Led · Equity · Nov 2020

MATCH biosystems, founded in June 2020 in Valencia, develops rapid, non-invasive, low-cost diagnostic tests with high sensitivity and specificity to detect pathogens in clinical hospital and veterinary environments. The company has focused its first launch on detecting several high-prevalence pathogens in intensive care units (ICU). It aims to deliver results in minutes, versus the 24–72 hours required by current devices. MATCH is led by Ramón Martínez Mañez, director of the Institute of Molecular Recognition Research and Technological Development (IDM) at the Polytechnic University of Valencia. The financing received from Clave (via Tech Transfer UPV) and BHV Partners will be used to validate a proof of concept, obtain a minimum viable product (MVP) and begin regulatory approval processes. BHV Partners is also providing advisory support to the startup.

Led · Equity · Jul 2020

Biel Glasses develops prototype smart glasses that incorporate 3D vision and artificial intelligence to provide solutions for low vision. The company targets visual impairments that cannot be corrected with conventional glasses, medication, or surgery. Biel Glasses was founded in 2017 by Jaume Puig and Constanza Lucero and is named after their son, Biel. To advance its prototypes and cover production costs, the company opened a €400,000 financing round. BHV Partners has entered as a minority equity partner to support further development. Management expects manufacturing and commercialization in the coming months and estimates the device could benefit roughly 25 million people in Europe.

Participated · Seed · Jul 2013

Kanvas is a newly launched app from the team behind Tracks that lets users build mixed-media creations using their own photos or provided art, layered backgrounds, stickers, and text. The product is seeded with free backgrounds, fonts, and stickers and also offers premium packs as a built-in revenue model. It’s designed to be lightweight and easy to use while embedding social features — following, reactions, comments, and sharing to networks like Facebook, Twitter, and Tumblr. The company positions Kanvas as an ultra-simple, mobile version of Photoshop with a social layer and expects social virality around stickers and tools to drive purchases. The team will continue to support the existing Tracks product but is focusing development efforts on Kanvas going forward. The startup has raised $1 million in seed funding to support these efforts.

Participated · Seed · Mar 2013

Adcade developed Adscript, a programming language and ad-building platform designed to deliver ads across desktops, smartphones, tablets, digital TV and other connected devices. Its Canvas-based framework reproduces Flash animations while adapting to device-specific functions, combining elements of Flash and HTML5. Ads created with Adscript can adjust across screens, browsers, placements and sizes using a single ad tag. The company currently runs an advertising studio to demonstrate cross-platform campaigns and plans to transition to an ad server that automatically delivers ads using its language. Adcade spun out of an initial idea to replace CAPTCHAs with interactive ads; the three co-founders include CEO Rob Cromer, CTO Buzz Wiggins, and Rob Prentice. The team is New York–based and used the product-development path to refocus on digital advertising. Adcade develops mobile advertising solutions focused on creating more interactive experiences on smartphones and tablets. The company is testing its first product, a new mobile/tablet premium rich media ad unit. It plans to launch a self-service platform later this year. Adcade intends to use the funding to accelerate business and the development of additional mobile ad products. The company was co-founded in 2012 by CEO Rob Cromer, CTO Buzz Wiggins and COO Rob Prentice and is headquartered in New York City. The article does not disclose operating metrics such as revenue or users.

Participated · Series A · Jul 2012

Portalarium is developing Shroud of the Avatar: Forsaken Virtues, a fantasy role‑playing game led by Richard Garriott and his design team. The project raised crowdfunding to finance development and plans to continue soliciting fan input and funds through its own store. The company announced that bestselling author Tracy Hickman joined as lead story designer and that several stretch goals—such as a serialized prequel novel, a pet system, guild houses and banks, city theaters, and castle merchants—were reached. The team says Kickstarter backers will have exclusive perks and that feedback from fans will guide additional features. The game is expected to launch in 2014. Portalarium was formed in September 2009 in Austin, Texas. Portalarium develops and publishes premium online and mobile role-playing games and virtual worlds for social networks and mobile platforms. Formed in September 2009 and based in Austin, Texas, the company focuses on social play that makes it easy for friends to find and play together across devices. Its near-term product slate includes Ultimate Collector, scheduled for release this summer on Facebook, browser and mobile platforms, and Ultimate RPG / New Britannia (working title), targeted primarily at mobile platforms. Portalarium says it will use new funding to complete development of Ultimate Collector and to launch production of the New Britannia RPG. The company recently joined Zynga’s Platform Partners publishing program, positioning its products for broader distribution on social gaming platforms. Portalarium develops mobile and social games, virtual worlds and related services intended as an open ecosystem integrated into social networks and gaming communities. The company does not yet have a product; a launch is expected in the next few months. Today's investment was undisclosed and brings Portalarium's total funding to date to $3.6 million. Portalarium was launched by veteran game developer Richard Garriott and is led by CEO Fred Schmidt. The firm's focus and roadmap center on mobile social gaming and related community services.