Humboldt Fund

Spiral Therapeutics, Inc. is a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company based in San Francisco, California, specializing in the development of therapies for inner ear disorders. Founded in 2016, the company focuses on delivering innovative drug therapies that target acute and subacute hearing loss, as well as balance disorders stemming from neurodegenerative, inflammatory, or vascular causes. By utilizing a platform that ensures the right medications are delivered to the appropriate site for the necessary duration, Spiral Therapeutics aims to provide effective treatments for individuals suffering from hearing disorders, ultimately enhancing their quality of life.

Deciduous Therapeutics is a biotechnology company focused on developing innovative immune-modulatory therapies aimed at treating age-related diseases. The company specializes in novel therapeutics that activate the body's natural immune surveillance mechanisms to selectively eliminate senescent cells, which are associated with various age-related health issues. By promoting the clearance of these cells, Deciduous Therapeutics seeks to enhance healthspan and potentially improve the quality of life for individuals experiencing the effects of aging. The company is led by Anil Bhushan, a professor at UCSF, and Robin Mansukhani, who has founded multiple biotech ventures.

Endpoint Health, Inc. is a precision immunology company based in Palo Alto, California, with additional offices in Michigan and Illinois. Founded in 2018, the company focuses on researching and developing therapies that integrate therapeutics, companion diagnostics, and artificial intelligence. Its mission is to enhance patient outcomes, particularly for individuals suffering from critical illnesses such as sepsis, acute respiratory distress syndrome, and COVID-19. By utilizing its proprietary AI-powered platform, OMNAI, Endpoint Health aims to identify and match effective therapies with patients who are most likely to benefit from them, moving beyond traditional one-size-fits-all approaches in drug development. Through this strategy, the company seeks to deliver personalized treatments that can significantly improve the health outcomes of patients with autoimmune and inflammatory conditions.

Ansa Biotechnologies, Inc. is a biotechnology company based in Berkeley, California, focused on developing innovative DNA synthesis technology utilizing enzymes. Established in 2018, the company aims to improve upon traditional chemical methods of DNA synthesis that have remained largely unchanged for decades. Ansa's enzymatic approach offers significant advantages, including increased speed, accuracy, and cleanliness in the production of DNA fragments such as oligonucleotides. This technology enhances the capabilities of biological research, therapeutics, diagnostics, and biomanufacturing by enabling the synthesis of gene-length oligonucleotides. Through its advancements, Ansa Biotechnologies seeks to facilitate innovation in the fields of biological research and engineering, ultimately providing valuable services to medical researchers and contributing to the broader biotechnology landscape.

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 growing marine-animal cells to create alternatives to traditional fish and seafood, including bluefin tuna. By offering a variety of responsibly produced food options, Finless Foods aims to cater to diverse tastes and dietary needs while promoting sustainability and better ocean health. The company's innovative approach provides consumers with healthy and accessible seafood alternatives, enabling them to maintain a balanced diet without compromising on flavor or variety.

HAYA Therapeutics is focused on developing RNA-based therapeutics aimed at treating heart failure and other fibrotic diseases. The company's innovative approach involves targeting a heart-specific regulator of fibrosis, specifically a long noncoding RNA, to block myocardial fibrosis. This biopharmaceutical therapy aims to improve the efficacy and safety of treatment for heart-related illnesses and other serious health conditions associated with aging, including cancer. By concentrating on tissue and cell-selective genomic medicines, HAYA Therapeutics seeks to provide more precise and effective therapeutic options for patients suffering from these conditions.

Cellino is focused on creating an automated biomanufacturing system for personalized cell therapies, with the aim of making these treatments widely accessible. The company leverages an AI-guided laser editing platform that employs image-guided machine learning and robotics to generate autologous induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) at scale. This innovative approach is designed to facilitate the development of potentially curative therapies for chronic degenerative diseases, such as vision loss and Parkinson's disease. By streamlining the process of cell therapy production, Cellino aims to enhance the availability of life-saving medicines for patients around the world.

Ansa Biotechnologies, Inc. is a biotechnology company based in Berkeley, California, focused on developing innovative DNA synthesis technology utilizing enzymes. Established in 2018, the company aims to improve upon traditional chemical methods of DNA synthesis that have remained largely unchanged for decades. Ansa's enzymatic approach offers significant advantages, including increased speed, accuracy, and cleanliness in the production of DNA fragments such as oligonucleotides. This technology enhances the capabilities of biological research, therapeutics, diagnostics, and biomanufacturing by enabling the synthesis of gene-length oligonucleotides. Through its advancements, Ansa Biotechnologies seeks to facilitate innovation in the fields of biological research and engineering, ultimately providing valuable services to medical researchers and contributing to the broader biotechnology landscape.

PhageLab, founded in 2009 by a group of engineers from the University Andrés Bello, focuses on developing innovative biotechnological solutions for various industries. The company specializes in creating antibiotic substitutes specifically tailored for the livestock sector. Its products serve as food-grade additives that selectively target pathogenic bacteria while preserving beneficial commensal flora, thereby enhancing productivity in industrial facilities. By applying scientific research and development, PhageLab aims to address pressing challenges in the food industry, contributing to both domestic consumption and export of national products. The team is driven by a commitment to biotechnology, combining intellectual capability with a proactive and entrepreneurial spirit to generate effective solutions.

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., founded in 2018 and based in Berkeley, California, specializes in the production of cell-cultured meat derived from animal cells. The company employs cellular agriculture techniques to cultivate animal cells in a nutrient-rich environment, allowing for the sustainable growth of meat without the adverse effects associated with traditional intensive animal agriculture. By starting with a small number of cells from select animals, Mission Barns aims to provide consumers with juicy and savory meat products that meet the increasing demand for sustainable food alternatives. The company's innovative approach lies at the intersection of biotechnology and food science, contributing to a more responsible food system.

Meatable is a food production company specializing in the creation of cultured meat through advanced stem cell technology. By utilizing pluripotent stem cells, which can differentiate into various cell types such as muscle and fat without the need for serum, Meatable's innovative approach allows for the production of meat without extracting tissue from animals. This method not only promotes sustainability but also offers consumers a guilt-free alternative to traditional meat. The company's focus on efficient and responsible food production positions it as a leader in the emerging market for lab-grown meat.

Cellino is focused on creating an automated biomanufacturing system for personalized cell therapies, with the aim of making these treatments widely accessible. The company leverages an AI-guided laser editing platform that employs image-guided machine learning and robotics to generate autologous induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) at scale. This innovative approach is designed to facilitate the development of potentially curative therapies for chronic degenerative diseases, such as vision loss and Parkinson's disease. By streamlining the process of cell therapy production, Cellino aims to enhance the availability of life-saving medicines for patients around the world.

Concerto Biosciences specializes in rebuilding microbial communities to enhance human health and environmental sustainability. The company has developed an ultra-high-throughput platform capable of measuring millions of microbial interactions, enabling the mapping of complex inter-species networks that dictate community behavior. This innovation allows Concerto to create "ensembles," which are specific combinations of microbes that collaboratively promote the recovery of damaged microbial ecosystems. By focusing on these microbial ensembles, Concerto aims to address critical global issues across various sectors, including agriculture, healthcare, and industry. The company's pioneering work positions it as a leader in the development of microbial solutions, fundamentally changing how humanity interacts with microbial life.

CellX is focused on developing innovative food products through the fermentation of morel mycelium to create mushroom protein. Their offerings include ingredient solutions for savory snacks, protein powders, and meat alternatives. In addition to its proprietary products, CellX licenses existing intellectual property to expedite the commercialization of cultivated meat. The company also employs advanced technologies such as suspension cell lines and serum-free media, achieving high cell density and cost-effective media production on a large scale. Committed to sustainable development, CellX aims to provide environmentally friendly and healthy animal protein alternatives through its cell-cultivated meat products.

MycoWorks is a biotechnology company focused on developing sustainable, non-plastic and non-animal materials. Utilizing fungal mycelium, the company creates biodegradable alternatives to plastic foams, synthetic textiles, engineered woods, and leather. Their innovative products are designed for various applications, including aerospace, automobiles, apparel, and architectural interiors. By leveraging agricultural byproducts in a carbon-negative process, MycoWorks enables clients to access new types of leather that are grown rapidly and sustainably. This approach not only addresses environmental concerns but also offers practical solutions for industries seeking eco-friendly materials.

Metagenomi, Inc. is a biotechnology company focused on developing gene editing systems aimed at treating genetic diseases. Founded in 2016 and based in Emeryville, California, Metagenomi utilizes metagenomics and machine learning to uncover novel genome editing technologies derived from previously uncharacterized organisms. The company's innovative discovery platform enables the creation of highly efficient and specific gene editing tools, including programmable nucleases, base editors, and advanced integration systems such as prime editing and CRISPR-associated transposases. By harnessing these naturally evolved systems, Metagenomi seeks to address a wide range of genetic mutations that traditional genome engineering approaches have struggled to target, with the ultimate goal of providing transformative therapies for patients globally.

Geltor, Inc. is a biodesign company based in San Leandro, California, that specializes in producing bioactive, animal-free collagens and proteins for various applications in beauty, nutrition, and wellness. Established in 2015, Geltor offers innovative products such as Collume, which promotes skincare cellular regeneration and dermal synthesis, and HumaColl21, which enhances skin health by boosting collagen and elastin levels. Additionally, the company provides vegan collagen peptides and other novel proteins designed for functional food and nutraceutical formulations. Geltor's products are sustainably cultivated and clinically validated, allowing businesses to create effective, plant-based solutions that contribute to a more sustainable future.

Ansa Biotechnologies, Inc. is a biotechnology company based in Berkeley, California, focused on developing innovative DNA synthesis technology utilizing enzymes. Established in 2018, the company aims to improve upon traditional chemical methods of DNA synthesis that have remained largely unchanged for decades. Ansa's enzymatic approach offers significant advantages, including increased speed, accuracy, and cleanliness in the production of DNA fragments such as oligonucleotides. This technology enhances the capabilities of biological research, therapeutics, diagnostics, and biomanufacturing by enabling the synthesis of gene-length oligonucleotides. Through its advancements, Ansa Biotechnologies seeks to facilitate innovation in the fields of biological research and engineering, ultimately providing valuable services to medical researchers and contributing to the broader biotechnology landscape.

Metagenomi, Inc. is a biotechnology company focused on developing gene editing systems aimed at treating genetic diseases. Founded in 2016 and based in Emeryville, California, Metagenomi utilizes metagenomics and machine learning to uncover novel genome editing technologies derived from previously uncharacterized organisms. The company's innovative discovery platform enables the creation of highly efficient and specific gene editing tools, including programmable nucleases, base editors, and advanced integration systems such as prime editing and CRISPR-associated transposases. By harnessing these naturally evolved systems, Metagenomi seeks to address a wide range of genetic mutations that traditional genome engineering approaches have struggled to target, with the ultimate goal of providing transformative therapies for patients globally.

CollegeVine is a company based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, founded in 2013, that specializes in providing a range of educational services, including mentorship, college application guidance, essay assistance, tutoring, and test preparation consulting. Formerly known as Admissions Hero LLC, the company rebranded in 2016 to reflect its broader mission. CollegeVine also focuses on integrating artificial intelligence into the higher education sector, offering AI agents designed to streamline administrative processes and enhance recruitment efforts for colleges and universities. By leveraging proprietary data and a network of high school students, CollegeVine aims to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and transform the overall student experience, addressing the projected financial challenges within the higher education landscape. Over 100 universities have adopted CollegeVine's AI solutions to optimize their administrative workflows.