Every day, Global University Venturing rounds up the smaller investments from across the university innovation ecosystem in its deal net.
Deepcell, a US-based developer of an artificial intelligence-powered platform for single cell classification and isolation for basic and translational research, closed a $73m series B round yesterday led by Koch Disruptive Technologies, an investment subsidiary of chemicals and energy conglomerate Koch Industries. The round also included Bridger Healthcare, Horizons Ventures, Casdin Capital, Andreessen Horowitz, Bow Capital and private investors Jeff Dean and Matt Mcllwain. Deepcell, spun out of Stanford University, previously collected $20m in a series A round in late 2020 featuring the institution.
Kither Biotech, an Italy-based biopharmaceutical company focused on rare respiratory diseases, has collected €18.5m ($20.5m) in a series B round co-led by Claris Ventures and 2 Invest, with participation from 3B Future Health Fund, Alef 6, Cassa Depositi e Prestiti’s CDP Venture Capital unit, Italian Angels for Growth, Ersel, Club degli Investitori and ACE Venture. Kither was spun out of University of Turin and University of Eastern Piedmont Amedeo Avogadro’s Novara campus. The spinout previously raised $6.3m in its series A round in 2019.
Volta Labs, a US-based bioautomation technology developer focused on upstream workflows in genomic sequencing, launched yesterday with a $20m series A round backed by E14 Fund, the investment vehicle aimed at companies emerging out of Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Media Lab. The round was led by Maverick Ventures and also included Khosla Ventures, Casdin Capital, Blindspot Ventures and assorted angel investors such as John Stuelpnagel, co-founder of genomics company Illumina. Volta has raised more than $25m to date, it said.
Apollo Neuro, a US-based consumer health technology spinout of University of Pittsburgh, has completed a $15m series A round led by Noetic Fund at a valuation of more than $100m.
KayoThera, a US-based cancer immunotherapies developer spun out of Princeton University, closed an $8m series A round on Wednesday led by Accelerator Life Science Partners, with participation from BioAdvance and 7G Bioventures. KayoThera’s lead asset is aimed at late-stage and metastatic cancers.
Arima Genomics, a US-based 3D genomics technology developer, has raised $7m in series B funding from investors including Berkeley Catalyst Fund, a vehicle for University of California (UC), Berkeley, as well as precision oncology platform developer Genetron Health, scientific instrument manufacturer Agilent Technologies, Tech Coast Angels, Ladder Ventures, Hiaqua Investments, Co-win Ventures and Vectr Ventures.
Aptatek BioSciences, a US-based developer of in-home health monitoring technology for chronic disease patients, closed a $4m seed round featuring in-vitro diagnostics test producer Canterbury Scientific yesterday. IP Group led the round, which was additionally backed by National PKU Alliance.
Scewo, a Switzerland-based wheelchair developer spun out of ETH Zurich, has raised CHF3m ($3.2m) in funding from undisclosed investors, VentureLab has reported. Scewo has created a wheelchair that is able to travel up and down stairs. Scewo previously raised $9.2m in a series A round in September 2021, with Verve Ventures, Wingman Ventures, Zürcher Kantonalbank, Boundary Holding, private investor Willi Miesch and unnamed others all invested.
Trellis Data, an Australia-based machine learning technology developer, has raised $2.5m in a seed round featuring Main Sequence Ventures, the venture capital firm set up by CSIRO, according to Fortune. The round was led by Ultratech Capital Partners, the US investment arm of Damazein Family Office.
Me&, an Australia-based human milk products developer for babies, has raised $2.5m in a seed round co-led by Main Sequence Ventures, the venture capital firm established by CSIRO, and Horizons Ventures.
WearOptimo, an Australia-based precision medicine spinout of Australian National University, has picked up a multi-million dollar investment from outsourced healthcare provider Aspen Medical as part of a strategic partnership agreement. The spinout was founded in 2018 but does not appear to have disclosed any other equity funding.
Nimble Diagnostics, a Spain-based developer of a microwave-based device to monitor stents, has been spun out of Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute, Technical University of Catalonia – BarcelonaTech and University of Barcelona. Nimble’s technology enables the detection of potential heart conditions non-invasively, allowing doctors to intervene before serious complications arise.
– Additional reporting by Robert Lavine
