Participated · Equity · Mar 2026

Semarion is a University of Cambridge spin-out building the SemaCyte platform that combines materials engineering, microfabrication, and cell biology to enable adherent cells to be used as barcoded, assay-ready, automation-compatible reagents. Its technology lets researchers multiplex cell models, increase throughput, and generate richer datasets within existing laboratory workflows. The company reports adoption by several global pharmaceutical organisations, including top 10 pharma companies, and is running pilot programmes in the US and Europe. Semarion has collaborations with life sciences tools providers to integrate its platform into imaging, analysis, and automated liquid handling workflows. Financially, Semarion has raised $2.89 million in 2022 and an additional $3.8 million in the latest round to fund manufacturing scale-up, commercial growth, and expanded field support.

Participated · Seed · Dec 2025

HotHouse Therapeutics, based in Norwich, Norfolk, has developed an AI-driven plant bioengineering system capable of designing and growing new chemistry within days. The platform combines pathway-prediction algorithms with the vast enzymatic diversity of the plant kingdom and can currently generate over 20 million novel molecules. Its vertical-farm-ready production process is carbon positive, offering a sustainable and affordable alternative to extractive or resource-heavy chemical synthesis. The company’s initial commercial focus is on producing next-generation vaccine adjuvants, but management also plans to launch traditional drug-discovery programs and progress selected assets into clinical development. By coupling rapid molecule generation with scalable cultivation, the company aims to shorten R&D timelines and lower production costs for biologically active compounds. The recent funding marks the company’s first institutional capital, positioning it to expand operations and intensify R&D efforts around its discovery pipeline.

Participated · Seed · Mar 2025

TRIMTECH Therapeutics was founded on academic research into the E3-ligase TRIM21 and has developed two proprietary targeted protein degradation platforms, TRIMTAC and TRIMGLUE. The company focuses on small-molecule degraders designed to selectively remove toxic protein aggregates and oligomers while sparing functional monomeric protein. TRIMTECH is advancing CNS-penetrant degrader candidates aimed at neurodegenerative diseases with large patient populations. Its current financial position includes a seed financing round totaling $47M following a $14M extension led by JJDC and BGF. The new capital is earmarked to progress its platforms and expand the company's portfolio, and JJDC and BGF will each take board seats as non-executive directors. TRIMTECH is based in Cambridge, England.

Participated · Equity · Jul 2023

NK:IO develops off-the-shelf natural killer (NK) cell therapies for solid tumours using a platform that activates blood stem cell progenitors to produce high‑potency, high‑yield NK cells. The platform also enables engineering of progenitor cells to create next‑generation NK cells with enhanced potency or tumour targeting for hard‑to-treat subtypes. The company’s initial indication will be ovarian cancer in collaboration with Prof. Iain McNeish at Imperial College. NK:IO was founded in December 2020 by Hugh J M Brady, Matt Fuchter, and Mike Romanos; its Board is chaired by Keith Thompson CBE. The company is advancing its candidates through preclinical development and is working with the Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult to develop a manufacturing process. Financially, NK:IO has secured equity and non‑dilutive grant funding to support these programs, including recent seed financing and Innovate UK awards.