Early Life
Noubar Afeyan was born in Beirut, Lebanon, in 1962 to Armenian parents. His family fled the Lebanese Civil War and immigrated to Canada in 1975. He graduated from Loyola High School in Montreal in 1978. Afeyan's grandfather survived the Armenian genocide, which influenced his drive and resilience.
Rise to Success
Afeyan earned a B.Eng. in chemical engineering from McGill University in 1983 and a Ph.D. in biochemical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 1987. He was the first Ph.D. graduate from MIT's Center for Bioprocess Engineering. Inspired by a meeting with David Packard, Afeyan became an entrepreneur, founding his first biotechnology company in 1987. He co-founded or helped build over 50 life science and technology startups during his career.
Key Business Strategies
Afeyan is the founder and CEO of Flagship Pioneering, a venture capital company established in 2000. Flagship Pioneering creates and develops platform companies, focusing on transformative human health and sustainability products. The firm uses a systematic process to invent and build first-in-category bioplatforms. Flagship has fostered the development of over 100 scientific ventures resulting in over $60 billion in aggregate value. In 2009 Afeyan co-founded Moderna and currently serves as its chairman.
Philanthropy
Afeyan is deeply involved in philanthropy, supporting initiatives particularly in Armenia. He co-founded the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative, which recognizes those who put themselves at risk to save others. He also founded the Afeyan Foundation with his wife, Anna, and supports educational projects, including the UWC Dilijan School. His philanthropic work is driven by a belief in giving back and contributing to a better future. In 2024, Afeyan committed $2 million to support Armenian refugees.