Led · Seed · Oct 2025

PredicTx Health is a University of Melbourne spin-out that has built what it calls the world’s first AI-powered precision oncology platform. The software analyses standard CT scans with machine learning to quantify a patient’s muscle and bone composition, replacing the traditional body-surface-area approach to chemotherapy dosing. By combining radiomics, clinical data and predictive modelling, it enables oncologists to tailor chemo doses to individual physiology, aiming to reduce toxicity from overdosing and improve efficacy lost through underdosing. The company was co-founded by Professor Justin Yeung of Western Health and serial health-tech entrepreneur Abhijeet Waykar using research developed at the University. PredicTx will spend the next 12–18 months on clinical validation at Western Health, pilot deployments with cancer centres in Australia and India, and preparation of regulatory submissions to the TGA and CE. The new capital will also fund team expansion in AI engineering and clinical operations to accelerate product readiness and international scaling. To date, PredicTx has secured $1.6 million in pre-Seed financing to support these efforts.

Participated · Seed · Aug 2025

Mirugen is a preclinical biotech spin-out from the Centre for Eye Research Australia that develops cell reprogramming technology to stimulate innate repair. Its core work targets retinal repair, advancing a lead Retinitis Pigmentosa programme that aims to regenerate photoreceptors by activating nascent Muller glial stem cells. The company intends to translate this approach to other causes of blindness, including Age‑related Macular Degeneration and Stargardt’s disease. Mirugen has complemented non-dilutive awards from CUREator with equity financing to support translational development. The company recently appointed Charlotte Casebourne Stock as Executive Chair to support progression toward the clinic. To date Mirugen has raised A$7.1 million, including a new A$4.5 million seed round. The proceeds will fund further development of the core technology and the lead retinal programme.

Led · Equity · Oct 2024

Psychae Therapeutics is developing medical-grade, botanically derived treatments and psychedelic-assisted therapies to treat serious mental health challenges such as PTSD, anxiety and addiction. The company positions psychedelic therapies as emerging, highly effective, fast-acting and safe treatments for mental disorders and addiction. Co-founded by Associate Professor Daniel Perkins and Professor Jerome Sarris, Psychae is pioneering the field of psychedelic-assisted therapy. It is collaborating with the CSIRO Botanical Extracts Lab and using CSIRO’s research and commercialisation expertise and facilities to develop novel psychedelic medicines. The University of Melbourne announced a $4.5 million syndicated investment from the university’s Genesis Pre-Seed Fund and Tin Alley Ventures to support the startup. The new funding is intended to strengthen the company’s business and research strategy and capabilities to achieve medical registration of botanically derived pharmaceutical-grade medicines for suitable patient cohorts.

Participated · Series C · Dec 2022

Synchron is a New York City–based neurotechnology company building the Stentrode platform, an endovascular brain-computer interface (BCI) that is delivered via catheter rather than open-brain surgery. Once implanted, the device interfaces with the motor cortex through the blood vessels and wirelessly transmits neural signals that can be translated into hands-free digital commands. Ten patients with paralysis have received the Stentrode across U.S. and Australian clinical trials, demonstrating early clinical adoption. Led by founder and CEO Tom Oxley, the company plans to use newly raised capital to scale operations and advance product development. Synchron’s ultimate goal is to commercialize a clinically viable, minimally invasive BCI for widespread medical use. Including the latest round, the company has secured $345 million in total funding to date, underlining strong investor confidence in its technology and market potential.

Led · Series A · Feb 2022

Denteric was established to develop and commercialise a Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg) vaccine program originating from the University of Melbourne in collaboration with CSL. The company is advancing a therapeutic vaccine intended to treat moderate to severe periodontitis, a debilitating gum disease that affects roughly one in three adults globally and is linked to diabetes, heart disease, rheumatoid arthritis, dementia and certain cancers. There are currently no cures for periodontitis and existing treatments are described as archaic and painful. Denteric has received a $14 million Series A to progress the Pg vaccine research program. The funds will support work toward commencing the company’s first human clinical trial, planned in the next two to three years. The program and company are closely tied to the University of Melbourne’s Centre for Oral Health Research and CSL, reflecting continued public–private collaboration within the Melbourne biomedical precinct.