Participated · Series B · Oct 2024

Rege Nephro is developing therapies for kidney disease and is advancing a clinical pipeline in the renal space. The company is preparing for clinical trials and is using interim financing to accelerate R&D and pipeline advancement. Its recent bridge financing is intended to extend cash runway and de-risk near-term development milestones ahead of a larger Series C. Rege Nephro says this capital raise is part of a longer-term strategy to strengthen its position in renal therapies. The company plans to pursue a Series C in autumn 2026 and beyond as it progresses clinical and development activities.

Participated · Equity · Jan 2022

Cellusion is developing CLS001, an iPS cell-derived corneal endothelial cell substitute produced via a proprietary technique to efficiently generate corneal endothelial-like cells. The lead program, CLS001, targets bullous keratopathy and aims to address global corneal donor shortages that leave an estimated 13 million patients waiting for transplants. The company has reinforced its R&D organization and in September 2022 executed a license agreement with Celregen (a Fosun Pharma subsidiary) for operations in Greater China. In March 2023 a First In Human transplant of CLS001 was announced by joint research partner Dr. Shigeto Shimmura, and Cellusion is advancing preparations for company-sponsored clinical trials in Japan and for global trials. Proceeds from the recent fundraise will be used to advance those clinical-trial preparations and to support R&D of subsequent pipelines following CLS001. Cellusion is led by CEO Shin Hatou, is headquartered in Tokyo, was founded in January 2015, and has raised ¥4.5 billion (approximately US$33 million) in total to date. Cellusion develops CLS001, a corneal endothelial cell substitute (CECSi cells) differentiated from iPS cells, intended to treat bullous keratopathy and address the global shortage of donor corneas. The company highlights a simple injection delivery procedure designed to reduce reliance on donor tissue and specialized surgical expertise. Cellusion plans company-sponsored phase 1/2 clinical trials of CLS001 in Japan and overseas and has already obtained approval for an investigator-initiated first-in-human study at Keio University Hospital. The new funding will also be used to expand its Tokyo-based research and business teams and to advance R&D on other pipeline programs. Cellusion is pursuing supply-chain partnerships with Toho Holdings and Toyo Seikan Group Holdings to support CLS001 manufacturing and distribution. Founded in January 2015 and headquartered in Tokyo, the company aims to scale clinical development and global access to its cell therapy.

Participated · Equity · Jul 2021

Shiok Meats is a Singapore-based cell-cultured seafood startup developing cultivated crustaceans such as shrimp, lobster, crab, prawn, and crayfish. The company says it will use recent funds to advance R&D and build a state-of-the-art production facility in Singapore. Management expects the first production facility to be operational and a commercial product launched by 2023. Shiok Meats has partnered with Japanese cellular ag startup IntegriCulture to explore scaling up production of cultured shrimp. The company has also secured a grant under Enterprise Singapore’s Startup SG Tech Proof-of-Value scheme to accelerate development and commercialization. To date the startup has raised $30 million in total funding and is planning to close a full Series B round sometime next year. Shiok Meats is a Singapore-based cell-based crustacean meat company founded in August 2018 by stem cell scientists Dr. Sandhya Sriram and Dr. Ka Yi Ling. Its flagship product is an anticipated cell-based shrimp positioned as a clean, traceable alternative to farmed shrimp. The company plans to produce frozen cell-based shrimp meat for dumplings and other shrimp dishes from a commercial pilot plant and aims to launch a minced shrimp product in 2022. Beyond minced shrimp, Shiok plans to develop shrimp flavouring paste and powder, fully formed 3D shrimp, and cell-based lobster and crab in the coming years. The company raised $12.6M in a Series A to support building its pilot plant and initial commercial production. Shiok Meats is a Singapore-based alternative proteins startup. The company develops products in the alternative-protein space. It has raised $3 million in a bridge financing round. The funding will be used to set up its first manufacturing plant in Singapore. Investors named in the round include Agronomics, VegInvest, Impact Venture and UAE’s Mindshift Capital Fund. Shiok Meats is a Singapore-based company focused on producing shrimp from cultured cells rather than conventional aquaculture. The company’s core product effort is cell-based shrimp intended for commercial food production. Shiok Meats completed a $4.6 million seed funding round to carry out research on its cell-based shrimp platform. The funding is intended to support research and preparations to target mass production within the next couple of years. The fundraising was reported by Forbes. Shiok Meats is developing cultured seafood products, beginning with a shrimp substitute and a minced shrimp option for dumplings. Co-founders Sandhya Sriram and Ka Yi Ling are stem-cell scientists who left Singapore’s Agency for Science, Technology and Research to found the company. Early tests of their cultured shrimp have been successful, and the team estimates production costs at roughly $5,000 per kilogram. They plan to expand from shrimp to higher-end crustaceans such as crabs and lobsters over time. The company aims to bring its first product to market in three to five years. Initial commercial targets are Asia‑Pacific consumers, beginning in Singapore and expanding to Hong Kong, India and Australia.