Participated · Seed · Apr 2026

Carbonyx commercializes a process developed at the University of British Columbia that treats waste rock and other industrial wastes to recover valuable materials such as carbonates and silica while enhancing the materials' natural ability to capture CO2 via electrically induced reactions with water. The company was born in UBC’s Curtis P. Berlinguette Research Group and is led by co-founder and CEO Doug Pimlott, with Berlinguette as co-founder and advisor and a team that includes head of engineering Adrien Noble and PhD chemist Mia Stankovic. Carbonyx is building a shipping-container-sized demonstration unit intended to move production from kilograms per year to multi-tonnes, with an anticipated commercial-scale-like deployment in two to three years and a goal of megatonne-scale extraction within 10 years. The startup plans to broaden its recovered- materials portfolio over time to include critical minerals and rare earth elements while generating revenue from the materials it sells to make carbon removal economically viable.

Participated · Seed · Nov 2025

CereCura Nanotherapeutics is a Vancouver-based spin-out from the University of British Columbia that uses lipid nanoparticle–ribonucleic acid (LNP-RNA) technology—first popularized in COVID-19 vaccines—to ferry genetic instructions into the brain. Its lead candidate targets neuronopathic Gaucher disease by supplying mRNA for the missing enzyme glucocerebrosidase, and the same platform is being advanced for Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s indications. In pre-clinical studies the company has successfully delivered multiple proteins to rodent brains with a week-long half-life, overcoming the blood-brain barrier that limits conventional enzyme replacement therapies. The science is guided by LNP pioneer and co-founder Pieter Cullis alongside CEO and neuroscientist Louis-Philippe Bernier. Management intends to build a pipeline of pre-clinically validated assets that can move quickly toward clinical development. CereCura has raised C$2.2 million in equity financing to date and secured more than C$4 million in government grants, funding upcoming efficacy work in rodents and larger animals.

Participated · Seed · May 2020

Sonic Incytes Medical develops Velacur™, a handheld, point-of-care 3D liver health assessment solution that quantifies liver disease with technology similar to MRI elastography combined with 3D tissue sampling. Velacur is FDA-cleared, non-invasive, delivers results in about five minutes, and was launched in the U.S. market in early 2021. The device is intended to provide consistently accurate, real-time liver diagnostics in a physician’s office as an alternative to biopsy and MRI. Sonic Incytes positions the product as accessible and affordable to enable routine assessment and improved management of chronic liver disease. The company emphasizes reducing fatty liver disease and improving patient care through point-of-care ultrasound diagnostics. Founded in 2017 and headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sonic Incytes spun out of the University of British Columbia. Sonic Incytes Medical develops a portable, handheld point-of-care ultrasound solution for assessing and managing chronic liver disease, with a focus on fatty liver disease. The device uses technology similar to MRI elastography and quantifies liver disease using 3D tissue sampling to provide consistently accurate, real-time results. The company says the entire procedure takes about five minutes and offers a quick, safe, and comfortable alternative to biopsy and MRI. Sonic Incytes plans to enter the market at the end of 2020. Financially, it completed a seed financing round of over CDN$3.5 million, including a $1 million investment from Genome BC and over $2.5 million from institutional and angel investors. Founded in 2017 and headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sonic Incytes aims to commercialize its solution to improve diagnosis, treatment and management of liver disease.

Participated · Equity · Apr 2017

Microdermics is a Vancouver, Canada–based developer of an innovative microneedle platform for delivery of vaccines and biologics. Its microneedles are less than 1 mm long and are designed to deliver medicine into the upper dermis, avoiding blood vessels and nerve tissue. The approach aims to be less painful and to produce more efficient and improved biological responses. The technology is built on research at the University of British Columbia. Led by Grant Campany (president and CEO), the company plans to use new funding for scale-up and clinical validation studies to support current and future corporate collaborations. The company recently closed a $1M financing round to advance these efforts.

Participated · Seed · Apr 2016

Acuva Technologies develops water purification systems using UVC-LED technology developed at the University of British Columbia, combining UV disinfection with LED energy efficiency. Its IntenseBeam technology increases available UV power through optical lensing, and the company sells UVC-LED disinfection modules via its Strike platform. Acuva has formed partnerships with original equipment manufacturers of water, ice, and beverage appliances in the Philippines, China, India, and Europe. The company says demand for its products is growing and plans to use new capital to meet that demand and to fund growth of teams in Canada and overseas. Acuva was founded in 2014 by CEO Manoj Singh and CTO Fariborz Taghipour and is based in Burnaby, BC. The company has received prior financing including a Series A in 2018 and recent financing from Genome BC, and it lists previous investors such as BDC Capital, Interwest Enterprises, and entrepreneurship@UBC Ventures. Acuva Technologies is developing UV-LED technology for water purification that can be inserted into consumer and commercial water, ice, and beverage dispensing appliances. Its modules achieve microbial disinfection rates up to 99.9999 percent without adding chemicals. The technology is positioned as a drop-in alternative to conventional mercury UV lamp systems, helping manufacturers comply with the Minamata Convention. Acuva is partnering with original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to bring its modules to market. The company says the technology can reduce reliance on single-use plastic bottles and improve access to safe drinking water. Recently Acuva received $1 million from Genome BC’s Industry Innovation (I²) program to support early-stage commercialization; the I² funding is repayable. Acuva Technologies builds compact, energy-efficient UVC-LED water treatment products that combine UV disinfection with LED efficiency and optical lensing. Its product lines include Arrow and Eco point-of-use drinking water systems for home, mobile and off-grid use, and the Strike platform of customizable UV-LED modules for OEM integration. The company positions its technology as a sustainable alternative to conventional mercury UV lamp systems in line with the Minamata Convention. Advanced applications mentioned in the article include integration into lab water equipment. Acuva received funding to support development and commercialization of its technology and to hire additional local staff to support rapid growth. The company is based in Vancouver, British Columbia. Acuva Technologies is a Vancouver-based clean technology company that provides a microbial water purification system called Arrow using UV-LED technology developed at the University of British Columbia. The company is led by CEO Manoj Singh and CTO Dr. Fariborz Taghipour. Acuva is currently selling products for recreational boats and vehicles and for off-grid home use. It closed an $850K first seed round of funding. Backers included Vancouver-based angel investors, the entrepreneurship@UBC Seed Fund and BDC Capital. The company intends to use the funds to expand operations.