White Cloud Capital
Luminous Ventures is a London-based VC fund investing in Deep Tech at Seed and Series A in Europe and North America. Luminous backs founders with a vision to significantly change the world with breakthrough technologies and applied science. Some of these technologies are unfolding now; others will take a decade or more to develop.
In particular, Luminous invests at the intersection of deep technology and human health, believing that the best returns will be delivered from the application of artificial intelligence (AI), VR, AR, edge computing, robotics, quantum technologies and synthetic biology to healthcare, life science, nutrition, food and agriculture.
Luminous has invested in 14 companies developing game-changing technologies, with many emerging from top university ecosystems such as Oxford, Imperial and UCL. Companies include Synthace, developing a revolutionary new operating system for laboratories; Hadean, building a new high-performance operating system for the cloud; Optellum, developing an AI-based diagnostic for lung cancer; Vital Biosciences, designing a new generation of tools to empower individuals in monitoring their health and managing disease; and Ellipsis Health, a new AI-based diagnostic for mental health. Luminous Ventures spun out of White Cloud Capital in 2018.
Luminous shares boards and has co-invested alongside leading investors such as Khosla, Draper Esprit, Iconiq, Hoxton Ventures, Speedinvest, Inovia, Horizons Ventures, Sofinnova, OSI and IQ Capital.
Luminous prides itself on working incredibly closely with founders and there are a number of examples where Luminous’ deep involvement has significantly helped the founders on their journey. Isabel Fox, founder of Luminous, applies her lengthy Silicon Valley experience and network to help founders across go-to-market strategy, commercial partners, PR and hiring. Lomax Ward, her co-founder, applies his later stage growth capital investing experience to add value to the founders as they scale operations, as well as having a deep understanding and value add on IP, regulation and commercial contracting, based on his legal background. Luminous also has a strong team of scientists, operators and investors who all add their valued insight to the founders.
Luminous Ventures illuminates European deep tech and dares to invest where others don’t.
Sector
30 past transactions
Sparrho
Venture Round in 2017
Sparrho operates a discovery platform for scientific information. Its platform aggregates, distills, and recommends relevant content; provides news from various scientific sources, including journals, patents, conferences, databases, etc; offers customised, filtered, and relevant recommendations; and enables to add content and sources, as well as to save, share, and spread discoveries. Sparrho was formerly known as Epistora. The company is headquartered in London, United Kingdom.
LGN
Funding Round in 2019
LGN INNOVATIONS LIMITED manufactures electronic chip that optimizes resolution and imaging capability of devices and instruments. Its product inbuilt sensor and artificial intelligence technology assist autonomous systems to see and visualize objects as humans in embedded hardware. Its product is used in automotive, buildings, retail, satellite and more industries. The company was founded in 2018 and is based in London, United Kingdom. The company has additional office in Shrewsbury, United Kingdom.
BioBeats
Seed Round in 2018
BioBeats Group Ltd designs and develops an online platform BioBeats, that is a machine learning platform that measures biometrics and manages stress and wellness of individuals, employees, and patients in real-time, and helps them action that insight through engaging media. Its application is available for download on Android and iOS devices. The company was incorporated in 2011 and is based in London, United Kingdom.
Ellipsis Health, Inc.
Series A in 2021
Ellipsis Health, Inc., a technology company, provides analytics solutions that combine patient speech and clinical data to predict patient health and well-being. The company focuses on leveraging artificial intelligence to improve behavioral health through analysis of natural conversation. Ellipsis Health, Inc. was founded in 2013 and is based in San Francisco, California.
Hadean
Seed Round in 2017
Hadean Supercomputing Ltd. develops an application platform that enables developers to run algorithms using existing tool chain. The company was founded in 2015 and is based in London, United Kingdom.
LGN
Seed Round in 2021
LGN INNOVATIONS LIMITED manufactures electronic chip that optimizes resolution and imaging capability of devices and instruments. Its product inbuilt sensor and artificial intelligence technology assist autonomous systems to see and visualize objects as humans in embedded hardware. Its product is used in automotive, buildings, retail, satellite and more industries. The company was founded in 2018 and is based in London, United Kingdom. The company has additional office in Shrewsbury, United Kingdom.
Treos Bio
Convertible Note in 2021
Treos Bio, Inc. develops precision cancer immunotherapies tailored to patients' genetics. The company offers PEPI, a test that uses genetic data obtained from a saliva or blood sample to predict an individual’s antigen specific immune response; PolyPEPI immunotherapy vaccines for melanoma, lung cancer, and breast cancer; and PolyPEPI CDx companion diagnostic test to predict whether a treatment will be effective in a particular patient enabling to tailor vaccines to the DNA of cancer patients. The company was founded in 2013 and is based in San Francisco, California. Treos Bio, Inc. operates as a subsidiary of Treos Bio Limited.
Ellipsis Health, Inc.
Seed Round in 2019
Ellipsis Health, Inc., a technology company, provides analytics solutions that combine patient speech and clinical data to predict patient health and well-being. The company focuses on leveraging artificial intelligence to improve behavioral health through analysis of natural conversation. Ellipsis Health, Inc. was founded in 2013 and is based in San Francisco, California.
Vital Biosciences
Funding Round in 2019
Vital Biosciences Inc develops tools that helps to monitor health and manage disease. The company was founded in 2016 and is based in Kitchener, Canada.
Cytoseek
Seed Round in 2021
CytoSeek's mission is to use cell membrane augmentation technology to unlock the potential of next generation of advanced therapies.
We are a spinout company from the University of Bristol. Our novel cell membrane augmentation technology enables us to add new functionalities to cell therapies including tissue specific targeting and enhanced cell survivability.
CytoSeek is engaged in proof of principle studies to demonstrate enhancement of cell therapies for cancer, heart disease, osteoarthritis and diabetic wound healing. We are looking to partner with cell therapy companies to bring these products to the clinic and ultimately enhance human health.
Temporall
Seed Round in 2020
Temporall provides an AI and analytics-based platform to give key performance insights to leadership teams. Temporall sits at the intersection of enterprise software and organisational science, bringing the very best of technology and human expertise to support our clients’ strategic needs.
Oxford VR Limited
Series A in 2020
Oxford VR Limited develops cognitive treatments for clinical conditions with significant impact on patients. Its treatments are automated, with the therapy delivered by a virtual coach, enabling us to increase dramatically access to the therapies in the areas of fear of heights, psychosis, and social anxiety. The company was founded in 2016 and is based in Oxford, United Kingdom.
Conundrum
Series A in 2022
Conundrum Industrial Limited designs and develops an artificial intelligence based enterprise software for factories. The company offers a platform, known as Conundrum AIaaS that enables users to remotely monitor and control operations. Conundrum Industrial Limited caters to chemical production, pulp and paper, oil and gas, steel and mining, and equipment manufacturing industries. The company was incorporated in 2018 and is based in the United Kingdom.
Beyond
Pre Seed Round in 2016
BEYOND LIMITED operates a platform that allow users to compare funeral director prices, services, and reviews, as well as and plans. The company also offers solutions to arrange a direct cremation, get funeral finance, write a will, and settle an estate. It serves customers in the United Kingdom. BEYOND LIMITED was formerly known as Funeralbooker Ltd. The company was founded in 2015 and is based in London, United Kingdom.
Astroscreen
Seed Round in 2019
Astroscreen protects brands and defends democracy from harmful social media manipulation campaigns also known as astroturfing.
Climax Foods
Seed Round in 2020
Climax Foods Inc. produces plant based food using its artificial intelligence (AI) tool. Its products match the taste and texture of animal based food using data science and machine learning. The company's technology consists of multiple synergistic, data science, simulation, machine learning, and predictive model frameworks to accelerate the food innovation processes. The company was incorporated in 2019 and is based in Berkeley, California.
Synthace Limited
Series B in 2018
Synthace's goal is to raise universal bioscience productivity, enabling people to better engineer biology for health, food, energy and manufacturing. Central to its technology is Antha, an operating system for biology that enables ease of designing and optimizing biological unit operations that are linked into executable workflows that are reliable, shareable and saleable. Antha spreads biological information in a repeatable way, linking lab equipment, protocols and processes, thereby allowing vast and speedy development, enhancing productivity for any bioscience.
Universal Quantum
Seed Round in 2020
Universal Quantum is building quantum computers to tackle real-world problems that would take today’s fastest supercomputers billions of years to solve.
Biomage
Seed Round in 2020
Biomage specializes in single-cell analysis transforming the life sciences. Our goal is to apply innovative computational methods to extract valuable insight from biological data, fueling cutting-edge research across biological disciplines.
Our flagship product, the Biomage Single Cell Platform empowers researchers to take ownership of their single cell data analysis, generating deep biological insight in just a few clicks.
Optellum Ltd
Seed Round in 2019
Optellum Ltd develops AI clinical decision support software for lung cancer diagnosis and treatment. Optellum Ltd was incorporated in 2015 and is based in Oxford, United Kingdom.
Kernal Biologics
Venture Round in 2020
Kernal Biologics, Inc. designs and develops mRNA immunotherapies. It develops mRNA immunotherapies for covid-19 and cancers. The company’s mRNA platform is used by researchers and companies working on vaccines and therapeutics for COVID-19. Kernal Biologics, Inc. was founded in 2016 and is headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Hadean
Venture Round in 2019
Hadean Supercomputing Ltd. develops an application platform that enables developers to run algorithms using existing tool chain. The company was founded in 2015 and is based in London, United Kingdom.
Magdrive
Seed Round in 2020
Magdrive Limited develops a next generation of spacecraft propulsion for small satellites. The company offers technology of new plasma thruster that combines both high thrust of chemical rockets and the high efficiency of other electric thrusters. The company was incorporated in 2019 and is based in Didcot, United Kingdom.
Active Global Specialised Caregivers
Venture Round in 2018
Active Global Specialised Caregivers offers home personal care, live-in caregiver, and respite care services. It provides caregiver services for patients with cancer, dementia, diabetes, stroke, heart disease, Parkinson’s disease, visual/hearing impairment, nutrition/elimination problems, schizophrenia, stoma and wound problems, and allergies.
Active Global Specialised Caregivers began operation in 2013. It has its headquarters in Singapore.
Phenomic AI
Seed Round in 2020
Phenomic AI is a developer of a drug discovery platform designed to discovery and optimize therapeutics directly against phenotypic assays.The company's platform uses artificial intelligence to analyze phenotypes in complex disease models including high-content co-culture and 3D assays, enabling pharmaceutical companies to discover drugs in an easier way.
Beyond
Seed Round in 2018
BEYOND LIMITED operates a platform that allow users to compare funeral director prices, services, and reviews, as well as and plans. The company also offers solutions to arrange a direct cremation, get funeral finance, write a will, and settle an estate. It serves customers in the United Kingdom. BEYOND LIMITED was formerly known as Funeralbooker Ltd. The company was founded in 2015 and is based in London, United Kingdom.
Mahana Therapeutics, Inc.
Seed Round in 2020
Mahana Therapeutics, Inc. develops an application for treating patients suffering from gastrointestinal (GI) diseases and conditions. The company offers Parallel, a clinically-validated and minimal-contact digital program for people with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Mahana Therapeutics, Inc. was formerly known as Mahana Health, Inc. and changed its name to Mahana Therapeutics, Inc. in July 2019. The company was incorporated in 2018 and is based in San Francisco, California. It has an additional location in London, United Kingdom.
BioBeats
Seed Round in 2016
BioBeats Group Ltd designs and develops an online platform BioBeats, that is a machine learning platform that measures biometrics and manages stress and wellness of individuals, employees, and patients in real-time, and helps them action that insight through engaging media. Its application is available for download on Android and iOS devices. The company was incorporated in 2011 and is based in London, United Kingdom.
Synthace Limited
Series A in 2017
Synthace's goal is to raise universal bioscience productivity, enabling people to better engineer biology for health, food, energy and manufacturing. Central to its technology is Antha, an operating system for biology that enables ease of designing and optimizing biological unit operations that are linked into executable workflows that are reliable, shareable and saleable. Antha spreads biological information in a repeatable way, linking lab equipment, protocols and processes, thereby allowing vast and speedy development, enhancing productivity for any bioscience.
Facesoft
Seed Round in 2018
FaceSoft is developing machine learning models and databases that improve 3D facial recognition and computer-generated facial reconstruction technologies. The spinout's reconstruction algorithm has been trained on a database of 2.5 million high-resolution 3D facial scans.
The company was founded in 2017 and based in London, England.
