Jon Nordby selected to serve in a first-of-its-kind role in the region

FRISCO, Texas, Feb. 18, 2025 — The Frisco Economic Development Corporation (FEDC) announced the first ever Venture Capitalist in-Residence (VCiR) in the region. The VCiR program is a part of the FEDC’s four-pillar innovation strategy and will help connect a broader network of investors to Frisco and expand the city’s footprint as a hub for linking high value tech startups with funding sources.

Jon Nordby was selected as the 2025 Frisco VCiR. Nordby is a startup and investment industry expert and the managing partner for Anthropy Partners, an early-stage venture capital firm. The Frisco VCiR is a pilot program that will focus on building partnerships, representing Frisco at investor events, engaging new venture capital firms and corporate venture capital funds, curating investment opportunities for investors, and supporting the local corporate innovation ecosystem while advancing Frisco’s overall venture capital strategy.

“The Frisco City Council set the visionary goal for Frisco to be the capital of venture capital in the central United States by 2040,” said Jeremiah Anderson, Director of Innovation for the FEDC. “Frisco has seen great success during the past four years with exits for more than 35 startups and nearly 100 new investments in startups. Even with this tremendous success, we are just scratching the surface. With Jon’s vast experience and our vibrant local ecosystem, Frisco is ready to make waves in the world of venture capital investors and tech startups.”

Frisco is a fast-growing innovation community with more than 400 startups and 13 corporate innovation and research development centers. Other cities and states have launched programs to attract investors, but no other city or state has publicly declared the goal of becoming a venture capital hub and dedicated resources to the effort.

“Frisco represents a rare convergence of resources, talent, and access which creates the perfect environment to redefine investing in the central United States,” said Jon Nordby, Frisco’s new VCiR. “I am inspired by Frisco’s unique access to capital, industry collaboration, and problem-solving culture. Together, we will unlock the region’s differentiated assets, streamline capital flow, and build a thriving hub for innovation and commercialization. This is an extraordinary opportunity to position Frisco as a global leader in venture capital and innovation, and I am honored to be selected as Frisco’s first Venture Capitalist in-Residence.”

Nordby is the founder of EconWerx and non-profit Anthropy Constructive, both of which partner with governments, universities, economic development organizations and corporations to build unique and differentiated innovation ecosystems. He previously worked for the Greater Houston Partnership where he oversaw the creation and spin out of Houston Exponential and the HX Venture Fund, a corporate Fund of Funds. Nordby teaches at the University of Houston’s Wolff Center for Entrepreneurship, the highest ranked undergrad entrepreneurship program in the country.

About the Frisco EDC
The Frisco EDC operates as a Texas non-profit corporation and is governed by a seven-member board of directors appointed by the Frisco, Texas City Council. Job number one is facilitating the creation of jobs, as the Frisco EDC’s mission is to improve the economic opportunities and quality of life for all Frisco residents. The Frisco EDC has facilitated major economic development projects, resulting in hundreds of projects and thousands of jobs in the City of Frisco. For more information, visit FriscoEDC.com. 

SOURCE Frisco Economic Development Corporation

Investor Confidence Propels Award-Winning Brand’s Story of Passion, Craftsmanship and Connection

PLANO, Texas, Feb. 18, 2025 — Brother’s Bond Bourbon, the award-winning American whiskey brand founded by co-creators, longtime friends, and whiskey experts, Ian Somerhalder and Paul Wesley, proudly announces the successful close of a $7.5 million funding round, a testament to the brand’s momentum and confirming investor confidence in the spirits industry’s growth potential.

Brother’s Bond offers a portfolio of hand-selected, award-winning, small-batch American bourbon and rye whiskeys. Celebrated for its unmatched flavor and ultra-premium quality it has quickly become a respected name in the whiskey industry.

In an ever-evolving market, Brother’s Bond Bourbon stands out by reinvigorating a storied category with fresh energy, an authentic story, and an unwavering commitment to quality and sustainable craftsmanship. Despite a difficult market, this latest round of funding underscores that great things are happening in the whiskey sector and highlights the immense opportunities within the American spirits landscape. As consumers continue to seek premium, authentic brands, the company is well-positioned to meet demand.

“We are incredibly grateful for the support of our investors, who recognize the potential growth of Brother’s Bond Bourbon,” said Vincent Hanna, CEO of Brother’s Bond Bourbon. “The belief in our vision and the industry’s resilience fuels our passion to continue building a brand that resonates with whiskey enthusiasts around the world.”

This capital infusion will enable Brother’s Bond Bourbon to continue to expand its footprint in the United States and into key international markets, bringing the brand’s premium bourbon to a larger global audience. The investment further solidifies the company’s long-term strategy, emphasizing innovation, sustainable craftsmanship, and a commitment to redefining the future of ultra-premium whiskey—one sip, one story, one bond at a time.

“The whiskey industry is at an exciting inflection point, and we see Brother’s Bond Bourbon as a leader in this movement,” said Hanna. “Our ability to merge heritage with modern appeal makes Brother’s Bond stand out in the market. This investment is not just about funding—it’s about fueling a brand that is shaping the future of bourbon.”

With this new funding, Brother’s Bond Bourbon is poised to accelerate its mission of making high-quality whiskey more accessible and celebrated worldwide. As the brand embarks on its next phase of growth, it remains committed to crafting spirits that honor tradition while redefining what it means to enjoy a great bourbon.

About Brother’s Bond
Brother’s Bond Bourbon, founded by famous on-screen brothers, whiskey makers, and real-life friends Ian Somerhalder and Paul Wesley, is an ultra-premium bourbon brand celebrated for its exceptional quality and craftsmanship. Meticulously crafted with the finest all-natural ingredients and aged to perfection, Brother’s Bond honors the rich heritage of American whiskey-making. The hand-selected, award-winning small-batch whiskey portfolio includes Straight Bourbon, Original Cask Strength Straight Bourbon,  American Blended Rye, Regenerative Grain Straight Bourbon, and Bottled-in-Bond Straight Bourbon, which has been recognized as one of the Top 5 Bourbons in the world. Beyond exceptional taste, Brother’s Bond is committed to sustainability, giving back a portion of proceeds to regenerative agriculture and responsible sourcing with every bottle sold. Brother’s Bond is redefining what it means to enjoy an ultra-premium whiskey – one sip, one story, one bond at a time. Time to Bond. For more information, visit www.brothersbondbourbon.com and follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok @brothersbondbourbon and X @brothersbond.

CONTACT: 
Laura Mulhern
[email protected]

SOURCE Brother’s Bond Bourbon

CARMEL, Ind., Feb. 18, 2025 — BOS-UP^®, the Coaching Solution & Academy specializing in the teaching, implementation, and support of innovative, custom-tailored business operating systems, powered by Ninety^®, and Render Capital^®, a top quartile venture capital firm – announce strategic alliance.

Scott Abbott, Founder & Managing Member of BOS-UP, and Patrick Henshaw, Founder & Managing Director at Render Capital – establish partnership to equip coachable entrepreneurs and founders with a fast, effective, and affordable solution that helps them build, run, and scale great startups.

This partnership brings together two purpose-built organizations with a shared mission: to provide the capital, guidance, resources, and support needed to help entrepreneurs, founders, and their leadership teams focus, align, and thrive. This is done through Render Capital funding and advice, and through the BOS-UP programs that help them learn, implement, and benefit from a customized business operating system (BOS), powered by Ninety^® – along with the essential concepts, tools, and disciplines that it takes for effective leadership, management, teamwork, and accountability.

“At Render Capital, we believe in the power of strategic alliances to drive innovation and create return,” said Patrick Henshaw, at Render Capital. “Teaming with BOS-UP allows us to combine our capital and expertise with their proven programs and community of certified coaches – whereby we can provide customized business operating systems, powered by Ninety^® – along with the coaching and support needed to help founders scale their startups into successful, anti-fragile companies.”

“This strategic alliance is a natural fit,” added Scott Abbott, with BOS-UP. “Patrick and his team at Render Capital have an extensive and validated understanding of the entrepreneurial journey, and what it takes to be a fundable startup. By aligning our passions and resources, entrepreneurs and founders now have access to their trusteed strategic capital and advice, along with a unifying operating system – thanks to our customizable BOS-UP programs, community of certified coaches, and our partners at Ninety^®, the leading SaaS platform to help teams build great companies.” 

As part of the alliance, BOS-UP and Render Capital will be conducting a series of live webinars, seminars, and workshops across North America for entrepreneurs, founders & leadership teams. There’s also special pricing for startups based on BOS-UP’s Starter, Builder, and Scaler programs. 

About Render Capital

Render Capital is a top-quartile venture capital firm headquartered in Louisville, KY / Southern Indiana and Dallas, TX, focused on funding high-growth startups across the Midwest and Southern U.S. With a mission to build thriving entrepreneurial ecosystems, Render Capital provides founders with strategic capital, hands-on mentorship, and a robust network of resources to turn bold ideas into successful scalable businesses. For additional information, please visit www.render.capital.

About BOS-UP

Founded in 2022, BOS-UP, through their Coaching Solution & Academy and their community of authorized member coaches – specializes in the teaching, facilitation, implementation, and support of innovative, custom-tailored business operating systems, powered by Ninety^®. In addition, BOS-UP certified coaches also provide complementary business and executive coaching, consulting, and various professional services. For more information, visit www.bos-up.coach.

CONTACT: Scott Abbott | [email protected]
Patrick Henshaw | [email protected] 

SOURCE BOS-UP

Funding to fuel company’s progress in driving lead glaucoma program to clinical readiness; industry veteran, Dr. Carol Gallagher, joins Board

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., Feb. 18, 2025 — Perceive Pharma, a pharmaceutical company pioneering novel small molecule therapeutics in ophthalmology, today announced the closing of a $15M Series A funding round including Deerfield Management, Johnson & Johnson (through its corporate venture capital organization, Johnson & Johnson Innovation – JJDC, Inc.), Braidwell LP, GV, the Retinal Degeneration Fund, and Catalio Capital Management, LP. Perceive Pharma, Inc. was spun out from Perceive Biotherapeutics, Inc. to accelerate development of novel neuroprotective therapeutics in glaucoma and other indications. The Company also welcomes Carol Gallagher, Pharm.D. to the Perceive Pharma Board as an independent Board Director. 

“We are delighted by Carol’s addition to the board and welcome her contributions across the business,” said Cameron Wheeler, Partner at Deerfield Management. “We look forward to working with our syndicate partners as Perceive Pharma continues to build compelling preclinical evidence of ophthalmic neuroprotection in key models of glaucoma.” 

Perceive Pharma is focused on the neuroprotective pathways first elucidated in a genomic screening by co-founders Drs. Don Zack and Derek Welsbie, who further collaborated with a key industry partner to position Perceive Pharma with a library of neuroprotective drug candidates, including its lead therapeutic candidate, PBI-671. Series A proceeds will advance the development of first-in-class therapies to prevent vision loss in glaucoma, and additional undisclosed disease areas.

“All approved drugs for glaucoma target the lowering of intraocular pressure, but about half of glaucoma patients have normal pressures and continue to lose vision,” said K. Angela Macfarlane, CEO. “The deep science underlying the identification of Perceive’s targets differentiates its programs and provides promise for new, transformative treatments for sight-saving therapies for the more than 1.5 million Americans and others worldwide with glaucoma whose disease is continuing to progress, despite access to current treatments.”¹

Perceive Pharma is also pleased to announce that Carol Gallagher, Pharm.D. has joined the company’s Board of Directors as an independent director. Dr. Gallagher is an industry veteran with over 35 years of biopharma experience, holding roles of increasing responsibility in commercial, drug development, and business development in both large and small biopharma companies including Eli Lilly, Amgen, Pfizer and IDEC Pharmaceuticals. As the CEO of Calistoga Pharmaceuticals, she drove the company’s acquisition by Gilead in 2011, after which she held Partner and Advisor roles in biopharma venture capital investing at New Enterprise Associates and Frazier. She currently serves as an independent director on the boards of both private and public biopharma companies including Atara Bio, PMV Pharma, TREX Bio, Recludix Pharmaceuticals, OncoResponse, and Slope.io.

“I am delighted to join the Board of Perceive Pharma and to support this committed and experienced team working on first-in-class neuroprotective drugs,” said Dr. Carol Gallagher. “As a new spinout, Perceive Pharma is at a key inflection point and I am committed to working with the team and Board as we chart our path through this critical phase of development and growth.”

Perceive Pharma is a resident of JLABS @ San Diego, part of Johnson & Johnson Innovation – JLABS, a global life science incubator network, providing startups with access to capital-efficient lab space, equipment, and resources, including expertise, community, and entrepreneurial programs.

About Perceive Pharma

Perceive Pharma is advancing novel small molecule neuroprotective therapeutics, with lead pipeline programs in glaucoma and other ophthalmic diseases. Perceive was founded on compelling research that leveraged a comprehensive screening process in retina cells to identify maximally neuroprotective biological pathways. The Company is backed by Deerfield Management, Johnson & Johnson Innovation, Braidwell LP, GV, Retinal Degeneration Fund, the venture arm of the Foundation Fighting Blindness, and Catalio Capital Management, LP.

About Perceive Bio

Perceive Biotherapeutics is advancing novel gene therapy treatments in ophthalmology and related verticals. Perceive was founded on compelling research elucidating novel protective biology for treating retinal blindness, including dry AMD, developed from foundational collaborations in genetic science and target validation. The Company is backed by Deerfield Management, Johnson & Johnson Innovation, GV, Braidwell LP, Retinal Degeneration Fund, and Catalio Capital Management, LP. For more information, please visit www.perceivebio.com

Media Contact 
For Perceive Pharma: 
Anne Rubin, President, ([email protected])

SOURCE Perceive Pharma, Inc.

NASHVILLE, Tenn., Feb. 18, 2025 — Quokka Care, a healthcare technology solutions provider advancing the Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) space, announced today the successful completion of a strategic growth investment led by prominent health tech entrepreneur Ray Guzman, Montecito Medical Real Estate, and other notable healthcare investors. This funding marks a significant milestone in Quokka Care’s journey to redefine how chronic conditions are managed remotely through its innovative, patient-centered approach.

The investment validates Quokka Care’s unique strategy of enhancing patient outcomes while reducing the operational burden on healthcare providers. With this backing, Quokka Care will accelerate its expansion, enhance its technology platform, and broaden its reach to healthcare provider organizations nationwide.

Closing Gaps in Care

Unlike traditional RPM, Quokka Care’s solution goes beyond data collection to support holistic, patient-centered care. Combining personalized health coaching with seamless integration into existing Electronic Health Record (EHR) workflows, Quokka Care ensures meaningful engagement between patients and their care teams.

“This investment validates our innovative approach to RPM,” said Guy Crossley, CEO of Quokka Care. “We’re partnering with respected healthcare and technology leaders to establish a new standard in patient-centered remote care that prioritizes outcomes and engagement.”

“Quokka Care ensures that care teams can proactively close care gaps, increase compliance, and anticipate potential health events—all while reducing the administrative burden on physicians,” said Chip Conk, CEO of Montecito Medical Real Estate. “We’re excited to invest in and partner with Quokka Care to bring this comprehensive solution to our providers and the communities they serve.”

Building on Proven Success

Quokka Care leverages the ArrowHealth Bridge platform, which integrates RPM data, patient messaging, and telehealth directly into clinicians’ workflows. This approach eliminates the need for additional tools or processes, streamlining the experience for care teams and enabling them to focus on patient outcomes.

“Quokka Care’s forward-thinking model addresses critical gaps in traditional RPM by focusing on outcomes over data,” said Ray Guzman, CEO of SwitchPoint Ventures. “This investment reflects our shared belief in a future where technology and human touch come together seamlessly.”

Patient and Provider-Centric

Quokka Care addresses longstanding challenges in RPM, including EHR integrations, workflow disruptions, administrative burdens, and patient engagement challenges. The company’s dedicated health coaches and program managers support practices in achieving measurable results, setting a new standard for remote care.

“Quokka Care’s vision aligns perfectly with the future of healthcare,” said Crossley. “We’re shaping a world where technology and personal care work in harmony to benefit every patient and provider.”

About Quokka Care

Quokka Care is a healthcare technology company that offers a turnkey remote patient monitoring (RPM) solution focused on improving patient outcomes and practice revenue. Led by an experienced executive team, including Guy Crossley (CEO), Mark Dose (COO), and Mike Jobe (CCO), the company combines innovative technology with personalized care. At the heart of the program are dedicated health coaches who regularly engage with patients, track their progress, and provide personalized support. Quokka Care also offers operational support, client success advisors to help clinics achieve their RPM goals, and a proprietary web-based bridge technology that seamlessly integrates RPM data with existing electronic health record (EHR) systems.

Media Contact:
Shanna Belott
3107707857
[email protected] 

SOURCE Quokka Care

NEW YORK, Feb. 18, 2025 — As traditional finance continues its migration on-chain, SkyBridge Capital Founder and Managing Partner, Anthony Scaramucci, is excited about Kinto’s upcoming token launch, scheduled for February 18, 2025. SkyBridge invested $150,000 in Kinto.

“I’m an early investor and supporter of Kinto through SkyBridge,” said Scaramucci. “Kinto’s modular exchange opens up tremendous possibilities for institutional investors to deploy capital on-chain and tokenize products without counterparty risk.”

Kinto brings the feature set of centralized exchanges to decentralized finance. The platform currently serves approximately 75,000 verified users and manages approximately $62 million in total value locked (TVL).

“Kinto has built a functioning product, established a verified user base, and created steady revenue streams. Tokenized finance represents a significant and exciting opportunity,” noted Scaramucci.

Recently, large institutional investors such as Brevan Howard Digital’s Abu Dhabi branch deployed $20 million in assets on Kinto, enabling participation in the on-chain financial ecosystem.

Previous investors include AJ Scaramucci, Founder & Managing Partner, Solari Capital who incubated the company, with participation from Spartan Group, Parafi, Kraynos, Soft Holdings, Deep Ventures, Modular, Tane and Robot Ventures.

The token launch is an important milestone in Kinto’s product rollout.

About SkyBridge Capital
SkyBridge Capital is a global alternative investment firm specializing in financial technology, digital assets, venture capital, and multi-manager solutions. The firm, founded by Anthony Scaramucci in 2005, has allocated over half of SkyBridge’s assets under management to digital assets, an emerging asset class that is reshaping the future of finance.

About Kinto
Kinto is a modular exchange that provides access to opportunities in DeFi through its tailored blockchain and non-custodial smart wallet. The platform combines institutional-grade security with retail accessibility, built on a custom Layer 2 stack with Chain Abstraction technology. Core features include User-Owned KYC, insured wallets, chain abstracted swaps and lending markets, and a native Hyperliquid integration for advanced trading. Kinto is working to offer users an easy and simple way to move on and off-chain without using CEXs. Founded to bridge traditional and decentralized finance, Kinto has raised $7M from SkyBridge Capital, Parafi, Robot Ventures, and strategic angels.

Media Contact
Prosek Partners, on behalf of SkyBridge Capital
[email protected]

SOURCE SkyBridge Capital

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla., Feb. 18, 2025 — Carrier Global Corporation (NYSE: CARR), global leader in intelligent climate and energy solutions, today announced that its venture group, Carrier Ventures, is leading an investment and technology partnership with ZutaCore®, a disruptive innovator of two-phase direct-to-chip liquid cooling technology for data centers. This investment aligns with Carrier’s strategy of providing high-tech, integrated cooling solutions to meet the critical cooling needs of data center customers. The global data center cooling market is projected to reach $20 billion by 2029, and liquid cooling is projected to grow at a 39% CAGR over the same period.

“Direct-to-chip liquid cooling is essential for next-generation data centers as AI drives an increase in global demand for high-density computing,” said Ajay Agrawal, Senior Vice President, Global Services, Business Development & Chief Strategy Officer, Carrier. “We continue to invest in cutting-edge technologies to ensure Carrier is fully prepared for the data center needs for advanced cooling systems. Our partnership with ZutaCore will help tackle the cooling challenges of tomorrow’s data centers and will ensure optimal performance and energy-efficient solutions for our customers.”

“Our partnership with Carrier marks a major milestone for ZutaCore as we continue to redefine the cooling industry at scale,” said Erez Freibach, Co-Founder and CEO, ZutaCore. “By integrating our waterless liquid cooling technology with Carrier’s expertise in intelligent climate and energy solutions, we are delivering a comprehensive and sustainable solution tailored specifically to the AI market. This collaboration enables us to meet the growing demands of next-generation AI and data processing workloads with energy-efficient solutions, revolutionizing data center cooling for AI factories worldwide.”

ZutaCore is a San Jose, CA-based provider of direct-to-chip, waterless liquid cooling solutions. ZutaCore’s next-generation liquid cooling technology is designed to cool the hottest processors with 100% heat reuse, paving the way toward a lower-emission data center industry. Its HyperCool® technology – a direct-to-chip, waterless, direct liquid cooling solution – enables high sustained performance, server densification and reduced power usage, critical for meeting the power demands of today’s high performance, artificial intelligence and machine learning data center workloads.

Carrier’s investment in ZutaCore is part of its broader ambition to redefine data center thermal management. With the recent announcement of Carrier QuantumLeap™, the company introduced a fully integrated suite of innovative, energy-efficient solutions for data center thermal management, designed to optimize the entire thermal lifecycle.

Through Carrier Ventures, Carrier invests in innovations and disruptive technologies enabling the future of building and cold chain management.

For more information about Carrier Ventures’ portfolio companies, visit Corporate.Carrier.com/carrier-ventures.

About Carrier 
Carrier Global Corporation, global leader in intelligent climate and energy solutions, is committed to creating solutions that matter for people and our planet for generations to come. From the beginning, we’ve led in inventing new technologies and entirely new industries. Today, we continue to lead because we have a world-class, diverse workforce that puts the customer at the center of everything we do. For more information, visit corporate.carrier.com or follow Carrier on social media at @Carrier.

Contact:
Jason Shockley
561-542-0207
[email protected]

CARR-IR

SOURCE Carrier Global Corporation

• Dr Mozayeni brings deep experience in biotech corporate strategy and business development
• Appointment follows successful £35 million Series A fundraise at the end of 2024 to take its MSH3 inhibitors to treat Huntington’s disease into the clinic

CAMBRIDGE, England, Feb. 18, 2025 — LoQus23 Therapeutics Ltd (“LoQus23”), a private biotechnology company investigating small molecule drugs that could stop the pathogenic triplet expansion that is the cause and driver of Huntington’s Disease, myotonic dystrophy type 1, and other triplet repeat expansion diseases, today announces the appointment of Dr Cyrus Mozayeni as its Chair of the Board of Directors.

Dr Mozayeni is a highly experienced biotech entrepreneur with a track record of more than 20-years spearheading growth and strategic business development for life sciences companies. Dr Mozayeni is currently CEO of Pheon Therapeutics (Pheon), a leading antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) company developing next generation ADCs for a wide range of hard-to-treat cancers. He recently led Pheon through a successful $120 million Series B financing round in May 2024.

Dr David Reynolds, Chief Executive Officer of LoQus23 Therapeutics, commented: “Following our successful fundraise late last year, the Company is at a pivotal moment as we progress towards IND-enabling studies of our potent allosteric small molecule MSH3 inhibitor, part of the MutSβ complex. Cyrus brings a wealth of world class biotech expertise to guide us at this critical time and will help us to deliver treatments for patients with Huntington’s and similar triplet repeat expansion diseases.” 

Dr Cyrus Mozayeni, newly appointed Chair of the Board of Directors of LoQus23, added: “The science behind LoQus23’s unique approach is hugely promising. Several recent high-profile papers provide unequivocal support for the development of treatments targeting somatic CAG repeat expansion – the foundation of our approach. I look forward to working with the Board and the Leadership Team to help deliver the lead asset into the clinic and beyond.”

As an Entrepreneur-in-Residence at Atlas Venture, Dr Mozayeni launched Vedere Bio and served as President & CEO from inception through to its sale to Novartis. Before joining Atlas Venture, Dr Mozayeni was co-founder of CODA Biotherapeutics, and Oncorus, where he served as President and CBO. He also served as VP and Global Head of Business Development and Alliance Management at Nasdaq listed Bluebird Bio, where his efforts led to a clinical-stage CAR T-cell program (ABECMA®, idecabtagene vicleucel) in collaboration with Celgene, and a successful IPO. A qualified Doctor of Medicine, Dr Mozayeni is a graduate of the University of Virginia School of Medicine and holds both an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management of Northwestern University and an Sc.B. in Neuroscience from Brown University.

In October 2024, LoQus23 announced the successful close of its £35 million Series A financing round led by Forbion, alongside existing investors SV Health Investors’ Dementia Discovery Fund and Novartis Venture Fund. The Company has since established a platform of assays and small molecule series of MutSα and MutSβ inhibitors which are therapeutically relevant in numerous triplet repeat diseases, including Huntington’s Disease.

Notes to Editors

About LoQus23 Therapeutics Ltd
LoQus23 is a biotech company based in Cambridge, UK, developing small molecule somatic expansion inhibitors for the treatment of Huntington’s Disease and other triplet repeat expansion diseases. Huntington’s disease is an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorder for which there is currently no disease modifying treatment available and which currently has 30,000 patients in the US alone.

LoQus23’s approach has the potential to stop DNA instability and therefore slow neurodegeneration in these diseases. LoQus23 is focused on using a structure-based approach to design small molecule drugs, which can offer more convenient administration than other approaches. Oral small molecule drugs have a strong track record in treating complex brain diseases and provide greater convenience for patients compared with other advanced treatment modalities. LoQus23’s lead programme, a potent allosteric small molecule MSH3 inhibitor, part of the MutSβ  complex, will enter the clinic in 2026.

LoQus23 has a highly experienced leadership team, built on world-class science. It was originally established in 2019 by Dr David Reynolds, Dr Caroline Benn, and Dr Ruth McKernan CBE, FMedSci, Entrepreneurs in Residence at SV Health Investors’ Dementia Discovery Fund, which also acted as the initial seed investor. In October 2024, the Company closed a successful £35 million Series A financing round led by Forbion, alongside existing investors SV Health Investors’ Dementia Discovery Fund and Novartis Venture Fund.

For more information, please visit: www.loqus23.com

SOURCE LoQus23 Therapeutics

Company Raises $3.85M in Seed Funding led by Caduceus Capital Partners, with Participation
from Bread and Butter Ventures; Announces Collaboration with Mayo Clinic

SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 14, 2025 — VoiceCare AI, a healthcare administration general intelligence (HAGI) company, announced plans to automate back-office conversations and super-staff the workforce through the application of generative AI. The company’s agentic architecture platform is built to optimize and ease administrative burden and radically improve operational efficiency. With $3.85 million in funding led by Caduceus Capital Partners, and participation from Bread and Butter Ventures, VoiceCare AI seeks to improve access, adherence, and outcomes for patients and the healthcare workforce, putting the focus back on patient engagement.

Every year, countless calls with long hold times occur in the healthcare system, transferring and copying data, verifying statuses and follow-ups, or starting a process. According to McKinsey & Company, healthcare administration in the United States currently accounts for $1 trillion of the $4.5 trillion total healthcare spend, and more than 90% of healthcare-related calls are still being handled manually between humans. VoiceCare AI is looking to tackle this challenge head-on with “Joy,” its human-like voice AI agent built to support long, complex, and highly nuanced conversations and extended hold times.

“Imagine a world where the time spent on manual phone calls and faxes is replaced by meaningful patient interactions. With generative AI, we want to make this a reality,” said Parag Jhavari, founder and CEO of VoiceCare AI. “By automating conversations in a way that feels genuinely human, we seek to give back time to healthcare professionals so they can focus on high-order patient care, driving radical efficiencies with every conversation. That’s why we created “Joy,” our voice AI agent. We want to give healthcare professionals more time to focus on what truly matters—caring for patients.”

VoiceCare AI also announced a pilot with Mayo Clinic to employ its intelligent voice automation for use cases including patient pre-authorization and benefit confirmations within three separate areas – the Department of Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, and Medical and Administrative Support Operations.

The funding will support team expansion, enhanced sales and marketing efforts, and continued investment in enhancing platform accuracy, security and compliance.

“At Caduceus Capital Partners, we’re passionate about funding technologies that improve efficiency and reduce administrative costs. VoiceCare AI has the potential to provide a much-needed solution to providers, and we’re proud to support this team as they grow the business,” said Dave Vreeland, senior managing partner at Caduceus Capital Partners.

“VoiceCare’s technology has potential to empower clinical and healthcare staffing teams to focus on patient care and alleviate administrative burdens,” said Mary Grove, Managing Partner at Bread and Butter Ventures. “They are attempting to solve pain points we’ve all experienced as patients and driving value for patients, providers, and payers. We’re thrilled to back Parag’s big vision to tech-enable the administrative layer of healthcare.”

How it Works

Every year healthcare administrators and providers spend 60-80% of their time on insurance- and billing-related tasks instead of patient care. VoiceCare AI transforms B2B voice conversations through intelligent automation. Its AI platform handles payer communication, from benefits verification to prior authorizations and claims follow-ups. By automating time-consuming calls, the company seeks to free staff from hours of hold times while maintaining detailed documentation and a call summary of every interaction. The system is designed to integrate seamlessly with existing workflows and provides near real-time status updates.

The company’s technology leverages advanced multi-modal, multimodal agentic architecture with reinforcement learning from human feedback (RLHF) and proprietary healthcare conversational data to achieve a near-perfect call completion accuracy rate, with a majority of calls completed autonomously using AI. VoiceCare’s development team takes a safety-focused approach as the platform is HIPAA compliant and SOC 2 Type II attested.

The VoiceCare advisory board has deep healthcare, technical and AI experience. They include: Andrew Vaz, Mary Grove, Paul Conley, Mark Nathan, James Fan, and Dr. Sheena Menezes.

Mayo Clinic has a financial interest in the technology referenced in this press release. Mayo Clinic will use any revenue it receives to support its not-for-profit mission in patient care, education and research.

About VoiceCare AI

VoiceCare AI is a healthcare administration general intelligence (HAGI) company built to automate back-office conversations and super-staff the workforce through the application of generative AI. The company’s AI voice-based automation and agentic AI architecture massively eliminates administrative burden and improves operational efficiency. “Joy,” its human-like voice AI agent, is capable of supporting long, complex, and highly nuanced conversations and extended hold times. VoiceCare AI has raised $3.85 million in seed funding led by Caduceus Capital Partners, and participation from Bread and Butter Ventures. For more information, visit us at Voicecare AI and follow us on LinkedIn and YouTube.

Media Contact
Audrey Mann Cronin
[email protected] 

SOURCE VoiceCare AI