Participated · Seed · Jun 2026

Skillmaker develops XR- and AI-powered immersive training programs aimed at shortening time-to-competency for skilled-trades workers. Its NAPA Autotech Xccelerator program, developed with NAPA Auto Care, has been commercially deployed in over 20 states and carries a five-year distribution agreement with Genuine Parts Company and NAPA. The company says its program can reduce training time for entry-level auto technicians from two years to 25 days. Skillmaker has also launched pilots with partners such as Black’s Tire & Auto Service and Southeastern Community College using AI-powered smart glasses. Founded in 2024 and based in Carolina Beach, Skillmaker has won regional awards including a Coastal Entrepreneur Award and a CED Venture Connect pitch contest in AI and machine learning. Following the seed round, the company plans to expand its platform into additional trades and grow its team.

Led · Seed · Apr 2025

VQ Biomedical is developing an oxygenation catheter that delivers oxygen directly into the bloodstream to treat acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The device is designed as a simpler, bedside alternative to venovenous (VV) ECMO and aims to minimize the risks and costs of traditional therapies by enabling insertion with a single dial for oxygen flow. Early proof-of-concept large-animal studies showed the catheter can provide significant oxygen levels, and the company plans to build a commercial prototype for in vivo safety and efficacy testing to support future IDE submissions. Long-term goals include reducing reliance on mechanical ventilation for ARDS patients, increasing ventilator-free days, and shortening ICU stays. VQ is a Duke University spin-out with intellectual property developed in collaboration between the Duke University School of Medicine and the Pratt School of Engineering. The leadership team includes CEO Galen Robertson and CMO Tobias Straube, with technical leads Stewart Farling and Marc Deshusses. Financially, VQ has combined equity funding, government contracts, and a strategic loan to advance prototype development.

Participated · Series A · Oct 2022

Lumata Health provides a human-led, technology-driven care management platform that combines predictive analytics with hundreds of certified ophthalmic care coaches to improve treatment adherence for chronic eye diseases. The platform delivers tailored interventions and partners with physicians, payers, and pharmaceutical manufacturers to enhance clinical outcomes and patient satisfaction. Lumata has partnered with eye care providers across the U.S., including the five largest national and regional eye care networks. The company reports that its proactive model has recently demonstrated up to 800 additional vision-saving eye injections annually for every 1,000 participating patients. Lumata plans to use the new funding to meet growing demand and further enhance the data-driven technology powering its patient adherence solutions. Founded in 2017 and based in Raleigh, N.C., the company has raised $36 million to date. Lumata Health offers an Intelligent Engagement Platform and a human-led continuous care program that combines behavioral information with clinical data to deliver tailored interventions through trained ophthalmic care coaches. The platform was developed with over $2MM in support from the National Eye Institute and is almost always free to patients. Programs are reimbursable under Medicare’s Chronic Care Management billing codes and are covered by secondary, supplement, or Medicare Advantage plans. Clinics using Lumata’s services have reported a 60% reduction in delayed appointments, and the company currently contracts with more than 300,000 patients. Lumata partners with physicians, payers, and health systems to provide between-visit assistance for chronic eye diseases such as diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration, and glaucoma. New providers can try Lumata for 90 days with no upfront costs or EMR integration required. The company has raised more than $14.8MM in grant and venture funding to date. Lumata Health operates a human-led, intelligent eye care management platform that pairs patients with experienced eye care coordinators and JCAHPO-Certified Ophthalmic Assistants and Technicians to support care between ophthalmologist visits. The platform combines clinical and psychosocial elements with data and technology to improve adherence, education, and to address barriers such as transportation, medication refills, and injection-related anxiety. Lumata currently serves thousands of patients with vision-threatening chronic eye conditions, and data shows patients supported by the platform miss an average of 30% fewer clinic appointments. Its services are almost always free to patients and are reimbursed by most payers, including Medicare and often fully covered with supplemental insurance. The company plans to use new funding to advance predictive analytics, incorporate automated patient communication pathways, and expand offerings like pre-visit intake, prior authorization assistance, and pre-operative cataract education. Lumata was founded in 2017 by ophthalmologist Stephen R. Fransen, MD, and previously received more than $2MM in research funding from the National Eye Institute.

Participated · Series A · Mar 2022

biospatial is a healthcare analytics company and EMS data platform that collects and curates electronic Patient Care Reports (ePCRs) from thousands of EMS providers. Headquartered in Durham, North Carolina, the company builds partnerships with state, local, and commercial EMS agencies to assemble a unique prehospital dataset. As of March 2022 the platform has ingested and analyzed over 150 million ePCRs from agencies in over 40 US states and collects over 100,000 new ePCRs daily. biospatial combines these data with additional healthcare sources and proprietary artificial intelligence to provide near real-time actionable insights to health systems, clinical research organizations, the federal government, and life sciences customers. The company’s core mission is to improve healthcare outcomes through data science, and it supports both its EMS data partners and downstream customers with analytics and services. The Series A financing is intended to expand the company’s customer base and capabilities to accelerate growth and impact on outcomes.

Participated · Equity · Oct 2018

Improved Nature makes shelf-stable, single-ingredient protein concentrate products that are activated by boiling in water and designed to mimic animal proteins in bite, texture, and taste. Its product lineup includes items such as Pork‑Free Cutlets, Beef‑Free Country‑Fried Steak, and BBQ Boneless Chicken‑Free Wings. The company was co‑founded in December 2015 by Richard Hawkins, Moshe Meidan, and partners from RDI Consulting. An initial $6 million corporate investment was used to buy equipment, commercialize the technology, and upfit the plant. The recent $3 million financing will fund expansion from a core team of seven senior managers, launch sales and marketing, add to senior management, and hire 10–15 employees. The company positions its technology for commercial markets to meet global demand for plant‑based proteins.