Stoic Venture Capital

BioScout is a technology-driven company focused on detecting and preventing airborne diseases in agricultural settings. It has developed an integrated hardware and software platform that monitors the spread of airborne diseases through a combination of air sampling, mapping, and data analytics. Utilizing strategically placed sensors throughout farm fields, the platform collects critical data and provides real-time updates via a disease dashboard and text message alerts. This proactive approach enables farmers to enhance crop yield and quality, improve pesticide application efficiency, and effectively monitor disease outbreaks, contributing to better overall farm management.

Ena Respiratory is a biotechnology company based in Melbourne, Australia, founded in 2014. The company focuses on developing innovative solutions for the treatment and prevention of respiratory infections. Ena Respiratory specializes in synthetic Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) agonists, which are designed to activate the innate immune system in the respiratory tract. This activation helps to prevent both viral and secondary bacterial infections in the lungs. In addition to its therapeutic innovations, the company also evaluates the effectiveness of vaccines.

Wildlife Drones Pty. Ltd., founded in 2016 and based in Macquarie, Australia, specializes in designing and developing advanced animal radio-tracking systems utilizing drones. The company addresses the challenges faced by wildlife researchers in tracking the movements of radio-tagged animals, particularly those that are highly mobile. Traditional ground-based tracking often requires elevated positions, making it labor-intensive and costly, as it may involve using helicopters or planes to receive clear signals. Wildlife Drones' innovative technology enhances the quality and quantity of radio-tracking data by allowing drones to reach greater altitudes. This capability supports a range of applications for wildlife researchers, conservationists, and environmental consultants, including the monitoring of endangered species, tracking invasive species, and locating livestock on remote properties, thereby aiding efforts to minimize environmental impact.

OccuRx Pty. Ltd. is a Melbourne-based biopharmaceutical company focused on developing innovative therapeutic strategies for treating ophthalmic disorders linked to retinal fibrosis and inflammation. Established in 2014, the company has a library of proprietary small-molecule drugs designed to address the unmet clinical needs in ocular therapies, particularly for conditions like diabetic retinopathy and other fibrotic diseases of the retina. These therapeutic approaches aim to enhance visual acuity and prevent vision loss by targeting the growth of abnormal blood vessels and reducing inflammation in retinal neurons. OccuRx's work is supported by funding from prominent investors, including the Medical Research Commercialisation Fund and Brandon Capital Partners.

Agerris Pty Ltd is an Australian company specializing in the development of modular robotics and artificial intelligence solutions for the agriculture sector. Established in 2005 and headquartered in Chippendale, Agerris has its roots in technology from the Australian Centre for Field Robotics at the University of Sydney. The company offers innovative products like Swagbot, an autonomous modular robot that monitors weed issues, detects crops and livestock, and employs computer vision for various agricultural tasks. Additionally, Agerris has developed the Digital Farmhand platform, which enables farm machinery to identify and assess weeds, as well as count fruits, nuts, and livestock. Their solutions cater to a range of applications, including tree and row crop management, intelligent spraying, and livestock monitoring, thereby enhancing farm productivity while promoting environmental sustainability and animal welfare.

Forcite Helmet Systems Pty Ltd, established in 2013 and located in Haymarket, Australia, specializes in the manufacture of smart helmets designed to enhance motorcycle safety. These helmets are equipped with an integrated camera system, navigation capabilities, intercom functionality, and active noise-cancelling technology. The helmets utilize advanced sensor technology and the Forcite Command software platform to provide features such as visual and audio turn-by-turn navigation, automatic dashcam recording, and real-time hazard warnings. By combining lightweight carbon fiber construction with innovative software, Forcite aims to significantly improve rider safety and offer a more connected riding experience.

PERKii Pty Ltd is an Australian company based in Saint Lucia that specializes in producing probiotic beverages. Founded in 2015, PERKii offers a unique drink composed of 85% water, natural flavors, and juice, available in five flavors: Raspberry & Pomegranate, Elderflower & Green Tea, Lime & Coconut, Strawberry & Watermelon, and Mango & Passionfruit. The beverage features Progel™ technology, developed by scientists at The University of Queensland, which encapsulates live probiotics in microgels, allowing them to survive the acidic environment of the stomach and effectively reach the lower digestive system. With only 26 calories and minimal sugar, PERKii aims to promote gut health and support immunity, making it a refreshing choice for health-conscious consumers. The products are sold through various retail and online channels.

Exonate Limited is a private biotech company based in Duxford, United Kingdom, specializing in the discovery and development of small molecule drugs aimed at modulating alternative messenger RNA splicing for ophthalmological applications. Founded in 2013, the company emerged from the University of Nottingham and is focused on addressing retinal vascular diseases, particularly diabetic macular oedema (DMO) and wet age-related macular degeneration (wAMD). Exonate's lead program utilizes small molecule inhibitors that selectively target serine/threonine-protein kinase 1 to inhibit the production of pro-angiogenic vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) splice variants. This innovative approach aims to improve therapeutic outcomes and offers a potential alternative to current treatment methods, such as anti-VEGF injections and laser surgery. With a preclinical candidate drug already nominated, Exonate is advancing its research through regulatory toxicology and safety pharmacology studies to facilitate clinical evaluation. The company is backed by an experienced management team with expertise in medicine and drug development.

Q-Sera technology aims to accelerate the clotting of blood to more rapidly produce high quality serum in blood clotting tubes. Q-Sera Pty Ltd uses the coagulant properties of snake venom-derived proteins to develop blood collection tubes that rapidly produce high quality serum. Australian scientists have found a way to use components of snake venom to improve an essential clinical tool which will assist in optimising laboratory efficiency, clinical diagnosis and patient care. The venom of some snakes (including the Australian Taipan) has a potent ability to coagulate the blood of mammals including humans and it is this ability which caught the interest of a group of Queensland medical scientists and pathologists. The team isolated the potent clotting proteins and used them to develop superior blood collection tubes.

Kinoxis Therapeutics is an early-stage biotechnology company based in Australia focused on developing novel therapeutic compounds for substance use disorders and other central nervous system conditions. The company has licensed its lead candidate, which has shown significant anti-addictive and prosocial effects in various animal models, from the University of Sydney. As it advances through pre-clinical testing, Kinoxis aims to address the growing need for effective treatments for opioid withdrawal and other substance-related issues. Their comprehensive medicinal chemistry and screening programs are designed to support the treatment of methamphetamine use disorder and nicotine withdrawal, ultimately contributing to improved outcomes in neurological and psychiatric care.

Nexgen Plants is an emerging plant trait company focused on developing non-genetically modified solutions for various agricultural challenges. The company specializes in creating disease-resistant plant breeds by utilizing a proprietary transformation technique that identifies and harnesses key components in native DNA. This approach aims to produce crops that are resistant to viruses and fungi, as well as those that exhibit beneficial traits like salt tolerance and high anthocyanin content. Nexgen's innovations cater to agriculture-dependent communities, enhancing crop returns and enabling rapid responses to evolving agricultural needs. Their developments are intended to contribute to the next generation of valuable crops for food, fiber, energy, and ornamental purposes.

Developer of an operational management platform designed to help with third-party workflow optimization. The company's platform helps to monitor supplier lifecycle management to the customer and partner validation, enabling businesses to manage risk, compliance, and operations of all third parties globally in one place.

Kinoxis Therapeutics is an early-stage biotechnology company based in Australia focused on developing novel therapeutic compounds for substance use disorders and other central nervous system conditions. The company has licensed its lead candidate, which has shown significant anti-addictive and prosocial effects in various animal models, from the University of Sydney. As it advances through pre-clinical testing, Kinoxis aims to address the growing need for effective treatments for opioid withdrawal and other substance-related issues. Their comprehensive medicinal chemistry and screening programs are designed to support the treatment of methamphetamine use disorder and nicotine withdrawal, ultimately contributing to improved outcomes in neurological and psychiatric care.

Cardihab provides clinicians with the ability to remotely deliver a scientifically validated, comprehensive Phase 2 CR program based on ACRA guidelines. In a world first randomised controlled trial, CSIRO & Queensland Health researchers demonstrated that remote delivery of CR improves patient uptake (+29%), adherence (+38%) and completion (+70%) while significantly reducing the number of centre visits (-86%) and delivering equivalent clinical outcomes when compared to traditional, centre-based Phase 2 rehab program.

Smart Sparrow is an education technology company that operates an online learning platform designed for the creation of interactive and adaptive e-learning courseware. Founded in 2010 and headquartered in Surry Hills, Australia, with an additional office in San Francisco, the platform provides intuitive authoring tools that enable students and professionals to develop course materials across a wide range of subjects, including digital literacy, computer sciences, engineering, finance, marketing, medicine, and soft skills. The platform features a dynamic, drag-and-drop interface, allowing educators to design personalized learning paths, collaborate in real time, and utilize pre-made templates to streamline the course development process. Smart Sparrow serves various educational institutions both locally and internationally, and as of December 2019, it operates as a subsidiary of Pearson plc.