Led · Series B · Jun 2023

AltPep is a biotechnology company developing early disease‑modifying treatments (SOBIN therapeutics) and blood‑based detection tools (SOBA diagnostics) that selectively target toxic soluble oligomers. Its lead programs focus on Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases, with other amyloid diseases on the horizon. The company’s customized synthetic peptides are designed to both detect and neutralize toxic oligomers throughout disease progression. AltPep reports recent preclinical in vivo data showing improvement in cognitive deficits with its lead Alzheimer’s compound. SOBA, its first diagnostic, has received FDA Breakthrough Device Designation and is being advanced toward FDA clearance. Proceeds from the recent financing will primarily accelerate SOBIN into Phase 1 clinical trials for both Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases and further develop the SOBA assay. AltPep is a University of Washington spinout developing blood diagnostics and peptide‑based therapeutics aimed at detecting and treating early-stage Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. Its lead diagnostic, SOBA‑AD, detects soluble oligomers of Amyloid‑beta in blood and recently received FDA "breakthrough device" designation. The company is developing a kit for the test and is discussing partnerships with large diagnostic companies; its tests are being used in preclinical studies for AltPep’s therapeutic candidates and would ideally be approved before future clinical trials. AltPep’s therapeutic approach uses matching peptides that bind alpha‑sheet structures in toxic oligomers to intervene at the earliest molecular triggers of pathology. Financially, AltPep previously raised $23.1 million in a January 2021 Series A led by Matrix Capital Investment and, according to a recent regulatory filing, has raised $44.4 million. The Seattle‑based, roughly three‑year‑old company has 25 employees, has hired a chief medical officer, and is actively hiring. AltPep is a privately held biomedical company focused on diagnosing and treating central nervous system (CNS) amyloid disorders, starting with Alzheimer's Disease. Its platform technology targets misfolded forms of amyloid proteins and was developed in the University of Washington laboratory of founder and CEO Valerie Daggett, Ph.D. The company says the platform has the potential to transform diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer's Disease and other CNS-mediated disorders. AltPep is based in Seattle, WA. In a financial update, AltPep closed a $23.150 million Series A investment round led by Matrix Capital Management with significant participation from Alexandria Venture Investments.

Participated · Series A · Mar 2023

Labviva operates an AI procurement platform that connects researchers with suppliers of reagents, chemicals, consumables, and instrumentation, mapping products into scientific applications, techniques and protocols. The platform aggregates 90% of all life science suppliers, offering instant access to a diverse pool of sellers from major suppliers to small, local, and green-certified businesses. Suppliers can manage product content and products are mapped into scientific applications, enabling customers to compare products and prices based on company-specific pricing and rich product content. The service saves hours of manual research, reduces R&D costs, and helps avoid gaps in inventory replenishment while supporting contract compliance and sustainability objectives. Labviva's solution can operate as a stand-alone product or integrate with procurement systems including SAP Ariba, JAGGAER, Oracle Procurement Cloud, Microsoft Dynamics 365, and Coupa. Led by CEO Siamak Baharloo, the company raised $25M in a Series B to accelerate product development, bolster marketing and customer support, and expand internationally; 53 Stations’ Co-Founder Jason Pritzker will join the board as part of the round. Labviva offers an AI-driven SaaS marketplace that unifies product discovery and procurement for life sciences and research organizations. The platform aggregates thousands of suppliers and over 15 million products, mapping products to scientific applications, techniques, and protocols. Labviva integrates with leading procurement systems including SAP Ariba, JAGGAER, Oracle Procurement Cloud, Microsoft Dynamics 365, and Coupa to shorten implementation times and reduce research delays. Customers include global pharmaceutical and academic organizations; the company says it helps manage hundreds of millions of dollars in laboratory and research spend annually. Labviva plans to use the new funding to accelerate deployment at global customers, expand its global footprint, and launch new complementary product lines. Jennifer Lum of Biospring Partners will join Labviva’s board as part of the Series A round. Labviva offers an enterprise gateway marketplace (EGM) SaaS platform that integrates with major procurement systems like SAP Ariba, JAGGAER, Oracle Procurement Cloud, Microsoft Dynamics 365, and Coupa to connect institutions with a broad supplier network. The platform provides scientific context via a proprietary AI engine that maps products to applications and protocols, dynamically searching public databases for citations and protocols. Features include intuitive search, comparison shopping, reduced supplier onboarding, and advanced analytics that preserve procurement compliance and governance. Labviva targets purchasers in pharma, biotech, and research institutions and enables suppliers to manage product content mapped to scientific techniques. The company’s revenue model is subscription-based. The recent $8M Series Seed raise is intended to support further platform development, new product lines, and investments in operations and customer success.

Participated · Series D · Dec 2022

Founded in 2016, ZincFive designs and manufactures nickel-zinc (NiZn) battery-based power solutions for immediate backup applications in data centers and other mission-critical environments. Its patented chemistry offers higher power density, zero thermal-runaway risk, minimal maintenance, and a 96 percent recyclable design compared with lead-acid or lithium-ion alternatives. The company recently introduced the BC 2 AI UPS battery cabinet tailored to the dynamic loads of AI workloads. ZincFive claims nearly 2 GW of NiZn battery backup cabinets have been deployed or contracted worldwide, underscoring accelerating commercial traction with hyperscalers, data center operators, and OEM partners. Recognition such as TIME’s Top GreenTech Companies, a 2024 Edison Award, and CleanTech Breakthrough’s 2024 Overall Innovation of the Year complements its technical credibility. The firm has raised a cumulative $254 million to date and is expanding manufacturing capacity to meet a rapidly growing order pipeline tied to the global AI infrastructure build-out. Headquarters are in Tualatin, Oregon.

Led · Series C · Jun 2022

Evolved By Nature develops a proprietary library of Activated Silk™ molecules derived from natural silk protein to protect, repair, and enhance the barrier function of surfaces. Its Activated Silk biotechnology is positioned to enable next-generation products across textiles, personal care, aesthetic and medical treatments, therapeutics and more. The company reports commercial adoption of its biodegradable, high-performance finishes by fashion brands including Anya Hindmarch, nylon mills such as Alpine Creations and Apex Holdings, and leather tanneries including Richard Hoffmans GmbH & Co. KG, Cyclica Srl and Curtidos Bengala. The financing will support commercialization of the Activated Silk technology platform and the company’s goal of reducing dependence on synthetics and fossil-fuel derivatives. The round coincides with the launch of a full-scale manufacturing facility in Walpole, Massachusetts, which will ramp production to 900 metric tons of Activated Silk™ per year. Evolved By Nature was founded in 2013 by Dr. Greg Altman (CEO) and Dr. Rebecca Lacouture (President, COO) and is based in Boston, Massachusetts.

Participated · Series D · Apr 2022

OneFootball is a football media platform that delivers comprehensive football content from hundreds of leagues and competitions, including free and pay-per-view live streamed matches. The platform reported more than 100 million monthly active users and produced over 15,000 livestreams and on-demand clips in 2021. OneFootball has expanded its product set through acquisitions such as Dugout (Dec 2020) and by bringing leading clubs and federations on as shareholders. The company is pushing into Web3 via OneFootball Labs, a joint venture with Animoca Brands and Liberty City Ventures, aiming to offer accessible digital assets and fan experiences purchasable with just email and a credit card. Its roadmap emphasizes mass adoption of blockchain in football, broader OTT streaming, continued product development, and platform and user growth. The business recently secured new capital to fund these initiatives, signaling a focus on scaling global reach and digital fan experiences. Onefootball operates a mobile-first football app that aggregates content and engages fans, describing itself as a “Facebook for football without the social element.” The app has 25 million fans in 200 countries and drives deep engagement — about 90% of users have opted in to push notifications and some return 40–50 times per month. The company focuses on top-of-funnel experiences and explicitly avoids building betting, merchandise, or ticketing businesses. Strategic partnerships are a priority: Adidas was announced as a new investor, reflecting the value of Onefootball’s direct channel to fans. Financially, the company confirmed additional funding rounds (an unreported Series B and Series C) and has raised more than the $20 million that had been publicly reported to date. Founder Lucas von Cranach said he is deliberate about fundraising decisions, weighing dilution, valuation and cash on hand. The Football App is a mobile application that combines user-generated social content with professional media around football matches and news. The company introduced a 'Fan Zone' that integrates live commentary from social feeds alongside professional media content. It focuses on building social features and increasing user-generated content to drive engagement against competitors. The team plans to use new funding to continue developing social aspects of the platform and to bolster international growth ahead of the 2014 World Cup. The app has accumulated 10 million downloads since launching in 2008, with 3 million added in the prior six months. Founder and CEO Lucas von Cranach has stated a goal to double the user base after the 2014 World Cup. THE Football App provides a mobile football application that aggregates data, media content and services (including ticketing) from providers around the world. Led by co-founder and CEO Lucas von Cranach, the app offers live tickers, rankings, team statistics and services for leagues, teams and matches. Content covers over 100 leagues in six languages and the free app is available on iTunes, Google Play, Windows Store and Samsung SmartTV. The company intends to use the €10m in Series A funding to continue global growth, improve community and social features, and to release complementing products ahead of the 2014 FIFA World Cup. The company is hiring.