£2.9M
Parkwalk led the round to help the University of Cambridge spinout expand its manufacturing and commercial reach.
Start Codon
AcceleratorStart Codon is a life science and healthcare business accelerator providing seed funding, facilities, and mentoring.
Portfolio
4
companies
Investment by month
By category
- BioTech£3.0M
- AI/ML£2.9M
By location
- Cambridge£2.9M
- Norwich£2.9M
- Gaerwen£100K
Portfolio companies
AO
Awen Oncology
Developing targeted anti-cancer drugs focusing on previously untargeted human developmental genes.
HotHouse Therapeutics
HotHouse Therapeutics develops sustainable pharmaceutical compounds using an AI-optimised plant-based chemistry platform.
S
Semarion
Semarion develops microcarrier technology that turns adherent cells into assay-ready reagents.
S
Spirea
Spirea develops targeted antibody-drug conjugates designed to improve cancer treatment efficacy and safety.
Team
Jason Mellad
Co-Founder and CEO
Jason serves as co-founder and CEO of OtoImmune, alongside directorships at several ventures including Octiocor, RevoNA Bio, and StemBond Technologies. He previously led Start Codon in the same capacity.
LinkedIn
Dan Rooke
Chief Operating Officer
Dan brings operational and advisory experience from Start Codon, Cardiac-Tech, and Proxximos. He also serves as a mentor at Cambridge Judge Business School.
LinkedInRecent investments
£2.9M
The Norwich-based drug discovery startup emerged from stealth with backing from SynBioVen, Start Codon, UKI2S, Twin Path Ventures, Wren Capital, angels, and Innovate UK.
"We grow greener medicines using a platform that makes the impossible accessible. The drug discovery field desperately needs new chemical space and the vaccine field needs new adjuvants, with supply chains that work for everyone. By combining AI with plant engineering, we can reach molecules others cannot, and scale them in a way that supports global health, not just high-income markets."
£100K
The university spin-out has raised over £1m in total funding to develop targeted cancer therapeutics.
"Our technology opens up a new space in oncology drug discovery, to treat a range of malignancies, including rare cancers that currently have no effective treatment options. We are confident that the combined backing of the Development Bank and Start Codon, alongside the universities and M-Sparc, means that we now have the support to fast-track our innovative science into a successful global commercial venture that could help treat cancers."
The seed round was led by Meltwind and Start Codon to accelerate in vivo proof-of-concept studies.
"Incorporation of our technology into ADC products will accelerate and energise the important transition away from the 'one size fits all' approach currently being pursued in ADC development, resulting in novel products with a competitive and differentiated profile. The platform has the power to unlock the development of a new generation of powerful and well-tolerated drugs, which have been so far inaccessible to many cancer patients."
