• Gelesis

  Participated · Equity · May 2014

  Gelesis develops a novel hydrogel platform to treat overweight, obesity and other chronic metabolic diseases. Its lead product, Plenity, is an orally administered, non-systemic superabsorbent hydrogel that was cleared by the FDA for adults with BMI 25–40 and has received a CE mark for the EEA; Plenity is currently available in limited supply in the U.S. Plenity is taken as capsules before lunch and dinner and works mechanically in the GI tract by forming thousands of gel particles that increase volume and induce satiety. Gelesis is advancing additional hydrogel candidates, including Gelesis200 for weight loss and glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes and prediabetes, and programs targeting NASH and chronic idiopathic constipation. The company emphasizes patient-initiated care and plans to leverage digital technologies to expand access to care as it expands geographically. Gelesis recently announced a commercialization partnership in China that includes upfront licensing fees and an equity investment and provides the potential for future milestone and royalty payments. Gelesis develops a superabsorbent hydrogel platform intended to treat overweight and obesity and other GI‑related chronic diseases. Its lead product, PLENITY, is an oral, non‑systemic hydrogel that received FDA clearance in April 2019 as an aid for weight management in adults with BMI 25–40 kg/m2 when used with diet and exercise. PLENITY is made by cross‑linking modified cellulose and citric acid into particles that absorb water, form thousands of small gel pieces to increase stomach and small intestine volume and elasticity, and are partially broken down and eliminated in the large intestine. Gelesis anticipates a U.S. prescription launch of PLENITY in the second half of 2020 and is developing a second candidate, Gelesis200, optimized for weight loss and glycemic control in type 2 diabetes and prediabetes, while advancing applications in NASH and chronic idiopathic constipation. Financially, the company secured $84.6 million in new capital and nearly $100 million in total this year to support commercialization. The latest equity financing totaled $63.4 million led by Vitruvian Partners; Gelesis also secured $23.5 million in non‑dilutive grants this year and entered a long‑term, low‑interest $8.3 million loan to enhance financial flexibility. Gelesis was co‑founded by PureTech Health and operates a proprietary manufacturing facility that qualified for ERDF support regulated by the Puglia Region of Italy. Gelesis develops a mechanobiology platform and hydrogel-based mechanotherapeutics targeting obesity and other chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal pathway. Its lead candidate, Gelesis100, completed a pivotal weight-loss trial in September 2017 and is slated for regulatory submissions in the US and Europe in 2018. The company is conducting a proof-of-concept study of Gelesis200, optimized for weight loss and glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes and prediabetes. Gelesis is expanding its pipeline with new hydrogel compositions evaluated in preclinical studies for conditions such as NAFLD, NASH and intestinal mucositis. The company intends to use recent financing proceeds to support commercial-stage manufacturing, product launch preparations, operations, and clinical advancement of its pipeline. Gelesis is a Boston-based clinical-stage biotech focused on first-in-class, orally administered hydrogel products to induce weight loss and improve glycemic control. Its lead candidate, Gelesis100, is an oral capsule containing small hydrogel particles designed to act along the gastrointestinal tract to safely induce weight loss and improve glycemic control. A multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled proof-of-concept study of Gelesis100 showed statistically significant weight loss, with particularly dramatic results in prediabetics. The company is also developing Gelesis200, created from the same proprietary platform and optimized to improve glycemic control in prediabetics and type 2 diabetics. Gelesis plans to use financing to complete a six-month U.S. FDA pivotal trial of Gelesis100 (topline data expected in the first half of 2017) and to support commercial readiness activities. It also expects to complete first-in-human studies of Gelesis200, with a three-month proof-of-concept readout anticipated in the second half of 2016. Gelesis is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing products to induce weight loss and improve glycemic control in overweight and obese patients, including those with prediabetes and diabetes. Its lead product, Gelesis100, is an orally administered capsule containing small hydrogel particles designed to employ multiple mechanisms along the gastrointestinal tract to induce weight loss and improve glycemic control. The company also plans to advance a pipeline product, Gelesis200, into the clinic. Gelesis closed a $22M equity financing that included conversion of approximately $4M of outstanding convertible promissory notes. Proceeds will be used to continue clinical development of Gelesis100 and to move Gelesis200 into clinical trials. The company is led by founder and CEO Yishai Zohar and has recently expanded its scientific advisory board and board of directors with several obesity-treatment experts and new directors.

• Ubiquity Global Services

  Led · Series B · Nov 2013

  Ubiquity Global Services provides a range of business process outsourcing solutions including live customer support, interactive voice response (IVR), multichannel real-time servicing, risk and fraud management, and digital and physical correspondence services. The company is led by Ray Iglesias (CEO) and Matt Nyren (president and founder) and operates service delivery locations in the United States, El Salvador and the Philippines. Ubiquity leverages proprietary technology as part of its service offering and plans further investment in that technology. It raised more than $4M in a Series B funding round to support expansion. The company intends to use the funds to expand its global presence and to scale operations. Ubiquity Global Services is a New York City-based provider of Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) solutions. The company launched with over $4m in Series A financing from ES Ventures and the Pritzker/Vlock family office. Founded by president Matt Nyren, Ubiquity will provide live customer support services, interactive voice response (IVR), multichannel real-time servicing and a variety of physical correspondence services to clients across industries. At launch it has service delivery locations in San Salvador, El Salvador and Manila, Philippines. The company aims to grow geographically.

• ZOZI

  Participated · Series B · May 2011

  ZOZI offers a two-part platform: ZOZI Advance, a reservations, payments and customer-management SaaS for merchants, and ZOZI.com, a marketplace for activities and getaways. Merchants pay a monthly subscription for the software while customers are charged a small transaction fee at booking. The company acquired real-time reservation system TripFlavor in 2013 and has been building out its reservation SaaS offerings since. ZOZI targets experience-focused consumers, particularly millennials, and competes with deal and travel players while operating more like OpenTable or Eventbrite for events. The startup has raised $45 million to date and plans to use new funding to expand to more merchants on ZOZI Advance and grow ZOZI.com. Zozi operates a marketplace that sells high-end, celebrity- and expert-guided local adventures and multi-day trips. Originally launched in 2010 as a daily-deals site, the company pivoted to curated, once-in-a-lifetime experiences and launched a "Gurus" product that pairs customers with experts and celebrities. Examples include kayaking with world-record holders, skiing with Jonny Moseley, backcountry snowboarding with Travis Rice, cooking with Michael Mina, and training with Ironman champion Chris Lieto. Zozi is available in more than 20 cities across the U.S. and Canada, sells related gear from outdoor brands, and employs 40+ people focused on curation. Financially, the company has raised a total of $17.5 million to date and recently closed $10 million in growth capital and debt in a Series B1 extension. Going forward, Zozi plans to expand its roster of celebrity experts, increase local experiences and gear offerings, improve booking and customer-relations technology, and expand deeper into eCommerce. Zozi offers deals on unique local experiences—surfing lessons, fly fishing, shark cage diving, Segway tours, and more—curated by a team of travel and adventure experts and booked on its website. The company operates primarily via web (no mobile apps yet) and leverages flash marketing as a core economic driver, though its founder resists labeling it a daily-deal site. Zozi states it enables millions to find and book experiences and positions itself in a market it estimates at roughly $60 billion. It guarantees a 100% money-back refund if customers do not love the experience. The company was founded in 2009 and is led by CEO TJ Sassani. Financially, Zozi has raised venture funding totaling $10 million to date, including a recent $7 million Series B. Zozi relaunched from EkoVenture with a shifted focus toward local activities rather than exotic travel. The site promotes deals on local experiences such as kayaking in San Francisco Bay, cocktail classes in Atlanta, and tubing on the Delaware River. Zozi partners with local activity vendors to provide members discounts and is currently running a promotion giving away $500,000 worth of activities. The company differentiates itself from general daily-deal sites by vetting activities and offering a 100% money-back guarantee if customers do not enjoy the experience. Zozi recently closed a $3 million Series A from ZIG Capital, Dave McClure’s 500 Startups, LaunchCapital and individual angels including Larry Bock and Dave Dolby. The relaunch and fundraising are aimed at reaching a broader class of consumers.

No current team members are available.