Participated · Seed · Feb 2022

Wavely Diagnostics builds a smartphone-based diagnostic app that turns a phone into an acoustic tool to detect fluid in a child’s ear, enabling data-driven virtual pediatric ear infection care. The process is non-invasive, requires no additional hardware or special training, and is designed to give parents and providers reliable answers from home. The platform completed a phase I pilot and is currently in a phase II pilot with a leading U.S. health system. Wavely plans a broad public app store launch in late 2023 and intends to expand its diagnostics to enable nearly 70% of acute pediatric visits to shift to virtual care. Financially, the company has secured investor and grant funding totaling $6.35M to date, including a $1.8M Phase II SBIR grant for remote diagnostics awarded by the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities. The company is currently offering the app to healthcare systems for pilots while preparing for wide-scale commercialization. Wavely Diagnostics is building smartphone-based digital diagnostics that turn a phone plus a paper funnel into a non-invasive acoustic tool for pediatric assessment, starting with ear infections. Its first product helps parents determine signs of possible ear infection and connects families to virtual physicians who can prescribe treatment. The app is designed to be user-friendly and requires no special hardware beyond a simple paper funnel. Wavely intends to expand the telehealth-integrated platform to offer additional virtual pediatric care solutions beyond ear infections. The company is preparing a commercial launch in spring 2022 and aims first at parents and at-home consumers, then at healthcare partners. Financially, Wavely has raised seed capital and received non-dilutive grant funding to advance product development.

Participated · Series B · Aug 2021

ICON develops large-scale 3D printers and materials to construct homes and other structures, and launched its first permitted 3D‑printed house after debuting at SXSW in 2018. The company is focused on deploying Phoenix, a new line of multi‑story robotic 3D printers that use a low‑carbon building material and aim to put the technology into the hands of builders. ICON still designs and builds a selection of projects itself across residential, hospitality, social/affordable housing and Department of Defense work. Over the years the company says it has 3D‑printed nearly 200 homes and structures in the U.S. and Mexico. The startup has raised more than $500 million to date, recently underwent a workforce realignment that included letting go of 114 employees, and presently has about 200 employees. Former presidential candidate and Congressman Will Hurd, a prior investor, has joined ICON’s board. ICON develops and constructs homes using 3D printing technology. Its core product is 3D-printed houses. The article reports that ICON raised $185 million. The piece does not provide details on investors, the financing instrument, valuation, or terms. No operating metrics (revenue, user numbers, or number of homes built) are given in the article. Reader comments on the article noted that the cost of the homes was not stated. ICON is an Austin, Texas‑based construction technology company that builds 3D‑printed single‑family homes and larger structures using proprietary Vulcan printing systems, robotics and advanced materials. Its Vulcan technology is positioned to produce resilient, energy‑efficient homes faster and with less waste; the new Vulcan can print up to 3,000 sq ft and is reported to be 1.5x larger and 2x faster than the prior system. The company has delivered more than two dozen 3D‑printed homes and structures across the U.S. and Mexico, including projects for homeless and low‑income populations with partners such as New Story and Mobile Loaves & Fishes. ICON has expanded into mainstream housing (including homes for sale) and launched an Exploration Series (House Zero) optimized for 3D printing, and it is working with NASA on habitat projects including Mars Dune Alpha. The company reports roughly 400% year‑over‑year revenue growth nearly every year, has tripled its team to over 100 employees and expects to double headcount within the next year. ICON says it will use new funding to scale construction of 3D‑printed homes, accelerate R&D and advance its space‑based construction efforts. Icon develops advanced construction technologies centered on proprietary 3D-printing robotics, software and advanced materials. The company intends to use the new funds to expand its team across robotics, off-planet construction, materials science, software engineering, architecture, building science and operations. It will also accelerate development of its printers, create a variety of home types and designs, and enhance its core technology stack. The $35M Series A brings Icon’s total funding since launch to $44M. Icon previously announced $9M in seed funding in October 2018 led by Oakhouse Partners with participation from Cielo Property Group, D.R. Horton and Emaar, among others. Led by co-founder and CEO Jason Ballard and based in Austin, Texas, Icon has launched printers and printed a home (March 2018), introduced its Vulcan technology stack in 2019, and delivered projects in the U.S. and Mexico. In 2020 it delivered 3D-printed homes in Mexico with nonprofit New Story, completed homes for the chronically homeless in Austin with Mobile Loaves & Fishes, and partnered with the Defense Innovation Unit and U.S. Marine Corps on a field demonstration at Camp Pendleton; additional projects will be announced. ICON develops 3D‑printing robotics (the Vulcan printer), software and advanced materials to transform homebuilding. The company is focused on making affordable, dignified and sustainable housing available worldwide. In March 2018 ICON unveiled its first 3D‑printed home in Austin and secured a building permit. ICON plans to deliver strategic signature projects in the U.S. and abroad and to continue work with the nonprofit partner New Story. A second‑generation Vulcan printer is under development and slated for unveiling in 2019. The company is expanding its team with technical hires in robotics, advanced materials and software engineering.