Every day, Global University Venturing rounds up the smaller investments from across the university innovation ecosystem in its deal net.
Poro Technologies (Porotech), a UK-based materials technology spinout of University of Cambridge, completed a £1.5m ($1.9m) seed round co-led by university tech transfer office Cambridge Enterprise on Tuesday. Venture firm IQ Capital Partners co-led the round with contributions from Martlet, the investment arm of transport, aviation and defence technology supplier Marshall of Cambridge, as well as angel investors from Cambridge Angels and Cambridge Capital Group. Porotech produces porous electronic semiconductors using a composite material dubbed GaN that it claims provides enhanced functionality and flexibility.
MindNest Health, a US-based digital health spinout of Yale University focused on treating developmental disorders such as autism, has received $300,000 in a seed round featuring state government-backed venture unit Connecticut Innovations. The round was filled out by NeuroNetworks Fund, a venture fund focused on autism, epilepsy and schizophrenia. MindNest will put the funding into beta testing its service, which provides digital-based tools that assist parents of children with its target indications. The spinout was founded by David Grodberg, a medical director at Yale’s Child Study Center.
Nordetect, a Denmark-based chemical assaying device, has completed a round of undisclosed size featuring PreSeed Ventures, the venture firm owned by Technical University of Denmark. The round featured Rockstart, SOSV and Luminate Venture. Founded in 2016, Nordetect supplies farmers with a nanosensor and GPS-powered device to facilitate biochemistry analysis of their land, helping to establish soil fertility. The funding will go to product development ahead of planned launches for Denmark and the Netherlands.
