nathan is a finance and legal expert specialising in transactions, investment strategies, and corporate growth. He supports buy-side secondaries and manages the strategic and financial aspects of transactions. Nathan’s skills include contractual negotiation and  growth/ optimisation strategies.

Advisory Team

David Toledo

David Toledo

Private and Public Equity
Zurich, Switzerland

David Toledo is a finance and legal professional specialising in private equity transactions, investment strategy, and corporate advisory. With a background in law and economics, he brings extensive experience across due diligence, valuations, fundraising, and secondary transactions. He supports the end-to-end execution of investments, combining rigorous valuation expertise with strong capabilities in structuring and negotiating complex deals.

Dr. Francis Chen

Dr. Francis Chen

Life Sciences, IT and Technology
San Francisco, USA

Francis is a founder and executive of various Biotech and IT companies in the Bay area. He has been committed to Venture Capital for 10 years and has more than 20 years’ operating management experience in the BIO/IT industry. Francis has a PhD in Immunology and a Master in Chemistry.

Dr. Herve de Kergrohen

Dr. Herve de Kergrohen

Life Sciences and Investment Banking
Lausanne, Switzerland

Herve has more than 25 years’ experience in Life Sciences and Asset Management. He is the founder of numerous Biotech companies in Europe. As a Fund Manager of CDC Innovation, BB Medtech, among others, he was involved in private and public Life Sciences Equities. Herve is the founder of the well-known Biodata Conference in Geneva. He has a degree in medicine and an MBA from INSEAD.

Dr. Manfred Kircher

Dr. Manfred Kircher

Industrial Biotech and Speciality Chemicals
Düsseldorf, Germany

Manfred had leading management positions for more than 25 years in prime Industrial Biotech and Speciality Chemical companies (i.e. Evonik, Degussa). He was chairman of CLIB 2021, the International Association of the Industrial Biotech Industry. In addition, he served the Burrill Nutraceutical Fund as a portfolio manager. Manfred holds a PhD in Molecular Genetics.

Christoph Kayenburg

Christoph Kayenburg

Private and Public Equity
Munich, Germany

Christoph is a respected in-depth specialist in Commercial and Investment Banking, including 5 years at DG Bank in Tokyo. He was involved in various capital market activities in South Korea and London and served on various boards of public holdings and Pharma logistic companies. Christoph is chairman of Krayenburg AG, Munich. He holds a Master in Economics.

Dr. Jakob Karp

Dr. Jakob Karp

Medical Technology
Munich, Germany

Over the last 20 years, Jakob has developed broadly based tools, systems, and methods for Orthodontic and Medtech applications. In addition, he has been involved in teaching and market communications for institutions and Dental/Medtech markets. Jakob has a PhD in Orthodontics.

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