Action Potential Venture Capital

Action Potential Venture Capital is a strategic venture capital fund launched by GlaxoSmithKline, with a focus on investing in companies pioneering bioelectronic medicines and technologies. The fund's first investment is in SetPoint Medical, a California-based company specializing in implantable devices for treating inflammatory diseases. With a goal to build a portfolio of five to seven companies over the next five years, APVC will prioritize new startups and existing companies developing technologies that interact with the peripheral nervous system. Based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the fund is managed by a dedicated team led by Imran Eba, with a vision to drive advancements in bioelectronic medicines from bench to patient. Through collaboration with global scientists, APVC aims to lead the way in developing innovative treatments for various diseases by leveraging the potential of bioelectronic devices to modulate electrical signals in the body.

Imran Eba

Partner

Juan-Pablo Mas

Partner

22 past transactions

Exo

Series B in 2020
Exo is a medical device startup handheld ultrasound platform and AI for imaging and therapeutic applications. The company is committed to delivering affordable and easy-to-use medical imaging to healthcare professionals around the world. By delivering easy-to-use, high-quality medical imaging. Exo empowers healthcare professionals to make critical, real-time decisions that improve patient outcomes. The Exo ultrasound platform combines advances in nano-materials, novel sensor technologies, advanced signal processing, and computation with the economies of scale of semiconductor manufacturing to dramatically reduce the cost of imaging. It also represents a giant leap in imaging and therapeutics technology one that will drive the development of high-performance products that are accessible, easy-to-use, and available at a price point never before possible.

MicroTransponder

Series E in 2022
MicroTransponder is a medical device company that develops and commercializes neurostimulation devices to treat neurological diseases. Its therapies include paired vagus nerve stimulation system (Paired VNS System) and wireless neurostimulation system for the treatment of chronic pain, post-stroke upper limb mobility issues, and various neurological indications that enable healthcare practitioners to treat post-stroke upper limb mobility issues. Founded in 2007, MicroTransponder is headquartered in Dallas, Texas.

Alpheus Medical

Series A in 2021
Alpheus Medical provides a novel sonodynamic therapy platform targeting solid body cancers. Alpheus Medical also provides a non-invasive drug-device combination for outpatient treatment of recurrent glioblastoma multiforme (rGBM).

SetPoint Medical

Series C in 2013
SetPoint Medical Corporation, a clinical-stage bioelectronic medicine company, develops implantable neuromodulation devices for treating patients with debilitating inflammatory diseases. SetPoint Medical Corporation was formerly known as Innovative Metabolics Inc. and changed its name to SetPoint Medical Corporation in July 2008. The company was incorporated in 2006 and is based in Valencia, California.

NeuSpera Medical

Series B in 2018
NeuSpera Medical Inc. develops and manufactures ultra-miniaturized implantable devices for neuromodulation therapy. Its Neuspera Mid-Field Powering technology uses the body as a natural waveguide to direct energy. NeuSpera Medical Inc. was formerly known as Vivonda Medical Incorporated. The company was incorporated in 2013 and is based in San Jose, California.

SetPoint Medical

Series D in 2017
SetPoint Medical Corporation, a clinical-stage bioelectronic medicine company, develops implantable neuromodulation devices for treating patients with debilitating inflammatory diseases. SetPoint Medical Corporation was formerly known as Innovative Metabolics Inc. and changed its name to SetPoint Medical Corporation in July 2008. The company was incorporated in 2006 and is based in Valencia, California.

Presidio Medical

Series A in 2018
Presidio Medical, Inc., a clinical-stage medical device company, develops a neuromodulation technology platform to treat chronic pain. The company was incorporated in 2017 and is based in South San Francisco, California.

Saluda Medical

Venture Round in 2023
Saluda Medical Pty Ltd., a medical device company, develops Evoke, an investigational device for the neuromodulation industry worldwide. The company develops a closed-loop spinal cord stimulation system that measures the spinal cord's response to stimulation and adjusts on every pulse to optimize activation within the patient's therapeutic window. Saluda Medical Pty Ltd. was incorporated in 2010 and is headquartered in Artarmon, Australia with additional offices in Bloomington, Minnesota; and Harrogate; United Kingdom.

CVRx

Series G in 2019
CVRx is a medical device company that develops implantable technology for the treatment of high blood pressure. Its products include Rheos implantable pulse generator that provides control and delivery of the activation energy; and Rheos carotid sinus leads, which conducts activation energy from the Rheos implantable pulse generator to the left and right carotid arteries. The company also offers a Rheos programmer system that communicates with the Rheos pulse generator. CVRx was founded in 2001 and is based in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

CVRx

Venture Round in 2020
CVRx is a medical device company that develops implantable technology for the treatment of high blood pressure. Its products include Rheos implantable pulse generator that provides control and delivery of the activation energy; and Rheos carotid sinus leads, which conducts activation energy from the Rheos implantable pulse generator to the left and right carotid arteries. The company also offers a Rheos programmer system that communicates with the Rheos pulse generator. CVRx was founded in 2001 and is based in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

NeuSpera Medical

Series C in 2021
NeuSpera Medical Inc. develops and manufactures ultra-miniaturized implantable devices for neuromodulation therapy. Its Neuspera Mid-Field Powering technology uses the body as a natural waveguide to direct energy. NeuSpera Medical Inc. was formerly known as Vivonda Medical Incorporated. The company was incorporated in 2013 and is based in San Jose, California.

NeuSpera Medical

Series B in 2019
NeuSpera Medical Inc. develops and manufactures ultra-miniaturized implantable devices for neuromodulation therapy. Its Neuspera Mid-Field Powering technology uses the body as a natural waveguide to direct energy. NeuSpera Medical Inc. was formerly known as Vivonda Medical Incorporated. The company was incorporated in 2013 and is based in San Jose, California.

Saluda Medical

Series D in 2017
Saluda Medical Pty Ltd., a medical device company, develops Evoke, an investigational device for the neuromodulation industry worldwide. The company develops a closed-loop spinal cord stimulation system that measures the spinal cord's response to stimulation and adjusts on every pulse to optimize activation within the patient's therapeutic window. Saluda Medical Pty Ltd. was incorporated in 2010 and is headquartered in Artarmon, Australia with additional offices in Bloomington, Minnesota; and Harrogate; United Kingdom.

SetPoint Medical

Series C in 2015
SetPoint Medical Corporation, a clinical-stage bioelectronic medicine company, develops implantable neuromodulation devices for treating patients with debilitating inflammatory diseases. SetPoint Medical Corporation was formerly known as Innovative Metabolics Inc. and changed its name to SetPoint Medical Corporation in July 2008. The company was incorporated in 2006 and is based in Valencia, California.

SetPoint Medical

Venture Round in 2019
SetPoint Medical Corporation, a clinical-stage bioelectronic medicine company, develops implantable neuromodulation devices for treating patients with debilitating inflammatory diseases. SetPoint Medical Corporation was formerly known as Innovative Metabolics Inc. and changed its name to SetPoint Medical Corporation in July 2008. The company was incorporated in 2006 and is based in Valencia, California.

Cala Health

Series B in 2016
Cala Health, Inc., a bioelectronic medicine company, manufactures electromedical and electrotheraupetic devices for chronic diseases. It offers Cala Trio, a non-invasive prescription therapy for hand tremors in people with essential tremor. The company’s Cala Trio aids in the transient relief of hand tremors in the treated hand following stimulation in adults with essential tremor. In addition, it develops neurology, cardiology, and psychiatry solutions. Cala Health, Inc. was formerly known as Resido Medical, Inc. The company was founded in 2013 and is based in Burlingame, California.

Presidio Medical

Series B in 2020
Presidio Medical, Inc., a clinical-stage medical device company, develops a neuromodulation technology platform to treat chronic pain. The company was incorporated in 2017 and is based in South San Francisco, California.

Presidio Medical

Series C in 2023
Presidio Medical, Inc., a clinical-stage medical device company, develops a neuromodulation technology platform to treat chronic pain. The company was incorporated in 2017 and is based in South San Francisco, California.

Onc.AI

Series A in 2023
Onc.AI is a software that specializes in clinical oncology, genomics, proteomics, and radiomics. The company develops a comprehensive approach to oncology diagnostics and uses deep learning to derive actionable insights into oncology treatment. It was founded in 2020 by Akshay Nanduri and Salmaan Ahmed and is based in San Carlos, California, United States.

Alpheus Medical

Series A in 2022
Alpheus Medical provides a novel sonodynamic therapy platform targeting solid body cancers. Alpheus Medical also provides a non-invasive drug-device combination for outpatient treatment of recurrent glioblastoma multiforme (rGBM).

NeuSpera Medical

Series D in 2024
NeuSpera Medical Inc. develops and manufactures ultra-miniaturized implantable devices for neuromodulation therapy. Its Neuspera Mid-Field Powering technology uses the body as a natural waveguide to direct energy. NeuSpera Medical Inc. was formerly known as Vivonda Medical Incorporated. The company was incorporated in 2013 and is based in San Jose, California.