SAN FRANCISCO – Physic Ventures, the first venture capital firm dedicated to investing in keeping people healthy by providing capital and expertise to emerging health and sustainability companies, today announced its Physic Fellows program, a result of its longstanding relationship with Edelman, the world’s leading public relations agency. Through a series of six-month fellowships, Edelman managers will work with executives at Physic’s portfolio of companies to provide counsel in corporate positioning, stakeholder relations and social and digital engagement.

The program, which launches in September, provides Physic’s portfolio a competitive edge within the rapidly evolving landscape of personal and planetary health. Fellows will be selected from Edelman’s team of more than 100 in San Francisco.

“Over many years, leaders at both of our firms have developed a strong set of shared values around health and sustainability,” said William Rosenzweig, managing director of Physic Ventures. “There is a natural synergy between our efforts to help category-creating businesses lead the way in the areas of health and sustainability.”

The Physic Fellows program is a natural step for Edelman and Physic Ventures. The two companies share a vision of supporting businesses that innovate at the intersection of consumer health and sustainable living. Edelman’s office in San Francisco works with several local and national brands operating at this juncture, including Alliance Health, a member of the Physic Ventures portfolio. Physic Ventures also funds companies like Recyclebank, GoodGuide, Own Products and Revolution Foods, which seek to align consumer habits with responsible living.

“Physic Ventures is a wonderful partner, and this program represents a new chapter in our collaboration,” said Jay Porter, general manager of Edelman San Francisco. “Edelman staff will gain in-depth understanding of the challenges facing these early-stage businesses, and Physic’s portfolio companies will benefit from communications counsel from across the Edelman network. Additionally, as a firm, we’re committed to expanding our employees’ knowledge base and working with companies that marry performance with purpose.”  

Debra Jack, executive vice president at Edelman, is the first Physic Fellow. Jack is a 20-year communications veteran and leads the San Francisco office’s corporate, CSR and crisis communications practices.  

About Physic Ventures

Physic Ventures is the first venture capital firm dedicated to investing in keeping people healthy by providing capital and expertise to science and technology-based health and sustainability companies.  Based in San Francisco, the firm’s strategy is to capitalize on major economic, social and political trends shaping the landscape of consumer health, well-being and sustainable living. Physic Ventures invests in disruptive, category-creating businesses where scientific and technological innovations are coming to consumer markets. For more information, please visit www.physicventures.com.

About Edelman
Edelman is the world’s largest independent public relations firm, with wholly owned offices in 54 cities and 4,000 employees worldwide. Edelman was named Advertising Age’s top-ranked PR firm of the decade and one of its “2010 A-List Agencies” and “2010 Best Places to Work;” PRWeek’s “2011 Large PR Agency of the Year;” European Excellence Awards’ “2010 Agency of the Year;” Holmes Report’s “Agency of the Decade” and “2009 Asia Pacific Consultancy of the Year;” and among Glassdoor’s top five “2011 Best Places to Work.” Edelman owns specialty firms Blue (advertising), StrategyOne (research), Ruth (integrated marketing), DJE Science (medical education/publishing and science communications), and MATTER (sports, sponsorship, and entertainment). Visit http://www.edelman.com for more information.