Participated · Series B · Nov 2021

New View Surgical develops the VisionPort™ System, a disposable surgical imaging and access device that combines multiple imaging and access functions into a single instrument for minimally invasive laparoscopic procedures. The VisionPort is designed to reduce the need for a separate camera port and camera holder and can eliminate the need for a separate team member to manage a laparoscope. The system is intended for a broad range of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures within the thoracic and abdominal cavities and is adaptable to a variety of surgical environments. The company says the device can lower capital and recurring equipment costs and make minimally invasive surgery more accessible in emerging markets. To fund commercialization and a limited market release, New View closed a $12.1M Series B-1 equity financing. The company expects to launch the VisionPort in the US before the end of 2022. New View Surgical is an emerging medical device company commercializing the VisionPort™ System, a novel imaging and access platform that combines multiple imaging and access devices into one disposable unit. The VisionPort System simplifies laparoscopic procedures by reducing the need for a separate camera port and camera holder and enables multiple simultaneous views of the operative field. The device is intended for a broad range of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures within the thoracic and abdominal cavities and is adaptable to a variety of surgical environments. In emerging markets the system is designed to reduce the capital-intensive equipment currently required for minimally invasive surgery, increasing accessibility. The company received FDA clearance for the VisionPort System in June and has initiated steps for initial market release. New View Surgical recently closed a $9M Series B to fund that market release and has expanded its board as it commercializes the platform. New View Surgical is an emerging medical device company developing proprietary imaging and access technologies for minimally invasive surgery. Its initial product, the VisionPort System, is a novel surgical imaging and access system that aims to simplify laparoscopic procedures by reducing the need for a separate camera port and camera holder and by allowing multiple simultaneous views of the operative field. The VisionPort combines multiple imaging and access devices into a single, easy-to-use disposable device that the company says will deliver clinical and economic advantages. New View will use the $2.5 million Series A to complete development of the VisionPort System, expand its intellectual property portfolio, and submit a 510(k) filing with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The company says the device can reduce capital equipment needs in emerging markets, increase access to minimally invasive techniques, and improve operating room efficiency for surgeons and hospitals.

Participated · Equity · Jun 2018

Dynepic develops playPORTAL, a platform and cross-platform SDKs that let developers create child privacy-certified, secure apps backed by a kid-safe family network. Its tooling provides instant COPPA compliance so game developers, app developers and toy-makers can focus on product while playPORTAL handles data security and privacy. The company plans to use recent funding for marketing and engineering to expand the playPORTAL platform and grow its developer community of innovators, toy makers, and brands. Dynepic completed the Techstars Boulder program and is led by CEO and co-founder Krissa Watry. As of this raise the company has $1.5M in total funding. The company is based in Charleston, SC. Dynepic has developed iOKids, a secure social gateway and single sign-on that enables companies to build community experiences for children under 13 while keeping brands COPPA-compliant. The platform centers on parent-managed iOKids profiles and friend lists and includes an iOKids Parent app for parental consent and management. Dynepic planned a suite of iOKids apps that allow kids to build friend lists and even 'Chat with Santa,' with the apps scheduled to be available in the app store before Thanksgiving. The company received initial funding from the National Science Foundation. In November 2016 Dynepic won a $100,000 investment from The Charleston Angel Conference, an award the company said completed its oversubscribed initial financing round. That initial round totaled close to $500,000 from investors in the Charleston area and from across the U.S., including investors from Atlanta, Silicon Valley, Connecticut, and New York. Dynepic is developing an open IoToys platform and a connected toy called the DynePod to teach technology and engineering skills through physical play. The DynePod is a small Bluetooth Low Energy box with an LED display, sensors (motion and proximity), vibration/buzzer feedback and Arduino programmability, and can clip to objects or be worn. The product supports standalone tablet programming, peer-to-peer play with other DynePods, acting as a controller for tablet games, and a fully connected mode that links to cloud services via open APIs. Co-founder Krissa Watry is an MIT graduate and former U.S. Air Force chief engineer; the other co-founder has a background in early years education. Dynepic has previously secured nearly $200,000 from a National Science Foundation grant plus $50,000 in match funding from the South Carolina Research Association. The company has launched a Kickstarter to raise $30,000 to complete production, child-safety testing, FCC approval, and finalize its cloud APIs; early-bird backer pricing is $79 and, if funded, Dynepic aims to ship to backers next June.

Participated · Equity · Jul 2015

Baebies develops a nimble bioassay automation platform to rapidly perform multiplex enzymatic assays and other tests for newborn screening. The company licensed its core technology, digital microfluidics, from Illumina for its newborn‑screening applications. In addition to cash, the company received a technology license that does not include sequencing, plus equipment, contracts and other consideration in exchange for a share of ownership. Baebies completed $13M in equity financing and also secured a loan from the North Carolina Biotechnology Center. The company is led by president and co‑founder Vamsee Pamula and CEO Richard West. Baebies is based in Durham, North Carolina.