Participated · Equity · Sep 2024

F2G is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of novel therapies to treat invasive fungal infections. The company discovered the orotomide class, which selectively targets a key enzyme in the de novo pyrimidine biosynthesis pathway. Its lead candidate, olorofim, is the first orotomide antifungal and an oral therapy with a mechanism distinct from existing antifungal classes. Olorofim has been awarded Breakthrough Therapy Designation by the FDA for multiple indications and is intended for serious invasive or rare fungal diseases where current treatments are inappropriate or ineffective. F2G plans to use the recent financing to complete late-stage development, seek regulatory approval, and prepare for U.S. commercialization of olorofim. Led by CEO Francesco Maria Lavino, the company operates in the UK, US, and Austria and has a 100%-owned subsidiary in Austria. F2G Ltd is a Manchester, UK-based clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on discovery and development of novel therapies to treat potentially life‑threatening invasive fungal infections. Its lead asset is olorofim, a novel oral antifungal from a new class called the orotomides that selectively targets a key enzyme in the de novo pyrimidine biosynthesis pathway. Olorofim is in a Phase 2b open‑label study (NCT03583164) for patients with limited treatment options for invasive aspergillosis and other rare mold infections. F2G raised $70M in financing to advance late‑stage development and US commercialization of olorofim. The round was co‑led by new investors Forbion and Sofinnova Partners, with participation from existing backers including Novo Holdings, Morningside Ventures, Cowen Healthcare Investments and Advent Life Sciences. Nanna Lüneborg (Forbion) and Joe Anderson (Sofinnova Partners) will join the F2G board. In May 2022 the company entered a $480M strategic collaboration with Shionogi to develop and commercialize olorofim in Europe and Asia, which included $100M upfront, $380M in regulatory and commercialization milestones, and double‑digit royalties on sales. F2G operates in the UK, US and Austria and is led by CEO Francesco Maria Lavino. F2G discovers and develops antifungal therapies, including a new class of agents called the orotomides that target DHODH (dihydroorotate dehydrogenase). Its lead candidate, olorofim, is a novel antifungal in a Phase 2b open-label study focused on rare and resistant invasive fungal infections. Olorofim has been granted Breakthrough Therapy designation by the FDA (November 2019), the only antifungal to receive that status based on early tolerability and efficacy data. The company is advancing late-stage clinical programs and preparing for commercialisation. Proceeds from the recent financing will fund those clinical programs and organisational scale-up. Ian Nicholson is CEO of the company. F2G is a Manchester-based biotech focused on discovering and developing antifungal drugs. It is advancing F901318, a novel clinical-stage candidate for the treatment of invasive aspergillosis and other serious rare mould infections. The company planned a small PK Phase 2 clinical trial for F901318 in the second half of 2016 and aimed to begin pivotal registration trials for invasive aspergillosis in the first half of 2017 via an accelerated regulatory pathway. F2G raised $60M in financing led by Sectoral Asset Management to support development of its pipeline. Investors in the round include Novo A/S, Aisling Capital, Brace Pharma Capital and existing backers Advent Life Sciences LLP, Novartis Venture Fund, Sunstone Capital and Merifin Capital. Dr Maha Katabi and Dr Martin Edwards are joining the board as part of the financing, and Ian Nicholson serves as CEO.

Participated · Series A · Dec 2015

PetMe operates a marketplace for pet owners to book pet-sitting and pet-housing services. The platform has facilitated approximately 50,000 booked nights and its community includes over 100,000 pet lovers. Founded in July 2014 by Carlo Crudele and Alice Cimini and managed by CEO Vittorio Maffei, the company was accelerated within Buongiorno’s b-ventures. PetMe is classified as an Innovative Startup under Italian law. The company raised €1M in a Series A and intends to use the funds to accelerate development of the business in Italy. To date PetMe has raised €1.5M in total. PetMe is a community pet-sitting platform offering both in-home and host services, incubated within b-ventures. The company was co-founded in July 2014 by Alice Cimini and Carlo Crudele and is based in Milan, Italy. It currently features 4,000 vetted pet sitters, another 2,000 awaiting certification, and over 12,000 subscribers. PetMe raised €250K in the reported round and has now raised €400K in total. The company says it is using the funds to continue to expand adoption of the platform. No revenue figures were disclosed in the article.

Participated · Series C · Sep 2015

DoveConviene operates a platform that gives users access to product promotions, catalogs and store information geolocated for shopping near home. The platform consolidates details on promotions, new products, stores, opening times and retailer contacts in one place. It is led by Stefano Portu and Alessandro Palmieri and is based in Milan, Italy. DoveConviene reports 7 million users in Italy and over 13 million globally, operating in markets including Mexico, Brazil, Spain and Indonesia via brands under the ShopFully Group. The company intends to use the new funding to expand in Italy and abroad, grow its team to 200 employees and reach presence in 10 countries by the end of 2016. To date the company has raised more than €20m in total funding. DoveConviene operates a geo-localized platform and mobile apps that send catalogs and leaflets from major retailers and brands across categories (food, electronics, furniture, DIY, travel, clothing) via email or mobile to users near stores. The platform is accessible via its website and mobile apps on iOS, WindowsPhone, Windows8, Android, Amazon and BlackBerry, and is used by 7 million users (5m in Italy, 2m abroad). The company has offices in Cagliari, Milan and Bologna and was co-founded by Alessandro Palmieri and Stefano Portu. It plans to use the new funding to grow in Italy, hire technology, marketing and sales staff and reach 200 employees within four years. DoveConviene also intends to expand abroad into Spain, Mexico, Brazil and the USA. Financially, the company has now raised more than $10m in total. DoveConviene is a digital platform that aggregates leaflets and catalogs and presents them in a georeferenced way. Users can select product categories, monitor nearest offers, and create personalized shopping alerts through the platform and free mobile apps for Android and Apple. Over 2 million consumers use the service to discover leaflets and catalogs from major brands. The company is based in Bologna and Sestu, Cagliari, Italy and is already present in Spain. In April 2013 the company closed a €3.5M funding round led by Principia SGR (via Principia II), and is using the funds to grow in Italy and scale abroad. Following the round Stefano Portu joined Alessandro Palmieri as co-CEO for business and products, and Professor Michele Costabile, Vice President of Principia SGR, joined as chairman.