Photon Fund

Photon Fund, established in 2015, is a venture capital firm headquartered in Los Altos, California, with additional offices in Shenzhen and Beijing. It focuses on investing in early-stage technology startups, particularly in the fields of biomedicine, new energy, and high-end manufacturing. The firm provides not only capital but also strategic support and deep-tech expertise to its portfolio companies. Photon Fund's team comprises experienced investment professionals with over 20 years of global equity investment experience, primarily in the TMT and high-end manufacturing sectors. They employ a research-based approach, combined with value and industrial investment philosophies, to create long-term value for their investments. The firm plays a significant role in fostering scientific and technological progress and innovation, both in China and globally.

James Lee

Managing Director

Zhenlin Li

Partner

David Wang

Founding General Partner

14 past transactions

Bichen Pharmaceutical

Series B in 2022
Bichen Pharmaceutical is a small-molecule tumor-targeted drug developer for the treatment of various malignant tumors and brain metastases.

Amplicore

Seed Round in 2021
Amplicore is a biotechnology company focused on developing injectable therapeutics aimed at treating degenerative musculoskeletal disorders. The company addresses unmet medical needs through a regenerative approach, specifically targeting conditions such as osteoarthritis, cartilage damage, degenerative disc disease, and acute meniscus tears. Amplicore's innovative drugs promote cartilage regeneration and inhibit harmful enzymatic activities, enabling healthcare providers to offer effective relief from joint pain to patients suffering from these debilitating conditions.

Newomics

Series B in 2020
Newomics Inc. is a biotechnology company based in Berkeley, California, established in 2011. The company specializes in developing innovative platforms for personalized healthcare, utilizing proprietary technology based on silicon-microfluidic chips for liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). This technology provides exceptional robustness, sensitivity, specificity, and throughput for analyzing biomolecules from small volumes of biospecimens, such as blood and urine. Newomics focuses on creating multi-omics diagnostic assays, particularly for conditions like diabetes and Alzheimer's. Its platform facilitates analyses in proteomics, metabolomics, and lipidomics, allowing for the effective examination of biological samples, including human plasma and mammalian cells. Through its advancements, Newomics aims to enhance the capabilities of mass spectrometry by integrating and miniaturizing diagnostic processes.

Cardea Bio

Series A in 2020
Cardea Bio, Inc. is a biotechnology company based in San Diego, California, focused on developing and commercializing bioelectronics for research and diagnostics. Established in 2013, Cardea utilizes proprietary graphene-based digital biosensors to create advanced biosensor hardware, software, and molecular infrastructure, enabling precision healthcare through improved diagnostic capabilities. The company's product offerings include the AGILE R100, an innovative assay for drug discovery, and the AGILE R200, an automated high-throughput screening solution. Cardea's biosensors convert biomolecular interactions into digital data, allowing for real-time biological signal analysis and access to streaming multi-omics data. Their solutions cater to various applications in life sciences and healthcare, such as small molecule validation, antibody characterization, and biomolecular analysis.

Nelumbo

Series A in 2020
Nelumbo Inc. is a materials innovation company based in Menlo Park, California, founded in 2015. It specializes in manufacturing thin superomniphobic nanocoatings designed for air conditioning cooling coil fins and refrigeration units. The company's key products include Ice-Nein, which helps prevent frost buildup on refrigeration equipment, thereby reducing defrosting downtime, and Omniphobe, which enhances the efficiency of cooling coils in air conditioning systems. Nelumbo focuses on developing advanced heat exchangers for the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) market, aiming to improve energy performance while minimizing corrosion. Through its innovative approach, the company seeks to address significant opportunities for reducing carbon emissions and energy consumption on a global scale.

CASPR Biotech

Convertible Note in 2020
CASPR Biotech is a San Francisco-based company established in 2018 that specializes in the development of a CRISPR-based platform for diagnosing antimicrobial resistances (AMR) and infectious diseases. The company focuses on creating portable diagnostic kits that utilize proprietary CRISPR Cas enzymes to detect specific DNA and RNA sequences, as well as signature amino acid sequences associated with infectious diseases and genetic mutations. These kits are designed to provide clinicians with a simple, fast, and affordable solution for molecular detection, enhancing the efficiency of disease identification in clinical and hospital settings.

Valitor

Series A in 2018
Valitor, Inc. is a biotechnology company based in Berkeley, California, founded in 2010. The company specializes in the development of advanced, protein-based drugs and has established innovative methods for modifying therapeutic proteins. This technology enables enhanced control over pharmacokinetics, target specificity, and bioactivity, thus improving the pharmacological properties of existing and emerging protein drugs. Valitor's research and development efforts are focused on three key areas: dermatology, ophthalmology, and orthopedics, where they are advancing novel drug products designed to address unmet medical needs in these fields.

Newomics

Series A in 2018
Newomics Inc. is a biotechnology company based in Berkeley, California, established in 2011. The company specializes in developing innovative platforms for personalized healthcare, utilizing proprietary technology based on silicon-microfluidic chips for liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). This technology provides exceptional robustness, sensitivity, specificity, and throughput for analyzing biomolecules from small volumes of biospecimens, such as blood and urine. Newomics focuses on creating multi-omics diagnostic assays, particularly for conditions like diabetes and Alzheimer's. Its platform facilitates analyses in proteomics, metabolomics, and lipidomics, allowing for the effective examination of biological samples, including human plasma and mammalian cells. Through its advancements, Newomics aims to enhance the capabilities of mass spectrometry by integrating and miniaturizing diagnostic processes.

Nelumbo

Series A in 2018
Nelumbo Inc. is a materials innovation company based in Menlo Park, California, founded in 2015. It specializes in manufacturing thin superomniphobic nanocoatings designed for air conditioning cooling coil fins and refrigeration units. The company's key products include Ice-Nein, which helps prevent frost buildup on refrigeration equipment, thereby reducing defrosting downtime, and Omniphobe, which enhances the efficiency of cooling coils in air conditioning systems. Nelumbo focuses on developing advanced heat exchangers for the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) market, aiming to improve energy performance while minimizing corrosion. Through its innovative approach, the company seeks to address significant opportunities for reducing carbon emissions and energy consumption on a global scale.

CARsgen Therapeutics

Series C in 2018
CARsgen Therapeutics, Ltd. is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company specializing in the development of chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapeutics for cancer treatment. Based in Shanghai, China, the company focuses on innovative immunotherapy solutions that harness the body's immune system to target and eliminate cancer cells. CARsgen's CAR-T technology is designed to direct T cells to recognize and attack tumors based on specific cell surface proteins, targeting conditions such as hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and lung squamous cell carcinoma, among others. The company has made significant advancements in CAR-T development, including the completion of the world's first dose-ascending injection tests for HCC and exclusive trials for glioblastoma multiforme in China. Through partnerships with notable institutions like the Shanghai Cancer Institute and Shanghai Renji Hospital, CARsgen Therapeutics aims to position itself at the forefront of cancer therapeutics both in China and internationally.

Hongliyu Cinema

Series B in 2018
Hongliyu Cinema is a Chinese rural cinema operator that specializes in managing and operating a network of local cinemas. The company provides comprehensive cinema management and operation services, with a strong emphasis on theater investment and professional training. In addition to its operational focus, Hongliyu Cinema engages in film and television production, as well as advertising services. Its mission is to enhance the efficiency of theater operations and improve digital media services, ultimately contributing to the growth and development of cinema in rural areas of China.

FutureMove Automotive

Series A in 2017
FutureMove Automotive is a high-tech enterprise specializing in service operations and information solutions within the Connected Vehicle industry. Located in the Jingyuan Art Center in Chaoyang District, Beijing, the company was founded in 2015 by a team of experts from leading IT companies, consulting firms, telecommunications, and the automotive sector. FutureMove Automotive is recognized as a pioneer in Digital and Mobility Services, focusing on delivering innovative solutions in the Internet era. The company has developed a smart vehicle technology system and a digitized vehicle platform, which includes an Internet of Things (IoT) framework that connects vehicles to the internet and offers data analytics capabilities. With a growing workforce of over 150 employees, FutureMove Automotive is committed to enhancing the operational management of connected vehicles and expanding its offerings to support next-generation automotive applications.

Techtotop

Series B in 2017
Techtotop is a company specializing in the development of microchips for satellite navigation and positioning systems. It has released four generations of technology that offer location and time information for various applications. The company’s products are utilized in vehicle navigation, vehicle and personal monitoring, smart wear, the Internet of Things, smart grid technologies, radio and television broadcasting, and time synchronization. Techtotop plays a significant role in establishing critical systems like the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System, contributing to advancements in precision and reliability in the fields it serves.

iYuedan

Series C in 2017
Yuedan is a personal services trading platform that facilitates the connection between freelance workers and job opportunities. The company provides a marketplace where users can sell and purchase various skillsets and services, enabling freelancers to enhance their income while allowing individuals and businesses to find skilled service providers in their vicinity. By focusing on time selling and skill trading, Yuedan aims to help people monetize their available time or expertise, creating a dynamic environment for both service seekers and providers.
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