Led · Equity · Aug 2026

Founded in 2020, Letara commercializes hybrid rocket combustion technology originating from work at Hokkaido University by its co-CEOs Shota Hirai and Landon Thomas Kamps. Its hybrid engines use a plastic-based fuel (HTPB) paired with an oxidizer, which the company says is safer to handle than many conventional fuels while maintaining performance. Letara initially focused on miniaturized in-space thrusters but has expanded ambitions to build both satellite thrusters and scalable launch-class hybrid engines. Its in-development product lines include two spacecraft thrusters for satellite propulsion and one hybrid engine designed for launch vehicles and point-to-point logistics. The company raised ¥2.6B ($16M) in a pre-Series A to advance these development efforts, backed by a mix of U.S. and Japanese venture and strategic investors.

Participated · Convertible Note · Jul 2026

Rege Nephro is developing therapies for kidney disease and is advancing a clinical pipeline in the renal space. The company is preparing for clinical trials and is using interim financing to accelerate R&D and pipeline advancement. Its recent bridge financing is intended to extend cash runway and de-risk near-term development milestones ahead of a larger Series C. Rege Nephro says this capital raise is part of a longer-term strategy to strengthen its position in renal therapies. The company plans to pursue a Series C in autumn 2026 and beyond as it progresses clinical and development activities.

Participated · Equity · Jun 2026

Beren Therapeutics P.B.C. is a founder-led biotech focused on discovery, development, and commercialization of cyclodextrin-based therapies that address defective intracellular cholesterol trafficking. Its lead program, adrabetadex, is under Priority Review by the U.S. FDA with a PDUFA target action date of November 17, 2026, and has been studied in clinical trials and expanded access programs since 2021. The company has built patient access and family support initiatives and intends to prepare for a potential U.S. commercial launch if adrabetadex is approved. Beren describes itself as a public benefit company that integrates patient, caregiver, clinician, and health-system needs into development and access planning. The recent $300 million financing package is intended to support commercial readiness and long-term care infrastructure and aims to position the company to be financially self-sustaining through potential commercialization. Beren is headquartered in Thousand Oaks, California.

Participated · Seed · May 2026

ATOM develops Japan-made bipedal, dual-armed humanoid robots powered by what it calls Physical AI, enabling perception, decision-making, and real-world action. The company builds both the robot hardware and AI foundation models in-house, using data from operations to iterate on design and software. It targets factory and warehouse tasks such as transport, replenishment, and kitting, aiming to address labour shortages in Japan. ATOM was founded by CEO Shunsuke Aoki and is based in Tokyo. Following the ¥3B seed round, the company plans to hire AI engineers and expand its robotics and business infrastructure to move toward deployment. The article notes the sector is capital-intensive and competitive, with commercialization challenges typical of humanoid robotics.

Participated · Series C · May 2026

Toregem BioPharma is developing TRG-035, an experimental antibody therapy designed to neutralize USAG-1, a protein that suppresses tooth formation, with the goal of reactivating dormant tooth buds and prompting natural tooth development. The company’s initial clinical focus is on patients with congenital tooth agenesis, with broader potential envisioned for stimulating a “third dentition” to treat tooth loss from aging, decay, or injury. Preclinical evidence of tooth regeneration has come primarily from animal studies (mice), while human testing to date has focused on safety. Toregem launched a Phase I trial at Kyoto University Hospital in October 2024 that enrolled 30 healthy adult men missing at least one molar; recruitment was reported to have stopped by March 2026 and the study is operationally complete, though full results have not been published. Toregem has secured a mix of equity financing and non-dilutive support (grants and subsidies) and reports cumulative funding above $29 million. The company is using its recent Pre-Series C proceeds to advance Phase II trials in Japan and to prepare for clinical development in the United States.