• Dxcover

  Led · Equity · Feb 2025

  Dxcover develops the PANAROMIC™ Platform and MOSA-Dx™ multiomic spectral analysis approach to enable early detection of solid tumor cancers from minute liquid biopsy samples. The platform uses AI-driven analysis and reports results with a one-day turnaround, supported by data from over 9,000 patients and 250,000 spectra to tune sensitivity and specificity. Dxcover’s technology is globally patented and intended to provide rapid, clinician-actionable results to improve patient management. With the new $6.2M investment (bringing total funding to $21.4M since its 2019 spinout), the company will further advance its proprietary technologies and scale operations. Plans include expanding into new markets and indications, commercializing a Brain Cancer Liquid Biopsy across the UK and Europe, and establishing a US headquarters in Nashville following US incorporation in 2024. Recent senior leadership appointments (co-founders as CSO and CTO and a General Manager for UK/US sites) are aimed at accelerating commercialization and international growth. Dxcover develops a liquid biopsy platform that uses infrared spectroscopy of blood samples combined with AI algorithms to detect pan-omic biomarkers for early-stage cancers. The company has generated clinical data showing high-accuracy detection of Stage I and Stage II cancers and expanded its technology to eight cancers in 2022. The funding announced will accelerate development and commercialization of organ-specific tests, beginning with brain cancer and expanded colorectal cancer programs. Dxcover plans a multicenter study toward CE IVDR marking for its Brain Cancer test and will continue collaborative projects to broaden its pipeline. The company was formed in 2019 and is based in Scotland, United Kingdom, while expanding its network in Europe and the USA. Financially, Dxcover announced $11.9M in combined Series A and grant financing to support these activities. ClinSpec Diagnostics is a Glasgow spinout from the Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry at the University of Strathclyde. Led by CEO Mark Hegarty, the company develops a liquid-biopsy blood test for early cancer detection that combines infra-red light and artificial intelligence, based on research by Dr Matthew Baker. The technology is intended as a minimally invasive assay for early detection of cancer. ClinSpec has received grant funding from the Higgs EDGE Special Award and Innovate UK through the precision medicine accelerator fund. It completed seed funding in 2019 and subsequent financing tranches, and has raised £5.1m to date. Following the latest investment, Prof David Onions of Norcliffe Capital joined ClinSpec’s board of directors. ClinSpec Diagnostics develops a multi-cancer early detection test based on a simple blood assay, spun out from the University of Strathclyde. Led by CEO Mark Hegarty, the company has run studies on brain, prostate and pancreatic cancers. It intends to use the funding to progress its multi-cancer development program, complete a second brain cancer trial, and develop a multi-cancer algorithm covering the most common cancers. The company plans to hire five more employees to strengthen scientific and operations teams, bringing headcount to fourteen. ClinSpec was established in 2016 and has raised grant funding from the Higgs EDGE Special Award and Innovate UK alongside prior seed investment. ClinSpec Diagnostics is advancing a blood test that can provide accurate results in ten minutes and aims to improve brain cancer survival through earlier detection. The technology uses infra-red light combined with machine learning and is based on research by Dr Matthew J. Baker at the University of Strathclyde. The company has demonstrated the brain cancer test’s potential in a clinical study at Edinburgh’s Western Infirmary. ClinSpec plans to further develop its brain cancer test and begin work on tests for prostate and pancreatic cancer. Management is led by CEO Dr Mark Hegarty. The firm says the technology also has applications beyond medicine, including testing in the food, drug and oil industries. Financially, the company has secured multiple funding sources to support development and hiring plans.

• Solasta Bio

  Participated · Series A · Sep 2024

  Solasta Bio develops peptide-based, nature-inspired bioinsecticides designed to selectively target insect pests while protecting beneficial pollinators such as bees. Its technology platform can be mobilized for any pest across crop and non-crop applications, including stored grain. The company’s agents demonstrated efficacy on par with or better than commercial standards across more than 20 field trials in Europe, the UK and the US during the 2023 trials season. Co-founded by CEO Shireen Davies and CSO Prof. Julian Dow, Solasta is based in Glasgow, Scotland. The company recently closed a $14M Series A, bringing total capital raised to $19M, and intends to use the funds to accelerate development of its peptide-based bioinsecticides. Forbion’s involvement will also add a board seat as part of the round. SOLASTA Bio develops next‑generation green insecticides based on nature‑inspired peptides that target pests selectively. The company's core products are sustainable peptide insect control solutions intended to replace or augment conventional chemical insecticides. SOLASTA was announced as the winner of the Radicle Natural Plant Protection (NPP) Challenge by UPL, which the company says will help accelerate its solutions toward the global market. As part of the prize, SOLASTA will gain industry support and access to UPL Corp and Radicle Growth's networks and expertise to help commercial development. The company was selected from a pool of 237 start‑up applicants, highlighting external validation of its technology. No revenue, user, or founding‑year metrics were disclosed in the announcement. Solasta Bio has developed a technology platform for creating neuropeptide-based insect control products that are nature-inspired rather than selected from a synthetic chemistry library. Its products target insect pests while preserving beneficial pollinators such as bees, and the platform can be mobilised for any pest of interest. The company plans to use the funds to scale up UK and US operations, expand its technical and commercial teams (creating 25 jobs), accelerate development of its technology platform and target new markets. Solasta is led by CEO Shireen Davies, PhD, with CSO Professor Julian Dow and former BASF executive Dr Paul Bernasconi among the team; other executives include Chair Dr Rob Wylie, CFO David Armour and CCO Dr Daphne Preuss. The company currently employs a team of 25 R&D, commercial staff and consultants. The fundraising round brings the company's total funding to £5.5M. Solasta Bio develops biopesticides using a technology platform that creates neuropeptide-based insect control products inspired by nature rather than synthetic-chemistry libraries. Its products are designed to target insect pests while preserving beneficial pollinators such as bees. The company was established in May 2020 following four years of research funded by UKRI BBSRC and the EC, with commercialisation support from Scottish Enterprise’s High Growth Spinout Programme. Management includes co-founders Professor Shireen Davies (CEO), Professor Julian Dow (CSO), Paul Bernasconi (CTO) and Professor Robert Liskamp, supported by a Glasgow-based R&D team. Financially, Solasta secured £1.3m in seed funding and had earlier pre-seed backing from UKI2S and Scottish Enterprise. The company plans to move trials out of the laboratory into real-world settings and aims to bring its first biopesticides to market in 2027, roughly half the development time of traditional synthetic products.

• Nami Surgical

  Participated · Seed · May 2024

  Founded in 2021 as a University of Glasgow spin-out, Nami Surgical is engineering high-performance, miniaturised ultrasonic scalpels that can be embedded into articulated, wristed robotic surgical instruments. The platform aims to fill a technology gap for major medical robotic companies, giving surgeons ultrasonic cutting and coagulation capability inside compact robotic tools. With the global robotic-assisted surgery market expected to exceed $25 billion by 2030, Nami is positioning its technology for broad commercial adoption. The company is now transitioning from advanced development to commercialisation and has strengthened its leadership by appointing veteran MedTech executive Nikki Palfrey as CEO while co-founder Nico Fenu becomes COO. Recent board additions, including Eos Advisory’s Investor Director David O’Reilly, bolster governance and strategic expertise. To date the firm has attracted backing from deep-tech investor Eos Advisory, Maven Capital Partners, and Scottish Enterprise, underscoring continued investor confidence as the product nears market entry.

• Nebu~Flow

  Participated · Equity · Apr 2024

  Nebu-Flow develops a nebulizer platform intended to improve inhaled drug delivery, claiming advantages over existing technologies. The company is positioning its platform for inhalation delivery of RNA-based formulations and says it enables targeted delivery to the lungs, cardiovascular and central nervous systems. Partners in the UK and North America are trialling the product as Nebu-Flow prepares for regulatory approval. The announcement cites the global inhalable drug market at roughly $33 billion in 2023 and the nebulizer market at over $1 billion. Nebu-Flow is a former spinout from the University of Glasgow and is based in Glasgow, Scotland. The company recently won a £1m Innovate UK project and the Institute of Physics Business Start-up Award, and is preparing for final product development and commercialization. Nebu~Flow develops a next-generation nebuliser designed to improve delivery of respiratory pharmaceuticals, including drugs that are hard to nebulise such as biologics. The company was spun out of the University of Glasgow and co-founded by CEO Dr Elijah Nazarzadeh, who led the underlying research. Nebu~Flow positions its device against a global nebuliser market valued at over $1 billion and the wider inhalable drug market estimated at over $43bn in 2022. Management says the technology could enable delivery of cutting-edge treatments, including gene therapies, and improve outcomes for conditions like cystic fibrosis and COPD. The company plans to commercialise its technology and hire additional scientific, research, product design, and developer staff this year. Dr John Pritchard was recently appointed chair to support product delivery and market entry.

• Carcinotech

  Participated · Equity · Jan 2024

  Carcinotech’s core product, Carcino3D, enables manufacture of 3D‑printed micro‑tumors using cells derived from patient biopsies and blood samples to precisely simulate the tumor microenvironment and accelerate ethical drug screening. The company positions the technology to improve delivery of more effective, personalized cancer treatments and to support oncology drug development. Carcinotech works with global partners including leading pharma companies, surgeons, pathologists and clinicians as part of its commercialization strategy. In October the company announced a partnership with CELLINK to combine CELLINK’s bioprinting solutions with Carcinotech’s expertise in producing bioprinted living tumors. Carcinotech has built traction across the UK and Europe and plans US expansion later this year. The company has strengthened its board, which is chaired by Albert Nicholl, and launched a scientific advisory board last year with world‑renowned oncology leaders.

No current team members are available.