The Global University Venturing deal net rounds up the smaller investments from across the university innovation ecosystem.
Celsius, a US-based cancer and autoimmune disease drug developer, has pocketed $83m in a funding round led by Casdin Capital and backed by founding investor Third Rock Ventures. The round included technology group Alphabet’s GV unit, medical care provider Heritage Provider Network and pharmaceutical firm Amgen’s corporate venturing arm Amgen Ventures. Life sciences-focused real estate investment trust Alexandria Real Estate Equities took part through Alexandria Venture Investments, while Amplitude Ventures, Catalio Capital, Co-Win Ventures, Fast Track Initiative, Section 32 and unnamed institutional investors also took part. Celsius was launched by Third Rock Ventures to commercialise research originating at University of California (UC), San Francisco, Harvard University, Johns Hopkins University and Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University. Celsius previously raised $65m in series A financing in 2018.
EneCoat, a Japan-based perovskite solar cell developer, has raised ¥1.59bn ($12.9m) in a series B round backed by Kyoto University Innovation Capital, on behalf of Kyoto University. The round was led by Sparx Asset Management’s Mirai Creation Fund, and also included KDDI Green Partners Fund, Nikon-SBI Innovation Fund, JMTC Capital, Chushin Venture Capital, Kyogin Lease & Capital, Kyoto Shinkin Social Capital, Mitsubishi UFJ Capital, SMBC Venture Capital and Senshu Ikeda Capital, subsidiaries of telecommunications group KDDI, optical technology developer Nikon, fabless functional material manufacturer Japan Material Technologies Corporation Group, financial services firms Kyoto Chuo Shinkin Bank, Bank of Kyoto, Kyoto Shinkin Bank, Mitsubishi UFJ, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation and Senshu Ikeda Bank. Clutch maker FCC, electronic connector manufacturer Hosiden and ceramic insulator provider NGK Insulators joined Monozukuri Ventures and Future Venture Capital along with two unnamed companies to fill out the participants in the round.
Susten Capital Management, a Japan-based internet asset management services developer, has received ¥1.5bn ($12m) from Tokyo University of Science’s Innovation Capital unit, accounting software provider Money Forward and VC firm Now.
Sano Genetics, a UK-based personalised medicine spinout of University of Cambridge, raised $11m in a series A round led by MMC Ventures yesterday. The round included Episode 1, Seedcamp and assorted angel investors. Tech transfer office Cambridge Enterprise last invested as part of a $3.3m seed round in January 2021.
Purec, a Japan-based cellular medicine developer spun out of Shimane University, has raised ¥700m ($5.7m) from Stanford University professor Hiromitsu Nakauchi as well as pharmaceutical firm Mochida Pharmaceutical, financial services firm San-in Godo Bank and private equity group Gogin Capital, taking its overall funding to ¥1.37bn ($11.1m).
Phantom Neuro, a US-based spinout of Johns Hopkins University developing a system to help control robotic limbs, has obtained $3.3m in seed funding led by LionBird Ventures, according to Axios. The round included Draper Associates, Blackrock Neurotech, Breakout Ventures and Capital Factory. Phantom Nero’s technology was created by Nitish Thakor, professor of biomedical engineering, and Sami Tuffaha, assistant professor of plastic and reconstructive surgery, who joined forces with Jaimie Shores, director of the Hand and Arm Transplant Program at Johns Hopkins Comprehensive Transplant Center. Shores is an investor in the company, Axios said, but details about the timing or amount were not disclosed.
Pixel Photonics, a Germany-based quantum computing technology spinout of University of Münster, picked up €1.45m ($1.6m) in a seed round today backed by High-Tech Gründerfonds, Quantonation and private investor Henrik Sabert.
Tyfast Energy, a US-based long-life fast-charging lithium battery technology spinout of University of California (UC), San Diego, has raised $1m in a funding round led by minerals producer Neometals, which injected $500,000. The investment was made in the form of a convertible note and the remaining backers were not identified.
Revatis, a Belgium-based regenerative medicine spinout of University of Liège, has raised €800,000 ($880,000) in funding from unnamed investors. The spinout previously obtained $1.2m from Noshaq SpinOff, Be Angels, private investors and unnamed existing backers in September 2020.
Microtube Technologies, a Singapore-based wearable sensing technology spinout from National University of Singapore, has closed a S$1.1m ($810,000) seed round led by Orin Greenwillow Technology Fund. The spinout has created soft, stretchable sensing technologies that can be integrated into wearable controllers for gaming, fitness, healthcare, training and augmented reality applications.
Sentinel Fertigation, a US-based developer of technology to improve nitrogen fertilisation in agriculture based on work originating at University of Nebraska-Lincoln, has received $25,000 from Husker Venture Fund, a student-led venture fund at the institution. Sentinel Fertigation aims to commercialise the work of founder Jackson Stansell, a doctoral candidate at the university. It marks the first investment for Husker Venture Fund.
– Additional reporting by Edison Fu
