EQx Fund

Winter Innovations is a medical device company based in Knoxville, TN, focused on enhancing patient outcomes following orthopedic injuries. Founded in 2018, the company is currently developing EasyWhip, a patent-pending suturing needle specifically designed for orthopedic ligament and tendon reconstruction surgeries. This innovative device aims to simplify and standardize the whip stitching process, providing surgeons with improved ease of use, speed, stability, and versatility. By streamlining these procedures, Winter Innovations seeks to enhance the efficiency and consistency of orthopedic reconstruction, ultimately benefiting both surgeons and patients.

Gelmedix is a company focused on developing innovative biomaterial platforms aimed at enhancing drug delivery for complex ophthalmic treatments. Its core offering is a light-activated gel patch that serves as a drug-eluting sealant, featuring properties such as tissue adhesion, tunable drug release, and biocompatibility. This technology allows healthcare providers to minimize the reliance on traditional eye drops, thereby improving patient convenience. Furthermore, Gelmedix's platform supports a range of therapeutic applications, including cell-based therapies for vision restoration and sustained intraocular release of small molecules and peptides. Through its photo crosslinked hydrogels, the company aims to advance ocular and regenerative therapies, emphasizing bio-adhesion and tissue regeneration.

Dressbarn, established in 1962, is a well-regarded retailer specializing in women's apparel, shoes, and accessories. The brand is known for its commitment to customer service and offers a diverse selection of styles, sizes, and colors to cater to various needs. Initially recognized for its workwear options, Dressbarn has successfully expanded its offerings to include affordable loungewear, everyday wear, and jewelry. The company partners with familiar brands to provide trusted styles that resonate with consumers. In addition to its physical retail presence, Dressbarn operates an e-commerce platform, allowing customers to conveniently access a wide range of products, including denim, sweaters, jackets, and jumpsuits.

CytoAgents, Inc. is a biotechnology company based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, established in 2018. The company specializes in developing protein-based drugs aimed at treating viral infections, particularly influenza, and addressing life-threatening symptoms associated with Cytokine Release Syndrome (CRS). CRS is an overreaction of the immune system that results in systemic inflammation, often referred to as a cytokine storm. One of its primary products, GP1681, acts as an agonist of a G-protein coupled receptor, targeting the immune response in various medical conditions. CytoAgents focuses on creating treatments for multiple indications with significant unmet medical needs, including those arising from oncology CAR-T cell therapy, COVID-19, and respiratory epidemics, thereby providing healthcare professionals with innovative tools to manage patients experiencing severe immune reactions.

Archer Roose is a clean wine brand focused on providing affordable and sustainable wine options to modern consumers. The company produces canned wine and other beverages, emphasizing transparency and sustainability in its packaging. By utilizing cans and kegs, Archer Roose aims to make wine more accessible while appealing to a new generation of wine drinkers. Their global portfolio reflects a commitment to quality and innovation, catering to diverse lifestyles and dining experiences.

Quthero specializes in developing innovative solutions for post-surgical scarring prevention through its patented gel technology. This gel is designed to restore moisture and mechanical properties of wounds, facilitating the healing process. By promoting full epithelial restoration, Quthero's product aims to expedite wound closure while minimizing scarring, redness, and bruising. The company's approach supports safe treatment of skin wounds, reducing complications and risks linked to slow healing. Through these advancements, Quthero addresses the needs of individuals recovering from procedures and surgeries, contributing to improved skin health and recovery outcomes.

Anubis Bio Corporation is a medical nutrition company based in Orlando, Florida, that focuses on developing and manufacturing products aimed at controlling diarrhea in dogs and cats. Incorporated in 2018, the company offers DoggyStat, a product designed to provide symptomatic relief and eliminate infections that cause diarrhea in pets. Anubis Bio utilizes a patented Microbiome-Cleanser natural food platform that addresses gastrointestinal distress in animals, beginning with dogs. The company's approach emphasizes enhancing pet health through natural food products that support digestive health and normal intestinal function. In 2021, Anubis Bio established two significant B2B distribution partnerships to expand its reach in the animal health management sector.

Platelet BioGenesis, Inc. is a biotechnology company based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, that specializes in the production of donor-independent human platelets derived from pluripotent stem cells for clinical use. Founded in 2014, the company has developed a microfluidic bioreactor designed to generate functional platelets from human stem cell cultures at a commercial scale. These bioreactor-produced platelets are distributed to hospitals and blood banks, providing a vital resource for patients worldwide. The company is also focused on advancing therapeutics within the fields of biotechnology and drug discovery.

BrandVerge, Inc. operates an online marketplace and workflow platform designed to streamline collaboration between advertisers and publishers on branded content initiatives. Founded in 2017 and based in New York, the company offers a solution that enhances the efficiency of marketing programs, allowing advertisers to plan and execute media partnerships more effectively. By providing on-demand access to a range of opportunities, BrandVerge facilitates the discovery and activation of relevant content partnerships, significantly improving visibility and generating new business for publishers. The platform simplifies the traditionally manual processes, enabling users to manage their marketing efforts quickly and effectively, ultimately enhancing revenue for media companies while delivering quality leads to advertisers.

Akston Biosciences Corporation, founded in 2011 and based in Beverly, Massachusetts, specializes in developing innovative biologic therapeutics aimed at treating diabetes and cancer. The company utilizes a novel fusion protein platform to create a range of products, including ultra-long-acting insulins and vaccines. Notable offerings include AKS-107, which targets autoimmunity to prevent type 1 diabetes, and AKS-446, a vaccine for coronavirus prevention. Additionally, Akston develops species-specific treatments such as AKS-161C and AKS-162D for diabetes in pets, and AKS-231, a glucose-responsive insulin for both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. The company also produces AKS-301 for cancer therapy. Their facilities are equipped for large-scale manufacturing under cGMP standards, allowing for the efficient production of therapeutics tailored to various diseases and immune responses.

Xeno Biosciences Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company based in Somerville, Massachusetts, established in 2015. It specializes in developing innovative therapeutics aimed at addressing significant unmet needs in metabolic diseases, particularly obesity. The company's lead program, XEN-101, is an oral formulation that mimics the microbiome shift associated with Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass (RYGB) surgery, promoting weight loss. Xeno Biosciences' approach involves a simple enteric-coated pill that delivers molecular oxygen to the lower gut, enabling a treatment strategy that replicates the effects of gastric bypass surgery on the gut microbiome.

Tunnel is a developer of cloud-based payment software that facilitates real-time global cross-currency payments without transaction fees. Utilizing distributed ledger technology, Tunnel offers its own payment infrastructure, including application programming interfaces and mobile applications. This innovative approach allows both individuals and companies to conduct transactions securely and efficiently, minimizing costs associated with traditional payment methods while enhancing fraud prevention.

Tunnel is a developer of cloud-based payment software that facilitates real-time global cross-currency payments without transaction fees. Utilizing distributed ledger technology, Tunnel offers its own payment infrastructure, including application programming interfaces and mobile applications. This innovative approach allows both individuals and companies to conduct transactions securely and efficiently, minimizing costs associated with traditional payment methods while enhancing fraud prevention.

Wasabi Technologies, Inc. is a cloud storage provider that specializes in offering affordable and straightforward hot storage solutions for businesses globally. Founded in 2016 and based in Boston, the company enables organizations to store and instantly access large volumes of data at a fraction of the cost of traditional providers, without the complexities of tiered pricing or unpredictable egress fees. Wasabi’s platform is compatible with Amazon S3 APIs and includes features such as unalterable storage buckets, rapid data retrieval with average time-to-first-byte speeds of less than 15 ms, and active integrity checking. Its services are utilized across various sectors, including media and entertainment, education, healthcare, and scientific research, for applications such as archiving, backup, content delivery, and data analytics. The company has garnered significant recognition in the tech industry and has raised substantial funding to support its growth.

Landsdowne is a developer focused on innovative battery technology, specifically designed to address the health risks associated with button batteries. The company is commercializing a solution that deactivates batteries after accidental ingestion, aiming to provide a safe alternative for international businesses. Landsdowne's products not only target the growing health crisis related to button batteries but also include materials for injury prevention, ensuring that vulnerable individuals, such as those with fragile skin, are protected. By offering a turnkey, cost-effective solution, Landsdowne seeks to enhance safety and mitigate the risks posed by button batteries in various applications.

MentorBox, LLC operates an online learning platform aimed at providing affordable and accessible education to students worldwide. Founded in 2016 and headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada, the platform offers a variety of educational courses taught by authors and CEOs. Its offerings include curated books on topics such as health, wealth, love, and happiness, along with cheat sheets that summarize key insights, study guides that facilitate actionable learning, and video content accompanied by notes specific to each book. This comprehensive approach enables learners to enhance their knowledge and develop their skills effectively.

Candidly is an AI-driven student debt and savings optimization platform. It offers individuals and families through every step of the planning, borrowing, and repayment experience.

OmniLife, Inc. is a healthcare technology company based in Coralville, Iowa, that specializes in developing a mobile and web communication platform designed to enhance coordination between transplant patients and their care teams. Founded in 2016, OmniLife offers TXP Chat, a mobile messaging application that facilitates communication throughout the organ referral, allocation, procurement, and transplantation processes. The company aims to revolutionize care collaboration by serving a diverse network of healthcare providers, including hospital systems and group practices. Focusing initially on transplant hospitals and providers dealing with end-stage organ failure, OmniLife provides an integrated solution that addresses the entire workflow of transplant programs, from organ intake management to patient evaluation and waitlist management.

Immusoft Corporation is a biotechnology company based in Seattle, Washington, focused on developing autologous cell therapies for various human diseases through its proprietary Immune System Programming (ISP) technology. Founded in 2009, the company modifies a patient's immune cells, specifically B cells, to create miniature drug factories that produce gene-encoded medicines, or biologics. By reprogramming these cells, Immusoft's technology enables the in vivo delivery of therapeutics that can replace missing or defective enzymes and proteins. The core ISP technology was initially developed at the California Institute of Technology and is exclusively licensed to Immusoft. This innovative approach aims to improve treatments for rare and infectious diseases by harnessing the body's own immune system.