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BIOBOX ANALYTICS (SEED)
Genomics is the space race of our generation. BioBox is on a mission to accelerate life science research by creating the most intuitive and intelligent genomic data analysis platform.
Designed for next-gen sequencing data, scientists design and run custom computational pipelines in BioBox's interactive no-code interface. Equipped with advanced statistical and visualization capabilities, including smart automations for real-time insights, users have all the tools needed to turn data into discoveries.
- BioBox has built a sticky platform used by over 200 scientists at the frontier of life science research at labs and hospitals across NA and the EU.
- Raising $3M seed with $1M committed.
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HDAX THERAPEUTICS (SEED)
HDAX is developing a targeted therapeutics platform for treating HDAC-driven pathologies such as cancers, neuropathies, and neurodegenerative disorders.
For these unmet needs, HDAX overcomes challenges including weak binding, off-target toxicities, and poor pharmacokinetic profiles, and has engineered brain-penetrating HDAC6 drugs that enable disease targeting in areas unreachable to current clinical competitors.
- HDAX emerged from the lab of Prof. Patrick Gunning, co-founder of Dalriada Drug Discovery, Janpix (a Centessa Pharmaceuticals company), Dunad Therapeutics, and Dalriada Therapeutics.
- The team welcomes Dr. Roman Fleck (CEO of Janpix; ex-VC @ Medicxi) as executive chair.
- HDAX cofounder Nabanita Nawar was selected for the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research (OICR) Rising Stars Award recognizing scientific potential, scholarly achievement, and community leadership.
- Closing $3M seed with one SAFE secured for lead optimization, clinical candidate nomination, and pipeline expansion.
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MAZLITE (SEED)
Mazlite has developed an IoT platform for real-time spray monitoring in industrial and hazardous settings.
By leveraging physics, AI, and sensors, Mazlite's system enables manufacturers to solve product quality issues, improve sustainability, minimize material and energy waste, reduce reworks, and boost profitability.
- Mazlite's technologies have been validated and vetted by a major industrial paint supplier. Projects will begin at automotive plants in Canada this summer and Europe in the fall.
- Raising $5M seed to grow production capabilities, and for software and sales development.
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MICROMENSIO (SEED)
Micromensio's biosensing technology platform provides at-home testing products that eliminate the need for the central lab.
D2C testing is growing with the emergence of personalized, preventative, and decentralized health care. Existing solutions rely on mailing a sample to a central lab for analysis, which is expensive and takes several days, limiting testing frequency. Micromensio's connected at-home solution means users get results in minutes at a lower cost, enabling more frequent testing.
- Micromensio's platform has been validated through several prototyping runs and over $1.5M in research funding.
- 5 issued patents, with more to be filed.
- Closing $750K seed with signed term sheet from strategic lead investor.
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PHENOMIC (BRIDGE)
Phenomic is developing new medicines against cancer by targeting the connective tissue it grows on.
Machine-learning analysis of single-cell genetic data leads Phenomic to top targets for drug development.
- With world-class team and backing, Phenomic is poised for significant growth, anticipating key data points to drive 2-3x return in the next 6-12 months.
- Closing $5M bridge with room for additional ~$2M from value-add investors.
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ARDRA announces funding and research collaboration
Ardra produces specialty chemicals for foods, flavors, perfumery, and cosmetics using renewable resources. By fermenting natural sugars, Ardra’s products are free from harmful residues found in petroleum-derived synthetic ingredients.
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LSK TECHNOLOGIES acquired by Nicoya
LSK Technologies (UTEST19, YC S20) has been acquired by Nicoya Lifesciences, a global innovator of digital proteomics solutions for diagnostics and biotherapeutic discovery.
LSK is decentralizing laboratory testing with their high-throughput lab-in-a-box platform. Together the two firms are set to transform access and affordability of lab-quality testing for a range of viruses and reactions at the point-of-need.
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EMERGING INNOVATION SPOTLIGHT
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U of T's annual Connaught Innovation Awards accelerate the commercialization of research-based innovations. This year's winners are:
- Charlene Chu – Nightingale.ai, digital health app for gold-standard rehab after orthopedic surgery
- Cindi Morshead – Novel gene therapy to promote post-injury brain repair
- Shirley Wu – Smart microneedle patch to detect and treat hypoglycemia in diabetics
- Patrick Gunning – HDAC2 inhibitors for the treatment of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD)
- Winners from the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering:
- Gisele Azimi – High-performance and cost-effective aluminum battery for electric transportation and renewable energy storage
- Sanjeev Chandra – Thermal spray fabrication of liquid cooled heat sinks
- Mark Chignell – Target Acquisition Games for Measurement and Evaluation (TAG-ME) of brain function
- Roman Genov – Low-cost camera for adaptive HDR imaging
- Benjamin Hatton – Smart dressings for active wound control and tissue regeneration
- David Lie – Tools for comprehensive hardware security assessments
- Milos Popovic – Take home neurostimulation for depression
- Craig Simmons – Cell culture medium to improve induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes
- Ding Yuan – Scalable search on compressed text logs
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