Participated · Equity · Dec 2020

Branch Technology has developed a method called Cellular Fabrication (C-Fab) that 3D prints polymer lattice structures to produce lightweight yet structurally sound prefabricated components. The process uses industrial robotic arms outfitted with polymer extruders mounted on rails to enable a freeform 3D printing system. Their technology is applied to additive construction, enabling the production of prefab components with lattice geometries. The company was reported from Chattanooga, TN. Financially, Branch Technology recently closed a new funding round to support its operations and technology development. Public coverage of the raise appeared via 3DPrint and Massinvestor.

Participated · Seed · Feb 2017

Vendor Registry operates a SaaS platform and marketplace that connects local governments and vendors, streamlining manual purchasing processes. The platform aims to generate new revenues for vendors and suppliers while decreasing costs for government and institutional purchasing departments. Hundreds of local governments and thousands of vendors across 20 states now connect on the platform. The company intends to use the funds to continue to expand operations. Vendor Registry was founded by Chris Van Beke and Brian Strong in 2013 and is based in Knoxville, Tenn.

Participated · Series A · Jun 2013

Variable builds NODE, a modular wireless sensor platform with an open API that is compatible with smartphone operating systems and encourages third-party app development. NODE originated from a prototype developed by CEO George Yu for a Department of Homeland Security project at NASA’s Ames Research Center. The product launched to strong consumer attention—CNN named NODE the “Coolest Gizmo We Found at CES,” and it received coverage in Forbes and Bloomberg BusinessWeek. Hundreds of NODE modules are already in the hands of early adopters via nodesensors.com, and the company previously ran two Kickstarter campaigns that raised more than $120,000 collectively. Variable plans to use new capital to consolidate efforts on a commercial platform, fund the launch of its first app developer conference, and continue R&D to expand its sensor lineup.

Participated · Seed · Apr 2012

RentStuff.com is a Nashville-based community marketplace that lets users rent items to and from others nearby. The website handles payments, security deposits, and rental agreements, and allows users to post items or search for rentals in a given area. The company launched in August 2011 after graduating Jumpstart Foundry in 2011 and opened its platform to the wider U.S. market in January 2012 following five months of beta testing. Led by CEO Christopher Jaeger, RentStuff.com raised $660K in its first seed round and will use the funds to hire additional engineers and grow the rental platform. The company plans to expand into new cities such as New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and San Francisco and intends to open an office in downtown Chicago in May. The seed financing underscores its early-stage growth initiatives.

Participated · Series A · Sep 2011

Advanced Catheter Therapies (ACT) is a Chattanooga, TN-based research and development medical device company with a portfolio of innovative catheter technologies addressing vascular disease and targeted endovascular drug delivery. Led by CEO Paul J. Fitzpatrick, the company’s lead product is the Occlusion Perfusion Catheter™ (OPC), a multi‑lumen balloon catheter designed to temporarily occlude a specific region to allow targeted delivery of therapeutic and diagnostic agents to the peripheral vasculature. The OPC is disease- and agent-agnostic, can create a localized treatment chamber and place agent circumferentially into the vasculature, and includes inflow and outflow ports for chamber evacuation, filling and flushing. ACT recently received the first limited shipment of the OPC. The device is patented and 510(k) cleared. The company intends to use new funding to bring the OPC to market for targeted applications. Advanced Catheter Therapies develops innovative catheter technologies with an initial focus on vascular disease conditions such as thrombosis, inflammation, occlusions and restenosis. The company’s pipeline centers on the patented Occlusion Perfusion Catheter (OPC), an intravascular agent delivery device. ACT has filed for 510(k) FDA approval for the OPC and is pursuing commercialization or out‑licensing of the technology. The firm is led by CEO Paul J. Fitzpatrick and operates from Chattanooga, Tennessee. The recent financing will fund further device development across ACT’s product pipeline. No operating metrics (revenue/users) were disclosed in the article. Atlanta Catheter Therapies develops a portfolio of catheter technologies aimed at treating vascular disease and preventing restenosis. Its lead product is the Occlusion Perfusion Catheter™ (OPC), an intravascular agent delivery device. The company intends to use new funds to advance and commercialize the OPC and to develop other technologies in its pipeline. It also plans to use proceeds for working capital and general corporate purposes. Atlanta Catheter Therapies is led by CEO Paul J. Fitzpatrick and was founded in 2008 by Dr. Rex Teeslink. The company is based in Chattanooga, TN.