Participated · Seed · Jul 2023

River BioMedics is a cardiovascular drug-discovery firm that combines in-house bio-engineering technology with heart biology to create 3D human cardiac models, including hiPSC-derived 3D cardiac strips. The company is developing a portfolio of disease-modifying small-molecule therapeutics aimed at genetically verified cardiac targets, with an initial emphasis on heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Its 3D cardiac strip technology is intended to provide in‑vitro human proof-of-concept early in discovery to improve preclinical-to-clinical translation and is applicable to multiple heart conditions. River BioMedics plans to use newly raised capital to advance compound development for its flagship HFpEF programme and to continue work on earlier-stage pipeline projects toward lead selection. In January the company also received EIC funding to scale hiPSC-3D cardiac strips to high-throughput settings and an EIC Pathfinder grant to develop a pumping human Mini-heart as part of a consortium. The company was founded as a University of Twente spin-out and conducts research associated with LUMC.

Participated · Seed · Jan 2022

Periculum builds credit analytics and data‑analysis tools that combine financial and non‑financial datasets to help lenders assess customers' creditworthiness. Launched in 2019, the startup has clients across Africa, South America, and North America and participated in Techstars Toronto in 2021. It offers both credit scoring and broader data analytics services and monetizes via API-call fees or subscription charges. Periculum plans to establish a separate entity and focus strictly on the Nigerian market and has hired Damilola Aluede as managing director of its Nigerian division. The platform uses existing data such as NIN and BVN for customers engaged in the economy and intends to draw on mobile transaction data to score underserved individuals. The company identifies obtaining broad, high-quality data sources in Nigeria as its biggest operational challenge. Founder Michael Temitope Collins developed the product based on his experience at Canadian banks and research into underserved customers.

Participated · Seed · Oct 2021

Klasha builds a payments platform and API stack that enables merchants and enterprises to collect, send, and hold exotic and hard currencies via virtual multi-currency accounts, collection and payout APIs, and cross-border wire services. The company focuses on seamless B2B payment rails between Asian and African markets and already works with Asian PSSPs and companies such as Coda Pay, Fomo Pay, Easy Transfer and the Chinese Chamber of Commerce in Yiwu. Klasha collects and sends over 120 currencies and targets fast terminations in multiple currencies at competitive prices. With the new funding it plans to expand its B2B cross-border payment capabilities in Asia, including opening a new office in Hangzhou, China. The company has obtained an MSB license to operate in the United States, authorizing it to act as a currency exchange and money transmitter. Founded in 2021 by Jess Anuna and based in San Francisco, Klasha has raised a total of $6.5M to date. Klasha provides a suite of business- and consumer-facing products connected via one API to streamline cross-border commerce in Africa. Its merchant products include KlashaCheckout (collect payments from six African countries and pay out in G20 currencies), KlashaWire (local-currency supplier payouts) and Payment Links for merchants without storefronts. On the consumer side Klasha offers virtual cards in Nigeria, Ghana and Kenya and a retail-facing app, KlashaCart, which is live in Nigeria and will expand to Kenya soon; the company also operates a logistics arm to deliver purchases. Klasha makes revenue through sales commissions and merchant subscriptions for analytics. The company reports growth of 20% month-on-month in merchant acquisitions and 17.5% month-on-month in transaction volume, has processed more than 210,000 transactions from over 1,700 merchants, and grown its consumer base to about 45,000 customers. Klasha plans to revamp its app to enable retailers such as ASOS, Zara and H&M to accept payments from African consumers and to expand its platform across more markets. Klasha offers a suite of payments and logistics products to help African consumers buy from international merchants and for merchants to accept African payments. Its core products include Klasha Checkout (local-currency checkout with bank, card, USSD, M-Pesa and mobile money), KlashaWire (settlements to merchants in dollars or euros) and payment links, plus a mobile app that issues virtual cards and supports send/receive in Nigeria, Ghana and Kenya. The company also manages logistics via third-party partners to deliver goods from Europe and the U.S. in roughly five to nine days. Klasha generates revenue from sales commissions and subscription fees for merchant analytics. Since a relaunch in May it has processed more than 20,000 transactions, reports 10,000 customers across Nigeria, Ghana and Kenya, and says it is growing 366% month-on-month. Klasha plans to expand into three more African countries before year-end and aims to help retailers such as ASOS, Zara and H&M accept payments from African consumers.

Led · Seed · Jun 2021

Vetsie builds a communications and virtual-care platform for veterinarians and a companion mobile app for pet owners, featuring monetized messaging, paid instant chat, integrated payments, scheduling, and medical note export. The company launched a beta in Alberta and British Columbia in November and plans a nationwide Canadian public launch in mid-July, with availability planned for certain U.S. states and California. Founded last year by Alex Chieng and veterinarian Steve Boyer, Vetsie has a five-person team and intends to add technicians and onboard more vets as it scales. The startup says proceeds will be used to promote the platform across Canada and California and to grow the team. Longer-term product plans include an e-commerce marketplace for pet supplies and expansion to connect owners with groomers, trainers, and other service professionals. Vetsie positions its product as a scalable virtual-care solution aimed at addressing increased pet-adoption demand and pandemic-driven gaps in veterinary access.