The Venture Codex

Participated · Series A · Dec 2025

Founded in 2020, Kimialys has created and commercializes an innovative chemistry-based platform that functionalizes surfaces such as nanoparticles, biopuces and electrodes for in-vitro diagnostic and analytical applications. By improving surface treatment, the company aims to boost the sensitivity and reliability of diagnostic tests. The newly raised capital will enable Kimialys to finalize the industrialization of its processes and scale up production capacity. It also plans to launch an initial catalog of ready-to-use kits, broadening its product offering. A portion of the funds will be directed toward intensifying international commercial efforts. Although specific revenue or user metrics are not disclosed, the Series A round indicates investor confidence in the company’s commercialization and growth trajectory.

Led · Equity · Dec 2025

Founded in February 2025 after two years of incubation at Octalfa, Ventuno Biotech designs innovative therapeutic strategies that harness and amplify the body’s immune system to fight hard-to-treat cancers. Its R&D activities are carried out in laboratories located at the Institut de Recherche en Cancérologie de Montpellier (IRCM), while the corporate headquarters remain in Lyon. The company’s initial pipeline consists of pre-clinical immunotherapy candidates aimed at overcoming resistance to existing oncology treatments. Labeled a deeptech company by Bpifrance since March 2025, Ventuno intends to generate robust scientific data to advance these candidates toward regulatory pre-clinical milestones. The recent €3 million seed financing provides the capital needed to complete these studies and position the firm for subsequent clinical development. Ventuno’s leadership team includes co-founders Jérémy Bastid (President) and Nathalie Bonnefoy (Director of IRCM) alongside the Octalfa family office. As an early-stage biotech, the company has not yet disclosed revenue or commercial metrics.

Participated · Equity · Mar 2015

Amolyt Pharma (referred to in the article as Alize Pharma) focuses on creating innovative peptide and protein drugs targeting metabolic disorders and oncology indications. Its lead asset, AZP-531, is an eight-amino-acid unacylated ghrelin analog being advanced for Type II diabetes and Prader-Willi syndrome; the company expects to start Phase I trials in healthy volunteers in 2013, followed by Phase Ib/II studies in patients. A second program, ASPAREC, is a PEGylated recombinant L-asparaginase for acute lymphoblastic leukemia that is already in Phase I and partnered with EUSA Pharma. The firm controls five patent families covering 34 patents and applications around UAG, its analogs, and related uses. Founded in 2007, the company pursues a strategy of bringing assets to early clinical proof-of-concept before licensing to larger pharmaceutical partners. Including the current round, Amolyt/Alize has raised a total of €8.3 million from private and institutional backers to fund its R&D milestones and clinical progression.

Participated · Equity · Oct 2012

EyeBrain is an Ivry-sur-Seine, France-based developer of markers of cerebral function for neurological, psychiatric and learning disorders. The company records and analyzes eye movement using its algorithms to enable analysis of eye movement behavior and testing of specific brain regions. Its devices can provide an additional diagnosis with quantifiable results in about 20 minutes. EyeBrain intends to use the €1.3m funding to continue development of diagnostic products for disorders such as ADHD and schizophrenia and to boost its sales presence in Europe. Founded in 2008 and led by CEO Serge Kinkingnéhun, the company has a history of earlier financings. Previous raises include €1.2m in 2009 and €3.3m in 2012 from historical investors and specialized funds. EyeBrain is a Paris-based startup founded in 2008 that develops brain function markers for neurological and psychiatric diseases using devices based on eye motricity. Its flagship product, the EyeBrain Tracker, is already used in hospitals and doctors' surgeries in France and several European countries. The company plans to use the new capital to recruit a sales force, expand its network of distributors, and provide marketing support to commercialize its products in new countries, particularly across Europe. It also intends to continue research and development programs and to develop and clinically test new medical devices serving as markers of brain function. The company previously completed a first funding round in 2009 in which existing shareholders CapDecisif Management and G1JIDF invested €1.2M. Serge Kinkingnehun serves as chairman and CEO.

Participated · Equity · Jan 2011

Graftys develops advanced bone biologics and bone void filler products, several of which are already FDA cleared. The company intends to use the new financing to complete its first pilot clinical study for a combination medical device addressing osteoporosis locally (the M.I.A.D.R.OS project). It also plans to support establishment of commercial efforts in the US market. Graftys was created in 2005 and is headquartered in Aix-en-Provence, France. The company opened a local office in Chicago in 2009 and currently has a team of 23 employees. The financing is intended to advance both clinical and commercial programs related to its bone products.