Participated · Seed · Nov 2024

iFAST Diagnostics is developing the iFAST One, an ultra-rapid antimicrobial susceptibility test system that leverages impedance flow cytometry to measure electrical properties of bacteria from positive blood culture samples. The platform can provide AST results in less than three hours and is priced comparably to the standard of care. The company received the UK Conformity Assessed (UKCA) mark for the system earlier this year. To support commercialization, iFAST closed a £5 million financing round and obtained a £2.1 million non-dilutive loan from Innovate UK. The new funding is earmarked to expand UK rollout, pursue EU regulatory approval, and accelerate regulatory and clinical programs in the US.

Participated · Series C · Oct 2024

Nuclera is a biotechnology company building eProtein Discovery, a desktop platform that integrates cell-free protein expression, digital microfluidics, and high-throughput screening to give researchers rapid access to purified proteins. The system reduces the time, cost, and uncertainty of protein production, allowing scientists to identify and validate candidates earlier in the drug-discovery process. With its latest focus on AI-enabled protein engineering, Nuclera is adding antibody-specific capabilities so users can perform end-to-end expression, purification, and binding validation of full-format antibodies on the same device. These new features are designed to generate large, standardized data sets suitable for training advanced machine-learning models in biologics R&D. Management positions the platform as a foundational tool for the fast-growing biologics segment, aiming to shorten therapeutic discovery timelines. The firm’s ongoing development is backed by considerable venture financing, now totaling $87 million in Series C capital.

Participated · Series A · Sep 2020

SigmaSense LLC, based in Austin, Texas, is a global leader in touch sensing performance. The company develops SigmaVision®, a digital-transformation sensing technology that provides a touchless experience by using touch sensors across devices from mobile phones and laptops to large monitors and digital signage. SigmaSense offers semiconductor and software solutions for touch sensing and HMI applications. It plans to use the Series B proceeds to expand its reach in the touch and HMI markets and to deploy its solutions across automotive, mobile phones, laptops, digital signage and kiosks. The company closed a $24M Series B to fund that expansion. As part of the raise, Aurelio Fernandez joined SigmaSense’s Board of Managers to support rapid scaling over the next 18 months. SigmaSense positions itself as a global leader in touch screen performance, offering semiconductor products along with development tools and support. Its core technologies—SigmaDrive, SigmaVision, and SigmaHover—deliver dramatically improved signal-to-noise ratios and enable touch, pressure, object detection, and touchless multi-layer interaction. The company targets a wide set of end markets including mobile devices, laptops, large interactive digital signage, kiosks, automotive, medical and industrial applications. SigmaSense says its technology enables new sensor materials and lower system costs, and is particularly suited to gaming, tabletop, and rugged outdoor displays. The business plans to capitalize on post-COVID demand for touchless interfaces and to pursue broad vertical integration opportunities across the $4.7 billion touch controller market and the $100+ billion global display market. SigmaSense is headquartered in north Austin with development in Boise, Idaho and customer/engineering support in Taiwan.