The Venture Codex

Led · Equity · Apr 2021

Hologram Sciences develops personalized health and nutrition solutions by combining proven nutrition science with AI-based technology and a habit-building approach. The company starts with diagnostics to build a clear picture of each individual, then provides daily feedback, digital tools and access to expert dietitians who prescribe customized nutritional supplements. Hologram launched with a $100 million investment from Royal DSM, which the company says gives it access to cutting-edge industry innovations, high-quality ingredients and DSM’s product resources. Its initial offerings will focus on gut health, brain health and overall immunity, positioned in part to address concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Founder and CEO Ian Brady—who previously co-founded SoFi—started the company after struggling to find personalized nutrition support when his wife experienced gestational diabetes. Hologram is hiring for tech roles and has offices in Boston and New York City as it builds its team.

Participated · Series B · Jun 2019

DouxMatok has rebranded to Incredo LTD around its signature product, Incredo Sugar. The company focuses on food‑tech solutions to reduce sugar while maintaining taste. It announced a $30 million Series C to further support research and development and to integrate its product into a variety of applications. The company said the funds will also be used to accelerate commercial partnerships. Investors in the round include strategic commercial partners and both new and existing financial backers. The announcement was made from New York, NY. DouxMatok develops efficient flavor-delivery technologies and a patented sugar-reduction solution that enhances perceived sweetness to enable substantial sugar reduction without compromising taste or mouthfeel. The company holds 20 granted patents and is led by CEO and co-founder Eran Baniel. It intends to use the funds for large-scale production and sales of its sugar solution, commercialization in Europe and North America, and expansion of its technology platform to include next-generation products and flavors such as salt. DouxMatok is soon expected to complete industrial manufacturing of its sugars in Europe in partnership with Südzucker AG, followed by commercialization in North America. It is engaged in multiple collaborations with food companies to reformulate popular products, with initial commercial quantities expected in the last quarter of 2019. The company is based in Petach Tikva, Israel. DouxMatok has developed a carrier technology that directs sugar molecules to sweetness receptors on the tongue, increasing sweetness efficacy so recipes can use about 30% less sugar depending on the product. The technique is produced using sustainable green chemistry principles and the company says it is compliant with FDA and EU regulations. DouxMatok works with sugar refiners and food brands: it buys refined sugar at wholesale, re-engineers it into DouxMatok sugar, and shares revenue from sales to food companies. The team includes CEO Eran Baniel, his father and co‑founder Dr. Avraham Baniel, and CTO Dr. Alejandro Marabi; the company started from their work to address excess sugar consumption. Longer-term plans include launching a consumer bagged sugar brand and applying the same carrier approach to other ingredients such as salt. The company recently raised funding to advance commercialization and industry partnerships.

Participated · Series C · May 2012

Regentis Biomaterials develops cartilage repair solutions, with offices in Princeton, New Jersey and Or Akiva, Israel. Its core product, GelrinC, is a proprietary hydrogel invented at the Technion that is implanted as a liquid and cured in‑situ to form a resorbable implant gradually replaced by regenerated cartilage. Earlier trials in Europe and Israel showed GelrinC provided patients relief from knee pain and improved function to return to normal activities. The company closed a $15M Series D led by Haisco Pharmaceutical Group and intends to use the proceeds to conduct a pivotal clinical trial of GelrinC in the United States aimed at obtaining FDA marketing approval. As part of the investment, Haisco will serve as GelrinC's exclusive distributor in China. Regentis is led by CEO Alastair Clemow, Ph.D., and counts Medica Partners, SCP Vitalife Partners, Generali Financial Holdings and Technion funds among its investors. Regentis Biomaterials develops GelrinC, a biodegradable implant intended to enhance growth of articular cartilage in damaged knee joints. The company is based in Or Akiva, Israel and Princeton, NJ and is led by CEO and President Dr. Alastair Clemow. GelrinC is currently an investigational device; prior pre-clinical studies demonstrated its ability to regrow cartilage. Regentis is conducting a multi-center pilot study in Europe and Israel to evaluate the safety and performance of GelrinC. The company intends to use the new funding to expand clinical efforts for the implant. GelrinC is not available for sale in the U.S., Europe or Israel while clinical evaluation is ongoing.