Participated · Series A · Jul 2025

Dispatch Bio is developing the Flare platform, which uses a viral vector to deliver a novel, universal antigen (Flare) to target tumor cells and neutralize the immune-suppressive tumor environment. The platform is engineered to enable the immune system to identify and eliminate solid tumor cells while sparing healthy tissue. The company announced a total of $216 million in funding, including a recently closed Series A. Dispatch was founded in 2022 out of a collaboration with the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy (PICI) and leverages technologies from the labs of Andy Minn, Carl June, Chris Garcia, and Kole Roybal. Leadership includes CEO Sabah Oney and a board and scientific advisory team composed of academic and industry figures. The funding will be used primarily to advance Dispatch’s therapeutic candidates into first-in-human clinical studies, with the first program expected to enter the clinic in 2026.

Participated · Equity · Nov 2024

Vittoria Biotherapeutics is a clinical-stage immunotherapy company developing novel cell therapies for hard-to-treat diseases. Its lead program, VIPER-101, is a gene-edited, autologous dual-population T cell therapy designed to target CD5 for patients with T-cell lymphoma. VIPER-101 and other assets leverage the company’s proprietary Senza5 platform, which enhances T cell effector function by abrogating CD5-mediated immunosuppression and employs a rapid five-day manufacturing process. Senza5 has demonstrated outstanding preclinical anti-tumor efficacy across a range of liquid and solid tumor models, and the broader pipeline includes programs targeting solid tumors and autoimmune diseases. The company recently completed a $25 million private financing to support clinical proof-of-concept for VIPER-101. The VIPER-101 Phase 1 trial is actively recruiting patients (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT06420089). The technology is exclusively licensed from the University of Pennsylvania, which also holds equity and has existing financial relationships with Vittoria.

Participated · Seed · Feb 2024

Elemind develops a wearable neurotechnology platform that uses proprietary signal-processing algorithms and AI to read individual brainwaves and deliver tailored, real-time stimulation—an approach the company calls “electric medicine.” The company’s first product is positioned as a general wellness device and is expected to be revealed in the coming months. Elemind emerged from stealth after conducting research since 2019 and holds three critical patents covering its core algorithms and dynamic neurostimulation techniques. Its technology is supported by five clinical trials and multiple peer-reviewed publications (including Nature Communications) showing faster sleep induction (up to 74% faster), rapid suppression of essential tremor, memory boosts, increased pain thresholds, and enhanced sedation (the latter in peer review). The founding team includes neuroscientists and researchers affiliated with MIT, Imperial College London, Harvard Medical School, and UC Berkeley. The company plans to use the recently closed seed funding to further develop and validate its wearable product and build applications across neurological conditions.

Participated · Series A · May 2021

Interius BioTherapeutics is a preclinical-stage gene therapy company based in Philadelphia focused on an in vivo cell-specific gene delivery platform. Its lead program aims to generate chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells directly in patients, bypassing ex vivo cell manipulations and the potentially toxic pre-conditioning chemotherapy used in standard CAR T treatments. The company says the platform is versatile and it is developing applications beyond immuno-oncology for diseases not amenable to current gene therapy modalities. Interius was co-founded by Dr. Saar Gill and Bruce Peacock and is led by CEO Phil Johnson, MD. The company intends to use new funding to expand its development efforts. No operating metrics were disclosed in the article.

Participated · Series B · Oct 2019

Tmunity Therapeutics is a clinical‑stage biotherapeutics company focused on delivering next‑generation T‑cell immunotherapy for cancer and other devastating diseases. The company integrates scientific, clinical and manufacturing expertise from its founders and collaborators to develop engineered T‑cell constructs. Tmunity has a diversified portfolio with three programs currently in clinic development and a pipeline aiming at both solid and liquid tumors. It operates laboratories and production facilities at the University of Pennsylvania and a dedicated cGMP manufacturing facility in East Norriton, PA, and collaborates with the Parker Institute, UCSF and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. The company emphasizes process improvement and production scale‑up to support clinical development and eventual commercialization. Tmunity’s leadership includes founders with prior CAR‑T experience and executives who helped bring the first CAR‑T therapy to market. Tmunity Therapeutics is a private clinical‑stage biotherapeutics company focused on delivering next‑generation T cell immunotherapy to patients with cancer, infectious disease and autoimmune disease. The company is developing a diversified portfolio of personalized T cell–based therapies designed to exert best‑in‑class control over T cell activation and direction in the body. Tmunity was founded on an exclusive collaboration and license agreement with the University of Pennsylvania and cites Carl H. June, M.D. among its scientific founders. It leverages laboratories and production facilities at UPenn and operates a dedicated cGMP manufacturing facility in Norristown, PA to pursue process improvement and scale production. The company aims to translate multiple engineered T cell approaches rapidly into the clinic, optimize manufacturing and pursue regulatory approvals. Its recent financing is intended to expand the business and operational structure to support development and manufacture of its portfolio. Tmunity Therapeutics develops engineered T cell therapies and platforms aimed at freeing the immunological potential of T cells to treat a wide range of disease indications. Its product focus includes T cell receptor (TCR) engineered T cells, regulatory T cells (Treg), and universal engineered T cell platforms that provide control over T cell activation and direction in vivo. The company is also developing proprietary technologies to activate, expand, and genetically engineer T cells from peripheral blood, cord blood, and tumors. Tmunity intends to use newly raised funds to advance development of these novel products. The company was co-founded by Anne Chew, Carl H. June, Bruce Levine, James L. Riley, Yangbing Zhao, and Bruce Blazar, who hold roles at Penn and the University of Minnesota. Tmunity is based in Philadelphia, PA.