Participated · Series B · Nov 2021

New View Surgical develops the VisionPort™ System, a disposable surgical imaging and access device that combines multiple imaging and access functions into a single instrument for minimally invasive laparoscopic procedures. The VisionPort is designed to reduce the need for a separate camera port and camera holder and can eliminate the need for a separate team member to manage a laparoscope. The system is intended for a broad range of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures within the thoracic and abdominal cavities and is adaptable to a variety of surgical environments. The company says the device can lower capital and recurring equipment costs and make minimally invasive surgery more accessible in emerging markets. To fund commercialization and a limited market release, New View closed a $12.1M Series B-1 equity financing. The company expects to launch the VisionPort in the US before the end of 2022. New View Surgical is an emerging medical device company commercializing the VisionPort™ System, a novel imaging and access platform that combines multiple imaging and access devices into one disposable unit. The VisionPort System simplifies laparoscopic procedures by reducing the need for a separate camera port and camera holder and enables multiple simultaneous views of the operative field. The device is intended for a broad range of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures within the thoracic and abdominal cavities and is adaptable to a variety of surgical environments. In emerging markets the system is designed to reduce the capital-intensive equipment currently required for minimally invasive surgery, increasing accessibility. The company received FDA clearance for the VisionPort System in June and has initiated steps for initial market release. New View Surgical recently closed a $9M Series B to fund that market release and has expanded its board as it commercializes the platform. New View Surgical is an emerging medical device company developing proprietary imaging and access technologies for minimally invasive surgery. Its initial product, the VisionPort System, is a novel surgical imaging and access system that aims to simplify laparoscopic procedures by reducing the need for a separate camera port and camera holder and by allowing multiple simultaneous views of the operative field. The VisionPort combines multiple imaging and access devices into a single, easy-to-use disposable device that the company says will deliver clinical and economic advantages. New View will use the $2.5 million Series A to complete development of the VisionPort System, expand its intellectual property portfolio, and submit a 510(k) filing with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The company says the device can reduce capital equipment needs in emerging markets, increase access to minimally invasive techniques, and improve operating room efficiency for surgeons and hospitals.

Led · Seed · May 2021

Veriskin develops TruScore, a proprietary, non-invasive hand-held device that combines active perturbative hemodynamic measurements with a proprietary machine-learning algorithm to detect structural and functional vascular abnormalities associated with skin cancer. The device works on both pigmented and non-pigmented lesions and produces a quantitative score; IRB-approved clinical studies in California and Arizona demonstrated sensitivity greater than 99% and specificity of 94% in a set of 125 biopsy-verified lesions. Veriskin has completed two clinical studies and is initiating a third to prepare the clinical trial needed to obtain FDA approval; TruScore received FDA Breakthrough Device Designation in July 2020 and remains investigational and not available for sale. Development has been supported by multiple National Cancer Institute grants totaling $3.9 million (with opportunities for additional funding) alongside private seed capital. The company recently raised over $1M in a seed round co-led by Pasadena Angels and Ariel Savannah Angel Partners, with participation from Frontier Angels and TiE SoCal Angels. Veriskin is headquartered in San Diego and is led by CEO Mirianas Chachisvilis, PhD, with team members across the United States, United Kingdom and Germany.

Participated · Seed · May 2021

Mill It is a plant-based food company that makes dairy alternative products from ancient grains. Using a proprietary fermentation method, the company developed what it describes as the first plant-based buttermilk. It plans to use that buttermilk to create several new plant-based products and offerings, including salad dressings. The product focus centers on leveraging ancient grains and its fermentation process to create dairy-alternative ingredients. Financially, Mill It recently raised a $765,000 Series Seed round led by Kern Venture Group. Investors in the round included Ariel Savannah Angel Partners and participants from the Santa Barbara Angel Alliance and Tech Coast Angels.

Participated · Series A · Sep 2019

Zylö Therapeutics has developed the Z-pod® technology, a topical delivery platform intended to extend duration of effect, improve targeting, and enhance performance of therapeutic and cosmetic agents. The Z-pod® platform can be adapted to provide sustained topical delivery of nitric oxide for multiple therapeutic indications. The company reports progress on product candidates including an erectile dysfunction program and a cutaneous lupus program, and seeks partners to conduct human studies for applications such as aging, hyperpigmentation, acne, and diabetic foot ulcers. Proceeds from the Series B financing will be used to complete high value-add internal research projects, scale up manufacturing of Z-pod® particles, and fully implement ISO-9001 and cGMP quality systems. Zylö says the funds will extend its runway and hedge against recession risk over the next two years. The company is based in Greenville, SC. Zylö Therapeutics has developed the Z-pod™ topical delivery platform and a proprietary nitric-oxide-releasing topical drug candidate aimed at treating erectile dysfunction. The company was awarded a $1.7M Phase II SBIR grant from the NIH (NIDDK) to advance the program into human trials. Planned uses of the funds include scale-up of manufacturing, implementation of a cGMP quality system, required toxicity testing for an IND, and a pre-IND meeting with the FDA. In a Phase I award (~$225,000), Zylö reported compelling results in a radical prostatectomy rat model: a single topical application produced an average of 2.0 erections in 60 minutes, and pre-dosing with a 1/10th human-equivalent dose of sildenafil increased erections to 4.6 and halved time-to-initial-erection. If approved, the candidate would target men with ED after radical prostatectomy and men with age-related ED who do not respond to or cannot take PDE5 inhibitors; Zylö cites a U.S. addressable market of over $2 billion per year. The company also highlights potential broader applications of the Z-pod™ technology such as wound healing, atopic dermatitis, gingivitis, and sports recovery.

Participated · Series B · Sep 2015

Cognition Therapeutics uses disease-relevant screening and novel chemistry platform approaches to produce a pipeline of new small-molecule drug candidates targeting protein misfolding diseases of the nervous system. Its lead clinical candidate is a highly brain-penetrant, orally bioavailable small-molecule receptor antagonist that blocks memory deficits in Alzheimer’s disease models. The company is led by CEO Dr. Hank Safferstein. Cognition completed a $12M Series B financing to support its programs. The proceeds will be used to advance its lead Alzheimer’s program into Phase 1 clinical studies by the end of 2015. The company is based in Pittsburgh, PA. Cognition Therapeutics is a drug discovery company developing disease-modifying therapies for central nervous system disorders, with a focus on Alzheimer’s disease. The company uses proprietary, biologically-relevant screening technology across biology and chemistry platforms to discover novel drug targets. Its platforms have produced compounds that selectively block soluble Abeta oligomer–induced toxicity on synapses without affecting normal Abeta expression or function. Mechanism-of-action studies have revealed strategies to target receptors and pathways central to Alzheimer’s pathology. The company was founded in 2007 and is led by CEO Hank Safferstein, Ph.D., J.D. Financially, Cognition Therapeutics has received multiple financings, including a recent $138K funding commitment and prior Series A1 financing. Cognition Therapeutics is a Pittsburgh-based drug discovery company focused on novel small molecules intended to block the central toxicity of proteins in Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases. The company has developed multiple screening strategies to identify candidate compounds that target disease pathways. Led by President and CEO Hank Safferstein, Ph.D., J.D., Cognition aims to advance its lead compounds toward Investigational New Drug (IND) candidate status. Financially, the company recently closed a $2.5M Series A1 financing comprised of new investment and conversion of convertible debt. The proceeds are earmarked to bring compounds to IND-candidate readiness. In conjunction with the financing, Dr. Nada Jain of Golden Seeds and Mark Breedlove of Keystone Profiles joined the company’s board of directors. Cognition Therapeutics focuses on detecting Abeta proteins implicated in Alzheimer’s and developing molecules to block their harmful effects. The company is developing tests to identify those proteins and therapeutic molecules intended to stop or reverse Alzheimer’s-related degeneration. Cognition says its discoveries could also be applied to other neurodegenerative diseases. The underlying advancements are licensed from California State University Channel Islands. Cognition moved to Pittsburgh about two years ago from California. The company has raised $1.2 million in a Series A to further study its tests and treatments.