Led · Series A · Sep 2024

Syantra is advancing a biotechnology platform intended to change how cancer is detected and treated. Its first commercial product, the Syantra DX™ Breast Cancer test, measures a panel of gene expression biomarkers from whole blood and uses machine-learning informed software to produce a result. The test demonstrated 92% clinical accuracy in blinded clinical studies. The company holds an ISO 13485:2016-accredited quality management system and has CLIA/COLA and CPSA lab accreditations for use in the United States and Canada, plus CE‑IVD and UKCA markings for kit distribution outside North America. Syantra plans to use new funding to expand operations and grow its R&D sector. The company is led by CEO Rob Lozuk and recently added Dr. Rick Mangat to its board.

Participated · Seed · Apr 2024

Anodyne Chemistries is developing and demonstrating a bio‑electric process that converts carbon dioxide and water into high‑quality formic acid and hydrogen peroxide. The company positions these products as low‑carbon alternatives to petrochemical feedstocks used on Canadian farms. Formic acid and hydrogen peroxide produced by the process are intended for applications including feed preservation, livestock health support, and sanitization of equipment and crops. The company announced it will receive up to $1,236,310 from Agriculture and Agri‑Food Canada to support development and demonstration of the technology. Anodyne frames the work as contributing to greenhouse‑gas reductions and a domestic decarbonized agrichemical supply chain. CEO Iain Evans described the partnership with AAFC as foundational for strengthening food security and supporting a transition to a net‑zero future.

Participated · Series B · Nov 2021

Evanesce manufactures compostable straws and other sustainable packaging products, with production facilities in South Carolina and Nevada. The company is expanding its product line to include compostable cups and cutlery. In March it produced approximately 40 million compostable straws at its South Carolina facility and about 90 million total straws in Q1 2022, all of which were sold. Evanesce plans to list its shares in 2022 on either the TSX or the NASDAQ. Management expects significant year‑over‑year revenue growth driven by increased business with professional sports teams and theme parks. The company has an incentive program that includes purchase warrants used by investors. Evanesce designs, develops and manufactures compostable plant-based packaging including Evanesce Biopolymers and its patented Evanesce® Molded Starch technology. The company upcycles starch and fiber by-products to produce home-compostable packaging that decomposes in significantly less than 90 days and is positioned to be cost-competitive (about half the cost of other certified compostable alternatives, per the company). Evanesce is scaling manufacturing capacity and has opened facilities in Early Branch, South Carolina and Las Vegas, Nevada, with plans to purchase equipment to expand PLA biopolymer and Molded Starch production and to grow operations and sales teams. Its business model encompasses manufacturing, licensing, collaborative partnerships and joint ventures to accelerate adoption. The company says its solutions are manufactured in the USA and are commercially scalable. Headquartered in Vancouver, Canada, Evanesce aims to meet rising regulatory and consumer demand for sustainable foodservice and packaging alternatives. Financially, the company has raised over CAD $15M (US$12M) to date.

Participated · Seed · Sep 2020

Bettani Farms, recently rebranded from Climax Foods, is a Berkeley-based food-technology company focused on creating dairy-free cheeses. Its products—including mozzarella and feta—are built on a proprietary ingredient called Caseed, designed to mimic the functional properties of casein while remaining completely plant-based. The company positions its cheeses as protein-rich and free of common allergens such as nuts and soy. To strengthen execution, Bettani Farms has added industry veterans: former Califia Farms CFO Sandeep Patel now serves as CEO and chairman, while new senior hires span R&D, sales, and process engineering. The fresh leadership aims to accelerate product development and commercialization. Although specific revenue or user metrics were not disclosed, the firm plans to deploy new capital to expand operations and intensify R&D efforts, signaling a focus on scaling production and market reach.

Led · Equity · May 2020

OXGENE combines precision engineering, biology, robotics and bioinformatics to accelerate the design, discovery and manufacture of biologics across gene therapy, gene editing and antibody therapeutics. The company has collaborated with global partners including Abcam, Artios Pharma and The Native Antigen Company, and has signed eight separate licence agreements to provide access to its technology. OXGENE recently announced a strategic partnership with FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies to support partners in development and production of biologics, vaccines and gene therapies. Management says the company has more than doubled its revenue in the most recent financial year while increasing headcount by less than 50%, which it attributes to its automation platform and focused business development. The firm positions itself to address growing market demand in synthetic biology and to bring additional technologies to market through partnerships and licensing. Mercia highlights OXGENE’s recognition by large pharmaceutical brands and the company’s potential to deliver medium- to long-term value. Oxford Genetics develops synthetic biology-based tools and services for biologics discovery, development and delivery, including versatile cloning plasmids, custom cloning and DNA synthesis. The company serves academic and biotechnology institutions and has seen growth in clients, key appointments and momentum in cell and gene therapy markets. It has signed multiple licenses, entered two collaborative partnerships with gene therapy companies, and filed five new patents to extend its IP. Led by CEO Ryan Cawood, Oxford Genetics plans to use new funding to expand its physical footprint and R&D capabilities. Planned uses include opening a Boston office and extending its UK facility at Oxford Science Park by November 2017 with cell line engineering, viral vector production and purification suites, high-throughput robotic screening, and process development facilities. The company also intends to invest in R&D to grow its intellectual property portfolio and scale a technology-enabled licensing business. Oxford Genetics focuses on DNA design, with expertise in protein expression optimisation and cell line development. It provides bespoke solutions aimed at research, therapeutic and clinical needs within the pharmaceutical sector. The company's core offerings center on optimising protein expression and developing tailored cell lines for customers. Mercia Technologies has announced a new direct investment of up to £2.0 million in Oxford Genetics Ltd. The announcement was published as a stock exchange announcement and links to the Oxford Genetics website are provided. No operating metrics or additional financial details are disclosed in the article. Oxford Genetics, led by CEO Dr Ryan Cawood, develops SnapFast™, a system that simplifies purchasing synthetic DNA plasmids. The company currently supplies human, mouse and bacterial DNA. Through the new funding it plans to expand offerings to include insect, plant and yeast DNA. It received £150K in funding from Mercia Fund Management. The proceeds will be used to build an e-commerce website and support new product development. The company is based in Oxford, UK.