Participated · Series A · Aug 2023

VenoStent is a Houston, TX–based clinical-stage medical device company developing SelfWrap, a bioabsorbable perivascular wrap placed around arteriovenous access sites during fistula-creation surgery. The wrap is intended to accelerate usability and increase the durability of AV fistula sites for chronic kidney disease patients requiring hemodialysis by mimicking the arterial environment in veins and leveraging the body’s healing mechanisms. The company is led by CEO Tim Boire, Ph.D., and COO Geoffrey Lucks. VenoStent recently completed its Series A financing at $20M, including a $4M investment from Norwest Venture Partners. It was also awarded a $3.6M SBIR Phase II grant from the NIH to help fund a planned multi-center, 200-patient randomized controlled trial in the U.S. The company intends to use the funds to support clinical development and the RCT to validate SelfWrap's impact on fistula usability and durability. VenoStent is a clinical-stage, venture-backed therapeutic medical device company developing a bioabsorbable wrap, SelfWrap, to transform outcomes in vascular surgery, starting with hemodialysis access. SelfWrap is intended to improve the usability and durability of arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) used by chronic kidney disease patients for dialysis. The company recently closed a $16M Series A financing to support clinical and manufacturing work. VenoStent plans to use the funds to expand its US pivotal trial and scale manufacturing capabilities as it pursues FDA approval. The company has been granted an Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) from the FDA for its US clinical trial, SAVE-FistulaS. VenoStent is led by CEO Tim Boire, Ph.D., and has previously received funding from KidneyX, the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, Y Combinator, Health Wildcatters, and Texas Halo Fund. VenoStent’s core technology is polymer engineering protected by patents; its first product, SelfWrap, is a slip-on bioresorbable wrap intended to address the 55–65% vascular access surgery failure rate in hemodialysis patients. The company aims to complete first-in-human clinical work and conduct studies to support Breakthrough Device Designation (BDD) and an Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) submission. Proceeds from the recent round will be used to grow the team, scale quality control and manufacturing processes, and strengthen clinical and reimbursement positions. VenoStent has participated in Y Combinator’s Summer 2020 batch and is led by Co-Founder and CEO Tim Boire, Ph.D., with Geoff Lucks as Co-Founder and COO. Its funding to date exceeds $6M, which includes non-dilutive grants and prize awards alongside prior equity investments.

Participated · Series C · Oct 2017

SonarMed is a privately held medical device company based in Carmel, Indiana that develops airway-monitoring products for pediatric and adult critical care. Its core product, the AirWave System, is 510(k) cleared for adult and pediatric patients, including neonates. The company’s pediatric sensors incorporate upgraded piezoelectric monitoring technology to address moisture and secretion-related clogging that affects capnography-based sensors. Proceeds from its Series C financing are being used to support a controlled market roll-out, the launch of pediatric products, and continued collection of outcomes data from user case studies. SonarMed also plans to add two new pediatric products to its pipeline within the year. Management cites a $350 million NICU and pediatric market opportunity as part of an overall $1 billion market.

Participated · Series F · Nov 2016

Phunware provides a Multiscreen-as-a-Service (MaaS) suite of products, solutions and data that enables brands to create and monetize mobile experiences across retail, media and entertainment, healthcare, airports, residential and shopping centers. Launched in 2009 by Chairman and CEO Alan S. Knitowski and based in Austin, Texas, the company offers tools to engage, manage and monetize users worldwide. The company completed a $22m second close of its Series F financing, bringing total Series F raised to date to $40m, with the balance expected to close during the current quarter. Phunware has raised $90m in total since inception. The company said it will use the new funds to continue to expand operations globally. The suite combines products, solutions and data intended for brands and enterprise customers. Phunware offers an integrated services platform that enables brands to add multiscreen application support for content management, location-based services, advertising, alerts and notifications, and business intelligence. The platform supports more than 1 trillion annual transactions across nearly 190 countries and 10 languages. Its customer roster includes E! Entertainment Television, NBC Sports, WWE, NASCAR, CBS, Qualcomm, Edmunds, Jawbone, HomeAway, Turner, UHealth, Transamerica, King, Warner Brothers, AT&T and Adobe. The company was founded in 2009 and is based in Austin, TX. As of the Series E close, Phunware has raised $48.25M in total capital. The recent funding round included a strategic investment from Samsung Venture Investment Corporation.

Participated · Equity · Sep 2013

Cinegif offers a cloud-based GIF marketing platform with easy editing tools, unlimited cloud hosting and a real-time analytics dashboard for gauging campaign effectiveness. Its editor can produce GIFs and "FIGs," rich media files that combine multiple GIFs, stills and hyperlinks and can be embedded into websites and emails via an embed code. The company cites a patented conversion and compression process that minimizes file size while maintaining color quality comparable to Photoshop and optimizes compatibility across platforms without plugins. Cinegif’s analytics show real-time views, clicks and mouse hovers, and can differentiate interactions by FIG cell and embed location. Current clients include Hewlett-Packard, the Austin Chronicle, Pulsepoint and T3Media. Cinegif plans to add additional analytics features to help clients better optimize content. The company recently raised capital to accelerate sales and marketing.

Participated · Series A · Jun 2012

VolunteerSpot is a free event planning and community engagement platform that helps parents, teachers and volunteers organize sign-ups, swap tasks, collect donations, purchase tickets and send automatic reminders. Launched in 2009 by Karen Bantuveris, the platform syncs sign-ups to users' online calendars and streamlines coordination for school and community activities. It reports more than 7 million families, teachers and community members having used the service across over 20 million activities. The company is based in Austin, Texas and is privately held. VolunteerSpot says it will use the newly raised funds to continue to grow operations. Current backers include AXA Strategic Ventures, ffVC and angel investors. VolunteerSpot provides an online coordination tool and cause-marketing platform that makes it easy for anyone to organize volunteer-led activities for schools, teams, faith groups and nonprofits. Launched in 2009 and led by CEO Karen Bantuveris, the company is based in Austin, Texas. Partners include Parenting Magazine, the National HandsOn Network, Girls on the Run, WATCH D.O.G.S., and Community Health Charities. The company raised $1.5M and intends to use the funding to advance its product capabilities and extend its reach to more communities across the country. VolunteerSpot aims to double its user base during the back-to-school season.