Participated · Equity · Aug 2018

Nexgen Plants commercialises two platform technologies developed from University of Queensland research: INTtrait for rapid introduction of pathogen-resistance, production and consumer traits, and a virus-resistance approach to rapidly confer resistance in crops. INTtrait is being positioned as having advantages over existing gene-editing techniques such as CRISPR, and the company says its virus-resistance technology is uniquely rapid. Nexgen recently received non-GM notification from the USDA for a salt-tolerant rice variety and is engaging with plant biotech companies and breeders in the US, Europe and Asia. The company has completed projects with Syngenta and a major global food and beverage company and is pursuing further multinational partnerships. Management has appointed Dr Philippe Herve as CEO to ramp up international business development, with Herve based in France and splitting time between Europe/US and Australia. Nexgen was formed in 2013 by UniQuest and is implementing programs to demonstrate its technologies across a broad range of crop types while awaiting the Australian OGTR review of new breeding techniques. Nexgen Plants is trialling a newly discovered genetic pathway that enables plants to defend against common viruses, a discovery originating from scientists at the University of Queensland. The technology is based on identifying a new class of small plant virus molecules that regulate a plant's defence response and could enable selective breeding from germplasm collections and the introduction of virus-resistance traits. Initial trials will be conducted in tomato crops and the company says the technology could be available to plant breeders within 12 months. Nexgen is at proof-of-concept stage and plans both genetically modified and non-GM investigations, noting GM outcomes may be more suited to North and South America while Australian work will focus on non-GM approaches. The science is most relevant to fruit and vegetable crops but may also reduce virus impacts in wheat, canola and other broadacre crops. The article reports strong interest from plant-breeding companies globally.

Participated · Equity · May 2017

iCetana provides a system that uses machine learning and computer vision to help alert surveillance camera operators to 'abnormal' activity. The company operates from Subiaco and Dubai. Its chief executive, Chris Farquhar, said the company had been profitable for years. The company's turnover was just shy of $5 million in 2016. This month it secured $8 million in external funding intended to strengthen its position as a global player. The round brings iCetana's total funding raised to $9.4 million. iCetana commercialises self-training video-analytic software that learns typical behaviour from a normal data stream and automatically flags exceptions without requiring predefined events. The system is designed for crowded and high-motion environments and can alert security officers in real time. A City of Belmont pilot identified loitering, arson attempts, unusual group sizes, wrong-way vehicle movement, and other antisocial or illegal behaviour. The software is reportedly easier to set up and train than existing analytics and runs comfortably on a standard dual-core PC. iCetana plans global availability and is seeking partnerships for non-security uses such as manufacturing process control. The company is supported by up to $1.5 million in investment from Yuuwa Capital and Curtin pre-seed funding. Matthew Macfarlane of Yuuwa serves as interim CEO.

Participated · Series C · Aug 2014

Agworld provides a centralized software platform for each participant involved in the crop production process, enabling real-time collaboration and management of critical information throughout the crop cycle. Its core features include comprehensive crop production plans, geospatial data interrogation, agronomist recommendations, and financial and crop performance reporting. The platform is used by more than 12,000 farmers across five countries. The company raised AU$6m in a Series C round, bringing total equity raised to AU$12m. Proceeds will support expansion into the North American agricultural market while continuing to enhance the core product offering across the Australian market. Doug Fitch is the company’s CEO. Agworld provides a cloud-based platform that connects various players in the agricultural industry and enables capture, storage, and sharing of information anywhere, anytime. The platform was built specifically with the agricultural market in mind, positioning it against more generalist solutions. With Australia a major agricultural exporter, the company sees significant potential both locally and abroad as an exporter of expertise. Yuuwa Capital noted early customer adoption has been impressive and highlighted the management team's quality and attention to customer requirements. Yuuwa's investment director also suggested the platform could expand to other industries that require robust field data-capture capabilities. Agworld has closed an AUD$1.5M (US$1.4M) investment round led by Yuuwa Capital.

Participated · Series B · Feb 2013

PolyActiva develops PREZIA™, a proprietary covalent‑bond drug‑delivery platform that enables customizable, biodegradable implants and injectable gels for sustained ocular therapy. Its lead asset, PA5108, is a biodegradable ocular implant delivering latanoprost to reduce intraocular pressure in glaucoma and ocular hypertension. Phase 2a results showed clinically relevant IOP reductions for six months from a single implant, and a subset receiving a second implant at 21 weeks had reductions for at least 48 weeks with good tolerability and no negative impact on corneal endothelial cells. The company plans a Phase 2b study to begin in Q3 2025 at clinical sites across the U.S. PolyActiva will accelerate U.S. expansion while maintaining R&D and product development operations in Australia. The recent $25M Series C will support late‑stage clinical advancement of PA5108 and continued development of its broader pipeline enabled by the PREZIA platform. PolyActiva develops proprietary drug-polymer conjugate technology enabling sustained, site-specific drug delivery from rods, films, fibers and gels used in ocular and intra-articular implants. The conjugates carry high drug loads, are designed to erode completely at the end of therapy, and have been proven in validated animal models for delivery to the posterior region of the eye. Its development portfolio includes lower-risk products that deliver established drugs to proven sites and higher-value programs that deliver novel drugs to address unmet clinical needs. Current development programs include intra-ocular implants to treat glaucoma and severe eye infections, and an intra-articular product to treat osteoarthritis. The company plans to advance these programs through preclinical and clinical development and, after demonstrating clinical proof of concept, to seek commercial partners or license its technology to device makers. PolyActiva was founded in 2011 as a joint venture between CSIRO and the Bionic Ear Institute and is located in Melbourne, Australia.

Participated · Series A · Jul 2011

Dealised provides a group-buying technology services platform that enables media firms, mobile operators, retailers and others to create and manage their own deals and strengthen customer relationships. Created in late 2009 and led by newly appointed CEO Jonathan Marchbank, the company serves customers in Europe, Australia/New Zealand, the Middle East and the US. It operates with a regional Asian headquarters in Singapore to support its presence in Asia. Dealised plans to use recent funding to accelerate the global roll-out of its platform and to develop mobile group-buying solutions. The company closed a $5.35m Series A to support these expansion and product development efforts.