Former “Top 10 International Youth Maker” brings cross-border incubation expertise to accelerate AI, Biotech, and Fintech ventures in Vancouver and Silicon Valley.

VANCOUVER, BC and PALO ALTO, Calif., Dec. 23, 2025 — US CAN STARTUP, a leading cross-border incubation platform and venture capital firm, today announced a series of strategic investments in high-growth North American startups, including Kalino Bio and AllScale.io. This move marks a significant milestone for the firm’s founder, Shun Ma, as he expands his “impact incubation” model from Asia to the global stage.

Leveraging a decade of experience in entrepreneurship education and venture capital, Mr. Ma has positioned US CAN STARTUP as a critical bridge for innovation. The firm recently confirmed its role as a key backer of Kalino Bio, a groundbreaking biotech company founded by Dr. Sherry Zhao developing non-surgical immunocontraceptive solutions for animals, and AllScale.io, a self-custody neobank for micro-businesses founded by serial entrepreneurs Shawn Pang and Leo Wang.

“Our mission is to identify and empower founders who are solving fundamental problems with scalable technology,” said Shun Ma, Founder and CEO of US CAN STARTUP. “Companies like Kalino Bio and AllScale represent the future of their respective industries. By providing not just capital, but strategic cross-border resources, we aim to accelerate their path to market leadership.”

A Legacy of Innovation Shun Ma’s journey in the startup ecosystem is well-documented. Recognized as one of the “Top 10 International Youth Makers” in 2015 by the Cyberspace Administration of China—an honor celebrating the nation’s most promising young innovators—Ma has since mentored thousands of entrepreneurs. His current role as a Limited Partner (LP) in the WUTIF Capital (Western Universities Technology Innovation Fund) and Managing Partner in Leading Impact Capital further solidifies his standing in the North American investment community.

“Shun brings a unique combination of operator resilience and investor insight,” said Jessica Dai, co-founder of Xlens.ca . “His background as an elite ultra-marathon runner translates directly into his business philosophy—he understands that building a unicorn is an endurance sport, not a sprint.”

Through US CAN STARTUP, Ma continues to oversee a diverse portfolio of over 10 companies, including OptHealth.ai, an AI-powered ophthalmic health solution entering the retail market.

About US CAN STARTUP US CAN STARTUP is a premier venture incubation platform dedicated to bridging global strategic resources with North American deep tech opportunities. Founded by Shun Ma, the firm empowers founders in AI, Biotech, and Fintech sectors to accelerate growth through cross-border market access and operational expertise.

Media Contact: 

Isadora Euzebio
443-448-2135
Email: [email protected] 
Website: www.uscanstartup.com

SOURCE US CAN STARTUP

First of its kind AI model transforms a single photo into interactive, conversational video 

SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 23, 2025 — New frontier AI research and product lab, Lemon Slice, is building the future of interactive video by developing foundational technology that other companies integrate into their products. Today, the company launched Lemon Slice-2: the first real-time AI avatar model that turns any image into a live, conversational video call. No training data. No style limitations. Just one photo and the product creates an instant interactive experience with any character you can imagine. 

Existing avatar tools require users to upload videos, train custom models, or work only with photorealistic faces. Lemon Slice-2 is zero-shot: upload a single image—a corporate headshot, a beloved cartoon animal, a Renaissance painting—and start a real-time video conversation immediately. 

Lemon Slice-2 is launching today in two forms: an API for developers building interactive avatars into products, and an embeddable widget that lets merchants add a ‘video chat bubble’ to any website with a single line of code.The widget is like an AI support agent that users can see and talk to that captures attention, boosts conversions, and increases customer satisfaction.

“This is the first time since ChatGPT’s initial launch when I tried a product and thought ‘ah, so this is how people will talk to computers in the future,'” said Jared Friedman, Y Combinator Partner and Managing Director. 

Unlimited Use Cases from eCommerce & Sales Assistants, to Children’s Education to Healthcare and Coaching

The in-house developed, proprietary diffusion transformer video model, Lemon Slice-2, enables first-of-its-kind interactive, visual experiences that have not been possible until now. Educational tools for children become far more compelling and interactive when their favorite cartoon character is helping them study for an upcoming test. With Lemon Slice, a cute alien teaches math lessons, administers quizzes, and answers follow-up questions. Online shopping becomes more engaging when a virtual stylist can navigate the full site and model outfits or conversationally answer return policy questions. And rather than sitting in a doctor’s waiting room filling out forms, a virtual assistant conversationally guides patients through intake or answers preliminary questions about a medical procedure.

Lemon Slice’s Technical Breakthrough 

Lemon Slice 2 is built on a proprietary large-scale video diffusion transformer, similar in class to OpenAI’s Sora and Google’s Veo3 – but specialized for talking humans and optimized for real-time performance. The Lemon Slice-2 model is something developers can use to turn any voice agent or chatbot into an interactive video call.

Lemon Slice is the first to ship production ready real-time interactive video, not just a technology demo. Unlike existing avatar tools, Lemon Slice-2 generates every pixel from scratch, enabling full-emotion facial animation, hand gestures, and expressive whole-body movements. Only a few other labs have tech demos of real-time AI video, but Lemon Slice is the only company that has shipped a usable API or product.

“The primary complaint about AI avatars is that they lack realism and detract value. Our avatar models are charismatic and fun to interact with,” said Lina Colucci, Co-Founder and CEO of Lemon Slice. “In the future, all video will be interactive and personalized to whoever is watching. We’re building the technology that makes that possible.” 

Critical Guardrails to Keep Privacy and Safety at the Forefront

Lemon Slice has implemented significant guardrails to prevent unauthorized face and voice cloning, including consent attestation requirements and LLM-based content moderation. The widget clearly indicates to users they are chatting with an AI character. Terms & Conditions require that people only use photos and voices they have consent for. Users will be banned if they do otherwise. 

An Impressive Founding Team

The company has raised $10.5 million in seed funding from Matrix Partners, Y Combinator, Arash Ferdowsi (CTO Dropbox), Emmett Shear (CEO Twitch), and EDM-pop duo, The Chainsmokers, to accelerate development. Lemon Slice’s nimble team is led by co-founders Lina Colucci, Sidney Primas, and Andrew Weitz—PhDs who are also lifelong creators. Colucci is a ballerina, musician and vlogger, while Primas and Weitz grew up making home videos in the early days of YouTube. All three hold degrees from institutions including MIT, Harvard, Stanford, and Duke, and bring deep AI expertise—but it’s their shared love of visual storytelling that drives the company’s vision.

“People connect with faces, not text boxes,” said Ilya Sukhar, Matrix General Partner. “Lemon Slice is building charismatic, interactive avatars that give every chatbot a face. It’s the natural evolution of conversational AI.”

About Lemon Slice

Lemon Slice is a frontier AI research and product lab building the future of interactive video. The company believes all video will eventually be interactive—generated on the fly and personalized to whoever is watching. Lemon Slice is building both the core video foundation model technology and the platform layer to enable this new medium. Backed by $10.5 million in seed funding, the team of eight includes talent from MIT, Harvard, Stanford, CMU, and Duke with deep expertise in AI and a shared passion for visual storytelling. To learn more, visit lemonslice.com.

Press Contact:
Mary Devincenzi
[email protected]
408-761-4285

SOURCE Lemon Slice

CHICAGO, Dec. 23, 2025 — Architect Financial Technologies Inc. (“Architect” or “the Company”) today announced the completion of a $35 million strategic Series A investment round. The funding will accelerate the growth of AX, the financial industry’s first centralized exchange for perpetual futures on traditional asset classes, launched by the Company last month. Operated by Architect’s Bermuda-based affiliate Architect Bermuda Ltd., AX offers institutional clients novel perpetual contracts on foreign currencies, interest rates, single stocks, stock indexes, metals, and other commodities, with the security of transacting under the comprehensive regulatory regime of the Bermuda Monetary Authority.

Architect’s Series A round was anchored by Miami International Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: MIAX) and Tioga Capital, with participation from a consortium of preeminent global financial services companies including Galaxy Ventures (Nasdaq/TSX: GLXY), ARK Invest, VanEck, Trumid, Geneva Trading, and other trading firms. The Company also received substantial renewed support from its earlier investors Coinbase Ventures (Nasdaq: COIN), Strobe Ventures, CMT Digital, and Third Kind Venture Capital. Broadhaven served as advisor to the transaction. Architect previously completed a $5 million pre-seed round upon its establishment in 2023 and a $12 million seed round in 2024.

Brett Harrison, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Architect, commented on the news, “Our team is excited to initiate AX’s next critical phase of growth with the support of this strong group of strategic partners. We are grateful for their expertise and guidance as we advance toward the shared goal of catalyzing a new era in global derivatives trading.”

AX is currently available to institutions — including hedge funds, market makers, family offices, asset managers, insurance and reinsurance companies, and lenders — in eligible jurisdictions. To learn more about AX and onboard to the exchange, visit https://architect.exchange or contact [email protected]. Sophisticated individual traders interested in trading on AX can access a waitlist at https://architect.exchange.

About Architect

Architect Financial Technologies Inc., through its subsidiaries, provides institutional trading technology, US electronic brokerage services, and a global perpetual futures exchange. Architect Securities LLC is a FINRA-registered Introducing Broker-Dealer for SEC-regulated securities and security derivatives. Architect Financial Derivatives LLC is an NFA-registered Independent Introducing Broker for CFTC-regulated derivatives. Architect Bermuda Ltd. is regulated under the Bermuda Monetary Authority and operates AX, a multi-asset perpetual futures exchange for institutional customers.

To learn more, please visit https://architect.exchange and https://architect.co.

This communication is for informational purposes only, and does not constitute a recommendation, investment, or legal advice. Readers should consult their investment, fiduciary, and/or legal advisors for guidance in making investment or business decisions.

SOURCE Architect Financial Technologies Inc

The Baking Social introduces a modern take on the baking experience. From seasonal workshops to Saturday morning cinnamon roll sessions, the brand is built to make baking fun, social, and accessible. It’s not about perfect technique or culinary precision; it’s about joy, creativity, and the simple satisfaction of making something from scratch. The Baking Social will launch its first flagship studio in early 2026 in Atlanta, with multi-city expansion planned shortly thereafter.

The concept reflects the broader vision behind Founders Row, which was launched by serial entrepreneur Jamie Weeks this past fall after decades of operating and scaling multi-unit consumer brands. Weeks, formerly the largest Orangetheory Fitness franchisee and the founder of Sweathouz (SWTHZ), created Founders Row to fill a gap he saw repeatedly in the early-stage landscape. Some founders have great ideas and incredible creative instincts, but lack the operational structure, financial discipline, and brand architecture required to grow.

Founders Row sits directly in that gap: part venture studio, part early-stage investment firm, built to incubate concepts internally while also supporting emerging founders who need more than capital. Weeks describes Founders Row as “a venture studio built as an alternative to traditional private equity,” designed to support the next generation of experiential brands from concept through execution.

The traction has been immediate. In only four months, Founders Row has received a surge of inbound interest from founders seeking guidance and partnership. The Baking Social becomes the firm’s second investment, and Weeks anticipates completing five additional investments in the next sixty days, a pace that underscores both market demand and the clarity of the Founders Row thesis.

“I knew there was an opportunity to be a true partner to early-stage founders,” said Weeks. “Capital is everywhere. What’s missing is support, a real operational partnership from people who know how to build. Founders need someone who will be in the trenches with them. That’s the role Founders Row was created to play.”

Quillin brings a creative reputation and consumer following through Sugar Shane’s, which now operates four locations across Atlanta. His flavor sensibility, brand instinct, and ability to create products people talk about made him a natural partner for Founders Row. Sugar Shane’s changes its menu weekly while pairing each menu with a theme. The themes consist of seasonal, pop culture, and nostalgic items and events.

“Working with Jamie and Founders Row lets us build this concept the right way from day 1,” said Quillin. “The Baking Social is something people have been asking for without having the words for it, an experience that’s fun, hands-on, and memorable. We are looking forward to giving others the opportunity to have fun and learn to bake in a curated environment. With Founders Row, we have the platform and the operational muscle to scale it.”

The Baking Social becomes one of several concepts now in active development under the Founders Row umbrella, each designed to meet the evolving needs of consumers and reshape categories where demand is high but innovation has stalled. With a pipeline of incubated brands and a rapidly growing roster of founder partnerships, Founders Row is positioning itself as a leading creator and accelerator of experiential concepts built for the next generation.

About Founders Row
Founded by entrepreneur and operator Jamie Weeks, Founders Row is a venture studio and platform partner built for founder-led consumer businesses. The firm partners with proven operators and early-stage concepts to help them scale thoughtfully without sacrificing control, culture, or long-term value. Founders Row operates through two complementary models: launching and incubating new brands from the ground up, and partnering with existing businesses to provide platform-level support across strategy, operations, capital planning, and growth. The firm is known for founder-first structures that preserve ownership while enabling disciplined expansion and clear paths to liquidity. Headquartered in Atlanta, Founders Row is a founder-first alternative to traditional private equity, backing entrepreneurs with institutional support while allowing them to retain control and long-term upside. For more information, visit foundersrow.co.

About Sugar Shane’s Bake Shop and The Baking Social
Sugar Shane’s has released more than 500 unique items over the past five years. A handful of the original recipes created in Shane Quillin’s home kitchen in 2020 are still featured on the rotating menu today. What began as a cookie-only concept has since expanded into brownies, blondies, cakes, breads, and other specialty desserts. The Baking Social will offer guests the opportunity to learn and bake these award-winning recipes in a hands-on class setting. In addition to classes, The Baking Social will feature seasonal grab-and-go items and will be open to the public without requiring a booking. The Baking Social will continue to innovate, developing new recipes created exclusively for the concept. Some offerings will be entirely new, never before released under the Sugar Shane’s brand, and available both through classes and as grab-and-go items. Sugar Shane’s is excited to invite longtime fans and new customers alike to bake, shop, and experience the brand in a completely new way at The Baking Social.

Media Contact:

Juliana Martins
Eleven11 Media Relations
[email protected]

SOURCE Founders Row

BriefCatch, the essential legal writing AI platform, secures $6 million in Series A financing led by Full In to accelerate advanced platform development and expand its crucial presence across the legal profession.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 22, 2025 — BriefCatch, a legal-writing platform used by law firms and courts, announced it has raised $6 million in Series A financing, representing a significant upround. The round was led by Full In, a software-focused growth equity firm where Elodie Dupuy serves as Founder and Managing Partner.

The investment will support the continued development of BriefCatch’s legal writing platform and help advance the company’s long-term vision of a more comprehensive, integrated set of AI-assisted writing tools for legal professionals. The funding comes amid rapid change in the market as law firms digitize at an accelerated pace and adopt generative AI while managing heightened concerns about accuracy, accountability, and data security.

Founded by legal-writing specialist, Ross Guberman, BriefCatch delivers expert-guided editing and writing feedback directly within lawyers’ drafting workflows. Built on established legal-writing principles, the platform also offers optional, security-conscious AI features designed to help legal professionals sharpen arguments, improve clarity, and maintain full control over their work. Lawyers and firms interested in learning how BriefCatch fits into their drafting workflows can find additional information at www.briefcatch.com.

“The market is undergoing a lot of change—law firms are digitizing at a rate they hadn’t been before,” said Dupuy. “AI is driving much of that change, but it also comes with fear. We believe customers will see the value in BriefCatch in accelerating the learning and quality of associates’ work, and as a check and balance on generative AI content that will inevitably be part of the future.”

Dupuy added that BriefCatch’s deep domain focus differentiates it from more generalized legal AI tools.

“We’ve always preferred deep subject expertise and focused product visions,” Dupuy said. “That’s usually the path to real value for customers and customers are the most critical stakeholders to keep happy.”

BriefCatch has demonstrated exceptional market traction, with a 99% customer retention rate, 100% gross retention among law firms and courts, and 126% net revenue retention, reflecting expanded adoption and long-term value for users.

As law firms increasingly look to incorporate AI into their workflows, many are seeking tools that enhance efficiency while preserving the profession’s longstanding standards for accuracy, style, and disciplined legal prose.

“The company already has a lot of momentum, and has achieved it with modest means,” Dupuy said. “Our capital and our pool of exceptional operators means we can help unlock much of the latent demand we see for this product.”

With the Series A funding, BriefCatch plans to:

• Accelerate product development, including more advanced AI-assisted writing capabilities tailored to legal workflows
• Expand its team and market presence, supporting broader adoption across law firms and legal organizations
• Deepen its commitment to security, accuracy, and user control, ensuring lawyers retain oversight and responsibility for final work product

“We’re thrilled about the next phase of our AI journey: marrying my passion for first-rate legal writing with a custom AI system that delivers real, career-advancing wins for our customers,” Guberman added. “I’m deeply grateful to our team and to our incredibly loyal customers—some of the most respected firms and courts in the world—who have helped us build one of the strongest net revenue retention profiles in legal tech.”

Media Contact: Kate Leismer, [email protected]

Founded by bestselling author and legal-writing authority Ross Guberman, BriefCatch delivers expert-informed editing technology trusted by thousands of law firms, courts, agencies, and legal professionals. Integrating directly into Microsoft Word, BriefCatch provides instant, practical guidance to improve the clarity, precision, and persuasive impact of legal writing.

SOURCE BriefCatch

Andreessen Horowitz leads the funding round which will accelerate the company’s leading
telehealth marketplace

AUSTIN, Texas, Dec. 22, 2025 — Truemed, the leading HSA/FSA marketplace for top preventive health products, today announced a $34 million Series A funding round led by Andreessen Horowitz, with participation from Bessemer Venture Partners, Long Journey Ventures, BoxGroup, and Trust Ventures.

Truemed’s leading payments technology makes it simple for qualified individuals to use Health Savings Account (HSA) and Flexible Spending Account (FSA) funds for evidence-based lifestyle interventions. Today, they work with thousands of products from Peloton, Eight Sleep, Nike Strength, and 24 Hour Fitness. The majority of Truemed users seek support for early heart disease, mental health, chronic pain, and metabolic health conditions.

The company has experienced 3x year-over-year revenue growth for the past two years and will use the new capital to continue building out its industry-leading products and portfolio, and to grow consumer awareness about access to lifestyle interventions through HSAs and FSAs.

“HSAs and FSAs are one of the most effective tools available for addressing chronic illness and obesity, and should soon be as ubiquitous as a 401k,” said Justin Mares, founder and CEO of Truemed. “Combining the world’s top portfolio of preventive products with a tech solution for the HSA/FSA process will help us go beyond a focus on sick care to making preventive lifestyle interventions an everyday approach.”

“Truemed is transforming how Americans engage with their health by turning financial tools like HSAs and FSAs into vehicles for everyday health improvement,” said Julie Yoo, General Partner at Andreessen Horowitz.

Daisy Wolf, a Partner at Andreessen, added, “by aligning consumer incentives with evidence-based lifestyle interventions, Truemed is helping shift our healthcare system from reactive to proactive.”

Truemed is a leader in HSA/FSA compliance, determining eligibility through a process tailored to facilitate letters of medical necessity led by clinicians experienced in functional medicine.

About Truemed

Truemed is the leading HSA/FSA marketplace for top preventive health products. Truemed enables people with qualifying medical conditions to pay for evidence-based lifestyle interventions with HSA/FSA funds. They work with thousands of merchants and services, ranging from Peloton to Eight Sleep to Nike Strength to 24 Hour Fitness. Truemed believes that these lifestyle interventions – from exercise to diet to sleep – are the easiest way to solve our chronic disease crisis. Learn more at www.truemed.com.

SOURCE Truemed

Data reveals dramatic improvements in financial and operational readiness for licensed childcare providers.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 22, 2025 — The Association of Women’s Business Centers (AWBC), in partnership with Stearns Bank, today announced early results from the new WBC Childcare Accelerator Award Program, revealing strong improvements in financial management, business planning, and operational readiness among licensed childcare providers across the first cohort. The program, funded by Stearns Bank’s $875,000 contribution, launched in Summer 2025 through seven Women’s Business Center hubs and is already demonstrating how targeted business support can strengthen childcare infrastructure nationwide.

Initial impact data from a sample set of 28 participants shows that 67 percent adopted new financial tracking tools or systems to better manage their business finances after completing the Accelerator. The proportion of participants with a written business plan increased from 42 percent to 85 percent, with nearly half developing or adopting a new plan during the program. Providers also reported major improvements in operational budgeting, with the share using a monthly operating budget rising from 34 percent to 84 percent and half establishing a new budgeting process. Despite these gains, the majority of participants, 84 percent, expect to need additional funding soon to support program growth, facility upgrades, or new equipment, underscoring the continued need for investment in childcare businesses nationally.

“These early results confirm what our network has long recognized: when childcare providers have access to tailored training, trusted advisors, and flexible capital, their businesses strengthen quickly and meaningfully,” said Corinne Goble, CEO of AWBC. “Stearns Bank’s investment is helping address one of the most critical gaps in the childcare ecosystem, and we’re already seeing the ripple effect across communities.” Kelly Skalicky, CEO of Stearns Bank, added, “At Stearns Bank, we understand the vital role childcare providers—of all sizes—play in strengthening and uplifting their local communities through essential family care services. We’re proud to be working alongside the AWBC to provide meaningful resources for childcare providers serving local communities across the U.S.”

Participants also shared powerful reflections on their experiences in the program. One provider noted, “The program helped me turn my small home daycare into a more organized and confident business. I learned how to manage my finances better, plan for growth, and connect with other childcare providers who inspire me every day.”

The Childcare Accelerator Program is being delivered through the Center for Rural Affairs Women’s Business Center in Nebraska; the Center for Women’s Entrepreneurship at Chatham University in Pennsylvania; El Pájaro Women’s Business Center in California; the National Association for Family Child Care in Washington, D.C.; the North Dakota Women’s Business Center – East; Women’s Economic Ventures in California; and WomenVenture in Minnesota. Each hub provides hands-on training, personalized technical assistance, and financial guidance to help local childcare providers strengthen their businesses and expand access to high-quality childcare in their communities.

The program comes at a critical moment for the childcare sector, which continues to face staffing shortages, rising costs, thin operating margins, and limited access to capital, all of which constrain providers’ ability to meet growing demand. The Accelerator’s early impact demonstrates how targeted resources and structured business support can improve long-term sustainability and strengthen the childcare backbone that working families rely on. Participants will continue receiving technical assistance through their local Women’s Business Centers and will be reassessed in six months to evaluate progress toward the program’s ultimate goal of expanding access to high-quality childcare in their communities.

About the Association of Women’s Business Centers (AWBC)
The Association of Women’s Business Centers (AWBC) is the leading national voice and resource for igniting the economic power of women’s entrepreneurship. AWBC advocates for and supports a network of over 150 Women’s Business Centers (WBCs) across the United States. These centers provide entrepreneurs with free coaching, networking opportunities, small business resources, training, and more. AWBC’s mission is to ensure that small business owners have the tools and support they need to succeed in business and contribute to the broader economy.

In partnership with Verizon, TikTok, and other corporate allies, AWBC expands access to digital readiness and upskilling programs, as well as national initiatives including HOPE2Women.org, VeteranStartup.org, and Biz2Grow.org.

About Stearns Bank
Stearns Bank National Association is a majority women-owned and governed financial services institution committed to empowering entrepreneurs, small businesses, and local communities to reach their full financial potential. As a privately held, employee-owned institution, Stearns Bank offers a wide array of national products and services and is regularly recognized as one of the nation’s highest-performing banks and “Best Banks to Work For” by American Banker. Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender. Learn more at www.StearnsBank.com.

Media Contact:
Laura Henson
HVM Communications
917-539-7812
[email protected]

SOURCE The Association of Women’s Business Centers (AWBC)

Investment to progress RheumaGen’s celiac disease program through early development as a potential transformational gene therapy

AURORA, Colo., Dec. 22, 2025 — RheumaGen, Inc., a cell and gene therapy company engineering a new class of therapeutics to cure common autoimmune diseases, today announced that Beyond Celiac Investments (BCI), the venture philanthropy program of Beyond Celiac, has made a Series A-1 preferred stock investment in RheumaGen to advance RheumaGen’s celiac disease program through early development to demonstrate preclinical proof of concept in celiac disease.

“We are incredibly excited about the work RheumaGen is doing in rheumatoid arthritis and the potential to translate that progress and its innovative HLA gene-editing platform to celiac disease,” said Jordan Dubow, M.D., leader of the BCI Investment Committee and Chief Medical Officer at Beyond Celiac. “BCI has a deep due diligence process, and RheumaGen emerged as an outstanding example of the type of company we are looking to support.”

The RheumaGen opportunity was identified through BCI’s inaugural Catalyst Program, which screens for investments in early-stage candidates with the potential for transformational efficacy in celiac disease. Potential candidates from other companies have also emerged from this process which may result in future investments.

“We are grateful to Beyond Celiac Investments for their generous support and conviction in RheumaGen’s novel drug-development approach and experienced team,” said Richard Freed, CEO & Co-Founder of RheumaGen. “Our HLA gene-editing platform has the potential to improve the lives of millions of patients by blocking autoimmune diseases at their source without broad immunosuppression. We are excited about generating proof of concept for patients with celiac disease, who have remained without a curative treatment for far too long.”

BCI has surpassed its first-year fundraising goal and is moving forward with its first investments in companies developing potential treatments for celiac disease. Through its Catalyst Program, BCI will support efforts that show strong potential to advance into clinical trials and ultimately help deliver the first treatments and a cure for celiac disease.

About RheumaGen, Inc.

RheumaGen is a private biotechnology company engineering a new class of therapeutics to cure common autoimmune diseases. RheumaGen focuses on editing the human leukocyte antigen (HLA), or “immune gene,” to develop one-time, curative cell and gene therapies. RheumaGen is headquartered in Aurora, Colorado, and partners with the ClinImmune Center for Clinical Immunology at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus for clinical development and manufacturing. For more information, please visit rheumagen.com or follow the Company on LinkedIn.

About Beyond Celiac Investments

BCI operates as the venture philanthropy arm of Beyond Celiac, the nonprofit organization leading the effort to accelerate treatments and a cure for celiac disease. For additional information or to learn more about BCI, visit https://www.beyondceliac.org/beyond-celiac-investments/

SOURCE RheumaGen, Inc.

Investment to progress RheumaGen’s celiac disease program through early development as a potential transformational gene therapy

PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 22, 2025 — Beyond Celiac Investments (BCI), the venture philanthropy program of Beyond Celiac, has made a Series A-1 preferred stock investment in RheumaGen, a cell and gene therapy company focused on editing the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) to develop one-time, curative cell and gene therapies for common autoimmune diseases. The investment will be used to advance their celiac disease program through early development to demonstrate preclinical proof of concept in celiac disease.

“We are incredibly excited about the work RheumaGen is doing in rheumatoid arthritis and the potential to translate that progress and its innovative HLA gene-editing platform to celiac disease,” said Jordan Dubow, M.D., leader of the BCI Investment Committee and Chief Medical Officer at Beyond Celiac. “BCI has a deep due diligence process, and RheumaGen emerged as an outstanding example of the type of company we are looking to support.”

The RheumaGen opportunity was identified through BCI’s inaugural Catalyst Program, which screens for investments in early-stage candidates with the potential for transformational efficacy in celiac disease. Potential candidates from other companies have also emerged from this process which may result in future investments.

“We are grateful to Beyond Celiac Investments for their generous support and conviction in RheumaGen’s novel drug-development approach and experienced team,” said Richard Freed, CEO & Co-Founder of RheumaGen. “Our HLA gene-editing platform has the potential to improve the lives of millions of patients by blocking autoimmune diseases at their source without broad immunosuppression. We are excited about generating proof of concept for patients with celiac disease, who have remained without a curative treatment for far too long.”

BCI has surpassed its first-year fundraising goal and is moving forward with its first investments in companies developing potential treatments for celiac disease. Through its Catalyst Program, BCI will support efforts that show strong potential to advance into clinical trials and ultimately help deliver the first treatments and a cure for celiac disease.

About Beyond Celiac Investments:
BCI operates as the venture philanthropy arm of Beyond Celiac, the nonprofit organization leading the effort to accelerate treatments and a cure for celiac disease. For additional information or to learn more about BCI, visit https://www.beyondceliac.org/beyond-celiac-investments/.

About RheumaGen, Inc.:
RheumaGen is a private biotechnology company engineering a new class of therapeutics to cure common autoimmune diseases. RheumaGen focuses on editing the human leukocyte antigen (HLA), or “immune gene,” to develop one-time, curative cell and gene therapies. RheumaGen is headquartered in Aurora, Colorado, and partners with the ClinImmune Center for Clinical Immunology at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus for clinical development and manufacturing. For more information, please visit rheumagen.com or follow the Company on LinkedIn.

SOURCE Beyond Celiac