Our Portfolio
Life Science
Pathway Therapeutics
San Francisco, United States
Pathway Therapeutics Inc. is a drug development company focused on new therapeutics for the treatment of cancer. Pathway’s drug development programme focuses on novel molecules developed at the Maurice Wilkins Centre at The University of Auckland and is based on the work of research groups led by Professors Bill Denny and Peter Shepherd. The lead programme is the first PI3 kinase alpha dual mTOR inhibitor and is currently in clinical trials. The company is also developing a delta specific PI3 kinase inhibitor. These enzymes are crucial in a signalling pathway involved in controlling cell growth, survival and migration. Pathway is led by Dr Julie Cherrington who was appointed as CEO in October 2009. Pathway is a spin off from Auckland UniServices, the commercialisation arm of The University of Auckland.The Trans Tasman Commercialisation Fund (TTCF) participated in the syndication of the funding which included GBS Venture Partners, CM Capital, the New Zealand Venture Investment Fund’s (NZVIF) Seed co-Investment Fund (SCIF) and the Breast Cancer Research Trust (BCRT).
RUGA
Corporation
Palo Alto, United States
Ruga Corporation is an innovative private biopharmaceutical company focused on development of novel ‘first in class’ targeted therapeutics in Oncology, focusing on Tumour Metabolism and Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Pathways. The company’s lead programs are currently in lead optimisation with candidate selection and IND applications for clinical trials next year. The company is a spin out from Stanford University based on collaborative research with The University of Auckland. TTCF led the first investment round. The funding round was syndicated with strategic co-investment from the venture arm of a mid-cap Multinational Pharmaceutical Company (undisclosed) and Stanford University.
ICT/Engineering
Ofidium
Melbourne, Australia
Ofidium is a pioneer in bandwidth augmentation for optical telecommunications networks with reduced costs. Ofidium’s optical Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiplexing (oOFDM) technology provides highly cost-efficient capacity growth for new optical fibre in the metro market. OFDM is the dominant technology in a range of other communications applications, including copper wire, where it’s known as ADSL, and wireless, and Ofidium is leading the application of oOFDM to optical data transmission for telecommunications. Ofidium is a spin-off from Monash University, based on the technology pioneered by Monash Professors Jean Armstrong and Arthur Lowery. Professor Armstrong is a leading innovator in OFDM systems. Professor Lowery is Ofidium’s founder and Chief Technology Officer, and a leading innovator in optical technology. The company is backed by Starfish Ventures and TTCF.
SNAP Network Surveillance
Adelaide, Australia
SNAP Network Surveillance Pty. Ltd. is developing sophisticated network surveillance technology to help solve security dilemmas currently facing airports, casinos, CBDs, shopping malls and large sporting and entertainment venues around the world. The new software being developed by SNAP will automatically integrate data from thousands of security cameras in a video surveillance network into a single sensor, eliminating existing problems with huge information overloads. The new technology acts as a force multiplier, saving security companies time, resources and money as well as boosting the chances of security staff spotting potentially harmful events. The technology was developed at Australian Centre for Visual Technologies (ACVT) at the University of Adelaide and is being commercialised by SNAP with an investment from the TTCF.
Cleantech/Engineering
Halo IPT
Guernsey, UK
Halo IPT plc is developing an innovative Induction Power Technology for remotely charging new generation electric vehicles. The technology was developed by Professor John Boys and colleagues at the University of Auckland. Halo IPT plc is a spin off company from Auckland UniServices, the commercialisation arm of the University of Auckland. The company is a co-investment with Ove Arup and Partners.
