Participated · Seed · Dec 2024

Brightly operates an AI-based platform that quantifies methane emissions avoided when nonprofit Food Rescue Organizations (FROs) divert edible food from landfills and converts those avoided emissions into marketable carbon credits. The platform uses robust datasets, including USDA and EPA resources, to calculate avoided methane with the intent of producing high-quality, food waste–based carbon credits. Those credits are sold to food producers, manufacturers, and retailers, and proceeds are routed to FROs to enable them to rescue more food and feed more people. The company positions itself at the intersection of climate mitigation and food-security impact, targeting methane reduction from landfilled food waste. Brightly is an 18-month-old startup that recently closed an oversubscribed seed financing, indicating early market interest and investor support. The raise is intended to scale credit generation and expand financial support for food-rescue operations.

Participated · Seed · Jul 2023

Materials Nexus develops an AI and quantum-mechanics driven platform that predicts the properties of novel material compositions, reducing the need for physical experiments. The team has built proprietary datasets and machine-learning algorithms to accelerate materials discovery. The company targets sustainable technologies including renewable energy generation, batteries, semiconductors and superconductors for green applications. Led by founder and CEO Jonathan Bean, the team includes computational physicist Robert Forrest, chemist Dr Jon Pillow and commercial lead Nic Stirk. Materials Nexus plans to use the new funding to accelerate development and run real-world projects to demonstrate its AI technologies. The company is based in London and focuses on rapidly identifying alternative materials that can replace current, less sustainable components.

Participated · Seed · Apr 2023

Rebel Tech develops patent-pending deep-tech tooling, including a laser that separates a smartphone's glass from its electronic display. The company says its process can perform separations at a cost of €39 versus up to €700 with current market methods. Rebel Tech is Berlin-based and aims to scale its technologies across more electronic devices, from laptops to electric vehicles. Founder and CEO Jack De Santis positions the company to address repairability gaps as devices become more like computers. The startup emphasizes extending device lifespans to reduce production and e-waste. Financially, Rebel Tech has secured a €1.5 million Pre-Seed funding round to accelerate growth and product development.

Led · Equity · Feb 2022

Solivus is a UK-based solar energy startup that develops ultra-thin, flexible organic thin-film (OPV) solar panels that can be wrapped around flat roofs and used in portable home systems. Its products include flexible panels for warehouses, stadiums and offices, and a plug-and-play 'Solivus Arc' portable solar sculpture for homeowners built from organic solar film in a recyclable structure. The company is trialing the technology on projects including Cotswold airport, which it says will be the first airport to fit organic solar film to hangars and to help power the site and a new generation of hydrogen aircraft. Solivus plans to commercially roll out the portable Solivus Arcs and use the new funding to expand across the UK built environment and residential market. It will join the Founders Factory G-Force sustainability seed programme for six months to rapidly scale the business. To date Solivus has raised a total of £5 million and will use the fresh £2.4 million to support its expansion and commercialisation plans.

Participated · Series B · Apr 2011

Cellular Dynamics International is a Madison, Wisconsin–based industrial manufacturer of human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and tissue cells used in biomedical and pharmaceutical drug development and safety research. The company develops and markets iCell® products, including iCell Cardiomyocytes. It plans to launch new iCell iPSC lines as well as iCell Endothelial Cells, iCell Neurons, and iCell Hepatocytes. CDI intends to increase production capacity for its iCell Cardiomyocytes and to expand its commercial organization. The company was founded by CSO James A. Thomson and is led by Chairman and CEO Robert Palay. CDI has raised a total of $100m since 2004. Cellular Dynamics produces induced pluripotent stem cell–derived human cells, launching beating heart cells as its first commercial product in December. The company converts adult tissue and blood samples into iPS cells that can be differentiated into more than 200 cell types for drug researchers. It will use the $40.6 million infusion to scale production of its heart cells and expand manufacturing capacity. Management plans to develop liver, nerve and blood vessel cell products and expects to launch all three in 2011, though sequencing has not been decided. Last year the company’s sales were described as being in the multimillions; it has 80 employees and currently conducts manufacturing in Madison. Longer term, Cellular Dynamics aims to produce personalized stem cell lines based on an individual’s blood and tissue for individualized drug testing.