Participated · Convertible Note · Jan 2022

GreenMark Biomedical develops products that use small sub-micron particles produced from food-grade starch as carriers for medical and dental applications. Its lead product, the LumiCare Caries Detection Rinse, contains fluorescently labeled starch particles that target the porous subsurface of carious lesions and illuminate them using a dental curing light to aid early detection. Early identification before cavitation is intended to enable non-surgical management options and improved long-term oral health outcomes. The company is also developing treatment products that load essential minerals into the starch particles to restore the enamel subsurface, rather than only sealing the enamel surface like fluoride. GreenMark has begun a soft launch of LumiCare and is pursuing scale-up and clinical validation of its products. The company operates offices and lab facilities in East Lansing and Ann Arbor, Michigan, and recently raised bridge financing to support ongoing development. GreenMark Biomedical develops a patented nanoparticle-based diagnostic for detecting active dental caries. Its product uses fluorescently labeled starch particles that target active caries and illuminate under a standard dental curing light. The test is designed for use by dental professionals as part of the routine dental exam. Early identification before cavitation aims to enable non-surgical management options, reducing patient discomfort and improving long-term oral health outcomes. The company plans to further develop and commercialize the technology using recently secured funding. GreenMark is based in East Lansing and Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Participated · Equity · Jul 2019

Ocuphire's lead product is Nyxol, a preservative-free ophthalmic formulation of phentolamine mesylate being developed as a once-daily eye drop for night vision disturbances (NVD), glaucoma, reversal of mydriasis and a fixed-dose combo for presbyopia. Nyxol has safety and efficacy data from five Phase 1 and Phase 2 trials and has demonstrated moderately reduced pupil size, significant intraocular pressure lowering, and convenient once-daily dosing. The company is enrolling double-masked, randomized, placebo-controlled Phase 2 trials in glaucoma (ORION-1) and reversal of mydriasis (MIRA-1), and is preparing a Phase 3 study in NVD (LYNX-1). Clinical results from ORION-1 and MIRA-1 are expected later this year; as of mid-July the company had enrolled more than 50% of the 40 patients in ORION-1. Ocuphire has built management, board, clinical and manufacturing partners, and a medical advisory board of ophthalmic KOLs to support development and commercialization. Proceeds from recent financing will be used to fund multiple late Phase 2 clinical trials of Nyxol.

Participated · Seed · Mar 2019

GreenMark is developing regenerative dental products that use patented sub-micron particles produced from food-grade starch to deliver calcium and phosphate for mineral restoration of dentin and enamel. Its lead product line, CrystLCare™ Biorestorative (launched Fluoride-Free first), includes dissolvable sensitivity strips designed to occlude dentinal tubules and restore early-stage caries noninvasively. The company also markets LumiCare™ Caries Detection Rinse and a half-dose LumiKids™ Rinse that use fluorescent-labeled particles to illuminate porous subsurface lesions for early detection. Independent third-party testing cited in the article shows the dissolvable strips can combat dental sensitivity and restore early caries lesions without drilling. GreenMark frames its approach as biomimetic: enzyme-degradable starch carriers release calcium and phosphate to form in-situ apatite crystals, addressing subsurface lesions that some fluoride products only superficially seal. The company emphasizes non-surgical, preventive care to preserve teeth and improve long-term oral health outcomes. GreenMark Biomedical develops nanoparticle‑based dental products that identify and non‑invasively treat early dental "pre‑cavities" using bioresorbable, food‑grade starch particles. Its diagnostic product uses fluorescently labeled starch particles that target active caries and illuminate them with a standard dental curing light; treatment products are designed to load and deliver essential minerals to the enamel subsurface. The company is developing and commercializing its technology in collaboration with researchers at the University of Michigan. GreenMark emphasizes non‑surgical management of early caries to reduce invasive procedures and improve long‑term oral health outcomes. The company operates an office in East Lansing and lab facilities in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and is progressing development alongside multiple state and federal grants and NIH support.

Participated · Series B · Nov 2015

RetroSense’s lead product, RST-001, is a first-in-class optogenetic gene therapy intended to restore vision in patients with retinitis pigmentosa, independent of causative gene or mutation. The company holds worldwide exclusive rights to underlying IP from Wayne State University and Massachusetts General Hospital. RST-001 received FDA Orphan Drug designation in 2014 and was authorized for first-in-human trials in 2015; a Phase I/II study (NCT02556736) is currently recruiting at the Retina Foundation of the Southwest. RetroSense plans to complete that Phase I/II study and advance a second gene therapy candidate. Financially, RetroSense closed a $6 million Series B and previously raised $7 million in a Series A earlier in 2015, bringing total Series A/B proceeds to $13 million. The net proceeds are intended to enable completion of the ongoing clinical study and support further development of the second candidate. RetroSense Therapeutics is developing RST-001, a first-in-class gene therapy application of optogenetics intended to confer light sensitivity to degenerated retinas and restore vision. The company is focused on treating retinitis pigmentosa and advanced dry age-related macular degeneration. RST-001 has been designated with Orphan Drug Status and is being advanced through preclinical studies. RetroSense holds worldwide exclusive rights to relevant intellectual property from Wayne State University and Massachusetts General Hospital. The company, based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, is led by a team experienced in moving products from discovery to the clinic. Proceeds from the recent financing are intended to support completion of preclinical work needed for an IND filing and initiation of clinical trials.

Participated · Series A · Jul 2013

GreenLancer is a Detroit, MI-based solar design and permitting company that offers an e-commerce platform delivering high-quality solar system designs needed to build and install solar electric systems. The platform allows contractors to manage projects, get quotes, and order and receive design services from one centralized place. GreenLancer completed a $5M Series B financing and intends to use the funds to accelerate growth. The investment came from a syndicate of new and existing investors. Led by CEO Zac MacVoy, the company is actively recruiting experienced software developers to expand its team and support product development. GreenLancer.com is a web-based solar energy engineering company that combines cloud computing with a national network of freelance 'greenlancers' to develop engineering plans for renewable energy projects. Its services include online technical documents, engineering services, and financial modeling to help contractors propose, develop, and design alternative energy systems. The company recently launched a 'Virtual Engineering Center' and added staff to meet sharply growing demand. GreenLancer reports operating in 32 states and six countries across four continents and serves notable clients as a subcontractor, including General Motors, DTE Energy, Occidental Oil and the U.S. Department of Defense (including work for U.S. Armed Forces in Afghanistan). Founded in 2011 and based in Detroit, the business targets reducing the soft costs of solar development by offering faster, more affordable engineering than traditional brick-and-mortar competitors. Financially, GreenLancer completed a $500,000 'A' round of private funding, which it says will support its ambitious growth plan and further business development. Greenlancer provides an online platform that breaks engineering projects into modular tasks and assigns them to a virtual network of engineers who bid on work, enabling remote collaboration for green-energy construction projects. The company calls its workflow an "assembly swarm," with software that identifies components, lays out plans, and coordinates CAD modeling, calculations, technical writing, site assessments, and certification. Typical engagements include new solar plants of about 200 kilowatts with project budgets of roughly $750,000–$1,000,000; Greenlancer says it completes work at about one-third the cost and in one-fifth the time of traditional engineering firms. The service still uses onsite visits when needed to collect site data, but much of the design and reporting is produced remotely. Greenlancer has completed 290 projects across 25 states. The founders say they are starting in green tech and plan to expand into larger markets if successful. The company graduated from Detroit’s Bizdom accelerator and is pursuing institutional funding in the near term.