Every day, Global University Venturing rounds up investments from across the university innovation ecosystem in its deal net.
PragmatIC Semiconductor, a UK-based flexible electronics manufacturer backed by patient capital fund Cambridge Innovation Capital (CIC), has pushed its series C round to more than $90m following a $5m extension provided by packaging producer Amcor. The company had previously disclosed $80m in series C financing in October 2021 and it is unclear when or from whom it secured the remaining cash.
Prophecy, a US-based enterprise low-code data engineering platform, has picked up $25m in a series A round involving University of California, Berkeley’s accelerator programme Berkeley SkyDeck. Insight Partners led the round, which also included SignalFire and Dig Ventures. SignalFire and Ross Mason supplied nearly $6.8m in seed funding in February 2021, and Berkeley SkyDeck was also identified as a seed investor as part of the series A announcement.
Crowdbotics, a US-based low-code app development platform, has secured $22m in a series A round featuring the University of California, Berkeley-aligned House Fund. Jackson Square Ventures led the round, while Pacific West Bank, Homebrew, Harrison Metal and Bee Partners. The company previously raised $6m in seed funding from the House Fund, Homebrew, Harrison Metal and Bee Partners, but further details could not be ascertained. Crowdbotics also identified angel investors James Tamplin, Ryan Petersen, Scott Belsky and Mark Ayzenshtat as early investors but did not say when or how much they have put into the business.
Ineratec, a Germany-based synthetic fuel technology developer based on research at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, has closed at least $20m in series A financing from investors including the university. The round also attracted aerospace company Safran’s Safran Corporate Ventures and energy utility Engie’s Engine New Ventures, as well as MPC Capital, Extantia, Planet A, High-Tech Gründerfonds and FO Holding.
Ionomr Innovations, a Canada-based developer of advanced materials for hydrogen energy applications spun out of Simon Fraser University, has completed a $15m series A round co-led by Shell Ventures, the corporate venturing arm of oil and gas company Shell, and Finidus, an investment company backed by steel manufacturer Arcel Mittal and the Flemish government. Chevron Technology Ventures, the investment arm of oil and gas company Chevron, Pallasite Ventures and NGIF Cleantech Ventures also contributed to the round. Pallasite had led a $3m seed round in December 2019.
Pathfinder Medical, a UK-based medical device company focused on vascular procedures based on research at Imperial College London, has procured £8.5m ($11.6m) in a funding round co-led by Parkwalk Advisors, the fund management subsidiary of commercialisation firm IP Group, and BGF, with participation from Deepbridge Capital and unnamed others. The spinout had raised nearly £3.1m altogether as of the end of 2020, its latest available accounts show.
Aegiq, a UK-based quantum photonics platform spun out of University of Sheffield, has raised £1.8m ($2.5m) in seed funding led by High-Tech Gründerfonds, with participation from Deepbridge Capital and assorted private investors. The investment constitutes a first close for the round and Aegiq has now raised £3.5m in funding altogether.
V2C, a Spain-based developer of chargers for electric vehicles, has closed its inaugural round at €1m ($1.1m) featuring Tech Transfer UPV, the university venturing fund for Universitat Politècnica de València, and venture capital firm Easo Ventures, according to El Economista.
– Additional reporting by Robert Lavine.
