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 is focused on developing a scalable, automated biomanufacturing system aimed at producing personalized cell therapies. The company's innovative platform leverages AI-guided laser editing to generate autologous induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) efficiently and at scale. By utilizing image-guided machine learning, single-cell laser processing, and robotics, Cellino seeks to make advanced, potentially curative treatments accessible for a range of chronic degenerative diseases, including vision loss and Parkinson's disease. The company's mission is to transform healthcare by enabling personalized therapies that can significantly improve patient outcomes and overall health.

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.

PhageLab, established in 2009 by three biotechnology-focused engineers from Universidad Andrés Bello, specializes in developing antibiotic alternatives for the livestock industry. Their products are bacterial viruses (phages) engineered as food-grade additives, capable of selectively targeting and eliminating harmful pathogens without disrupting beneficial gut flora. This innovative approach aims to enhance productivity and safety in food industries while mitigating antibiotic resistance.

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 is focused on developing a scalable, automated biomanufacturing system aimed at producing personalized cell therapies. The company's innovative platform leverages AI-guided laser editing to generate autologous induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) efficiently and at scale. By utilizing image-guided machine learning, single-cell laser processing, and robotics, Cellino seeks to make advanced, potentially curative treatments accessible for a range of chronic degenerative diseases, including vision loss and Parkinson's disease. The company's mission is to transform healthcare by enabling personalized therapies that can significantly improve patient outcomes and overall health.

Concerto Biosciences is focused on rebuilding microbial communities to enhance human health and environmental sustainability. The company has developed a pioneering ultra-high-throughput platform that allows for the experimental measurement of millions of microbial interactions, enabling the mapping of complex inter-species interaction networks. This innovative approach has led to the discovery of "ensembles," which are specific combinations of microbes that synergistically promote the healing of damaged microbial communities. By leveraging these microbial ensembles, Concerto aims to address critical challenges in various sectors, including medicine and agriculture, ultimately transforming the way humanity interacts with microbes and improving outcomes in health and food production.

CellX is pioneering the production of mushroom protein derived from morel mycelium fermentation, aiming to create innovative ingredient and product solutions suitable for savory snacks, protein powders, and meat alternatives. The company is actively involved in the commercialization of cultivated meat by licensing existing intellectual properties and developing advanced technology offerings, including suspension cell lines and serum-free media. These technologies have achieved impressive results, such as a cell density of 30 million cells per milliliter and a media cost of less than five dollars per liter, with successful testing conducted at a 2,000-liter scale. Additionally, CellX utilizes 3D bioprinting technology in its development of cell-cultivated meat products, reinforcing its commitment to sustainability and the provision of environmentally friendly and healthy animal protein alternatives.

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, Inc. is a biodesign company focused on producing bioactive, animal-free collagens and proteins for a range of applications including beauty and nutrition. The company offers innovative products such as Collume, a bio-designed collagen technology that supports skincare cellular regeneration, and HumaColl21, which enhances the skin's appearance by boosting collagen, elastin, laminin, and fibronectin levels. Geltor also provides vegan collagen peptides and other novel proteins for use in functional foods and nutraceuticals. Established in 2015 and based in San Leandro, California, Geltor is committed to sustainable practices and aims to support a plant-based future through its clinically validated, biocompatible materials.

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.

CollegeVine is a technology company based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, founded in 2013. Initially operating as Admissions Hero LLC until August 2016, the company provides mentorship, college application guidance, essay assistance, tutoring, and test preparation services through its platform. In recent years, CollegeVine has expanded into developing Artificial Intelligence (AI) agents to automate administrative tasks in higher education institutions, aiming to save time and money while improving student experiences. Over 100 universities currently utilize CollegeVine's AI Agents to enhance operational efficiency.