Cross-Border Impact Ventures’ Post

Oxford Cancer Analytics (OXcan) announced today that we have raised US$11 million in Series A funding from global investors, including in-field institutional investors in disease detection and diagnostics. With the close of this round, Dr Heinrich Roder, expert in lung cancer proteomics liquid biopsy, was appointed Senior Vice President of Research and Development at OXcan. The funding round was led by We Venture Capital and Cross-Border Impact Ventures with participation from return investors Eka Ventures, and Civilization Ventures, and new investors DigitalDx Ventures, Macmillan Cancer Support (Innovation Impact Investment Portfolio), Aurelium Ventures, OKG Capital , and prominent angel investors. This investment brings OXcan’s total funding to date to US$16.7 million, positioning the company to develop and globally commercialize a new generation of minimally invasive liquid biopsy blood tests for early cancer detection, starting from lung cancer. Concurrent with the funding round, Gemma Sturt, Senior Investment Manager at We Venture Capital (cc Louise Warme), Werfen’s Corporate Venture Arm and Annie Theriault, Managing Partner at Cross-Border Impact Ventures (cc Cyriac M Alappat CPA,CA, Donna Parr) have joined as Directors. Michele Colucci, Esq., Founder & Partner at DigitalDx Ventures and Anthony Vallance-Owen, Senior Investment Manager at We Venture Capital have joined as Observers. OXcan welcomes these experienced leaders in diagnostics, global health, and commecialization joining the board with existing members Dr Peter Jianrui Liu, Jon Coker, Marcus East, Dr Andreas Halner, and Brad Wilson. A sincere thank you to OXcan’s team members and many others who continue to drive forward early cancer detection innovation on a daily basis: Dr Daniel Szulc, Dr Ella Mi, Dr Emma M., Dr. Harriet Ferguson, Dr Honglei Huang, Dr Junetha Syed, Luke Hankey, Mrunmayee Dupalliwar, Dr Nikola I. Gushterov, Priyanka Bhattarai, and Taryn Reid. OXcan is always looking for likeminded people to help bring early cancer detection tests to those who need it most. If you want to help, please get in touch at info@oxcan.org! About Oxford Cancer Analytics Oxford Cancer Analytics is on a mission to drastically transform cancer early detection and management to impact millions of lives worldwide. OXcan's multidisciplinary team is developing a new generation of liquid biopsy blood tests using cutting-edge proteomics and explainable machine learning approaches that can detect the deadliest cancers early, when they can still be cured. This blood test can be conducted in an affordable, minimally invasive, and routine manner with superior accuracy and localization capacity in large populations. OXcan has applied their biomarker discovery and validation platform starting from lung cancer, the leading cause of cancer mortality worldwide, and achieved ISO13485 certification status. For additional information, visit oxcan.org. https://lnkd.in/evXGzFKq

US$11million Series A raised... This is a special time for Oxford Cancer Analytics and through what we can achieve, this is a special time for the world as we step closer to a new era of early cancer detection. One of the most regrettable scenarios which humans may face in life is looking back with the weight of knowledge which was not acted upon appropriately and on time. At every moment, human beings contribute to a data trail of life, a library of experiences, some of which are reflected in our biology. Circumstances which human beings inherit, the decisions we make, the influence of the environment on us - there is vast potential in personalised monitoring of patient data to map the trajectory of health and disease. We are at a time in history with the tools needed to transform disease detection. If not now, when? Oxford Cancer Analytics believes the time has come.  Oxford Cancer Analytics intersects the cutting edge of proteomics and machine learning to develop early cancer detection solutions via a best-in-class blood test to enable treatments with curative intents, seeking to empower patients and their families worldwide. Looking back at Oxford Cancer Analytics's beginning 5 years ago, what we have achieved would not have been possible without the efforts of every single team member within Oxford Cancer Analytics across all disciplines. When I reflect upon the Series A fundraising journey which myself, CEO Dr Peter Jianrui Liu and Chief Product Officer Dr Daniel Szulc have experienced, I would like to give special thanks to the teamwork and determination with my colleagues. The conviction in Oxford Cancer Analytics's revolutionary technological approach by experienced leaders and institutional investors enables us to continue the next stage of the early cancer detection mission. Notably, the Series A was co-led by We Venture Capital, Werfen & Cross-Border Impact Ventures, with participation from investors including amongst others Eka Ventures, DigitalDx Ventures, Macmillan Cancer Support, Aurelium Ventures, OKG Capital, Civilization Ventures. A big thank you also to those who have been with Oxford Cancer Analytics from our birthing days including Brad Wilson, Marcus East, James Reynolds, Oxford Technology Management (Andrea Mica), Stephen Piron, Robin Saunders, Dr. Dr. Martin Lesourd, JJ Hodari, Benedikt Kessler, Roman Fischer, Ana Bakshi , Alex Feyler , the OXcan team and beyond! This is not the end; this is the era of a new beginning!

Great to see OXFO startup Oxford Cancer Analytics hit a major milestone with their successful $11M raise to advance their groundbreaking work in cancer diagnostics and treatment. We had the privilege of supporting Peter Jianrui Liu, Andreas Halner during their time in the Oxford Foundry, where they laid the foundation for what is now a powerful force in transforming cancer care. Their continued innovation is set to redefine cancer care and make a lasting, life-changing impact on patients worldwide. As Peter Jianrui Liu shares "Over the past 4 years, OXcan built a dedicated multidisciplinary team, proteomics & machine learning biomarker discovery platform, and large diverse international clinical cohorts from the ground up to address these hurdles. The result is a first-in-class blood test that can reliably detect lung cancer as the leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide with unprecedented accuracy and deployable with existing infrastructures in an inexpensive manner." Alex Feyler University of Oxford Marcus East Brad Wilson

🫁 In a $11m Series A round new investors We Venture Capital, Cross-Border Impact Ventures, DigitalDx Ventures, Macmillan Cancer Support, OKG Capital & Aurelium Ventures have recognised Oxford Cancer Analytics' potential in simple, minimally invasive & early stage detection of cancer. They've joined existing funders Eka Ventures and Civilization Ventures to support the BioEscalator tenant's initial work in lung cancer. 🩸 Founded by University of Oxford alumni Peter Jianrui Liu & Andreas Halner, the company's approach combines proteomics and machine learning to detect early stage cancer in blood (liquid biopsy). OXcan joined the BioEscalator, the site of its proteomics lab, in 2022, after starting life at the Oxford Foundry. 🎆 Congratulations to everyone at Oxford Cancer Analytics! The team will be at #JPM2025 next week so look out for them if you want to know more. Read the full press release ⬇️ #oxfordinnovation The Francis Crick Institute Cancer Research UK (CRUK) MegaRobo Technologies Co.,Ltd. Oxford Technology Management

What was one of the hardest things I had to do in life? Witnessing late stage cancer chip away at what remains of a close family member but not being able to help. I’ve seen the same scenario repeated with numerous patients and families I had the privilege to support throughout the years. Oxford Cancer Analytics (OXcan)’s establishment is dedicated to people and families who will fight, are fighting, and have fought cancer as a devastating disease. Today’s announcement of OXcan's US$11million series A round led by leading in-field institutional investors in disease detection and diagnostics is a testament to the progress we have made towards earlier cancer detection through developing a best-in-class blood test to enable treatments with curative intents. When OXcan started in 2020, we were a small team but a pioneer in applying advanced proteomics and tailored machine learning approaches in cancer detection among the handful of giants focusing on genomics and epigenetics in liquid biopsy. We recognized that protein-based biomarkers for early cancer detection could fill unique niches not addressable by genomic and epigenetic data. However, unlike genomic and epigenetic liquid biopsy companies that had over half a decade of head start, much more R&D was required in the field of proteomics to unleash its full potential for the development of a novel, more accurate, and affordable class of cancer detection blood test. At the same time, we recognized that although machine learning was up and coming, conventional methods were not designed to reliably analyze liquid biopsy data. Over the past 4 years, OXcan built a dedicated multidisciplinary team, proteomics & machine learning biomarker discovery platform, and large diverse international clinical cohorts from the ground up to address these hurdles. The result is a first-in-class blood test that can reliably detect lung cancer as the leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide with unprecedented accuracy and deployable with existing infrastructures in an inexpensive manner. I’m glad that experienced leaders and institutional investors agree with OXcan’s unique innovative approach in proteomics and AI. This round was co-led by We Venture Capital, Werfen & Cross-Border Impact Ventures, with participation from Eka Ventures, DigitalDx Ventures, Macmillan Cancer Support, Aurelium Ventures, OKG Capital, Civilization Ventures and more! Grateful to have likeminded colleagues who supported OXcan on a road less travelled by since the early days including Brad Wilson, Marcus East, James Reynolds, Oxford Technology Management (Andrea Mica), Stephen Piron, Robin Saunders, Dr. Martin Lesourd, JJ Hodari, Benedikt Kessler, Roman Fischer, Ana Bakshi and more! These colleagues and organizations made OXcan’s ambitious but lifesaving mission possible. We still have some ways to go and we will get there! Reach out if you want to join the mission to enable early cancer detection and impact millions of lives worldwide!

🚀 Oxford Cancer Analytics$11M to Revolutionize Lung Cancer Detection with Liquid Biopsies 🩸 Oxford Cancer Analytics (OXcan), a medtech innovator specializing in affordable and minimally invasive blood tests for early cancer detection, has secured $11M in Series A funding, bringing total funding to $16.7M. 💰 𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝗙𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 - Funding Amount: $11M (Series A) - Total Raised: $16.7M 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀: - 🌟 We Venture Capital - 🌍 Cross-Border Impact Ventures Other Investors: - 🤖 DigitalDx Ventures - 🎗️ Macmillan Cancer Support - 💡 Eka Ventures - 💼 Civilization Ventures - 🕊️ Prominent angel investors 🎯 𝗠𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻: 𝗗𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗟𝘂𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿 𝗘𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆 Lung cancer causes 21% of all cancer-related deaths and is often diagnosed too late. OXcan aims to change this with: - 🔬 Protein-based Blood Tests: Uses AI & advanced proteomics to identify cancer earlier and more accurately than traditional methods. - 💸 Affordable & Scalable: Designed to be cost-effective, minimally invasive, and suitable for diverse global populations. - 🌏 Global Impact: Powered by a biobank spanning 20 healthcare centers across three continents, ensuring effectiveness worldwide. 🛠️ 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗢𝗫𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀 𝗔𝗜-𝗗𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗕𝗶𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗿 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆: - Analyzes thousands of proteins to pinpoint biomarkers with high accuracy. - Detects and localizes lung cancer with precision. 𝗚𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹 𝗕𝗶𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗻𝗸 🌐: - Leverages a diverse dataset for reliable results across different populations. 𝗦𝗲𝗮𝗺𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 🤝: - Collaborates with screening programs to fit into existing clinical workflows, accelerating adoption. 🔮 𝗟𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗔𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗱 With this funding, OXcan plans to: - 🛠️ Commercialize its liquid biopsy test for lung cancer. - 🌍 Expand global partnerships with healthcare centers and screening programs. - 💪 Improve patient outcomes by detecting cancers earlier, enabling curative treatments. 🌟 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗜𝘁 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 OXcan is setting a new standard for cancer detection, leveraging technology and global collaboration to save lives. Its innovation holds promise not only for lung cancer but for future breakthroughs in detecting other high-mortality cancers. ------- Spread the word ♻️ if this inspired you. Smash the 🔔 for updates you don’t want to miss. Drop a 💙 if this resonates. 🚀 Follow The Big Deal © for more amazing startup stories! ----- Amit Goldman Rebecca Macieira-Kaufmann Melody Po Michele Colucci, Esq. Karim ReFaey, M.D., M.S.E. Erin Niehaus - CFP®, CEPA Laura Yecies Ramin Khaksar Anita Samarth Susan Solinsky Vanessa Small PhD, MBA Laura Mezey Scott Ashworth Eric L. Weiss, MD

Exciting news! Biotech startup CatenaBio raises $2.35 million in seed extension round The UC-Berkeley spinout adds American Cancer Society and top biotech VCs to its backers    Today CatenaBio, a groundbreaking biotech spun out of the labs of Jennifer Doudna and Matt Francis at UC Berkeley, announced a successful close of its seed extension round with a raise of $2.35M.    The seed round was backed by existing investors California Innovation Fund, Civilization Ventures, and Pioneer Fund, and brought in new investors LongeVC, Freeflow Ventures, Caffeinated Capital, and the BrightEdge - American Cancer Society  reflecting increasing confidence in Catena’s disruptive approach, early pipeline, and world-class team.   “We’re thrilled to have such an incredible group of investors recognize Catena’s groundbreaking potential to transform the conjugate therapy market,” says CEO Marco Lobba, Ph.D. “The additional funds will enable accelerated buildup of our exciting pipeline of Multi-Payload Conjugates.”   Catena specializes in creating never-before-possible therapeutic structures by enabling multiple kinds of payloads of any size and complexity. Catena’s initial focus areas include first-in-class ‘multi payload conjugates’ called MPCs™. With the seed extension, Catena plans to accelerate development of its lead asset while launching scale-up activities with leading CROs and continuing efforts in support of its existing BD partnerships with Biotech and Pharma collaborators.    “CatenaBio is rapidly escalating the effectiveness and usefulness of antibody-drug conjugates. ADCs are one of the most dynamic fields when it comes to fighting age-related diseases and are being actively explored across multiple vectors, including for oncology treatments,” said Sergey Jakimov, founding partner at LongeVC. “With this funding, CatenaBio is well-positioned to continue their work and rapidly bring the next generation of highly targeted, potent, multi-payload therapeutics to market.”   According to Prof. Marc Lippman, MD, at the Georgetown University Department of Oncology and Internal Medicine “Catena’s approach to MPCs offers one of the most exciting potential improvements in treating solid tumors. Combination therapies have been a standard in Oncology for decades, and Catena's solution allows for the unique production of targeted combination therapies beyond anything in the clinic today. I’m excited to see these therapies advance to benefit patients as quickly as possible.”   Catena’s extended runway with the seed extension sets the perfect stage for generating additional compelling data in support of a Series A later this year. 

Cancer diagnostics startup OneCell Diagnostics Inc. has raised $16 million in its Series A funding round, led by Celesta Capital. The round also saw participation from Tenacity Ventures, Cedars-Sinai, Eragon Ventures, and Singularity Ventures. The funds will be directed towards expanding OncoIndx Alfa, a next-generation liquid biopsy test, into the U.S. market, the company said in a press release. OncoIndx Alfa leverages cutting-edge technology to detect circulating tumor cells, aiding in early cancer diagnosis and monitoring. Founded in 2021, OneCell integrates next-generation sequencing (NGS), bioinformatics, AI/ML, and data analytics to develop multi-omics biomarkers, advancing the precision diagnosis and treatment of cancer. “We envision a future where everyone has access to high-quality, life-saving cancer testing. This funding validates our mission and accelerates its realization,” said Mohan Uttarwar, CEO and co-founder of OneCell Diagnostics. OncoIndx Alfa provides a comprehensive range of biomarkers for applications such as treatment response monitoring, disease progression, and recurrence detection. OneCell partners with leading institutions, including AIIMS (All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi) , Tata Memorial Centre, Harvard Medical School, and Stanford University, as per its website. To date, OneCell has introduced multiple products and tested its cell biopsy technology on nearly 10,000 patients across India, paving the way for its global expansion. Srikanth Katturwar | Jayant | DHRUV | Aravindan Vasudevan | Sandeep | Surinnder | Padma | Kamala | Anita | Arun | Nicholas | Krishna | Sriram |

MassBioDrive harnesses the power of MassBio’s global life sciences network to help new founders launch their biotech startups. We announced our #MassBioDrive Fall 2024 Cohort last month, and are highlighting our five emerging biotech companies chosen to participate. Today, please meet RedPoint Oncology, Inc! Q: Tell us about your company and what you’re developing. What are you most excited about? A: At RedPoint, we are committed to overcoming therapy-resistant cancers by developing next-generation payloads for targeted therapies. Therapy resistance is responsible for more than 90% of cancer-related deaths, and our payloads are specifically designed to induce a form of cell death that these difficult-to-treat cancer cells are particularly vulnerable to. We are particularly excited about our potential to overcome therapy resistance, which remains one of the biggest challenges in cancer care. In addition, we are very excited about the modular nature of our payloads, which allows them to be compatible with various targeted delivery methods, enabling the generation of numerous new medicines. Q: What advice do you have for other biotech companies just getting started? A: My advice is simple: don’t be afraid to ask for help. Building a biotech startup involves navigating so many complex challenges, especially for first-time founders, and it can feel overwhelming. When I first started, I wasn’t sure where to begin or if my idea was even feasible. But by reaching out for help, even through cold outreach, I met incredible mentors who shared their knowledge and opened doors to great opportunities. Their support has been instrumental in getting RedPoint off the ground. I think we often hesitate to ask for help because we fear rejection, but I’ve found there are so many people willing to help, even if you’ve never met them before—you just have to ask. Q: What has been most impactful or surprising to you since joining the MassBioDrive program? A: The most impactful part would be the tremendous support system and mentorship I received from the MassBioDrive (MBD) program. I think MBD is different from many other accelerator programs as it is tailored to each of our specific needs. From building the mentor team to covering biotech-specific topics, the program offers personalized guidance. Our mentors are incredibly knowledgeable and have been so supportive throughout the process. Each week, we engage in open discussions and receive constructive feedback on our progress. I’m truly grateful for the experience! Learn more about RedPoint Oncology: https://lnkd.in/eeQTDCh6 Learn more about MassBioDrive: https://lnkd.in/eAztxEdd Mengdie Wang, PhD

Pioneering Cancer Detection: OneCell Diagnostics Inc. Raises $16M in Series A Funding! OneCell Diagnostics Inc. Diagnostics, a cutting-edge cancer diagnostics startup, has raised $16 million in its Series A funding round led by Celesta Capital, with participation from Tenacity Ventures, Cedars-Sinai, Eragon Ventures, and Singularity Ventures. This funding accelerates OneCell’s mission to bring next-generation cancer diagnostics to global markets. About OneCell Diagnostics : Founded in 2021 by Mohan Uttarwar, OneCell Diagnostics Inc. leverages advanced technologies like next-generation sequencing (NGS), bioinformatics, AI/ML, and data analytics to create multi-omics biomarkers for precision cancer diagnosis. # Flagship Product: OncoIndx Alfa # A next-gen liquid biopsy test that detects circulating tumor cells. # Enables precision diagnosis and treatment, supporting: # Treatment response monitoring. # Disease progression analysis. # Recurrence detection and more. Strategic Partnerships : # OneCell has established robust collaborations with renowned institutions, including: # All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS), New Delhi. # Tata Memorial Centre. # Academic partnerships with Harvard Medical School and Stanford University. To date, its innovative cell biopsy technology has been tested on 10,000 patients in India, advancing the field of oncology diagnostics. Where the Funds Will Go ? The $16M funding will be used to: # Expand into the US market with OncoIndx Alfa. # Enhance research and development to advance cancer diagnostics further. # Scale operations and strengthen global partnerships. Words from the Leaders : Mohan Uttarwar, CEO and Co-founder: “We see a future where everyone has access to high-quality, life-saving cancer testing. This funding is a powerful validation of our vision and commitment to transforming oncology diagnostics.” Why It Matters ? Cancer diagnostics is a critical component of global healthcare, with a pressing need for early detection and precision treatment tools. OneCell Diagnostics Inc.’s innovative solutions aim to bridge the gap, providing accessible, effective testing to improve patient outcomes worldwide. Congratulations to OneCell Diagnostics Inc.! With its groundbreaking technologies and expanding global footprint, OneCell is poised to redefine cancer diagnostics. Aspirants Space (https://lnkd.in/gYkc-Ni8) celebrates this milestone and is here to help OneCell connect with top talent to power its journey forward. #AspirantsNews #OneCellDiagnostics #FundingNews #CancerDiagnostics #LiquidBiopsy #SeriesAFunding