Portfolio
9
companies
Exciting Instruments
Exciting Instruments develops a pioneering single-molecule detection platform for health research.
Mint Neurotechnologies
Semiconductor developer creating scalable and low-power neural implants.
Neuronostics
Neuronostics develops digital biomarkers and software to improve the diagnosis of neurological conditions.
OSSTEC
Developing smart bone implants for younger knee replacement patients.
Orthofuse
Orthofuse develops 3D-printed implants that surgeons can adjust during procedures.
OutSee
Genomics and drug discovery company leveraging artificial intelligence for target identification.
Johnathan Matlock
General Partner and Co-founder
Johnathan brings scientific and entrepreneurial experience as a co-founder at Empirical Ventures. He also holds board observer and advisory roles across multiple companies.
LinkedIn
Ben Miles
Ben co-founded Empirical Ventures, Science Angel Syndicate, and Spin Up Science, bringing founding and investing experience across science ventures. He also serves as a non-executive director at EnsiliTech and works as a physicist.
LinkedInThe round was led by a group of angel investors to support technical development and regulatory readiness.
"The main pain point here is that orthopaedic trauma and spinal degenerative conditions are technically demanding, time-sensitive, and extremely challenging when there is poor bone quality. Current implant systems struggle to comprehensively meet the needs of the patient and the surgeon. The inherent limitations cause prolonged surgical times and increased risks to the patient."
The oversubscribed financing was led by Ahren Innovation Capital and will support preclinical validation and platform development.
"Partnering with the team at o2h discovery is a fantastic milestone for OutSee as we look ahead to commencing our first drug discovery programme and showcasing the potential of our Nomaly platform to revolutionise target discovery. The agreement is testament to the strength of our technology and, in combination with the closure of our oversubscribed seed funding round, kicks off a very exciting year. Thank you to our investors and supporters for their continued support, and the hard work and dedication of our team."
The financing round was led by Ahren Innovation Capital and will support the expansion of the company's in-house target discovery programme.
"OutSee’s Nomaly technology is a truly next-generation genomic analysis tool with potential to transform drug discovery using powerful data-driven insights. It allows us to interrogate smaller datasets, and even data that has already been analysed, to uncover unique target insights that until now would have remained undetected."
Empirical Ventures led the financing for the Imperial College London spinout.
"This funding marks a pivotal moment for OSSTEC, enabling us to bring our groundbreaking technology to market with our team of surgeons and engage in strategic collaborations to improve patient outcomes. We’re at the exciting intersection of innovative technology, delivering value for surgeons and patients and high-growth markets—all combined to help more people stay active and pain-free for longer. We’re excited to take the next steps in scaling our impact and making a meaningful difference in patients’ lives and the wider healthcare ecosystem."
Northern Gritstone led the over-subscribed seed round with participation from Empirical Ventures, Praetura Ventures, and private backers.
"Northern Gritstone is delighted to support Exciting Instruments’ internationally renowned team from the University of Sheffield. Their technology will open up a broad range of health-related research and discovery and will also support job creation in Sheffield’s thriving tech cluster."
