Participated · Series A · Jul 2024

4D Medicine, founded in 2020 as a spin-out from the Universities of Birmingham and Warwick and based in Nottingham, develops a resorbable biomaterial called 4Degra for medical implants. 4Degra degrades gradually from the surface without producing harmful acidic by-products and can be 3D-printed in both soft and hard formulations. The material is being developed into implants ranging from flexible films and membranes to rigid plates, pins and bone scaffolds. The company plans to complete pre-clinical testing of its first medical device product range and to seek FDA clearance to enter the US market. Management is preparing to close a Series B early next year; total funding to date is £5M. 4D Biomaterials has developed 4Degra, a biodegradable 3D-printed material that can be printed to exact shapes as an open cell honeycomb structure to improve patient outcomes. The structure allows natural tissue to grow through voids as the material gradually erodes and is expelled by the body. 4Degra was developed over more than 15 years in Professor Andrew Dove's research group at the University of Warwick and University of Birmingham, and the company spun out of those universities last year. The company says the material could be used in applications including tumour removal in breast cancer patients and recovery from other surgery and trauma. 4D Biomaterials appointed Phil Smith as CEO and plans to develop a range of products through partnerships with medical device companies. The recent funding will also support team expansion and the creation of five jobs at its MediCity premises.

Participated · Equity · Nov 2021

Glyconics develops a non-invasive point-of-care diabetes screening tool called Glyconics-SX. The handheld device uses miniaturised infra-red spectrometry to detect biomarker changes in a patient’s fingernail within seconds and without single-use plastics. The company plans a large-scale trial program for Glyconics-SX prior to applying for regulatory approval and CE marking. To fund the trials, Glyconics raised £1.5m in an Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) round. It intends to pursue a Series A round next year following regulatory steps. Glyconics is based in Cambridge, Norwich and Basingstoke and is led by Dr Kam Pooni (CEO) and Dr Päivi Paldánius (Chief Medical Officer).

Participated · Equity · Feb 2020

Inotec develops NATROX O₂, a compact, wearable continuous topical oxygen (cTOT) device that delivers a continuous flow of oxygen directly to the wound bed to accelerate healing and enable treatment in clinical and home-care settings. The non‑invasive device is designed to work with most standard secondary dressings and can be used during any phase of healing. The company was founded in 2003 in Cambridge and says NATROX O₂ is authorised to sell in 46 countries. Inotec addresses a large unmet need—more than 100 million people worldwide suffer from wounds that will not heal, with wound care costing an estimated $97 billion annually in the US. The business recently secured financing to support broader access and organisational growth. Proceeds from the latest round will be used to secure national reimbursement in the US and to expand the company’s leadership team and global capabilities. Inotec AMD is a Cambridge, UK-based medtech business that developed Natrox, a product that uses pure humidified oxygen to treat a range of chronic wounds, from diabetic and venous ulcers to non-healing surgical wounds. The company provides products to the NHS and to health providers in key markets including the US, Italy, Southeast Asia and the Middle East, and maintains a US office in North Carolina. Following several clinical trials, Inotec AMD is looking to expand its foothold in the US, Asia, the Middle East and Europe. The business secured £7m in funding to build on recent growth and target new international markets. Leadership includes CEO Craig Kennedy and chairman Dr Adrian Patron MBE. Inotec AMD develops the compact, wearable NATROX™ system that provides a continuous supply of pure humidified oxygen to wounds. The company was established in 2005 by Professor Derek Fray and Mel Vinton and is led by CEO Trevor Stanley. NATROX™ is CE marked and FDA approved and in preliminary trials has been shown to reduce chronic wound size substantially within weeks, with many patients’ wounds reaching complete healing. Inotec plans to use new funding to carry out large-scale clinical trials outside the UK and to broaden the scope of application of its NATROX™ product family. The company also intends to establish commercial agreements and expand its international presence. The article does not disclose operating metrics or revenue figures.

Led · Equity · Feb 2019

Torsion Information Security is a London-based cybersecurity firm that offers automated data governance and document access monitoring software. Its platform integrates with collaboration systems such as SharePoint and Office 365 to monitor and control employee access to cloud-based documents. The product uses intelligent automation to track and manage who has access to documents, aiming to prevent breaches caused by inappropriate access. Torsion said it raised £1.1m in a pre-Series A equity round, bringing total capital raised to around £2.2m. The company plans to use the capital to roll out its automated Data Access Governance platform and to bolster marketing, engineering and business development. Its tools are used by customers including the England & Wales Cricket Board and due diligence company Neotas. Founded in 2013 by Peter Bradley, Torsion emphasizes an automated, business-centric approach to controlling data access. Torsion Information Security is a London start-up focused on Secure Data Access Control. Its product helps businesses determine "who has access to what" across large collections of files, folders and sites. Torsion uses machine learning to engage business users in securing their information and to precisely control access, aiming to drive robust security outcomes. The technology integrates with enterprise collaboration systems including Microsoft Office 365, SharePoint and file shares to improve data security, simplify compliance, and facilitate collaboration and productivity. Boundary Capital Partners has invested £200,000 to support the company's commercial development. Management highlights a hands-on investor engagement approach as they continue to grow the business.

Participated · Equity · Aug 2013

Desktop Genetics builds the DESKGEN genome‑editing software platform and core CRISPR algorithms, combining biotechnology, software and laboratory automation. The platform guides users through CRISPR experiment design with lab‑validated algorithms and enables reagent purchasing and access to service providers. DTG offers CRISPR library design, synthesis and screening through partnerships with providers including Transcriptic and Horizon Discovery, and works with industry players such as Editas Medicine and enEvolv. DESKGEN has enabled over 2,000 gene‑editing experiments and has driven thousands of users to design and obtain optimal reagents. DTG is staffed by molecular biologists and computer scientists and is investing to expand its sales infrastructure and marketing to drive broader adoption. The company plans continued commercialisation and product development to keep the platform current as new CRISPR techniques and algorithms are invented. DeskGen develops AutoClone, an automated bioinformatics platform and DNA search engine that sources sequences and generates protocols for designing, constructing, managing and sharing DNA constructs used in vector/plasmid manufacturing, genome editing, protein production and synthetic biology workflows. AutoClone sources DNA sequences from users' freezers, other labs or public repositories to reduce external synthesis time and internal expert labor, enabling rapid and accurate assembly of validated molecular biology tools. The company plans to expand AutoClone's functionality through internal R&D and in conjunction with industrial partners, and to launch a cloud version after a beta trial in Q4 2013. DeskGen will use the funding to establish business development, sales and marketing functions to serve customers in Europe and the USA. The investment unlocked a Technology Strategy Board grant of £100,000, bringing total funds raised to £375,000. The company was founded in October 2012 at the Google Campus in London by Riley Doyle, Victor Dillard and Edward Perello; Riley Doyle is CEO.