Participated · Seed · Feb 2018

ThruPore Technologies develops catalysis technologies that control the pore size of catalyst support structures to increase accessible surface area and catalytic performance. The company’s approach creates roughly 50 percent more accessible surface area and, the company says, produces catalysts six times more active than competitors. ThruPore was cofounded in 2012 at the University of Alabama by CEO Dr. Franchessa Sayler and professor Martin Bakker and is headquartered in New Castle. The company raised its first institutional funding in this seed round. With the capital raised, ThruPore will be eligible for a potential two-to-one matching grant through the NSF SBIR Phase IIB Program. The article references a product demonstration video illustrating the technology.

Participated · Series A · May 2015

QR Pharma, headquartered in Berwyn, Pennsylvania, is a clinical-stage specialty pharmaceutical company focused on novel therapeutics for cognitive impairment in neurological disorders. Its lead compound, Posiphen, is described as neuroprotective and is reported to inhibit synthesis of neurotoxic aggregating proteins to protect nerve cells. The company plans to use the new funding to continue development of Posiphen, build a pipeline, and support completion of a phase II clinical study in Alzheimer's patients. QR has completed animal studies in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease models and is expanding Posiphen's application to Huntington's disease, glaucoma, and traumatic brain injury. Non-equity funding noted in the article includes $2M from the NIH for a phase II study and a $3M award from the U.S. Army for traumatic brain injury work. QR Pharma is a clinical-stage specialty pharmaceutical company headquartered in Berwyn, Pennsylvania, focused on developing therapeutics for cognitive impairment in neurological disorders. Its lead compound, Posiphen, is described as a neuroprotective agent that inhibits synthesis of neurotoxic aggregating proteins to protect nerve cells. QR has completed animal studies in Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease models and is expanding Posiphen’s application to Huntington’s, glaucoma and traumatic brain injury. The company also has a second program, BNC, for advanced Alzheimer’s disease. QR was awarded $3M from the US Army for work in traumatic brain injury and has been selected by the NIH for a human Phase II clinical trial in Alzheimer’s patients. The company says it will use the recent financing to study Posiphen in additional indications and to support completion of a Phase II Alzheimer’s study. QR Pharma is a specialty pharmaceutical company based in Berwyn, Pennsylvania, developing novel treatments for neurodegenerative disorders. Its lead candidate, Posiphen®, is in clinical development targeting early-stage Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease to stop or slow progression. The company is also advancing BNC, a program aimed at stabilizing decline in late-stage Alzheimer’s. QR Pharma focuses on therapies for Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and other neurodegenerative disorders. Financially, the company has received investments from Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Southeastern Pennsylvania, including a recent $110K follow-on and a prior $500K investment. Maria Maccecchini, Ph.D., is Founder, CEO & President, and John Bennett is COO. QR Pharma is a Radnor, Pennsylvania–based specialty pharmaceutical company focused on developing novel therapeutics to treat Alzheimer’s disease and cognitive impairment. Its pipeline centers on two compound programs: Posiphen® and Bisnorcymserine (BNC). The company plans to advance clinical development of both programs. QR opened a seed financing round a year earlier and has now closed commitments totaling $2.4M. Named investors include BioAdvance, Ben Franklin Technology Partner and undisclosed business angels alongside other private investor funds. The capital infusion will support the clinical development activities for the Posiphen and BNC programs.

Participated · Seed · Jul 2013

Hulafrog operates a network of hyperlocal web guides for suburban parents, combining a daily event calendar with a parent-rated business directory. The service is available via web, mobile and email and is live in 28 suburban markets. It helps parents find events and businesses for kids such as parades, puppet shows, music lessons, karate studios, birthday venues, fairs, and kid-friendly restaurants. The company sells advertising to local businesses and national brands including Mathnasium, Bounce U and Gymboree, and shares revenue with the publishers who run each market. Hulafrog was founded in 2010 by Sherry Lombardi and Kerry Bowbliss and is based in Atlantic Highlands, NJ. The company intends to use the new capital to broaden its product offering and grow its national presence.

Led · Seed · Jul 2011

Novira Therapeutics is developing NVR 3-778, a small‑molecule antiviral that inhibits the hepatitis B virus core/capsid protein. The company recently released Phase 1b data showing NVR 3-778 was well‑tolerated in 40 subjects. According to a regulatory filing, Novira raised $9 million in debt from 10 investors. Last year the startup completed a $25 million Series A with investors that included Versant Ventures, 5AM Ventures and Canaan Partners. The article frames the fundraise against a sizable global hepatitis B burden, with WHO estimates cited on infection prevalence and chronic cases. No founding year or location is provided in the article. Novira Therapeutics is a Radnor, PA-based antiviral drug discovery company led by Osvaldo Flores, Ph.D. It focuses on discovery of antiviral therapeutics for the treatment of chronic HBV infection. The company develops oral drugs that target the capsid of the virus and are intended for use both as monotherapy and in combination with current standards of care. Novira completed a $25M Series A financing and secured an additional $7.5M investment. Versant Ventures joined 5AM Ventures and Canaan Partners in the financing, and Gianni Gromo of Versant joined the company's board. Scott M. Rocklage (5AM Ventures) and Tim Shannon (Canaan Partners) had joined the board at the first close in August 2012. Novira Therapeutics is a privately held antiviral drug discovery company focused on developing novel, first‑in‑class therapeutics for HBV and HIV. Its lead programs bind to and disrupt the viral capsid (core) protein to block assembly and infection, aiming to prevent production of new infectious virus and entry into new cells. The company plans to complete optimization work on its lead program and advance its capsid assembly inhibition technology toward the clinic. Novira completed a second round of seed financing that brings its early financing to approximately $2.5 million and secured an additional $1.0 million in non‑dilutive grants. The financing round included participation from regional angel groups and BioAdvance, and resulted in an angel designee joining the board and a board observer appointment. Novira was launched in 2009 and is headquartered in Radnor, Pennsylvania.