Participated · Seed · Jul 2026

Respiro Diagnostics is developing a non-invasive liquid biopsy platform that captures DNA, RNA and proteins from exhaled breath using a proprietary breath collection device combined with laboratory analysis. The company positions its technology as an alternative to invasive tissue biopsies and blood-based liquid biopsies, aiming to support earlier diagnosis and provide molecular profiling to guide treatment decisions. Respiro has completed initial proof-of-concept testing in mesothelioma patients and plans to start its first lung cancer clinical study at Aalborg University Hospital in September 2026. The startup is also evaluating applications of its platform for other respiratory conditions such as pulmonary hypertension and asthma. Respiro is UK-based and was founded by Alison Quinn and Dr Theo Issitt. The company recently raised £1 million in a pre-seed round to fund clinical research and further development of its device and laboratory platform.

Participated · Seed · Jun 2020

PharmEnable uses a proprietary platform that combines advanced medicinal chemistry with AI to discover targeted, custom-designed oral small molecules that aim to replicate the specificity of biologics while improving efficacy, absorption and distribution. The platform maps unexplored chemical space to unlock challenging biological targets by designing novel, complex small molecules with improved selectivity and carefully balanced properties. Its small-molecule approach is intended to be easier to scale and manufacture than biologics. PharmEnable has a pipeline of wholly owned oncology programmes and multiple co-discovery projects with pharma and biotech partners, including a collaboration with Sosei Heptares focused on neurological disease. The company plans to use recent financing to advance and expand its wholly owned and co-discovery projects across oncology and neurology and to support further platform R&D. PharmEnable combines advanced medicinal chemistry with AI-enabled tools to predict improved small-molecule hits and design highly complex molecules that mimic natural shapes. Its platform comprises ChemUniverse, a diversity-focused virtual database, and ChemSeek, AI-enabled tools for matching structure and ligand data to targets. The company focuses on addressing challenging and previously undruggable targets such as protein–protein interactions and epitranscriptomic modifications. PharmEnable plans to transition from a service-led business to an in-house drug development company and will invest the new funding into a pipeline across disease areas including cancer and neurodegenerative disease. It will continue strategic partnerships with pharma, innovative biotechs, and academia while expanding its scientific team and leadership. The company is led by co-founder and CEO Dr Hannah Sore and was spun out from the University of Cambridge in 2016; it had been financed to date by its founders and service-based revenues.