Led · Series C · May 2018

AbSci unifies biologic drug discovery and development with a platform designed to reinvent the biopharmaceutical drug discovery process. The company pairs its patented SoluPro® E. coli expression system and Protein Printing™ platform with the Denovium Engine deep‑learning AI to create novel biotherapeutic candidates and the cell lines to manufacture them in a single workflow. In that workflow AbSci selects cell lines producing candidates with optimal target potency and affinity as well as high‑titer expression. The company specializes in next‑generation biologics built on complex protein scaffolds and is expanding core discovery capabilities, including non‑standard amino acid technologies. AbSci is led by founder and CEO Sean McClain and is based in Vancouver, Wash. The article does not disclose financial metrics or revenue. AbSci has developed Protein Printing™ technology that combines its E. coli SoluPro® platform with a synthetic biology workflow to generate high-diversity strain libraries and high-throughput screening assays. The company’s SoluPro™ expression platform is patented and designed to rapidly produce complex proteins including mAbs, Fabs, enzymes, hormones, peptides and emerging novel biotherapeutic classes. Led by founder and CEO Sean McClain, AbSci positions its technology for both discovery and scale-up of difficult-to-express biologics. The company has entered commercial arrangements to broaden market access and support industrialization of its platform. Financially, AbSci completed a financing package to support near-term commercial demand and expansion plans. The proceeds will be used to expand facilities and grow the team to meet commercial demand for its technology. AbSci is a developer of biomanufacturing technologies based in Vancouver, Wash., led by founder and CEO Sean McClain. The company has developed SoluPro™, a protein expression platform built on genetically engineered E. coli and plasmids that delivers titers of complex proteins ranging from full-length antibodies to insulin. AbSci serves large pharma and biosimilar partners and is scaling to meet their demand. The company completed a $12M Series C financing. It will use the funds to expand R&D and to scale up capacity to meet partner demand. As part of the financing, AGC Biologics’ President and CEO Dr. Gustavo Mahler will join AbSci’s board of directors. AbSci provides the SoluPro™ platform for soluble microbial protein expression, aimed at increasing yields and speeding drug discovery and manufacturing timelines. The platform is designed to enable higher protein yields in less time than current processes, which the company says will accelerate drug discovery, increase manufacturing efficiencies, and reduce costs for the biopharmaceutical industry. Led by founder and CEO Sean McClain, AbSci is targeting commercial production of insulin and other therapeutic proteins. The company secured funding to support further development and scale-up of SoluPro for commercial production. The Series A financing will support the company’s next-stage product and manufacturing work in Portland, Oregon.

Led · Series B · May 2018

Arevo develops high-speed continuous carbon-fiber composite additive manufacturing systems (Aqua 2) that combine robotics, software, and specialized composite materials. The company completed the world’s largest continuous carbon fiber composite additive manufacturing facility, hosting 70 shipping container-sized Aqua 2 systems and a range of post-processing capabilities. Its systems produce bicycle frames, sports equipment, automotive and aerospace parts, and architectural structures, and the company reports 76 cloud-connected systems operating across locations. Arevo holds over 80 patents and spent six years developing its core technology. With an initial focus on aerospace, defense, consumer electronics, transportation, and consumer goods, the company is positioning its platform for mass manufacturing and OEM services. Near-term product activity includes delivering Superstrata bikes and e-bikes, completing product engineering for Scotsman e-scooters, and launching a third consumer product; Arevo is also hiring engineers in the US and Vietnam. Arevo develops a platform for fabricating high-strength, low-weight carbon-fiber parts using large-scale 3D-printing processes and intends to sell parts rather than printers. The company demonstrated a proof of concept with its Superstrata 3D-printed bicycle and launched crowdfunding pre-orders. Arevo operates manufacturing facilities in Vietnam to prove scalability and already counts automotive and aerospace customers, including Airbus. Current production rates are about two frames per day per machine, with a next-generation system projected to reach about six frames per day. Sonny Vu took the CEO role after initially advising and providing bridge financing through his Alabaster vehicle, and the company has installed a new executive management team. Financially, Arevo closed a $25 million financing to support growth and previously raised $12.5 million in an earlier round led by Asahi Glass. Arevo develops software-controlled technology for direct digital additive manufacturing of ultra-strong composite parts, combining advanced composite materials, deposition technology, and software to optimize mechanical properties. The company offers additive manufacturing services to OEMs worldwide and targets industries including aerospace, defense, transportation, automotive, consumer electronics, sporting goods, medical, and oil and gas. Arevo intends to use new capital to accelerate mass commercialization and pursue full-scale commercialization of its technology across those industries. The company is led by newly named CEO Jim Miller and is based in Santa Clara, California. Arevo was founded in 2013 and has raised $19.5M to date. AREVO has developed an Additive Manufacturing (AM) solution for making ultra-strong, lightweight composite parts to replace metal parts for production applications. Its core technology relies on the synergy between software, advanced composite materials, composite deposition/process technology, and robotics to enable on-demand manufacturing of mass-customized, high-volume 3D-printed composite parts. AREVO offers additive manufacturing services to OEMs worldwide. The company says it has made steady progress in defense applications over the past year. AREVO is based in Silicon Valley, California. It announced a strategic investment and technology development agreement with In-Q-Tel to support further technology development aligned with U.S. government needs. AREVO builds a multi-axis robotic additive manufacturing platform, advanced composite materials and cloud-based software to enable production-grade 3D printing of composite parts. Its composite material is described as having five times the strength of titanium and the software optimizes fiber placement in true 3D orientations to maximize strength-to-weight ratio. The company offers additive manufacturing services to OEMs worldwide and targets industries including aerospace, medical and automotive. AREVO is based in Silicon Valley/Santa Clara, California, and recently won the Autodesk REAL Deal Start Up competition. The company said the $7M financing will enable it to meet near-term product development objectives to be announced later this year.

Participated · Equity · May 2018

Metawave builds millimeter-wave imaging radar hardware and software stacks (including SPEKTRA radar modules and the AWARE™ AI object classification platform) for long-range, all-weather sensing in automotive, aerial, and other mobility markets. The company produces chip and antenna module product lines—MARCONI™ 77GHz and POLARIS™ 24GHz—and offers compatibility with Carson and Triton radar system platforms to accelerate customer testing and deployment. Metawave also markets TURBO™ active repeaters and KLONE™ passive reflectors for 5G deployment use cases. The firm emphasizes high-resolution imaging and ML/AI-based perception to detect vehicles, motorcycles, pedestrians, and other objects at longer ranges and in difficult scenarios. Management says the company will use the new financing to accelerate deliveries of its MARCONI and POLARIS product lines and speed market adoption. Metawave was founded in 2017 and is headquartered in Carlsbad, California. To date the company has raised over $60M from financial and strategic investors. Metawave develops SPEKTRA™, an analog beamsteering automotive radar integrated with AWARE™ AI for object detection and classification, and also builds TURBO™ active repeaters and ECHO™ passive reflectors to boost 5G coverage. The company has delivered proofs of concept to leading automakers and demonstrated 5G ECHO results with NTT DOCOMO, targeting longer range, higher-resolution radar for ADAS and network-planning tools for telecom deployments. Metawave integrates deep learning with electromagnetic simulation in its AWARE platform to optimize radar object classification and the placement and arrangement of ECHO/TURBO devices. On the financing side, Metawave completed multiple seed financings totaling $17M and has closed an initial Series A led by DENSO. The firm emphasizes commercial work with OEMs, Tier 1 suppliers and global telecoms as it moves toward broader deployments. Metawave develops long-range, high-resolution WARLORD radar platforms and SABER hybrid analog/digital smart antenna systems using engineered metamaterials and AI. Its WARLORD radar targets ADAS and autonomous driving with imaging and object classification, including demonstrated 77GHz high-resolution radar and object classification capabilities. The SABER platforms are aimed at Fixed Wireless and 5G cellular infrastructure to enable longer-range backhaul and access with narrow analog beam steering. Metawave says its technology supports 4D point-cloud imaging, non-line-of-sight detection, and vehicle-to-vehicle communication to make vehicles safer and more connected. The company plans to integrate its radar front-end with Infineon’s 77GHz radar transceivers to scale for long ranges and wider fields of view. Metawave was founded in 2017 and is located in Palo Alto and Carlsbad, CA. Metawave develops wireless technology platforms that leverage engineered metamaterials and AI to build intelligent beam‑steering radar for autonomous driving and smart antenna platforms for wireless networks. The company is initially focused on smart radar platforms for ADAS and autonomous driving and is developing WARLORD, a 77GHz imaging radar that uses a single antenna and pushes complexity to the analog domain for high-resolution object classification. In parallel Metawave is developing SABRE, a 5G wireless communications antenna intended to enable long-range, narrow‑beam base station reach with reduced interference for fixed wireless and 5G infrastructure. Metawave says WARLORD can produce 4D point‑cloud imaging, non‑line‑of‑sight object detection, and vehicle‑to‑vehicle communication to improve safety and autonomy. The company raised an additional $10 million from strategic and financial investors, bringing total investor funding to $17 million. Named new investors include DENSO (the round lead), Toyota AI Ventures, Hyundai Motor Company, and Asahi Glass; earlier backers include Motus Ventures, Khosla Ventures, Autotech Ventures, Bold Capital, SAIC Capital, Western Technology Investment (WTI), and Alrai Capital. Metawave develops wireless technology platforms that combine engineered metamaterials and artificial intelligence to create intelligent beamsteering radars and antennas. The company’s initial commercial focus is smart radar platforms for autonomous vehicles and Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), including its WARLORD radar powered by the WRATH AI system. In parallel Metawave is developing smart beamsteering antennas for 4G and 5G networks. Its flagship beamsteering technology was developed at PARC, and the company was spun out of PARC earlier in the year. Leadership includes CEO Dr. Maha Achour and CTO Dr. Bernard Casse, who highlight the product’s 3D imaging, speed, and AI-enabled capabilities. The company said incoming seed capital will be used to attract talent, grow the team, and commercialize its products.

Led · Series C · Jan 2017

HALIO develops electrochromic smart glass, marketed as the industry’s fastest and most advanced solution for dynamic daylight control and solar heat management. Its product suite includes windows and skylights with Sky Camera, tint algorithms, and control automation that switch tints within seconds to optimize comfort and glare. HALIO states its technology can reduce a building’s operational energy use by up to 22% and decrease peak demand by 25% (Red Car Analytics, Nov 2019). HALIO products are available directly and through third‑party fabricators such as Viracon and GLASSBEL. The company emphasizes aesthetic facades, occupant wellness, and real‑time energy optimization as core benefits. Recent leadership change names Doug Schendt as CEO, succeeding Bruce Sohn, who is retiring. Halio develops and commercializes electrochromic smart glass and an integrated cloud-based AI control system that maximizes natural light while mitigating solar heat and glare. The company positions its solution as the industry’s most advanced smart glass, emphasizing clarity, fast switching, smooth transitions, and durability proven in harsh environments. Halio’s platform is specified by leading architects, is co-branded by partners such as Viracon and Marvin, and integrates IoT standards like Matter and third-party systems including Siemens’ Connect Ecosystem, Amazon Alexa, Crestron, and Apple HomeKit. The technology is claimed to reduce a building’s energy consumption by up to 20% while improving occupant health and productivity. Halio says it has a growing backlog of designs and is increasing production through a partnership with Viracon to service orders. Funding is intended to expand production capability and further advance its electrochromic technology for commercial buildings, residential homes, and vehicles. The company is based in Hayward, Calif. Kinestral Technologies develops and manufactures Halio, an advanced smart-tinting glass product sold for buildings and homes. Halio is sold exclusively through joint ventures Halio North America and Halio International, which Kinestral formed with AGC, Inc. The product is available in over 30 countries. The company is led by CEO S.B. Cha and focuses on turning glass into intelligent architectural elements. Kinestral closed a major financing that strengthens its balance sheet and supports growth plans. The company intends to use the proceeds to expand manufacturing, sales, and installation of Halio smart-tinting glass. Kinestral Technologies’ flagship product is Halio, an electrochromic smart‑tinting glass that tints to cool grays and can reach its darkest shade in under three minutes. Halio supports an unlimited number of tint levels, can be fully automated to respond to weather and occupant preferences, and allows manual override. The glass is offered in sizes up to 5 x 10 feet and is positioned for integration into smart homes and buildings. Halio is sold exclusively through Halio North America and Halio International, joint ventures Kinestral formed with AGC. Kinestral reports a growing global patent portfolio in manufacturing, device processing, and smart window control systems. The company is headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area and is pursuing integrations with building management systems to drive energy efficiency and improved occupant comfort. Kinestral Technologies develops Halio™, a smart-tinting glass system that shades and protects from sun glare within seconds and reaches a desired tint within three minutes. In its clear state Halio is indistinguishable from ordinary glass and tints to a range of neutral grays intended to complement design palettes. The company highlights applications in smart homes and buildings to improve occupant comfort, well‑being, and energy efficiency, and notes Halio can be used for interior walls. Kinestral says it has a growing global patent portfolio in manufacturing, device processing, and smart window control systems. Halio is available in selected markets today, and the company plans a North American launch later this year followed by global expansion in 2018. Kinestral is headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area and recently closed a $65 million Series C financing to support commercialization.

Led · Equity · Oct 2013

Triton Microtechnologies designs and manufactures ultra-thin 2.5D and 3D through-glass-via (TGV) interposers that enable high-density semiconductor packaging. The company combines nMode’s interposer technology with AGC’s glass and via-hole drilling techniques to produce interposers capable of forming thousands of electrical connections between a silicon chip and a printed circuit board. Triton operates a manufacturing facility in Carlsbad, California, using a continuous, high-volume process that drills high-aspect-ratio via holes and fills them with thermally stable copper paste. It makes interposers with via-hole diameters from 70 to 150 microns and thicknesses of 0.7 mm and below, and produces customized solutions for customer applications. Triton states its proprietary technology enables faster cycle times, known-good-die testing at higher packaging integration levels, and the lowest cost per unit in the marketplace. The company plans to use newly triggered funding to further develop and equip its Carlsbad facility to address a critical supply-chain gap for semiconductor packaging.