Venture Investors

Venture Investors, LLC is a venture capital firm based in Madison, Wisconsin, with additional offices in Ann Arbor and Milwaukee. Established in 1982, the firm specializes in seed, early-stage, and growth-stage financing, particularly targeting the healthcare and technology sectors. It invests in a range of areas including biotechnology, diagnostics, therapeutics, and medical devices, as well as in agriculture, clean technology, and engineering. The firm is particularly focused on opportunities arising from university technology transfer, leveraging its connections with research institutions in the Midwest. Venture Investors typically makes initial investments ranging from $0.25 million to $2.5 million, with lifetime investments between $5 million and $8 million. The firm aims to be the lead investor, preferring to invest in preferred stock or debt with warrant coverage, and generally holds its investments for five to seven years until an exit occurs through an initial public offering or sale. With over $200 million in assets under management, Venture Investors is dedicated to nurturing innovative ideas that advance health and wellness.

Jim Adox

Executive Managing Director

James R. Adox

Executive Managing Director

David Arnstein

CFO and Managing Director

Scott Button

Managing Director

Jenni Le

Associate

Paul Weiss Ph.D

Managing Director

Past deals in Michigan

SkySpecs

Series C in 2019
SkySpecs, Inc. specializes in developing unmanned aerial vehicles designed to automate operations and maintenance for the wind energy sector. Based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, with an additional office in Amsterdam, the company offers a range of services including analytics, wind turbine blade maintenance, and engineering projects. Its solutions feature Horizon, a software tool that facilitates collaboration and data management for blade operations and maintenance, enabling streamlined communication and efficient repair project execution. Founded in 2012, SkySpecs employs custom autonomous drones to perform inspections, diagnostics, and maintenance of utility-scale wind turbines, providing high-quality data and enhancing safety during inspections. The company aims to improve productivity and efficiency in the renewable energy industry through its innovative technologies and services.

SkySpecs

Series B in 2018
SkySpecs, Inc. specializes in developing unmanned aerial vehicles designed to automate operations and maintenance for the wind energy sector. Based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, with an additional office in Amsterdam, the company offers a range of services including analytics, wind turbine blade maintenance, and engineering projects. Its solutions feature Horizon, a software tool that facilitates collaboration and data management for blade operations and maintenance, enabling streamlined communication and efficient repair project execution. Founded in 2012, SkySpecs employs custom autonomous drones to perform inspections, diagnostics, and maintenance of utility-scale wind turbines, providing high-quality data and enhancing safety during inspections. The company aims to improve productivity and efficiency in the renewable energy industry through its innovative technologies and services.

SkySpecs

Series A in 2015
SkySpecs, Inc. specializes in developing unmanned aerial vehicles designed to automate operations and maintenance for the wind energy sector. Based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, with an additional office in Amsterdam, the company offers a range of services including analytics, wind turbine blade maintenance, and engineering projects. Its solutions feature Horizon, a software tool that facilitates collaboration and data management for blade operations and maintenance, enabling streamlined communication and efficient repair project execution. Founded in 2012, SkySpecs employs custom autonomous drones to perform inspections, diagnostics, and maintenance of utility-scale wind turbines, providing high-quality data and enhancing safety during inspections. The company aims to improve productivity and efficiency in the renewable energy industry through its innovative technologies and services.
Delphinus Medical Technologies, Inc. is a medical imaging company founded in 2009 and headquartered in Plymouth, Michigan, with a satellite office in Sunnyvale, California. The company specializes in the development and commercialization of SoftVue, a circular array transducer technology designed for ultrasound imaging of the entire breast. This innovative system allows for three-dimensional and tomographic imaging, enabling medical professionals to differentiate between benign and malignant masses, assess breast cancer risks, and diagnose breast diseases. SoftVue offers a non-invasive and comfortable screening experience for women, eliminating concerns about radiation. Delphinus Medical Technologies serves hospitals and imaging clinics both in the United States and internationally, focusing on improving early detection and monitoring of breast cancer.

NeuMoDx Molecular

Series B in 2014
NeuMoDx Molecular, Inc. is a molecular diagnostics company focused on developing solutions for molecular diagnostic testing in hospital and clinical reference laboratories. Established in 2012 and based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, the company was formerly known as Molecular Systems Corporation before rebranding in April 2013. As of September 2020, NeuMoDx operates as a subsidiary of QIAGEN N.V. Its innovative products aim to enhance the efficiency and accuracy of molecular testing, contributing to better patient outcomes in various healthcare settings.

UpTo

Series A in 2014
UpTo, Inc. is a company that specializes in developing a social calendar application for smartphones. Founded in 2011 and based in Detroit, Michigan, UpTo provides a platform that allows users to publish and manage their organization's calendar while privately connecting with friends, family, and colleagues to share events selectively. The application offers a streamlined view of important upcoming events, eliminating clutter and focusing on what matters most. Users can easily add events, syncing seamlessly across both mobile and web platforms, and can integrate with existing calendars such as Google Calendar and Outlook. The service is designed to cater to both individuals and organizations, enhancing the way they manage and share their schedules.
Tissue Regeneration Systems Inc. is a start-up medical device company focused on skeletal reconstruction and bone regeneration technologies, licensed from the Universities of Michigan and Wisconsin. Established in 2005 and headquartered in Plymouth, Michigan, with a research facility in Ann Arbor and an additional office in Kirkland, Washington, the company targets applications in craniomaxillofacial surgery, orthopedic surgery, spine fusion surgery, and bone growth factor delivery. Its technology has undergone extensive evaluation in large animal studies, yielding promising long-term results. The company has developed initial product offerings, completed necessary bench and animal testing, and submitted its first regulatory filings to the FDA. Successful approval of these submissions will facilitate the commercialization of its products in the United States, with expectations to generate significant revenue within the next two to three years.

UpTo

Series A in 2013
UpTo, Inc. is a company that specializes in developing a social calendar application for smartphones. Founded in 2011 and based in Detroit, Michigan, UpTo provides a platform that allows users to publish and manage their organization's calendar while privately connecting with friends, family, and colleagues to share events selectively. The application offers a streamlined view of important upcoming events, eliminating clutter and focusing on what matters most. Users can easily add events, syncing seamlessly across both mobile and web platforms, and can integrate with existing calendars such as Google Calendar and Outlook. The service is designed to cater to both individuals and organizations, enhancing the way they manage and share their schedules.

BlueWillow Biologics

Series C in 2012
BlueWillow Biologics is a biopharmaceutical company based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, specializing in the development of intranasal vaccines and anti-infective products utilizing patented nanotechnology. Founded in 1999 as NanoBio Corporation, the company shifted its focus in 2016-2017 to intranasal applications after successful research funded by the Gates Foundation and NIH. Its innovative NanoStat vaccine technology utilizes an oil-in-water nanoemulsion to effectively deliver and enhance multiple types of antigens. BlueWillow's product portfolio includes vaccines targeting respiratory and sexually transmitted diseases such as pertussis, influenza, anthrax, HSV2, chlamydia, and HIV, along with NanoBio Protect, a nasal antiseptic solution. The company has established a licensing agreement with Merck for the use of its nanoemulsion adjuvant in intranasal vaccines for RSV and seasonal influenza, and maintains a strategic alliance with Public Health England.

BlueWillow Biologics

Series B in 2009
BlueWillow Biologics is a biopharmaceutical company based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, specializing in the development of intranasal vaccines and anti-infective products utilizing patented nanotechnology. Founded in 1999 as NanoBio Corporation, the company shifted its focus in 2016-2017 to intranasal applications after successful research funded by the Gates Foundation and NIH. Its innovative NanoStat vaccine technology utilizes an oil-in-water nanoemulsion to effectively deliver and enhance multiple types of antigens. BlueWillow's product portfolio includes vaccines targeting respiratory and sexually transmitted diseases such as pertussis, influenza, anthrax, HSV2, chlamydia, and HIV, along with NanoBio Protect, a nasal antiseptic solution. The company has established a licensing agreement with Merck for the use of its nanoemulsion adjuvant in intranasal vaccines for RSV and seasonal influenza, and maintains a strategic alliance with Public Health England.
Tissue Regeneration Systems Inc. is a start-up medical device company focused on skeletal reconstruction and bone regeneration technologies, licensed from the Universities of Michigan and Wisconsin. Established in 2005 and headquartered in Plymouth, Michigan, with a research facility in Ann Arbor and an additional office in Kirkland, Washington, the company targets applications in craniomaxillofacial surgery, orthopedic surgery, spine fusion surgery, and bone growth factor delivery. Its technology has undergone extensive evaluation in large animal studies, yielding promising long-term results. The company has developed initial product offerings, completed necessary bench and animal testing, and submitted its first regulatory filings to the FDA. Successful approval of these submissions will facilitate the commercialization of its products in the United States, with expectations to generate significant revenue within the next two to three years.

Incept BioSystems

Series A in 2007
Incept BioSystems develops innovative microscale technologies that provide fertility specialists breakthrough capabilities to treat infertility. Our technologies improve the in vitro manipulation, performance, and viability of high-value cells, and our mission is to set the standard for next-generation clinical devices for the Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) laboratory. Like many specialized cells, human embryos typically behave much differently while in vitro than they would in the body, and this performance gap can limit their developmental growth and potentially their viability. Incept’s System for Microfluidic Assisted Reproductive Technology (SMART) platform is the first to deliver unique control of in vitro cell culture environments so that fertility specialists can offer patients new hope in starting a family.
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