Portfolio

Elemind’s neuromodulation headband  shapes brain waves to help people fall asleep faster than leading sleep drugs and without side effects, using EEG monitoring and acoustic stimulation through bone conduction. Outperforms 5 of 6 prescription treatments in reducing sleep onset latency [Nature paper]. Developed out of an MIT lab led by co-founder Ed Boyden (Y. Eva Tan Professor in Neurotechnology at MIT and pioneer in optogenetics and expansion microscopy). Co-founded by inventor and entrepreneur Meredith Perry.

Acta is an Alzheimers drug development company undertaking two programs: (1) GSM-776890, which is the top prospect out of beta-amyloid-lowering drugs entering clinical trials (essentially a “statin for the brain”); and (2) ACT-I, which repurposes and screens combinations of known drugs to treat neurodegeneration, using mini-human brain orgonoids to test for synergies. Founder is Dr. Rudy Tanzi, PhD (one of TIME’s 100 Most Influential People of 2015; Director of the Genetics and Aging Research Unit at Harvard/MGH; Vice-Chair of the Neurology Dept)

EightySix is a neurotech/AI company leveraging the brain’s neuroplasticity to gradually replace old brain tissue with new, synthetic lab-grown brain tissue derived from a patients induced pluripotent stem cells. The vision is to extend lifespans and treat most neurodegenerative diseases preventatively by enabling piece-by-piece replacement with an optimized clone brain. Furthermore, the approach could optimize high-throuput brain-computer interfacing with the integration of electrodes or nano particles into the process. Founder Daniel Burger hails from the Blue Brain Project.

Expansion Technologies is optimizing and applying revolutionary tools– including expansion microscopy (which permits nano precise imaging of large scale brain tissues), optogenetics, and high-speed brain activity imaging– to open up new frontiers in confronting brain disease and simulating the brain. Expansion is co-founded by Ed Boyden (Y. Eva Tan Professor in Neurotechnology at MIT and leading pioneer of both optigenetics and expansion microscopy).

NeuroAge Therapeutics is pioneering an AI-driven method to prevent and stop the progression of neurodegenerative disease by tackling root causes of brain aging, rather than focusing solely on the removal of toxic protein buildup.

NorthStar Care is a virtual alcohol treatment program that differs from traditional rehab in its use of evidence-based medications and remote long-term counseling. So far, NorthStar has shown 91% patient retention and 94% success rate (compared to the 13% rate of inpatient rehab). Led by Amanda Wilson, a board-certified addiction medicine physician, who has been instrumental in developing two transformative Substance Use Disorder treatment programs, CleanSlate and Boulder Care, which together have treated over 25K patients.

Allia Health reimagines the tech stack for mental health care. Their vertically integrated platform uses a system of ML models to organize, analyze, and extract insights from biological, clinical, and behavioral data. Their flagship product is the first Gen-AI assistant for mental health clinicians– delivering instant, contextualised, research-based insights and automated, code-compliant documentation. By building a world-class data repository that captures treatment and outcome data, Allia is pioneering a learning mental health system, and has generated huge early excitement among providers– with >$300K in LOIs from over 14 clinics based off of early results.

Outro is building the first digital healthcare platform dedicated to safely tapering off of psychiatric medications, initially focusing on antidepressants. Cofounder is Dr. Mark Horowitz, expert on deprescribing and leader in the hyperbolic tapering method. He also authored the first deprescribing textbook and contributed to new UK National Guidelines on deprescribing.

Cognigenics is developing a single-dose therapeutic that uses short hairpin RNA-based therapeutics to mitigate the consequences of chronic stress and other disorders that arise from chronic neural dysregulation.

Firefly VR is creating a VR meditation and mindfulness platform that blends tech and therapies to ease the symptoms of anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues. The VA is in various stages of planning or carrying out eight clinical trials alongside Firefly and has already made purchases. Comes from the minds of some of top video game veterans who have developed games including Guitar Hero and Wii Fishing.

ReMindedreimagines mental health care by supplementing physicians’ typical assessments of their patients’ health status with measurements picked up from their non-invasive, pocked-sized device–including five saliva biomarkers tied to stress, anxiety, and indications for depression, along with a finger-based HRV measurement. Won Google’s Pitching Competition in 2023 and invited to present at Stanford’s Innovators Forum of 2024.

QBio, short for Quantified Biology, makes clinical digital twins and personalized health forecasts a reality. Their imaging tech will automate physical exams, generate risk summaries, and determine whether patients need to be triaged and routed to other specialists or take additional exams– all without the need of a doctor. Provides risk insights for health issues in otherwise asymptomatic populations and gives clinical follow-up recommendations– has already caught previously undiagnosed breast cancer in one of our associates.

BeSound is developing AI-driven photoacoustic imaging tech to detect cancer with ultrasounds. Their tech stack is made up of a hardware unit that integrates with existing ultrasound infrastructure and subscription-based software that uses generative AI to flag malignancies for doctors. Bloch has a research/development contract with Mass General Hospital (MGH) and Harvard Medical School.

Dognosis is developing a breath-based multi-cancer early detection (MCED) test by combining canine olfaction with AI-powered brain-computer interface (BCI) technology. Their DogSense BCI, a non-invasive headset that captures dogs' neural and behavioral responses to scent, essentially translates olfactory signals into digital data. These are analyzed by DogOS machine learning models to create disease signatures. In studies, they achieved 98% accuracy in detecting 10 cancers after 10 weeks of canine training. In practice, patients’ breath samples will be sent to Dognosis' lab, where trained dogs equipped with DogSense BCI analyze them for early disease detection.

Malcova is developing CT-based imaging tech that could solve CT’s biggest fundamental issue– scatter. Their narrow-beam imaging approach can reduce scatter by 90% and provide higher quality 3D imaging than standard mammogram. With hardware reconfigurations, Malcova’s device could extend to a range of applications, but they will initially target dense breast cancer imaging as a far more sensitive, specific, and comfortable alternative to traditional mammography. Already secured over $6 million in funding, primarily through non-dilutive sources such as SBIR awards from the NSF and NIH, clinical trial is being led by the Chair of Breast Radiology at Yale.

Imago Systems’ software detects breast cancer in women with dense breast tissue earlier than it is typically picked up, and shows promise in cardiovascular applications and other tissues as well, as a cloud-based Medical Software as a Service (MSaaS) solution. In partnership with Mayo Clinic, 475 cardiovascular facilities, the American College of Cardiology Company, MexAxiom, 20k cardiologists, KOLS, and more.

Mercy is developing a non-invasive, blood-based assay to make cancer screening globally accessible. Mercy’s Halo Ovarian Cancer Test received Breakthrough Device designation from the FDA for early detection of asymptomatic ovarian cancer in post-menopausal women after unblinding unprecedented results; Mercy substantially outperformed the traditional blood test in detecting ovarian cancer (CA125 liquid biopsy). Nobel Prize winner, Randy Schekman, the “godfather” of exosomes, is a highly engaged board member.

Feminai empowers women to do more accurate self-breast exams. Their tech includes a wearable, disposable patch paired with AI algorithms that identify abnormal lesions through blood flow and conductivity changes. They have successfully screened over 100 patients with 96% sensitivity and 98% NPV (Negative Predictive Value).

Vertility Health is introducing an accessible and affordable technology for prospective parents looking to prevent mutations from being passed on through sperm sorting tech– which could allow parents to eliminate the costly step of screening embryos with preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) from the IVF process, and would allow some couples to bypass IVF altogether.

Genie is developing the first comprehensive test of womb health– which is a common and typically treatable cause of infertility issues, though underrecognized in comparison to the other major causes of infertility (sperm and embryo/egg health issues). Their menstrual blood test detects biomarkers relating to inflammation, hormones, heavy metals, chronic bacterial/fungal infections + more.

Amira Health is an AI precision health intervention company that supports women as they navigate menopause. Their approach is two-fold: they offer a smart cooling wearable device, ‘Terra,’ that detects hot flashes and provides instant relief during the night through an integrated mattress pad to reduce sleep interruptions; and an AI coach that removes guesswork from symptom management. 

Stealth reproductive company led by Y-Combinator founders and a Harvard pioneer in genetics and molecular engineering

Bexson Biomedical’s novel pain management system is entering the clinical stage to alleviate reliance on opioids. By using a pump to deliver drugs subcutaneously that have traditionally required other forms of delivery (like IVs), Bexson safely and effectively treats pain from home. Its lead target is focused on delivering low-dose ketamine subcutaneously for post-op pain management; it also holds an omnibus patent for new composition of matter patents on 100+ existing drugs across IV, oral, subQ and other delivery forms.

Empo Health is creating a digital ‘smart mat’ for early-stage detection and prevention of diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs)– which incur $40B in costs in the US each year. In its private practice usability study, Empo caught potential wounds or ulcers early in seven of 21 patients over three months. The Empo Team, led by founder Anuj Khandelwal, has already lined up LOIs with private practices for roughly 2,900 patients over initial sales and pilot periods. Coinvestors include Draper Associates, Boost.vc, and Cartograph.

Agate Health empowers medical professionals to focus on patient care through its digital health platform tailored to chronic conditions. Agate has received a $20K grant from the National Science Foundation & Public Policy Lab. Led by Naciim Mohamed, a Gates Scholar and prior founder.

RTHM is a YC-incubated company integrating remote clinical medicine and research with advanced molecular/digital measurement tech + AI, in order to bring diagnostics and treatments to patients faster. Initial focus is on Long Covid. Founders include Ryan Kellogg, PhD, a pioneer of tech for molecular profiling using self-collected blood microsamples at Stanford; and Jennifer Curtin, MD, a physician and post-viral illness expert specializing in ME/CFS, and a co-author on the official clinical guidance for ME/CFS

ModoScript is a remote treatment monitoring AI solution that guides clinical trial participants and patients as they take oral specialty therapeutics– preventing accidental overdoses, underdosing, and diversion. Their device collects vitals as medication is dispensed, and displays AI-enabled visual and vocal treatment interaction content on a screen. The company is poised to capitalize on the shift to at-home clinical trials.

Starling Medical is a YC-incubated company that detects biomarkers for chronic health diseases with at-home urine tests and gives AI-generated diagnoses and risk assessments. It tests markers for UTIs, prostate health, kidney disease, kidney stones, heart failure, and diabetes/CKD.

Parallel Health is an AI-driven skincare company maiking products tailored to customers’ skin microbiome types. They have developed customized skincare products that can reduce acne, inflammation, skin lesions, and signs of aging, based on the patients’ distinct skin microbiome type. Their customized serums are made out of a specific selection of phages (small microbes that deactivate specific bacteria).

Above Health offers an AI/ precision health clinic for food allergies, focused primarily on treatment programs, community support, and diagnostic and testing services, and eventually nutrition services. Team includes Dr. Nana Mireku, who operates a top allergy clinic in Texas; Dr. Matthew Truebe, who has had multiple exits and over $600M raised for prior companies; and Dr. Saba Haq, an emergency medicine physician, medical director, and startup advisor.

Enov.one provides personalized AI concierge medicine at scale, incorporating data from lab tests, genetics tests, and wearables to address root causes of chronic health issues. Recently launched JoyfulRx, a precision health program for pre- and post-menopausal symptom relief, and also is uniquely suited to treat depression, anxiety, brain fog, fatigue, and other unexplained mental health problems through SNP analysis. Coinvestors include Draper Startup House, Boost.vc and Cartograph.

Alden Scientific’s AI platform uses the newest generation of proteomic assays to assess an individual’s health state, risk of disease, and potential interventions for >300 diseases from blood testing. Team has experience in drug development and disease discovery at top institutions including ALS-TDI, PatientsLikeMe, TheBroadInstitute, Dana-Farber, AOBiome, Genetic Networks, and iCarbonX; Led by co-founders JamieHeywood and JeffCole.

Jona generates interpretations of an individual’s gut microbiome along with personalized AI-generated nutrition and supplement recommendationsto address a range of microbiome-related issues (including bloating, digestive health and GI problems, acid reflux, weight gain and metabolic disorders, and acne). Team includes Zain Kassam, biotech entrepreneur and physician-scientist and founder of OpenBiome; EranSegal, Professor of Computer Science at Weizmann Institute and featured on Netflix’s ‘Hack your Health;’ and WillemDeVos, Professor of Human Microbiomics at UniversityofHelsinki.

SeeMedX is developing a stroke volume and fluid management technology that gives warning of acute heart failure 48 to 72 hours in advance, with a proprietary and non-invasive device. Received two FDA 510(k) approvals and led by NASA-veteran team that includes Deborah Simpson, CEO; Dr. Kevin Ferguson, Chief Product Officer; and Dr. Marc O Griofa, Chief Medical Officer.

I2Pure is developing wound healing technology based on molecular iodine– which, unlike antibiotics, is not susceptible to pathogen resistance. It can be used to prevent infections across many facets of surgical and therapeutic interactions, as well as in food and water safety protocols.

Superbio offers the first AI marketplace for biotech to democratize AI for drug discovery and development. Its platform offers affordable AI-based tools and models that result in savings through faster/more accurate predictions of drug candidates. It improves analytics across the research value chain– serving university labs, research institutions, and pharma companies. Currently in collaboration with Google and the Center for Reproducible Biomedical Modeling

Glyphic Biotechnologies is pioneering proteomics– developing the only sequencing platform in the world to enable researchers to discover novel proteins and protein targets in a truly scaleable and cheap way. It has demonstrated proof of feasibility for their protein sequencing; filed 32 patent/patent applications globally; and built a backlog of customers that includes the NIH ($1.1M), NY Biodefense Fund ($2.8M), and an unnamed US agency ($1.5M).

Motley Bio is building a novel multianalyte sequencing technology to simultaneously profile DNA, RNA, and proteins in a single sequencing readout. This enables simultaneous measurement of a sample’s genome, epigenome, transcriptome, and proteome for disease detection and profiling. Their core IP will extend to both comprehensive tissue and liquid biopsy profiling to support the next generation of diagnostics and therapies. Applications extend beyond medicine.

Cellular Vehicles offers an all-in-one AI automation platform for the delivery of cell and gene therapies (CGTs), making them far more accessible to hospitals.  Today, despite 14 FDA-approved therapies, and 1000 clinical trials underway, less than 3% of U.S. hospitals offer CGTs (150 of 6000) due to the high skill requirements, lack of standardization, and burdensome infrastructure. Coinvestors include Sandhill Angels and Boost.vc.

NAVAN is innovating a non-viral delivery platform with a nanotech approach towards the genetic engineering of human primary cells, capable of delivering DNA, mRNA, and proteins, including Cas9 and other functionally-active proteins, with high efficacy. Winner of Bristol-Myers Squibb MBC Golden Ticket 2022 and in partnership with MD Anderson for validation.

Sentinal4D is an AI-driven cancer drug discovery company that leverages 3D cell shape biology and clinical data to accelerate the cancer drug development process and predict patient-specific responses to therapies. Led by Dr. Chris Bakal, a globally recognized pioneer in cell systems biology.

Vivan Therapeutics is developing novel cancer drug combinations by leveraging AI/ML and personalized disease models. It replicates a patient’s genetic profile and tumor network and screens thousands of drug cocktails against it.

Mitrix Bio is pursuing a longevity breakthrough by replenishing the body's natural battery with bioreactor-grown mitochondria. Mitrix's tech wraps lab-grown mitochondria in a proprietary coating and receptors to target specific tissues, and then transplants the mitochondria into tissues, organs and cells via naturally-occurring metabolic pathways. Approaching Phase I trials. At Stanford, UConn, and Quebec, Mitrix tested in small animals, showing that mitochondria crossed the blood-brain-barrier, reversed immune system function age significantly, and regenerated mitochondrial function in a mouse brain.

MoveJoy, founded by Equinox Co-founder Lavinia Errico, is an AI wellness company that offers holistic on-demand classes that empower women to achieve physical, mental, and emotional well-being through various fitness courses and women’s health workshops.

Othership promotes wellness through its studios that offer saunas, ice baths, and guided breathwork sessions, serving as a non-alcoholic space to socialize and form community. In <1 year, its first location (Toronto) generated a 5.0 rating with >350 Google reviews; mentions in Forbes, Vogue and 75 podcasts.

EndoHealth is a YC-incubated wellness company that creates fun and addicting games built around personal health data to encourage important lifestyle modifications. It incorporates step counts, glucose monitoring, AI food analysis, into a gaming world where users can compete with friends. Coinvestors include a16z SPEEDRUN, General Catalyst, Krew Capital, and Anne Wojcicki (co-founder and CEO at 23andMe).

Superhumn is an alt-protein food tech company seeking to expand mass consumer access to healthy, sustainable foods. It has industry-high margins and 90% lower R&D and manufacturing costs than competitors, with impressive early traction, including a launch on Walmart Marketplace and $2.2M of contracts.

OnFirm– HealthyHospitals is creating a software-based system to deliver healthy, restaurant-quality food to hospitals in a scaleable, cost-effective way. Founder Jeffrey Jacobs has experience doing this with 24+ different hospitals– including Northwell Health, the largest health system in New York. Patients’ Press-Gainey satisfaction scores increased from 9% to 90% during his implementation period at Northwell, while food costs rose only 2%.

Concha Labs addresses hearing loss with a patented AI software platform that personalizes hearing aids to a higher degree than traditional audiology. The team has already signed agreements with Best Buy and is in advanced discussions with Costco, which handles 15% of U.S. hearing aid sales. Additionally, Mayo Clinic is now recommending Concha as their preferred OTC hearing aid. Altogether, Concha’s team has decades of experience in the hearing aid industry, and they’re led by founder Amy Li, who has had hearing loss since kindergarten.

MetaFlex is developing the world’s first compression glove designed to improve strength and mobility while reducing pain, swelling, and stiffness for individuals experiencing arthritis, post-surgery recovery, and other conditions. MetaFlex gloves are already being sold through Amazon, Walmart, 25 pharmacies, and two VA clinics.

Feno is creating an AI/ML-powered oral care device that includes a toothbrushing mouthpiece and a scanner.  In 20 seconds, the mouthpiece component removes plaque better than manual and electric brushes and detects oral health issues like enamel erosion, gingivitis, or other signs of disease. Feno is partnered with Nvidia for AI models of oral health and imaging analysis, UC San Diego for salivary biosensor development, and University of Minnesota for an RCT.

Lynx Tech is positioned as the most private and personalized AI assistant yet. It harnesses users’ personal data to serve as an AI digital assistant– keeping users up to date on their lives, answering their questions, and filtering out the noise from their messages and alerts. It creates a secure local model that only the user has access to, harnessing data for customers without it ever leaving their device, providing safe applications in personal health.

NextThought AI helps post docs secure funding by automating large sections of grants with AI trained on technical and complex proposals and by streamlining the application process. The AI beta product was already revenue-generating a month after its launch, with ~150 active users and 100+ applications.

The Natural Nipple created an infant bottle with innovative biomimicry-inspired design enabled by AI. Because the bottle’s tip is personalized to a mother’s unique shape, feel, and flow, it makes for better bottle feedings and is far less disruptive to breastfeeding than the typical bottle– minimizing latching time, frustration, colic, and other feeding-related challenges.