Deal net: December 18 to 31, 2020

Bodle Technologies, a UK-based display technology spinout of University of Oxford, has raised a series A extension of undisclosed size led by Oxford Sciences Innovation (OSI), the venture capital fund affiliated to University of Oxford, with support from UK government investment vehicle Future Fund. Parkwalk Advisors led the initial $8.5m series A tranche in 2018 with contributions from OSI and Parkwalk Advisors, the fund management arm of commercialisation firm IP Group, as well as Woodford Patient Capital Trust – the spinout-focused investment fund now called Schroder UK Public Private Trust – and Oxford Technology and Innovations EIS Fund. The funding will go to developing Bodle’s solid-state reflective display, which emits highly-luminous colours and consumes no energy while a static image is being shown.
DJS Antibodies, a UK-based developer of antibody therapeutics for inflammatory disease based on research at University of Oxford, has attracted £6m ($8.4m) in funding co-led by LifeArc’s Seed Fund and Sedgwick Yard, with participation from university venture fund Oxford Sciences Innovation (OSI) and Amgen Ventures, the corporate venturing arm of pharmaceutical firm Amgen. The money will support the development of two assets, including one aimed at chronic kidney disease. It will also drive further platform development. OSI was identified as a returning backer, though details about its previous commitment could not be confirmed.
Coagulo Medical Technologies, a US-based blood coagulation therapy producer allied to Massachusetts Institute of Technology, has received $6.5m in funding from 20/20 HealthCare Partners, Sands Capital, Good Growth Capital, IAG Capital Partners and undisclosed private investors. The company is commercialising a point-of-care diagnostics device that is able to quantify the patient’s blood clotting within 10 minutes from a simple blood draw. The funding will help accelerate its R&D schedule.
Epsilon Molecular Engineering, a Japan-based drug discovery company situated at Saitama University, has closed a ¥570m ($5.5m) series A round with a second tranche featuring Japanese government-run investment unit Gunma Medical Engineering Vitalization Investments, chemical and cosmetics producer Kao Corporation and regional financial services company Gunma Bank. The tranche also includes debt from Shoko Chukin Bank and Saitama Resona Bank, and a lease from Syutoken leasing, and follows the initial close led by Mitsubishi UFJ Capital, the investment arm of financial services firm Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, with participation from Real Tech Fund.
Dive Technologies, a US-based subsea robotics developer that is collaborating with Virginia Tech, has raised $4m in a round involving Virginia Tech Carilion Innovation Fund, a VC partnership between Virginia Tech Foundation and healthcare provider Carilion Clinic. The deal was led by Tanis Venture Management and also included Mill Town Capital, Cavalier Angels and Charlottesville Angel Network. The $4m also included venture debt financing from state development agency MassDevelopment’s Emerging Technology Fund. Dive will use the funding to drive sales growth next year through geographical expansion and commercial partnerships.
Zhouzi Weilai, a China-based cell cultured meat manufacturer spun out of Nanjing Agricultural University, has received RMB20m ($2.9m) in funding from venture capital firm Matrix Partners China, according to KrAsia. The company is helmed by Zhou Guanghong, a professor at Nanjing Agricultural University’s College of Food Science and Technology.
Heru, a US-based vision diagnostics and augmentation software developer spun out of Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, has closed a $2.7m seed round co-led by angel investors Maurice Ferre and Frederic Moll that included undisclosed additional investors. Founded in 2018, Heru has built a cloud-based artificial intelligence software platform intended to help ophthalmologists identify visual defects. Patients take a field test while wearing Heru’s virtual and augmented reality-powered head visor to evaluate their visual acuity. The funding will go to clinical trials of Heru’s technology ahead of a regulatory submission in the US and subsequent commercialisation activities.
N5 Sensors, a US-based low-power sensor technology developer, has received over $1m in a round backed by University System of Maryland’s early-stage VC unit Maryland Momentum Fund and VC firm Blu Venture Investors, according to India Education Diary. N5 has devised a chip that combines eight distinct gas sensor capabilities, and which functions in various climates and terrains. The sensor is intended to be installed in devices such as wearables, smart-home appliances and military field equipment. N5 has now raised more than $4m in equity and non-dilutive funding to date. It will use the latest proceeds to launch a wearable chemical threat sensor called ChemBadge, and to build out its sales and marketing capacity.
Gilytics, a Switzerland-based infrastructure engineering design software producer spun out of ETH Zurich, has closed a CHF1m ($1m) seed round co-led by public-private partnership High-Tech Gründerfonds and venture funding platform Swiss Startup Group. Venture funding platform Swiss Startup Group took part in the round alongside unnamed angel investors. Gilytics has developed cloud-based software that automatically processes detailed geographical information to chart an efficient route for infrastructure projects such as electricity wires or railways, aiming to reduce costs and the environmental impact. The funding will go to enhancing Gilytics’ product offering.
SAIA, a Netherlands-based greenhouse agriculture robotics spinout of Wageningen University & Research, has raised an undisclosed sum from multi-university venture fund Shift Invest. The spinout is also backed by regional business promotion board Oost NL and venture fund Innovation Industries.
SudX-Biotec, a Japan-based virus detection technology developer spun out of Kagoshima University, has raised an undisclosed sum from Real Tech Fund, an investment partnership formed by biofuel supplier Euglena, research firm Leave a Nest and investment firm SMBC Nikko.
RunEasi, a Belgium-based athlete body sensor producer, has been spun out of KU Leuven with support from the university’s seed vehicle Gemma Frisius Fund and Freshmen Investment Fund. RunEasi has developed a mobile app to collect sensor feedback from athletes via a belt-affixed connected device that monitors their lower back. The product is expected to launch next month.
Cashmere Circle, a UK-based cashmere garment recycling business, has been launched by Edinburgh Innovations, the tech transfer company for University of Edinburgh, according to Knitting Industry. Cashmere Circle is currently looking to raise seed funding but did not provide further details. The company’s founding team includes Ross Powell, a University of Edinburgh graduate specialised in action against climate change and the circular economy.