Series A will focus on further development of the CRISPR Analytics Platform and commercial expansion.
Biotechnology start-up CRISPR QC now has the necessary financial backing to stay in stride with the revolutionary technology impacting genetic engineering and molecular biology—known as CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats). Xcellerant Ventures, a leader in healthcare venture capital made a significant commitment to the biotech startup via a Series A round.
CRISP is a method that precisely modifies genes within organisms that has the potential to unleash enormous breakthroughs in medicine and science. The CRISPR system is derived from the natural defense mechanisms of bacteria and archaea.
The San Diego, California based startup is being presented with an enormous opportunity as a result of new crops and therapies coming to market—which require more interrogative data that CRISPR QC provides. The CRISPR Analytics Platform, powered by the CRISPR-Chip, analyzes and optimizes aspects of CRISPR editing before cell work, enabling researchers to save valuable time, money, and resources.
“As the FDA just approved the first CRISPR therapy, its proven clinical utility will power the field’s growth. However, the brute-force methods to develop this therapy are expensive and cost prohibitive, and safety concerns regarding these therapies linger on. CRISPR QC’s Analytics Platform is needed now more than ever,” says Ross Bundy, co-founder of CRISPR QC.
Bundy brings his entrepreneurial leadership to CRISPR QC, having previously been co-founder of Cardea Bio and CEO and Co-Founder of Nanomedical Diagnostics. Dr. Kiana Aran joined Bundy as co-founder and board member. She pioneered combining CRISPR with modern electronics and invented the CRISPR-Chip™. She is an Associate Professor of Medical Diagnostics and Therapeutics at Keck Graduate Institute.
Phoenix, Arizona-based Xcellerant Ventures focuses on early stage, pre-seed and seed investing within the health and med tech sectors of the Arizona ecosystem and the greater Southwest footprint. CRISPR QC’s growing staff in Arizona gained the firm’s attention and their commitment to support further development of the CRISPR Analytics Platform and necessary facilities.
“The infrastructure, talent pool, and resources available in Arizona serves as a strong launchpad for CRISPR QC’s growth, Chris Yoo, a managing director at Xcellerant says.
