Ventures’ Five In Focus

2022 was a big year for Science Creates Ventures! We invested in five new companies – Nebu-Flow, Open Bionics, Scarlet Therapeutics, IsomAb, and Kelpi. They join CytoSeek, Carbometrics, Forefront RF, Portal Biotech, Imophoron and Pictura Bio; bringing the total up to 11. In the last year alone, these companies collectively raised over £25m. 

Nebu-Flow is pioneering new nebulisation technology that radically improves the efficacy of current inhalable drugs, and usability for the patient. This technology has the potential to deliver drugs that are currently impossible to deliver effectively, opening up brand new treatment options for respiratory diseases. Our investment is enabling Nebu-Flow to develop its minimum viable product and initiate key commercial partnerships.

Open Bionics is developing revolutionary low-cost bionic prosthetics by combining 3D scanning and 3D printing to reduce the cost and improve the fitting process of robotic prosthetics. Its first product, the Hero Arm, is a myoelectric prosthetic for children and adults with below elbow amputations and limb differences. Our investment is helping Open Bionics scale its operations in the US and progress its pipeline of innovative robotic products. It has just been announced that Open Bionics will deliver state-of-the-art bionic arms to Ukrainian soldiers wounded by landmines, see this article on Sky News. Open Bionics’ CEO, Joel Gibbard MBE, and the team are headed to Munich in Germany to test out the Hero Arm on the two wounded Ukrainians, see this article on the BBC.

Scarlet Therapeutics is applying advanced genetic engineering techniques to red blood cells (RBCs) to transform them into life-saving new treatments, leveraging years of world-class research at the University of Bristol and NHS Blood and Transport. Our investment is helping Scarlet Therapeutics to optimise its platform technology and progress work to define its first clinical candidate. See Scarlet Therapeutics’ Founders in the press here.

IsomAb is taking a different approach to identifying, evaluating and developing isoform specific antibodies to treat diseases where patients currently have limited treatment options, leveraging expertise and IP from the Universities of Bristol and Nottingham. IsomAb aims to develop the first therapy on the market with a novel mechanism of action that can treat the underlying physiological cause of vascular blockage. Our investment is enabling IsomAb to spin out of the University of Nottingham, assemble its leadership team and kick-start the next stages of therapeutic development.

Kelpi is working with global brands in the packaging market to replace single-use plastics with premium performance bioplastics that harness the novel properties and environmental benefits of seaweed. Our investment is enabling Kelpi to expand its operations and client list, scale up its chemistry and manufacturing processes, and secure regulatory approval for its novel materials.

Science Creates Ventures’ Principal, Dr Catherine Fletcher says “It’s a privilege to be working with such talented and inspiring entrepreneurs, and to play my small part in helping them to commercialise their ground-breaking technologies to tackle some of the world’s biggest problems. Investing at the earliest stage is very hands-on and it takes a lot of work, but it is so rewarding.”

We will soon be announcing the 12th and final company to be backed by Science Creates Ventures from Fund 1. Later this year, Science Creates Ventures will be announcing the raise of Fund 2 to continue to back game-changing UK deep tech companies. Watch this space!

Since this article was published, Science Creates Ventures has re-branded to SCVC. Find out more here.

Investment may not be suitable for all investors. Investors should be aware that investments in illiquid shares in small unquoted companies carry a high level of risk, and there may not be a readily available market to sell such an investment. As such, investors should not invest if likely to require the capital in the near term. The value of an investment may go down as well as up, and investors may lose all funds invested.

This document is a financial promotion approved by Kin Capital Partners LLP (“KCP”) for the purposes of section 21 Financial Services and Markets Act 2000. Science Creates Ventures (FRN: 933134) is an Appointed Representative of Kin Capital Partners LLP “KCP”, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN: 656789).