Participated · Equity · Oct 2025

Nutropy is a French food-tech startup that engineers animal-free casein and other dairy proteins using precision fermentation, then formulates them into B2B powdered ingredients branded as “plug-and-play” solutions for traditional dairy manufacturers. Its flagship offering, a “cheeseable milk” base, can be transformed into cheese and other dairy products that match the taste, texture and nutrition of conventional counterparts while lowering environmental impact. Led by co-founders Nathalie Rolland (CEO) and Dr. Maya Bendifallah (CSO), the company sells to food producers rather than end consumers. With fresh capital in hand, Nutropy plans to scale industrial production of casein, broaden its portfolio of dairy applications, and pursue commercial opportunities across North America, Asia and Europe. The firm has secured public support from French and European programs, including Bpifrance, to complement private investment. Financially, the company closed a €2 million pre-seed round in 2022 and has now added €7 million in new funding, bringing total known equity raised to €9 million.

Led · Seed · Oct 2023

Flashpoint Therapeutics is developing nanostructure-based therapeutics that kinetically tune and co-deliver precise combinations of therapeutic components to target cells. The company’s proprietary discovery platform, built on roughly 10 years of nanotechnology research from Chad Mirkin’s laboratory at Northwestern University, enables controlled stoichiometry, optimized structure–function relationships, and synchronized activation kinetics. Preclinical results reported include 35x increased co-delivery to immune cells, 80x stronger immune activation, and 650% greater tumor killing versus conventional formulations, and a proof-of-concept clinical study demonstrated delivery of nucleic acid cargo to the brain. Flashpoint’s initial candidate is a first-in-class cancer immunotherapy; the company plans to nominate a second development candidate and advance multiple internal and partnered discovery programs. The platform is positioned to enhance RNA, peptide, and CRISPR therapeutics and to be licensed or partnered with companies in those areas. The newly announced financing will support moving candidates toward the clinic, expanding the team, and enhancing the platform.

Participated · Series A · Oct 2023

Azul 3D develops and commercializes HARP™ (High-Area Rapid Printing), a proprietary form of vat polymerization that uses a unique liquid interface to enable continuous printing with precise thermal control and strong material properties. The technology was initially invented and developed at Northwestern University and is paired with proprietary industrial-grade materials to enable volume production and just-in-time mass production of highly customized products. Azul 3D is targeting high-value, high-volume applications, including specialty components for electronics and personalized devices, and plans to scale production in those markets. The company has collaborated with DuPont since 2019 on application development for HARP and counts investors from EMEA and Asia among its backers. Leadership includes CEO John Hartner (appointed June 2023) and new board member G. Walter "Wally" Loewenbaum; recent financing is intended to support technology development and scaling. Azul 3D develops HARPTM, a proprietary high‑area rapid printing process that can print 3D structures from a wide palette of materials at production speeds regardless of part size. The technology’s throughput is presented as dramatically outpacing competitors and becoming competitive with injection molding, enabling a transition from prototyping to mass manufacturing on a single platform. Azul 3D pairs HARPTM with proprietary industrial‑grade materials to enable just‑in‑time mass production of diverse, highly customized products. The company was initially invented and developed at Northwestern University and operates from Skokie, Illinois. During the COVID‑19 pandemic a subsidiary used the technology to print PPE for hospitals, prisons, first responders and the Navajo Nation, producing medical face shields at a reported rate of 1,000 components per printer in a 12‑hour shift. Azul 3D plans to use new capital to advance HARPTM and launch its first commercial printers, and to secure major partnerships for validation.