Led · Seed · Sep 2025

Ordinal is a gov-tech startup offering an AI research assistant that employs secure retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) to surface instant, source-grounded answers from municipal documents, codes, and records. By cutting the time employees spend on information retrieval—estimated at nearly 40 % of a typical work week—the platform aims to boost efficiency, improve decision-making, and strengthen public service delivery. The product has already been deployed in several municipalities, including Sallisaw (OK), Decatur (IN), Lowell (AR), Benton County (AR), La Quinta (CA), Pea Ridge (AR), and Willard (MO), demonstrating early traction and user adoption. Ordinal emphasizes compliance and accuracy by citing verified sources in every response, lowering barriers to adoption in a sector often slow to embrace new technology. The founding team—Jacob Herrington, Nick Spinazze, and Jacob Eubanks—plans to use new capital to expand its customer base, enhance a public-facing chatbot, and add features that further streamline civic operations. Although detailed revenue figures were not disclosed, the company reports a rapidly growing sales pipeline and measurable scaling progress facilitated by investor support. Long-term, Ordinal aims to restore civic trust and shape more efficient, transparent local governments through AI-driven knowledge management.

Led · Seed · Dec 2023

Cadenza Bio is developing highly selective Estrogen Receptor β (ERβ) targeting small-molecule compounds aimed at promoting remyelination for patients with Multiple Sclerosis. The company intends to use its recent financing to advance therapeutic drug development programs focused on remyelination. Cadenza holds an exclusive license to technology originating from an academic collaboration between researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana‑Champaign and the University of California, Riverside. Its programs were launched in 2022 through a partnership between SmartHealth Catalyzer (Chicago) and Ascend BioVentures (Oklahoma City). The company notes partial prior funding from the National Multiple Sclerosis Society’s Fast Forward commercial research program. Cadenza is led by CEO Carol Curtis and is based in Oklahoma City, OK.

Participated · Series B · Sep 2023

Deka Biosciences, based in Germantown, MD and led by CEO Dr. John Mumm, develops disease-specific Diakines designed to target the accumulation of dual and complementary cytokines into affected tissues to improve pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. The company recently received an FDA notice to proceed for its IND to evaluate DK210 (EGFR) and is continuing clinical trials. It closed a $20M Series B2 financing to support advancement of its pipeline and drug product manufacturing. Management says the funds will be used to advance clinical programs and scale drug product manufacturing. Detlev Biniszkiewicz, Ph.D. of MPM BioImpact will join Deka’s board as part of the raise. Deka Biosciences is an early-stage biotech developing novel cytokine therapies (Diakines™) to treat cancer and inflammatory diseases such as Crohn’s, psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis and sepsis. Its Diakines™ are disease-specific therapeutic proteins designed to maximize patient benefit through improved pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics via targeted delivery of dual and complementary cytokines to affected tissues or cells. The company applies precision medicine to ensure treatment of patients most likely to benefit from and respond to cytokine therapies. Deka intends to use the newly raised funds to advance research, expand talent acquisition, and further develop its platform. Specifically, the company plans to file an Investigational New Drug (IND) application for its lead oncology program and advance the lead compound into Phase I clinical trials. Deka raised $20M in a Series A from strategic and venture investors to support these initiatives.

Participated · Series A · Aug 2023

PatchRx is a patient-focused medication management platform that pairs a patented universal smart pill bottle device with a provider web app and on-staff nurses to deliver personalized support. The company aims to improve outcomes through connected technologies and medication adherence services. Its patented technology has been deployed in over 40 clinics across the U.S., from Alaska to New Jersey. In 2022 PatchRx began offering a medication adherence platform under new Medicare RTM billing codes. The company is pursuing expansion beyond pain management into clinical trials and psychiatric markets. PatchRx expanded headcount from about 10 to 80+ employees and reached $4M in revenue within 12 months.

Participated · Series A · Apr 2023

Wheeler Bio is a contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) built on its Modular CMC scientific platform, focused on accelerating antibody-based therapeutic candidates from discovery into clinical trials. It provides integrated services including manufacturability assessments, stable pool and clone development, process and analytical method development, process demonstration, technology transfer, and cGMP manufacturing. The company emphasizes a customer-intimate approach to build robust CMC packages vital for regulatory filings and ongoing manufacturing. Wheeler plans to broaden capabilities, expand its partner base and team, and is planning a 52,000 square-foot large-scale biologics manufacturing facility adjacent to a biomanufacturing workforce training center at Convergence in the Oklahoma City Innovation District. The company is headquartered in Oklahoma City and cites regional advantages such as lower business costs and a growing biomanufacturing workforce. The recent financing is intended to fund these expansion and capability-build efforts. Wheeler Bio is an Oklahoma City-based contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) focused on the gene-to-IND supply chain. Its primary product is Portable CMC, an open-source "CMC middleware" that integrates discovery CROs and CDMOs to streamline translational steps. Portable CMC includes a complement of integrated development services, including manufacturability assessments, stable pool and clone development, process and analytical method development, process demonstration, and technology transfer into CGMP production. The platform also enhances business integrations that speed up translational steps while lowering technical, regulatory, and business risks. Wheeler Bio plans to use the $31M Series A to complete its CGMP cell banking and 500 L drug substance manufacturing facility in The Ziggurat in downtown Oklahoma City. Leadership includes CEO Dr. Jesse McCool, Chief Development Officer Dr. Brian Berquist, and Christian Kanady. Wheeler Bio offers Portable CMC™, a platform that integrates with preclinical discovery to accelerate the discovery-to-IND path. Portable CMC is designed to provide faster, easier, and more predictable tech transfer and clinical supply by partnering with preclinical CROs and antibody drug developers. The company has an initial focus on antibody therapeutics and is partnered with Alloy Therapeutics to extend discovery offerings into IND-enabling manufacturing. Wheeler Bio is headquartered in Oklahoma City and operates pilot labs inside Alloy Therapeutics’ Boston facility. It closed a $14M Seed financing to expand its team and make Portable CMC more broadly available. Scientific and operational leadership for Portable CMC is led by CTO Dr. Stephen Hamilton, and the company emphasizes speed, predictability, and shared success with CDMO and CRO partners.