Life Sciences
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Taaleri buys majority stake in Nordic Science Investments
NSI’s management is selling a 51% stake in the spinout investment firm, which has a €45 million first fund.
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UC Davis launches another fund in biotech push
The fund, unveiled together with the Aggie Venture Accelerator, will be managed by early-stage venture capital firm The March Group.
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TIAP’s Parimal Nathwani joins BDC to head C$150 million life sciences fund
After nearly two decades with TIAP, Parimal Nathwani has joined the Development Bank of Canada to manage a new C$150 million life sciences fund.
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Ysios launches €100 million fund to fuel Spain’s biotech spinouts
Ysios Capital’s InceptionBio fund will build and invest in biotech spinouts across Spain to establish the country as a life sciences hub.
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Penn launches $200 million fund to drive engineering spinouts
The University of Pennsylvania has established its third fund in just four months, this time targeting startups from the School of Engineering.
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University of British Columbia kicks off UBC Catalyst Ventures Fund
The University of British Columbia and the provincial government’s InBC Investment Corp have created the UBC Catalyst Ventures Fund with an initial C$20 million.
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Poli360 pushes Fund II to €85 million first close
Managed by 360 Capital, the spinout investment fund has a target size of €100 million and will invest in early-stage deeptech spinouts.
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Cambridge x Manchester enlists Faye Holland to lead partnership
Faye Holland brings considerable expertise of the Cambridge cluster in particular to the job, and is a successfully exited founder.
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Sydney Biomedical Accelerator picks Victoria Cogger as executive director
The A$780 million Sydney Biomedical Accelerator, backed by the University of Sydney, is set to open in 2028.
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Wildcat Philanthropic Seed Fund makes first investments
The University of Arizona’s Wildcat Philanthropic Seed Fund has backed its first three spinouts after raising 60% of the initial target size.
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Portal Innovations launches fund and incubator for spinouts in Utah
Woodbine Labs will support spinouts from local institutions like the University of Utah and Brigham Young University.
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Inven2 brings in Hans Vassgård Eid to double down on investments
Hans Vassgård Eid’s appointment comes half a year after the tech transfer office Inven2 helped launch a life sciences investment fund.
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IIT Madras launches ₹6 billion deep tech fund
IIT Madras has joined forces with Unicorn India Ventures to launch a deep tech fund that aims to invest in more than 25 companies.
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Montana Children’s Health secures €30 million to commercialise paediatric healthcare research
The vehicle is the first to receive a capital commitment through the EIF and Madrid government’s Innvierte Technology Transfer & Deep-Tech fund of funds.
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Penn joins BioNTech and OUP to launch $50 million PxB Fund
The Penn-BioNTech Innovative Therapeutics Seed Fund follows the announcement of Penn’s $10 million StartUP Fund last month.
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IIT Bombay creates ₹2.5 billion Y Point Venture Capital Fund
The Y Point Venture Capital Fund will primarily invest in early-stage, deeptech IIT Bombay spinouts, but also back startups from other institutions.
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Alexander Khalessi promoted to chief innovation officer at UC San Diego Health
Alexander Khalessi is the current chair of neurological surgery and a professor of surgery, radiology and neurosciences at UC San Diego Health.
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Fudan University launches two funds, worth a combined $242 million
The Chinese university has set up a CN¥1 billion fund and a $100 million vehicle in order to significantly bolster its innovation ecosystem.
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UTokyo IPC closes the ASA Fund, backs Red 1 Healthcare
UTokyo Innovation Platform has achieved a final close of its Academic Startup Acceleration Fund, and concurrently made an LP investment in the Red 1 Healthcare fund.
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Entertech VCIF launches to back Turkish startups
The fund has been created by Entertech Istanbul Technopark, which is owned by Istanbul University and Istanbul University-Cerrahpaşa.
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Breakthrough Victoria backs the SYNthesis BioVentures Fund I
Created by Monash University’s Prof Andrew Wilks, the SYNthesis BioVentures Fund I works with Australian research institutes to scale their spinouts.
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William Kirkland picked to helm South Carolina Research Authority
The former executive of the University of South Carolina’s Office of Economic Engagement will run the South Carolina Research Authority.
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Polytechnique Ventures secures €21 million for second fund
The École Polytechnique-aligned fund has a final target of €30 million to €40 million, which would roughly double its assets under management.
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Cleveland Clinic and Khosla Ventures cooperate on venture creation
Cleveland Clinic and Khosla Ventures have inked a partnership that will see the two collaborate on spinout creation.
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University of Dubai launches deep tech fund
The AED100 million Dubai Tech X Fund will invest in deep tech and AI spinouts in an effort to bolster the regional innovation ecosystem.
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Hong Kong University of Science and Technology launches new fund
The Gobi-Redbird Innovation Fund has secured the backing of the government-owned Hong Kong Investment Corporation.
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UH Ventures promotes Kipum Lee to president
UH Ventures has selected Kipum Lee as its new president, succeeding David Sylvan, who will focus on his role with University Hospitals itself.
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Friday Five: VR glaucoma scans, heat-powered sensors, and 3D‑printing space trash into tools
Spinouts turn waste, thermal energy and VR tech into sustainable solutions for industry, space, and healthcare.
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Robert Langer, prolific MIT spinout founder, launches $77.5 million fund
T.Rx Capital has closed its inaugural fund at $77.5 million to build and invest in healthcare startups, with Langer’s son also among the firm’s co-founders.
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James Hotaling named inaugural chief innovation officer for University of Utah Health
James Hotaling’s promotion comes after he played an instrumental role in launching University of Utah Ventures.
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Friday Five: Stop metastasis, sync fleets, sterilise surfaces
Block Biosciences, FleetMQ, Molecular Sustainable Solutions, OnTracx, and TransHumanity make up this week’s selection of spinouts to watch.
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Next Ventures inks strategic partnership with OHSU
The venture capital firm has closed its second fund at $60 million and signed a strategic deal with Oregon Health & Science University.
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Friday Five: Agate Sensors, Detechgene, Data Revival, SenseAI Vision, xCystence Bio
The Friday Five series is back after the summer break, and we’re kicking things off with an array of spinouts that just so happen to all be operating within the life sciences.
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Venture Investors Health Fund raises $80 million to back spinouts
Venture Investors Health Fund has secured $80 million to invest in spinouts from institutions such as the University of Michigan.
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Portal Innovations kicks off $100 million Velocity Fund
Portal Innovations, established by John Flavin who previously set up the Polsky Center, partners with institutions like UChicago to support spinouts.
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Medical University of South Carolina launches two funds totalling $30 million
The $20 million 1824 Health Ventures Fund I and the $10 million South Carolina Health Innovation Fund will both be managed by Bob Crutchfield.
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Brandon Capital collects A$439 million for sixth fund
Australasian life sciences VC Brandon Capital has a partnership with more than 50 research institutions that provide access to deals.
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Michigan State University unveils $10 million fund
The university is doubling down on its partnership with Henry Ford Health to create a $10 million fund and innovation hub.
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Friday Five: EnAcuity, Filics, Gallion Health, ODOS, Plasma Fresh
Software that turns surgical cameras into hyperpectral imaging tools, a platform that helps farmers operate more sustainably, and cold plasma that kills foodborne pathogens are all becoming real applications thanks to these spinouts.
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Catalio closes Nexus Fund IV with $400 million
Catalio Capital Management specialises in launching and investing in life sciences spinouts through a network of researchers that act as venture partners.
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Friday Five: Aspecthera, Axiles, LayerLogic, Orinova, Peach Cars
We take a look at some of the early-stage spinouts that caught our eye. This week: Aspecthera, Axiles, LayerLogic, Orinova, Peach Cars
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David O’Neill departs from FACIT
David O’Neill had been president of oncology-focused commercialisation firm Fight Against Cancer Innovation Trust since 2018. Peter Goodhand replaces him.
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Friday Five: DigitalCNC, Draig Therapeutics, LastingAsset, RIFT, ScopeBio
We take a look at some of the early-stage spinouts that caught our eye. This time: DigitalCNC, Draig Therapeutics, LastingAsset, RIFT, and ScopeBio.
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Biotope Ventures reaches €5 million first close for Fund II
Biotope Ventures, the accelerator and investment arm for Belgian research institute VIB, has raised €5 million towards a €9 million goal for its second fund.
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Friday Five: Astratus, Hirundo, Lembas, OrisDX, and Somnee
We take a look at some of the early-stage spinouts that caught our eye. This time: Astratus, Hirundo, Lembas, OrisDX and Somnee.
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Longview Innovation joins Anzu, forming the North America University Innovations Fund
Longview Innovation is joining forces with Anzu Partners and launching the North America University Innovations Fund.
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Cancer Focus Fund targets $250m for second vehicle
The Cancer Focus Fund is affiliated with the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and is targeting about five times as much cash for Fund II.
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Winsome Cheung: Startups, here’s what to know when negotiating with big pharma
Winsome Cheung is a partner at Covington who helps biotech startups and big pharma negotiate deals. Here, she shares what to look out for in contracts.
