Humboldt Fund

Spiral Therapeutics, Inc. is a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company founded in 2016 and based in San Francisco, California. The company specializes in developing novel therapies for inner ear disorders, particularly focusing on acute and subacute hearing loss as well as balance disorders caused by neurodegenerative, inflammatory, or vascular issues. Spiral Therapeutics employs a unique platform that aims to deliver targeted drug therapies directly to the inner ear, optimizing treatment effectiveness by ensuring that the right medications are administered at the right location and for the appropriate duration. Through its innovative approach, the company seeks to provide patients with effective treatments for hearing loss and related conditions.

Deciduous Therapeutics is a biotechnology company focused on developing innovative immune-modulatory therapies aimed at addressing age-related diseases. The company specializes in creating novel molecules that activate the body's natural immune surveillance mechanisms to selectively eliminate senescent cells, which are associated with various age-related conditions. Led by Anil Bhushan, a professor at UCSF, and Robin Mansukhani, an experienced biotech entrepreneur, Deciduous Therapeutics is dedicated to promoting a healthier lifespan through its pioneering approach to therapeutics in the aging sector.

Endpoint Health, Inc. is a precision immunology company focused on researching and developing therapies that enhance outcomes for patients with critical and immune-driven illnesses, including sepsis, acute respiratory distress syndrome, and COVID-19. Founded in 2018 and headquartered in Palo Alto, California, with additional offices in Detroit, Livonia, and Chicago, the company aims to overcome the limitations of traditional drug development by creating precision therapies tailored to individual patient needs. Utilizing its proprietary AI-powered platform, OMNAI, Endpoint Health identifies and matches high-potential therapies to patients most likely to benefit, ensuring personalized treatment that significantly improves health outcomes. The company is committed to delivering innovative solutions that address the complexities of autoimmune and inflammatory conditions.

Ansa Biotechnologies, Inc. is a biotechnology company based in Berkeley, California, focused on developing innovative DNA synthesis technology utilizing enzymes. Founded in 2018, the company aims to transform the traditional methods of DNA production, which have remained largely unchanged for decades. Ansa's enzymatic approach promises to be faster, more accurate, and environmentally friendly compared to conventional chemical methods. This advanced technology facilitates the synthesis of gene-length oligonucleotides, enabling medical researchers to create synthetic genes efficiently. Ansa Biotechnologies' offerings are designed to support a wide range of applications in biological research, diagnostics, therapeutics, and biomanufacturing, ultimately accelerating innovation in the field of biotechnology.

Affini-T Therapeutics is a biotechnology company developing T-cell therapies for patients suffering from cancer. Affini-T uses a validated platform to select high-affinity T cell receptors specific to oncogenic mutations to pioneer cutting-edge solid tumor therapies. Affini-T leverages gene editing and synthetic biology to engineer novel T-cell therapies designed to eradicate tumors.

Finless Foods Inc. is a biotechnology company based in Emeryville, California, that specializes in producing seafood products for human consumption using cellular-agriculture technologies. Founded in 2017, the company focuses on cultivating marine-animal cells to create sustainable fish and seafood alternatives, including bluefin tuna. Finless Foods aims to provide a variety of food options that cater to diverse tastes and dietary preferences while promoting responsible production practices. By offering accessible plant-based and cell-cultured seafood alternatives, the company seeks to contribute to better ocean health and foster a more sustainable future for food consumption.

HAYA Therapeutics is a company focused on developing RNA-based therapeutics aimed at treating heart failure and other fibrotic diseases. The company specializes in biopharmaceutical therapies that target specific regulators of fibrosis, particularly long noncoding RNA, which plays a critical role in myocardial fibrosis. By honing in on heart-specific mechanisms, HAYA Therapeutics seeks to enhance the efficacy and safety of treatments for heart-related illnesses and other serious conditions associated with aging, including cancer. Through its innovative approach, the company aims to improve patient outcomes in the management of heart failure and related health challenges.

Cellino develops scalable, automated biomanufacturing systems for personalized cell therapies based on induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). The company aims to enable potentially curative, patient-specific treatments by producing autologous iPSCs at scale and applying AI-guided, image-driven laser processing and robotics to remove unwanted cells. By integrating image-guided machine learning, single-cell laser processing, and robotics, Cellino seeks to enhance precision, efficiency, and scalability in optical bioprocessing, accelerating the development of regenerative therapies for chronic degenerative diseases such as vision loss and Parkinson's disease.

Ansa Biotechnologies, Inc. is a biotechnology company based in Berkeley, California, focused on developing innovative DNA synthesis technology utilizing enzymes. Founded in 2018, the company aims to transform the traditional methods of DNA production, which have remained largely unchanged for decades. Ansa's enzymatic approach promises to be faster, more accurate, and environmentally friendly compared to conventional chemical methods. This advanced technology facilitates the synthesis of gene-length oligonucleotides, enabling medical researchers to create synthetic genes efficiently. Ansa Biotechnologies' offerings are designed to support a wide range of applications in biological research, diagnostics, therapeutics, and biomanufacturing, ultimately accelerating innovation in the field of biotechnology.

Founded in 2009 by three biotechnology engineers from Universidad Andrés Bello, PhageLab develops antibiotic substitutes for use in the livestock industry. Their products are designed to selectively eliminate pathogenic bacteria without harming beneficial flora, enhancing productivity and food safety.

Minus is a beanless coffee company which produces coffee.

Debut Biotechnology, Inc. is a biotechnology company based in San Diego, California, established in 2019. It specializes in biomanufacturing solutions for high-value molecules, focusing on the development of specialty enzyme solutions and continuous manufacturing processes. The company offers a range of services, including biomanufacturing cartridges, fermentation, and the immobilization of cells and enzymes. Debut Biotechnology is dedicated to creating novel immobilization techniques for enzymes, achieving high success rates and providing immobilized enzymes for continuous manufacturing systems. Its innovative approach enables the production and modification of small and large molecules, catering primarily to the pharmaceutical and specialty chemical industries. By harnessing natural enzyme technologies, Debut aims to deliver sustainable and cost-effective ingredient solutions to its clients.

Mission Barns, Inc. is a biotechnology company based in Berkeley, California, founded in 2018. It specializes in the production of cell-cultured meat by cultivating animal cells in a nutrient-rich environment. By utilizing cellular agriculture techniques, Mission Barns aims to create sustainable meat products that minimize the negative impacts associated with traditional intensive animal farming. The company focuses on growing meat in a way that is efficient and environmentally friendly, allowing consumers to enjoy juicy and savory meats while contributing to a more sustainable food system.

Meatable is a Dutch food production company that specializes in creating cultured meat using stem cell technology. Founded in 2019, the company employs pluripotent stem cells to transform various types of cells into muscle or fat tissue, eliminating the need for animal slaughter. This process enables Meatable to produce sustainable, guilt-free meat without compromising taste and texture.

Cellino develops scalable, automated biomanufacturing systems for personalized cell therapies based on induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). The company aims to enable potentially curative, patient-specific treatments by producing autologous iPSCs at scale and applying AI-guided, image-driven laser processing and robotics to remove unwanted cells. By integrating image-guided machine learning, single-cell laser processing, and robotics, Cellino seeks to enhance precision, efficiency, and scalability in optical bioprocessing, accelerating the development of regenerative therapies for chronic degenerative diseases such as vision loss and Parkinson's disease.

Concerto Biosciences develops microbe-based products that rebuild microbial communities in and around humans and ecosystems. The company uses an ultra-high-throughput platform to experimentally measure millions of microbial interactions and map interaction networks, enabling the discovery of ensembles, which are specific combinations of microbes that work together to shepherd damaged microbial communities back to health. These ensembles have potential applications across medicine and agriculture, addressing global challenges in health, food, and industry. By focusing on microbial community engineering, Concerto aims to become a leading inventor of ensembles and to redefine how microbiomes are leveraged for health and environmental outcomes.

CellX specializes in developing mushroom-based protein ingredients through morel mycelium fermentation. Their products cater to savory snacks, protein powders, and meat alternatives. Additionally, they license intellectual properties to facilitate the commercialization of cultivated meat.

MycoWorks is a biotech company that specializes in producing sustainable materials derived from mycelium, the root structure of fungi. By utilizing this natural resource, MycoWorks offers innovative alternatives to conventional plastic foams, synthetic textiles, and leather. Their products are designed to be energy-efficient and biodegradable, catering to various industries, including aerospace, automotive, apparel, and architectural interiors. Through a carbon-negative process, the company transforms agricultural byproducts and mycelium into high-quality materials, allowing clients to access rapidly grown, eco-friendly leather substitutes. MycoWorks aims to address environmental concerns associated with traditional materials while promoting the use of bio-based solutions.

Metagenomi, Inc. is a genetic medicines company focused on developing innovative gene editing systems to address genetic diseases. Incorporated in 2016 and headquartered in Emeryville, California, Metagenomi utilizes metagenomics and machine learning to discover novel genome editing technologies. By sourcing cellular machinery from previously uncharacterized organisms, the company creates a proprietary toolbox that includes programmable nucleases, base editors, and advanced integration systems like prime editing and CRISPR-associated transposases. These systems are designed to be ultra-small, efficient, and highly specific, minimizing the risk of immune responses. Metagenomi aims to revolutionize gene editing techniques and deliver curative therapeutics to patients worldwide.

Geltor designs and produces animal-free collagen and other bioactive proteins for beauty, wellness, and nutrition applications. Founded in 2015, the company uses proprietary AI to create customized proteins tailored to specific industry needs.

Ansa Biotechnologies, Inc. is a biotechnology company based in Berkeley, California, focused on developing innovative DNA synthesis technology utilizing enzymes. Founded in 2018, the company aims to transform the traditional methods of DNA production, which have remained largely unchanged for decades. Ansa's enzymatic approach promises to be faster, more accurate, and environmentally friendly compared to conventional chemical methods. This advanced technology facilitates the synthesis of gene-length oligonucleotides, enabling medical researchers to create synthetic genes efficiently. Ansa Biotechnologies' offerings are designed to support a wide range of applications in biological research, diagnostics, therapeutics, and biomanufacturing, ultimately accelerating innovation in the field of biotechnology.

Metagenomi, Inc. is a genetic medicines company focused on developing innovative gene editing systems to address genetic diseases. Incorporated in 2016 and headquartered in Emeryville, California, Metagenomi utilizes metagenomics and machine learning to discover novel genome editing technologies. By sourcing cellular machinery from previously uncharacterized organisms, the company creates a proprietary toolbox that includes programmable nucleases, base editors, and advanced integration systems like prime editing and CRISPR-associated transposases. These systems are designed to be ultra-small, efficient, and highly specific, minimizing the risk of immune responses. Metagenomi aims to revolutionize gene editing techniques and deliver curative therapeutics to patients worldwide.

Founded in 2013 and based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, CollegeVine is a technology company that specializes in developing artificial intelligence platforms to replace administrative tasks within the higher education sector. Its primary goal is to save time and money for universities globally by deploying safe AI agents, aiming to make higher education sustainable and efficient.