Every day, Global University Venturing rounds up the smaller investments from across the university innovation ecosystem in its deal net.
Optimind, a Japan-based travel optimisation software spinout of Nagoya University, has secured ¥1.01bn ($9.3m) in a funding round led by automotive manufacturer Toyota. The round included MTG Ventures and KDDI Open Innovation Fund III, which invest on behalf of digital entertainment provider Modern Times Group and telecommunications company KDDI respectively, as well as an unnamed fourth backer. It will put the cash toward product development, marketing and increasing its staff numbers.
Pepticom, an Israel-based automated peptide drug discovery spinout of Hebrew University of Jerusalem, has collected $5m in series A funding from investment firm Chartered Group. Founded in 2011, the company claims its artificial intelligence-driven platform for discovering peptides has greater molecular screening capacity than competing products, helping to uncover new peptide-based drug candidates faster and at lower cost. Chartered Group’s investment will help refine the technology’s performance by introducing new AI models as Pepticom aims to continue its development trajectory.
KA Imaging, a Canada-based multi-spectral X-ray imaging technology spinout of University of Waterloo, has closed a series A round in the multi-million Canadian dollar (C$1m = $765,000) range led by an unnamed international strategic investor. The company is working on a digital panel for chest X-rays to improve the accuracy and cost-efficiency of lung cancer diagnoses. KA Imaging will use the funding to augment its operation with additional skilled workers in a bid to accelerate pre-commercial development. It previously claimed a share of $375,000 invested by commercialisation unit Fight Against Cancer Innovation Trust’s (Facit’s) Prospects Oncology Fund in mid-2017.
3D Printing Corporation, a Japan-based developer of business-to-business-oriented 3D printing products, has raised ¥130m ($1.2m) in series A funding from Tokyo Institute of Technology’s Innovations and Future Creation fund and Yamanashi New Business Support Investment Business. The capital will enable the opening of a factory capable of handling the full range of 3D printing needs, from prototypes to mass production, and will allow the company to hire additional staff and drive commercial partnerships.
