Led · Equity · Oct 2023

Gen-t Science is creating a large genetic and health database by sequencing genomes and following volunteers longitudinally to accelerate precision and preventive medicine. Its core work is population genomics, with a focus on underrepresented socioeconomic groups (classes C and D) to address diversity gaps in global genomic datasets. The startup partners with low-income clinic chain Dr. Consulta and with municipal governments (pilot work in Amazonas and São Paulo) to recruit participants. As of the article, Gen-t has recruited 7,000 participants, expects 10,000 by year-end, aims for 25,000 by 2024, and plans to sequence 200,000 Brazilian genomes by 2026; it reported sequencing 4,000 genomes by 2022. Volunteer enrolment runs at roughly 800–900 people per month. The company says legal and consent-related investments are substantial, and it plans to leverage private-sector scale to become an accelerator of radical innovation and eventually a biotech. Gen-t is collecting genomic data from Brazilian patients to enrich biotech and medical research with the country’s diverse population. Founded by Lygia da Veiga Pereira, the company partners with Dr. Consulta, a network of medical centers in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, and initially runs efforts across four clinics in São Paulo. After a soft launch in June, Gen-t has over 200 active participants and is currently recruiting people aged 45 and older. The company aims to enroll more than 200,000 participants and maintain contact with each over a five‑year period or longer. Gen-t plans to make its platform available to academia to broaden research on Brazil’s genetics. It raised 10 million Brazilian reais (about $2 million USD) in a pre‑seed funding round led by Eduardo Mufarej with participation from Armínio Fraga, Daniel Gold of QVT Financial LP and Roivant Sciences. The round's proceeds will be used to build technical teams and begin clinical research.

Participated · Series B · Aug 2023

Abcuro develops immunotherapies intended to benefit people with debilitating and progressive rare autoimmune diseases by selectively targeting and depleting highly cytotoxic T cells. Its lead program, ulviprubart, is a monoclonal antibody that targets killer cell lectin like receptor G1 (KLRG1) and is currently being evaluated for the treatment of Inclusion Body Myositis (IBM). The company plans to use proceeds from the Series D to support a new potentially registrational clinical study of ulviprubart in patients with less severe IBM. Abcuro is led by CEO Alex Martin and is based in Newton, MA. Financially, it has just completed a $66M Series D financing led by New Leaf Venture Partners with participation from a broad syndicate of life sciences and strategic investors.

Led · Equity · May 2020

Psicologia Viva operates an online platform that offers psychological consultations and recently added telemedicine solutions for corporate and individual clients. The company serves both direct consumers and more than 200 corporate clients, and its customers include Grupo Algar, Azul Linhas Aéreas, Avon, Roche and Siemens, as well as operator clients such as Porto Seguro, SulAmérica, Care Plus and various Unimeds. Founded in 2015 in Minas Gerais, the startup has expanded physically into Chile and reports patients across Latin America, with a stated goal to strengthen regional participation in 2020. The platform reported more than 18,000 consultations in March, a 200% increase month-over-month amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Management says it will use new capital to improve platform security and modernity, invest in marketing and commercial teams, and develop new digital-health solutions and services.