Participated · Seed · Jun 2023

Hopewell Therapeutics, founded in 2021 and based in Woburn, MA, is developing a differentiated lipid nanoparticle platform (ttLNPs) built on an expansive library of ionizable lipids and licensed IP from Tufts University. The company designs systemically administered LNPs that specifically target extrahepatic tissues and cells, with an initial internal pipeline focused on diseases of the lung. Hopewell is also exploring applications of its ttLNP platform for oncology, infectious diseases, rare genetic diseases, and neurological disorders. It has established multiple research relationships and partnerships with industry-leading companies to advance development and commercialization. Leadership includes Scientific Founder Qiaobing Xu, Ph.D. (CTO) and President & CEO Louis Brenner, M.D. The announced financing will fund both internal programs and external partnerships to advance genomic medicines based on the ttLNP platform.

Participated · Seed · Jun 2022

Outland is a Los Angeles-based crypto art platform launched in February 2022. The platform's debut NFT drop, Elemental by Chinese contemporary artist Fang Lijun, reached over 4,000 ETH in primary and secondary sales. In April 2022 Outland released Fragments, a collaboration with artist James Jean consisting of 7,000 editions that sold out within five minutes during the public sale. Fragments brought a total transaction value of 3,7000 ETH. Outland plans to launch Jean’s second project, the artist’s first series of narrative and interactive NFT works, later this year on https://www.adriftworld.io. The company raised $5M in its first seed funding.

Led · Series A · Jun 2022

PPIO provides edge cloud computing services and solutions designed for low latency, high bandwidth, and large-scale distributed processing, serving clients with distributed computing demands across China. The company offers comprehensive capabilities including audio and video management, cloud security, and application performance optimization for customers such as long- and short-video platforms, live-streaming services, and phone manufacturers. PPIO reports deployments in more than 1,000 cities and regions across 30+ provinces in China. Founded in 2018 by Wang Wenyu and Yao Xin, the firm has collaborated with leading Internet companies, first-tier cloud providers and unicorn startups on edge cloud business. PPIO plans to use its latest funding to enhance proprietary technologies and edge infrastructure and to strengthen R&D for ultra-low-latency scenarios including ultra-low-latency live streaming, cloud gaming, cloud rendering, connected vehicles and space digitization. With growing industrial digitization and rising demand for edge solutions, the company positions itself to support time-sensitive, near-real-time processing at the network edge. PPIO began commercial monetization in 2020 and provides edge‑cloud services for low‑latency, high‑bandwidth, compute‑heavy scenarios. The company has deployed micro data centers and distributed compute resources in over 800 Chinese county‑level locations, enabling nationwide dynamic deployment of distributed IaaS and PaaS. It counts more than ten large internet companies, cloud vendors and unicorns as customers, supporting growing edge compute, storage and transmission needs. In 2021 the company’s first three quarters of revenue exceeded ¥100 million. Cumulative financing to date exceeds ¥300 million. PPIO is focused on continuing development of edge‑cloud native technology and expanding commercial deployments in audio‑video, cloud gaming, distributed cloud rendering and edge AI. The business was founded in 2018 by PPTV founder Yao Xin and chief architect Wang Wenyu.

Participated · Seed · Jun 2022

Modern Synthesis develops nanocellulose-based materials and textiles that are ultimately biodegradable and can be textured or formed to mimic leather or spread into thin, wind-resistant films. The company buys nanocellulose from existing producers and processes it into a range of materials, allowing manipulation not possible with simple plant fibers. In 2023 it produced an artificial leather for Danish fashion brand Ganni, which used the material in a handbag containing no petrochemicals. The startup emphasizes that its cellulosic materials decompose into matter similar to that found on a forest floor and do not melt like petrochemical synthetics, making applications such as car dashboards plausible. Founders Jen Keane (CEO) and Ben Reeve (CTO) are working to quintuple production at the pilot plant. The company is also exploring future uses including smart textiles with embedded electronics as well as conventional apparel and interior applications. Modern Synthesis develops a microbial textile platform that leverages bacteria to transform agricultural-waste sugars into nanocellulose, a biodegradable material. Its “microbial weaving” process uses robotics to place scaffolds around which genetically modified bacteria grow materials in roughly 10 to 14 days. The approach lets the company shape pieces during growth (similar to 3D printing), eliminating scraps and enabling customizable biomaterials; it has built a shoe upper and delivered materials to a “key sportswear customer” for prototyping. The startup aims to displace animal- and petrochemical-derived leathers, textiles, and films and to create a new class of sustainable materials. Most of the seed capital will fund a London pilot facility (lab, sampling and pilot production) targeted to be operational by Q3 2022, and to expand the team and R&D capacity.

Participated · Series A · Nov 2021

AI Rudder develops voice-based AI solutions for B2C communications, including speech recognition, text-to-speech, and natural language understanding. Its platform supports more than 15 languages today (English, Chinese, Hindi, Tagalog, Thai, Vietnamese among them) and is used by about 200 companies across banking, fintech, and eCommerce. The company plans to expand language coverage further by adding Arabic, Cantonese, French, German, Japanese, Korean, and Portuguese. AI Rudder intends to use new funding to roughly double headcount to around 300 employees and to serve more clients. Founded in 2019 and headquartered in Singapore, the team focuses on scaling product and commercial reach across additional markets. AI Rudder builds voice AI and voice automation software to help businesses automate B2C communications and reduce call-center costs by automating repetitive tasks and lowering agent workload. Its solutions are used across industries including banking, fintech, and e-commerce, with clients such as Kredivo, Adira Finance, and FinVolution. Founded in July 2019 and based in Singapore, the company focuses on enhancing AI and product capabilities to provide more intelligent voice and language services. In November 2021 AI Rudder raised $10.0M (S$13.5M) in a Series A funding round. Existing investors Zhen Fund, IMO Ventures, Zizhu Xiaomiao Fund, and Huashan Capital participated alongside the co-leads. The company plans to use the funding for growth and expansion into more countries in the Asia Pacific and beyond, and to advance product and AI development.