Participated · Equity · Jul 2025

Synfini operates an AI Cloud Foundry platform that merges artificial intelligence, automated synthesis, and iterative molecular design to accelerate discovery and synthesis of small molecules. The platform integrates target selection, compound design, reaction route prediction, and synthesis into a single workflow that shortens iteration cycles and reduces costs. By combining physical and virtual chemistry, Synfini produces novel, optimized compounds more rapidly than traditional early discovery processes. Since spinning out from SRI in 2023, the company has confirmed its approach through early traction and strategic partnerships. Synfini will use recent funding to expand its software and automated lab capabilities, hire additional scientific and engineering staff, and deepen commercial partnerships. The company has raised a total of $53 million to date, including the latest $8.9 million expansion and a mix of venture investments and non-dilutive grants.

Led · Equity · Feb 2024

Novity develops TruPrognostics AI, a predictive intelligence platform for industrial reliability teams that combines physics-based models, machine learning, and contextual AI to diagnose faults, forecast remaining useful life, and recommend maintenance actions. The platform works with data customers already collect and reports diagnostic true positive rates routinely above 90%. Novity has proven deployments across upstream and midstream oil and gas, LNG terminals, and wastewater operations. The company aims to help process industries transition away from fixed maintenance schedules, starting with oil and gas infrastructure. Novity is led by CEO Markus Larsson and is headquartered in San Francisco, CA. Following the strategic investment from Acario Innovation, Novity said it will expand operations and its development efforts.

Led · Series A · Jul 2018

LeoLabs operates a vertically integrated technology system, Vertex™, that delivers LEO coverage, real-time tracking and insights for satellite operators, commercial enterprises and federal agencies. The company focuses on space safety, security and sustainability by providing the information needed to plan and execute missions in low Earth orbit. LeoLabs sells operational insights and tracking capabilities to commercial and government customers worldwide. The company plans to scale up its insight delivery by investing in advanced end-user applications and partner integrations. Leadership under CEO Dan Ceperley says the funds will bolster the company’s data architecture and system software to support growth. LeoLabs recently raised new funding to support these product and scaling initiatives. Founded in 2016, LeoLabs operates a global network of ground-based phased-array radars to track and measure objects in low Earth orbit. Its radar sites include installations in Alaska, Texas, two sites in New Zealand and two in Costa Rica. The system detects objects as small as 2 centimeters, versus legacy systems that typically see 10-centimeter objects, expanding tracked object counts from roughly 17,000 to about 250,000 at the smaller threshold. Customers access collision-risk data through a subscription SaaS that issues automatic alerts for close approaches. LeoLabs reports seeing three to five close approaches per week for larger objects and many more when tracking smaller debris, which drives demand for avoidance maneuvers. The company plans to expand its radar footprint, increase tracking frequency, scale its software and data-science teams, open locations outside the U.S., and add new products and services. LeoLabs operates a patent-pending global phased-array radar network and a mapping and SSA platform that provides orbital and situational data to customers. Its core offerings include collision prevention, risk assessment, constellation monitoring and general SSA services. Customers include space agencies, commercial satellite operators, defense, and scientific/academic organizations. The company was founded in 2016 as a venture-funded spinout of SRI International and is led by CEO Dan Ceperley. LeoLabs closed a $13M Series A and plans to use the funds to expand its radar network for tracking small debris and satellites in LEO and to accelerate development of its mapping and SSA platform. The platform for developers and operators is available on a trial basis at the company’s website. LeoLabs spun out of SRI International to provide a collision-avoidance service for low-Earth orbit (LEO) operators. The company operates a network of ground-based radar monitoring stations and recently added the Midland Space Radar facility in Midland, Texas. Its system offers accuracy to within 100 meters, multiple daily tracks per object, verification mechanisms, scheduled data delivery, and an API for customer integration. LeoLabs says it can track up to 250,000 objects not covered by public monitoring systems today. The company supplies raw data plus built services to help customers avoid collisions and is investing in a data services platform to enable third-party innovation. CEO Dan Ceperley emphasizes the startup’s role in supporting growing cubesat, smallsat and space-tourism traffic in crowded LEO.

Participated · Series A · Sep 2017

Infostellar runs an "Airbnb"-style platform that lets satellite owners and operators book time on available ground antennas. The service monetizes idle antenna capacity and addresses the short contact windows for low-earth-orbit satellites, which have about a 40-minute daily communication window per antenna. Infostellar is currently pre-launch, with a limited beta scheduled for October and a wider launch planned for early 2018. Its business model takes a cut of rental revenue and includes a credit system that lets users exchange rental time for access to other antennas. CEO Naomi Kurahara says the company ultimately hopes to expand to interplanetary communication options, though near-term focus is on terrestrial infrastructure. Following the fundraise, the company plans to scale its Tokyo-based operations and expand its team from 10 by adding about 20 new hires.