Every day, Global University Venturing rounds up investments from across the university innovation ecosystem in its deal net.
Emesent, an Australia-based autonomous drone navigation technology and analytics spinout of research institute CSIRO, has collected $23m in a funding round backed by CSIRO-founded deeptech venture capital firm Main Sequence Ventures, the Australian Financial Review reported today. The round was led by Perennial Partners and also included Telus Ventures, the corporate venturing arm of telecommunications firm Telus, Tiger Global Management and Archangel Ventures. The money will allow Emesent to hire a sales team in Denver, US, open a UK office, double the number of engineers and build a new manufacturing, calibration and testing facility in Australia. Emesent previously secured an undisclosed sum from In-Q-Tel in 2020, following a $2.5m round backed by Main Sequence Ventures in 2018.
Day Zero Diagnostics, a US-based infectious disease diagnostics spinout of Harvard University, has closed a $21m funding round led by Sands Capital, with participation from medical devices manufacturer Becton, Dickinson and Company (also known as BD), Panacea Venture, Hongkou Capital, Triventures and Golden Seeds. Day Zero has now secured more than $33m in equity financing altogether, it said. The spinout had previously obtained $2.5m in a May 2017 round, according to a regulatory filing. Triventures led an $8.6m series A round in January 2019, with support from Sands Capital and Golden Seeds – with the latter two n identified as returning investors.
Yaak, a Germany-based driver coaching platform, has raised €7.3m ($8.3m) in a funding round backed by PreSeed Ventures, the venture capital subsidiary of Technical University of Denmark (DTU), Tech.eu reported yesterday. The round was co-led by Maki.vc and First Fellow Partners. PreSeed Ventures invested an undisclosed sum in March 2021 in return for a stake of 10% to 15%, according to securities filings.
Tympa Health Technologies, a UK-based digital health technology developer specialising in hearing health assessments, closed an $8m seed round yesterday backed by KHP MedTech Innovations, a collaboration between King’s College London, Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Trust, and King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. The round was co-led by private investors Maurice Ferre and Arjun Desai, with participation from additional angel investors. Tympa is a spinout of the National Health Service, founded by ear, nose and throat surgeon Dr Krishan Ramdoo, who now serves as chief executive.
Nexxiot, a Switzerland-based cargo tracking technology spinout of ETH Zurich, has secured an undisclosed sum from media group Bertelsmann’s Arvato Financial Solutions subsidiary. Nexxiot had raised approximately $75m in funding altogether as of June 2021, when it procured $25m from investment firm QVIDTUM.
Vividye, a Sweden-based textile printing technology developer spun out of Chalmers University of Technology, has completed its inaugural funding round with SEK4.1m ($440,000) from Chalmers Ventures, the institution’s venture and incubation arm, together with Almi Invest, Yuncture Invest, Daremont Invest and private investor Louise Lundin. Chalmers Ventures was identified as a returning shareholder, but further details could not be confirmed.
Sienza Energy, a US-based lithium battery technology developer spun out of California Institute of Technology (Caltech), has received an undisclosed amount of series A financing from private investor Patrick Soon-Shiong. The investment will form part of a larger, planned series A round but Sienza has not offered further details. The spinout previously picked up an undisclosed amount from Kairos Ventures in January 2018.
– Additional reporting by Robert Lavine
