The Venture Codex

Participated · Series B · May 2026

Founded in 2017 and based in Hong Kong, August Robotics develops a modular robotics platform that ingests project plans, localizes robots on site, plans and executes tasks autonomously, coordinates fleets and detects and rectifies errors in real time. Its current product offerings include autonomous fleets of downward-drilling robots aimed at large prefabricated construction sites and an initial use case in AI data center construction. The company also launched Lionel, an autonomous floor-marking robot fleet for exhibitions and large indoor spaces. August Robotics has commercial deployments across hyperscale construction environments in the US and Europe and launched its drilling fleets in strategic partnership with Stanley Black & Decker’s DEWALT brand. The company’s autonomy stack is applied across its drilling and other workflows. Following the $30M Series B, August Robotics intends to expand operations and accelerate development efforts.

Participated · Equity · Jun 2022

OXECO designs, develops and manufactures surface treatments for the transport and clean-technology sectors. Its proprietary ONTO™ platform leverages reactive carbenes to control adhesion and wetting properties, optimizing painted surfaces and enabling designers to modify material surfaces for novel products. The technology was born in the University of Oxford’s Department of Chemistry and developed over more than two decades; the company is an evolution of Oxford Advanced Surfaces and is privately held. Manufacturers and designers are exploring applications in clean energy components including wind turbine blades and batteries. A composite-parts partner has used ONTO™ to eliminate sanding prior to painting automotive parts for Mercedes‑Benz Trucks and Ford, reducing pinhole risk and increasing production without expanding floor space or headcount. OXECO plans to use new capital to further commercialize its technology and advance R&D across the clean technology and transport sectors.

Participated · Series A · Nov 2018

Animal Dynamics is an Oxford University spin‑off that develops unmanned aerial systems inspired by biological concepts. The company currently concentrates on two projects: Skeeter, a dragonfly‑based micro‑UAV, and Stork, a range of powered‑paraglider delivery vehicles. Skeeter test vehicles are about 120 mm long, weigh under 50 g and can reach speeds of 45 km/h. Stork variants are described as stealthy, low‑cost machines capable of carrying 30–100 kg depending on the model. The startup’s products appear aimed primarily at the defense sector. Animal Dynamics recently completed a fundraising round to support development of these projects. Animal Dynamics is developing Skeeter, a microdrone whose flapping wings are inspired by dragonfly flight, aiming to deliver stable, efficient flight in windy conditions. The project began as a feasibility study in June 2015 and moved into a phase-two build to produce a flying prototype. The team is targeting a summer demo and potential field deployment by the end of next year. Skeeter is planned to be about 120mm, under 20 grams (including a camera and comms/navigation sensors), with a top speed around 45 km/h, a useful flight time of “not quite an hour,” and an estimated radio range up to ~1,000 meters. The company highlights mechanical challenges — especially achieving very low friction in the flapping mechanism and reducing wing inertial loads — and says it is working with specialists (including people from the Swiss watch industry) and leveraging low‑cost mobile‑industry components. Animal Dynamics is also exploring spin‑out technologies (notably a high‑efficiency linear actuator) and larger‑scale flapping vehicles for markets such as military surveillance, environmental monitoring, smart farming, search and rescue, and even water propulsion and human‑powered boats.

Participated · Series B · Sep 2018

Genomics develops precision healthcare tools using large-scale genetic data to generate personalised and population-level polygenic risk assessments. Its core product comprises proprietary algorithms and databases that link small genomic variations across thousands of studies to estimate individual risk for common diseases and cancers. The company positions its technology within genomic prevention to enable targeted interventions and tailored screening to prevent disease or catch it early. Genomics plans to use the new £35M funding to further develop its risk estimation technology and to expand its workforce as it aims to reach profitability. It has a team of over 100 people, more than 50% of whom are women with PhDs, and maintains offices in the UK and the US. The company expects adoption to scale over the next decade, forecasting that genetic information will become ubiquitous in healthcare systems and that millions in the UK will soon have personalised risk information based on its tools. Genomics plc is a data science company that uses human genetic information to improve drug development. Its core offering is an analysis engine that links genetic variation at over 14 million positions to changes in 7,000 molecular, cellular, and physiological measurements and disease outcomes, totaling over 100 billion data points. The company applies proprietary machine learning and statistical algorithms to predict the impact, efficacy, and safety of therapeutic interventions. Formed in 2014 by four University of Oxford scientists including Professors Peter Donnelly and Gil McVean, Genomics is based in Oxford, UK. It closed a £25m Series B led by Vertex Pharmaceuticals and plans to use the proceeds to expand, enhance its database, and pursue opportunities in the space. Genomics has also announced a collaboration with Vertex to further advance drug development efforts.

Participated · Series A · May 2018

Ultromics, spun out of the University of Oxford, offers EchoGo®, an artificial-intelligence platform that turns routine cardiac ultrasounds into objective diagnostic reports. The system is trained on one of the world’s largest echocardiography datasets and validated against actual patient outcomes, enabling it to identify subtle markers of HFpEF that are frequently missed in standard workflows. EchoGo has already analyzed more than 430,000 echocardiograms and is deployed in hospitals across the United States and the United Kingdom. Clinical studies cited by the company show the software reached a diagnostic decision in 93% of patients versus 40% for traditional HFpEF risk scores, with consistent accuracy across gender, age and risk groups. Ultromics’ technology is reimbursed by public and private payers and is cleared by the U.S. FDA, underscoring its commercial readiness. Backed by multiple investors and health systems, the company aims to make early identification of heart failure a standard part of cardiac care worldwide.