Led · Series B · Dec 2024

Qnovia develops and commercializes proprietary inhalation device technologies centered on its RespiRx™ platform, an orientation-agnostic, portable vibrating mesh nebulizer. Its lead asset is the RespiRx™ Nicotine Inhaler (QN-01), a prescription inhaled smoking cessation therapy that has demonstrated clinical proof-of-concept in a first-in-human Phase 1 study and received FDA IND clearance. The company plans to advance QN-01 beyond Phase 1 and pursue a Marketing Authorization Application (MAA) submission to the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) in 2026, aiming to accelerate commercialization in the UK. Qnovia will use recent proceeds to support clinical, regulatory, and commercial development of QN-01 and to evaluate additional therapeutic indications for its platform. Founded in 2018, the company highlights opportunities to apply its device technology to asthma, COPD, vaccine delivery, pain management, generics, and select investigational drugs. Qnovia is led by CEO Brian Quigley and was founded by Mario Danek. Qnovia develops proprietary inhalation device technologies, centering on its RespiRx platform described as the first orientation-agnostic, portable vibrating mesh nebulizer. The company’s initial clinical focus is nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) with plans to expand into other cardiopulmonary and therapeutic indications including asthma, COPD, vaccine delivery, and pain management. Qnovia sees opportunities to apply its platform to several generic and investigational drugs to improve patient outcomes. The company raised $17 million in a Series A and will use the proceeds to advance its NRT drug candidate through an IND submission and begin human clinical trials in 2023. Qnovia plans to initiate a Phase 1 study for NRT once the FDA approves its IND application. The company was founded by Mario Danek in 2018 and is based in Los Angeles.

Led · Equity · Jan 2024

PlayGreen is a sports betting and casino brand founded in 2020 and led by CEO Nathan Dionne. The company operates in Brazil and Ecuador and runs a portfolio of partner and owned brands including Esportudo, Endzone, EsportudoW, Next Level, and Camisa 23. Its stated mission is to work for bettors across Latin America by offering experiences and customer service in a safe environment. PlayGreen intends to use new capital to launch features around live-streamed events and to expand revenue through new sports betting opportunities. The company raised $6M in the described funding round led by Vice Ventures. Management says the funding will help the company continue growing throughout Latin America.

Participated · Series A · Aug 2022

Black Buffalo makes smokeless tobacco alternative products that contain pharmaceutical-grade, tobacco-derived nicotine but no tobacco leaf or stem. The company also offers ZERO-branded nicotine-free, tobacco-free products. Its eight core products are the subjects of a bundled PMTA application submitted to the U.S. FDA in September 2020. Products are sold to adult (21+) consumers at over 800 convenience stores and tobacco outlets nationwide and online at blackbuffalo.com. Founded in 2015 and based in Chicago, the company closed a $30M Series A equity round. Black Buffalo intends to use the funds to accelerate every aspect of the business, including hiring in sales, marketing, manufacturing, and finance. Black Buffalo Inc. is a Chicago-based company founded in 2015 that makes smokeless tobacco alternatives. Its product lineup comprises eight SKUs (five long-cut and three pouch varieties) that contain pharmaceutical-grade nicotine but no tobacco leaf or stem. The company says it invested over 20,000 hours of R&D and sells direct-to-consumer online at BlackBuffalo.com to adult consumers age 21 and older. Black Buffalo reported strong sales momentum in 2020, with month-over-month revenue growth of 31% in March and 23% in April. With new capital the company plans to expand marketing, upgrade manufacturing capacity, increase online distribution, and launch into convenience stores and physical retail nationwide. Management is assembling Premarket Tobacco Product Applications for its full portfolio for submission to the FDA and purchased a high-throughput pouch maker expected for Q2 2020 to support demand.

Participated · Series A · Feb 2020

Lucy Goods produces cinnamon, fruit and mint-flavored nicotine gum that the team says has been reformulated for improved taste, texture and nicotine release speed. The product is positioned for smoking cessation and is marketed with testimonials from older ex-smokers rather than youth-oriented lifestyle imagery. Co-founder and CEO David Renteln (co-founder of Soylent) leads the company alongside Samy Hamdouche. The company raised $10 million in new funding from a group of investors. Backers cited the goal of offering a less-medicinal alternative to help people quit smoking and reduce tobacco-related harm, with RRE Ventures calling attention to the public-health costs of smoking.