Every day, Global University Venturing rounds up the smaller investments from across the university innovation ecosystem in its deal net.
Ambi Robotics, a US-based picking robots technology developer spun out of University of California, Berkeley, has emerged from stealth with $6.1m in seed financing co-led by the university-backed House Fund, Bow Capital and Vertex Ventures. Ambi Robotics was originally known as Ambidextrous and is based on work by co-founder Ken Goldberg, a professor in the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences.
PBD Biotech, a UK-based developer of a diagnostic test for bovine tuberculosis spun out of University of Nottingham, has obtained £2.3m ($3.2m) in a round involving the institution. The round was led by the Midlands Engine Investment Fund, managed by Mercia and Foresight Group, the UK government-owned Future Fund and assorted private backers.
Tryeting, a Japan-based artificial intelligence technology developer spun out of Nagoya University, has received ¥350m ($3.2m) from investors including TFHD Open Innovation Program, a vehicle for rail operator Tokyu Group’s Tokyu Land Corporation subsidiary, in connection with a strategic partnership. The round also featured angel investors and debt financing from Mitsubishi UFJ Bank. It followed $2.8m in series A funding from corporate backers Toyoda Gosei, Japan Material Technologies Corporation and Tokai Tokyo Investment in August 2019 and an undisclosed sum from Aigin Future Creation Fund two months later.
Caristo Diagnostics, a UK-based cardiovascular imaging software spinout of University of Oxford, has received a multi-million British pound sterling (£1m = $1.4m) investment led by BGF, with participation from university venture fund Oxford Sciences Innovation (OSI), Longwall Ventures and Oxford Technology & Innovation Fund. Caristo will use the cash to roll out its artificial intelligence-based cardiovascular risk prediction technology called Cari Heart. The spinout raised $2.6m from OSI, Longwall and Oxford Technology in 2018.
JiMed, a Japan-based developer of an implantable brain-machine interface for ALS patients, has collected ¥150m ($1.4m) in funding from Osaka University Venture Capital, the investment arm of Osaka University. JiMed is a spinout of the instutition.
Immunosens, a Japan-based immunosensor device developer spun out of Osaka University, has secured ¥130m ($1.2m) from Osaka University Venture Capital (OUVC), the institution’s investment arm, and advanced medical equipment provider Mehergen. OUVC previously supplied $1.4m in 2019.
Kinetix, a France-based developer of a platform to convert videos into 3D animations, has collected an undisclosed amount of capital from French Tech Seed. The Satt Paris-Saclay-founded spinout previously obtained €500,000 ($600,000) in financing from Entrepreneur First and assorted private investors in January 2021.
Komham, a Japan-based waste treatment technology developer, has secured ¥50m ($453,000) from Ritsumeikan Social Impact Fund, a vehicle for Ritsumeikan Trust, which operates Ritsumeikan University and primary and secondary schools.
Saezuri, a Japan-based professional gamers’ career design company, has collected ¥1m ($9,000) in funding from I, a vehicle for Japan Electronics College. The deal represents I’s first investment.
Metcela, a Japan-based heart failure therapy developer spun out of Keio University, has secured an undisclosed amount of series B funding from Eight Roads Ventures Japan and F-Prime Capital, two subsidiaries of investment and financial services group Fidelity. It had raised $20.9m as of January this year, when its series B round stood at $12.7m, the cash coming from University of Tokyo Edge Capital Partners, pharmaceutical firm Alfresa, insurer Dai-ichi Life, electronics producer Sony’s Innovation Fund, cardiovascular equipment maker Japan Lifeline, KSP, Makoto Capital and Tsukuba Exceed Fund.
Impulse Biomedical, a South Africa-based medical device spinout of University of Cape Town, has secured an undisclosed amount from Futuregrowth. Impulse Biomedical is working on Zibipen, an alternative to the common Epipen that is used to treat anaphylaxis. The spinout is aiming to make the device affordable and its pen allows the cartridge to be replaced rather than requiring the entire device to be discarded every year.
Bacchus Bioinnovation, a Japan-based microorganism biotechnology developer spun out of Kobe University, has pocketed an undisclosed amount from pharmaceutical firm Rohto Pharmaceutical. Founded in March 2020, Bacchus aims to create a so-called bio-foundry that will develop innovative products from living organisms.
– Additional reporting by Liwen-Edison Fu and Robert Lavine
