Sergey Brin Sparked a Political War to Influence California

Eliyahu Kamisher reports on the latest in the California's race for governor and Sergey Brin's role. It was late in the evening at a Christmas party hosted by crypto titan Chris Larsen — featuring singer Janelle Monáe and a towering abominable snowman with glowing red eyes — when Brin and his partner, Gerelyn Gilbert-Soto, confronted Newsom about a new proposal to tax billionaires in California, according to people who’ve spoken with the governor. Such a levy could hit Brin’s stake in Alphabet Inc. and his $272.6 billion fortune.

Newsom, who opposes the wealth tax, was still telling people about the lengthy exchange at the party months later, complaining of a lingering cold the pair had given him, according to the people, who asked not to be named discussing private conversations with the governor. A brain-health venture capital fund backed by Google co-founder Sergey Brin has closed up shop and been folded into his family office, according to people familiar with the matter.

Brin’s Bayshore Global Management has taken over Nexus NeuroTech Ventures and absorbed the fund’s investments, said the people, who weren’t authorized to speak publicly. Nexus managed over $200 million, according to regulatory filings.

“Through a recent acquisition, Nexus NeuroTech Ventures has concluded its operations,” Jordi Parramon, who was the firm’s chief executive officer, wrote on LinkedIn. It shut down as of March 31, according to its website.

Sergey Brin

Nexus had 15 companies in its portfolio, Parramon wrote. They will join Bayshore’s portfolio of investments, the people said.

Bayshore didn’t respond to a request for comment. Parramon declined to comment beyond his LinkedIn post.

The organizational change brings the fund’s assets closer to Brin, who’s the world’s fourth-richest person with a net worth of $269 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.

Brin, 52, has been funding brain science for decades, including research into Parkinson’s disease, autism and bipolar disorder. Parkinson’s in particular has been a key philanthropic focus, with Brin giving at least $1.75 billion to better understand the condition, Forbes reported. His mother had Parkinson’s, and Brin has said his genetics put him at higher risk for the disease.

While Brin’s interest in the brain is longstanding, the field has gotten a boost in recent years from several of the world’s wealthiest and most powerful people. Elon Musk, Sam Altman, Jeff Bezos, Bill Gates, Eric Schmidt and Ken Griffin have all supported companies or nonprofits developing brain technology, including tools that read or stimulate brain activity.

Nexus focused on technology companies developing therapies to treat nervous system disorders, such as a wristband that reduces hand tremors and an ultrasound transmitter that modifies brain activity.

Brin backed Nexus, as well as other venture funds, through his nonprofit Catalyst4. A 2024 tax filing showed that Catalyst4 owned about 95% of multiple Nexus investment vehicles. It also reported full ownership of Homecoming Capital, an investment firm focused on zero-emission infrastructure, and controlled of about 75% of two funds at the Column Group, a biotech VC firm.

He started the nonprofit five years ago with a dual purpose of funding research into climate-change solutions and central nervous system diseases, which it has done through investments in companies and venture capital funds.

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