Participated · Series A · Jul 2023

TolerogenixX develops personalized cell therapies aimed at inducing donor-specific immune tolerance to prevent organ rejection and treat autoimmune diseases. Its lead product, MIC-Lx, is made from donor peripheral blood mononuclear cells modified by the company's proprietary MIC technology and administered intravenously prior to transplantation. MIC production is fast (manufacturable within 24 hours), scalable and uses leukapheresis-harvested donor cells. Five-year Phase I follow-up data show durable donor-specific immunosuppression, increased regulatory B lymphocytes, stable renal graft function, no donor-specific HLA antibodies or acute rejections, and fewer opportunistic infections versus matched controls. The company has expanded its Phase IIb TOL2 study to include an arm B that tests minimal immunosuppression and weaning off certain drugs. Preclinical data also indicate potential application in autoimmune diseases, and the company is pursuing completion of its Phase II program. TolerogenixX is privately held, was founded in 2016 and is based in Heidelberg, Germany; it recently completed a second Series A closing that increased its funding. TolerogenixX GmbH is a Heidelberg-based developer of a patented and clinically tested cell therapy technique for individualized immunosuppression in transplant patients. The company’s process treats patients' white blood cells to induce targeted disabling of undesired immune reactions. In a Phase I clinical trial applied during kidney transplants, treated patients became tolerant of the donated organ. TolerogenixX was founded at Heidelberg University Hospital and is led by CEO Dr. Matthias Schaier. The company plans to pursue further applications in transplantation of other organs and in the causal treatment of autoimmune diseases. It raised seed funding from High‑Tech Gründerfonds and intends to use the proceeds to finance preparations for a Phase II clinical trial beginning in spring 2018.

Led · Series C · Jun 2021

mymoria, founded in 2015 in Berlin, operates an online platform for full funeral planning and web-based funeral pre-planning. The company has digitized and optimized the end-to-end processes of arranging funerals, enabling bereaved families to organize cost-transparent services from home and allowing individuals to plan their own funerals online. mymoria has introduced digital features such as an online condolence book and live streaming of memorial services. The founders, Björn Wolff and Peter Kautz, lead a team of around 25 employees. To date the company reports having supported over 1,000 customers in Germany. mymoria plans to use new funding to accelerate growth in Germany, expand its services internationally, and develop additional digital services around funerals. mymoria is a digital funeral home that combines online funeral services with physical funeral boutiques. Last year the previously digital-only company opened its first boutiques in Cologne and Munich and plans to open more locations this year. The company has established its own transfer service across Germany to implement logistics for the entire group. mymoria is pursuing growth through acquisitions and the integration of traditional funeral homes into the digitally driven mymoria Group. Management aims to grow into the German market leader within the next three years. The company closed a Series C financing round of around €15 million to fund these expansion plans. Mymoria is a Berlin-based digital funeral company that lets users order a full funeral online and provides digital services such as a digital condolence book and live broadcast of funerals. The company was co-founded by Björn Krämer, Peter Kautz and Heiko Reintsch. The team is currently made up of 15 employees. Mymoria raised a seven digit Series A financing round to support its growth. The company will use the funds to keep investing in its core offerings, add new features to its product and internationalize its services. Backers on the round included Egora Holdings and existing investors btov Partners AG, Howzat Partners and VC Fonds Kreativwirtschaft Berlin (managed by IBB Beteiligungsgesellschaft).