IndieBio

Today, I’m excited to share that LEADOPTIK has received FDA 510(k) clearance for our Last Inch Assessment™ (LIA) system for lung biopsy procedures. This milestone reflects years of work focused on rethinking how clinicians visualize tissue during minimally invasive procedures and on addressing one of the most critical unmet needs in lung cancer diagnostics. I’m incredibly proud of what our team has built and of the progress we are now bringing into clinical use. None of this would have been possible without the dedication and resilience of the LEADOPTIK team, the trust and support of our investors, and the guidance of our advisors and mentors, who helped shape both our technology and our journey as a company. And finally, I want to thank my wife for her patience, understanding, and unwavering support during the many weekends, holidays, and personal moments sacrificed along this journey. This achievement is as much hers as it is mine. We’re excited to take the next step toward improving confidence and accuracy at the point of lung biopsy and ultimately helping clinicians deliver better outcomes for patients. More details: https://lnkd.in/gVXgn-F2 #positiveimpact #FDA #startup

As global demand for copper surges, driven by data centers, electric vehicles, and electrification, the world could face a major copper shortage as early as 2040, with demand potentially outstripping supply by 25%. That’s why SOSV portfolio company and IndieBio startup development graduate Transition Metal Solutions is taking a radically different approach by adding low-cost, mostly inorganic compounds already common in mining environments, they nudge these ecosystems into a higher-functioning state. 📈 Results so far: - Lab tests boosted copper recovery from ~60% to up to 90% - In real-world mines, where recovery is typically 30–60%, they believe yields can consistently reach 50–70%+ The company recently raised a $6M Seed round led by Transition VC, with participation from Astor Asset Management LLC, Climate Capital, Dolby Family Ventures, Essential Capital, Juniper VC, Kayak Ventures, New Climate Ventures, Possible Ventures, SOSV, and Understorey fueling third-party validation and large-scale demo heaps. 💪 Read more in TechCrunch: https://lnkd.in/g8YBZgzg

📢 Investors, mark your calendars! 🗓️ SOSV’s IndieBio San Francisco VC–Founder Meetings run from January 26–29, with our virtual Demo Day on Friday, January 30, 2026. Due to overwhelming demand for 1:1 meetings last year, we’re encouraging you to connect with founders early this year. Whether you’re in the SF Bay Area (in-person meetings + daily cocktail hours 🍸) or tuning in virtually, you’ll get access to pitch videos, decks, and founder meeting requests. Here's a preview of what you'll see on stage 🧬 Augment Biologics – programs glycosylation with AI (for therapeutics) 🔋 California Perovskite Technology Inc. (CPTI) – makes indoor “solar” charging possible with perovskites 💡 FLOUV INC – pasteurizes liquids with light and geometry 🌱 Gilly Bio – better animal feed from upcycled ag byproducts 🩺 Hylvy – treats chronic pelvic pain with patented RTM device 🌾 Lambda agri– improves yield by redshifting UV light in greenhouses 🤖 Logos AI – mathematical auto-formalizing to accelerate super-intelligence ⚗️ Metabolize – post-GLP-1 weight maintenance with novel supplements 🧪 Post-translational Medicines – hunts for proteoform specific drugs 🌊 ReefStarter, Inc – patented offshore coastal protection ☁️ Supercool Earth – expands cloud seeding operating windows by 3˚C 🦠 Inixi Bio – building tumor initiation inhibitors for patients with high cancer risk—like statins for cancer Link to register in the comments below. Accredited investors only. #deeptech #backedbySOSV #demoday

Probably missed by many in the year-end run up, Cayuga Biotech has joined a rapidly expanding clinical-stage cohort emerging from SOSV’s IndieBio New York’s portfolio. This growing pipeline of asset-rich NY-based therapeutic companies is truly coming of age with several, including Moonlight Therapeutics and Cell BioEngines, Inc, already securing FDA IND approvals this year to begin clinical trials. What’s exciting is that this isn’t an isolated story. New York’s biotech and life sciences ecosystem is expanding rapidly: 📊 The city’s life sciences sector attracted an estimated $2.4B in venture capital in 2024, reflecting growing investor confidence and startup activity. 📊 Public initiatives like LifeSci NYC a $1B+ program to create 40,000 jobs and establish the city as a global life sciences hub are fueling talent, infrastructure, and company growth. 📊 Over the past decade, employment in the life sciences has grown nearly 60%, driven by a quadrupling of company launches since 2019.  The journey from first-check to first-in-human trials like those we’re now seeing was enabled by SOSV’s dedicated therapeutics seed track, anchored by Partnership for New York City, and available to startups participating in the IndieBio NY. This targeted early capital has not only supported local founders. it has drawn startups like Cayuga Biotech and Cell BioEngines, Inc to relocate to New York to tap into the capital, mentorship, and fundraising opportunities the city offers. Proud of the founders and investors who are turning New York into a credible therapeutic development hub. And proud to be doing our bit, one drug at a time.

🚀 SOSV's IndieBio is bringing together 12 exciting startups for a week of curated VC-Founder meetings in San Francisco (Jan 26-29), followed by a global virtual Demo Day on January 30, 2026. What to expect: • 1:1 VC-Founder meetings (Jan 26–29, San Francisco) • Daily networking & cocktails, 5–6 PM PT • Virtual Demo Day (Jan 30) with pitch decks, company highlights and founder access Whether you join us in San Francisco or online, this is your front-row seat to see what's next in deep tech! Note: This event is limited to accredited investors only Link to register in the comments below. 👇 cc: Po Bronson, Mohan Iyer, Pae W, Westley Dang, Catherine Seo, Parikshit Sharma, Alex Kopelyan, Philipp N. Sander, PhD, Sierra Brooks

We’re thrilled to share that our portfolio company Cellens Inc has raised a $6.5M seed round to advance its AI-driven mechanobiology platform for non-invasive bladder cancer diagnostics. 🧪👩🔬. Bladder cancer affects ~800,000 patients in the US, many of whom undergo invasive and expensive cystoscopies 2–4x year only to get negative test resutls. ➡️ Cellens Inc is pioneering a new class of diagnostics based on the 𝐩𝐡𝐲𝐬𝐢𝐜𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐫. They've discovered that cancer cells feel different than healthy cells, so rather than relying on traditional molecular markers, Cellens’ uses a simple urine test to measure biophysical signatures. This enables urologists to confidently rule out patients without recurrence, reducing unnecessary procedures, improving workflow efficiency, and ultimately lowering healthcare costs. Early clinical data shows: 💯 Detected 100% of recurrence cases 📈 AUC of 88% The round was led by SOSV with participation from Bruker, Labcorp, Kolon USA, Blackwood Healthcare Breakthroughs, Tufts University, CANCER FUND Impact Investments™, TiE Boston Angels, among others. 📰 Read more about cofounder/CEO Phuong Jean Pham and the company: Endpoints News feature: https://lnkd.in/ef_H7DPA Press release: https://lnkd.in/eq2_yFH3

Closing out an unforgettable 2025, I’m incredibly proud to share that Cellens Inc has raised $6.5M to advance our AI-driven mechanobiology platform for non-invasive bladder cancer diagnostics. This milestone is grounded in early clinical data showing our urine-based test detected 100% of recurrence cases, with an AUC of 88%—highlighting what’s possible when we look beyond molecular markers and instead measure the physics of cancer. Bladder cancer patients today endure repeated invasive cystoscopies, the majority of which are negative. We believe accurate, non-invasive surveillance can meaningfully improve the patient quality-of-care while reducing invasive procedures and healthcare costs. I’ll be candid: raising an early-stage cancer diagnostics company in this market takes the whole village. Capital is cautious and timelines are long, especially when you’re building something that is truly differentiated. But it is doable! I’m deeply grateful to our lead investor SOSV, along with Labcorp Venture Fund, Blackwood Healthcare Breakthroughs, Kolon Industries, Inc, Tufts University, BrightEdge - American Cancer Society, CANCER FUND Impact Investments™, and TiE Boston Angels, as well as strategic R&D partner Bruker, for believing in our mission. Honored to work with a dream Board Mohan Iyer, Deborah Zajac, Jesse Salk and Lena Chaihorsky whose perspective and conviction helped us navigate both the science and the fundraising in a challenging market. Most importantly, thank you to the clinicians and patients who made this work possible. This is just the beginning! Please reach out if you'd like to collaborate! As we head into the holidays, I’m filled with gratitude—and excitement for what’s ahead. I’ll be at JPM 2026 and am currently booking meetings—would love to connect in the new year. Thank you Jared Whitlock and Endpoints News for taking the time to cover this milestone. 📰 Read the exclusive here: https://lnkd.in/ea8q7T3x 📰 Read the company's press release here: https://lnkd.in/eHhdDaNc

As the healthcare industry gathers in SF for #JPM2026 on January 12th - 15th, SOSV is kicking off the year by convening founders, investors, and operators shaping the next gen of biotech and health innovation. Check out our events: 🧬 𝐁𝐢𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐱𝐞𝐫 𝘚𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘺 𝘑𝘢𝘯𝘶𝘢𝘳𝘺 11𝘵𝘩, 4𝘱𝘮 - 7𝘱𝘮 𝘗𝘛 Join our dynamic networking event bringing together fellow founders, investors, researchers, and industry leaders in biotech, techbio, and life sciences for candid convos and feature rapid-fire pitch presentations BIOMAKERS and Ayuvant. ➡️ Request to join: https://luma.com/z7vkotyk 👩🔬 𝐖𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧'𝐬 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐂𝐄𝐎 𝐌𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐮𝐩 𝘛𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘥𝘢𝘺, 𝘑𝘢𝘯𝘶𝘢𝘳𝘺 13𝘵𝘩, 6𝘱𝘮 - 8.30 𝘱𝘮 𝘗𝘛 Cohosted with Lady Technologies' CEO Kristina Cahojova, this private evening brings together 20 of the most influential leaders in women’s health for candid, off-the-record convo over wine. No stage, no panels, no audience - just meaningful dialogue among peers who are building and scaling companies. ➡️ Request to join: https://luma.com/nkym3k18

Proud to support our HAX and SOSV portfolio founder Kristina Cahojova - check out the women's health meetup she is putting together for JPM! Register now: https://lnkd.in/g6-faezG

We are so back!!!!! Register for the Biomixer @JPM2026 — a dynamic evening of networking, collaboration, and inspiration! With a successful edition in 2025 we are back with one of the most exciting satellite events of the JPM Healthcare Conference 2026 in San Francisco. If you have interest in life-sciences, come and connect with top entrepreneurs, founders, and industry leaders. 📅 When: Sunday, January 11th | 4:00 PM 📍 Where: IndieBio HQ, Dogpatch, San Francisco. 🔗 RSVP here: https://luma.com/z7vkotyk 🌟 If you are a founder, this is your chance to Pitch Your Vision. Reach out to us to express your interest (guillermo@biomixer.org). 10 companies will be selected for our lightning session (1 minutes pitch- 1 slide). Our featured high-impact companies (3 minutes pitch- 3 slides) that have already secured a place: BIOMAKERS (biomakers.net) "We transform genomic and molecular information into therapeutic decisions" and 2+ TBD 🤝 If you are an Investor, network & collaborate with fellow founders, investors, and potential partners over LATAM-inspired bites and drinks, brought by La Linda Empanadas. Our co-hosts: IndieBio, Morrison Foerster, TriNet, ABIQUIFI. Supporters: Escalon Services, Bluezone Capital, Lexi Ventures.  and Community Partners: Latinx Tech Group/Bio Community, Golden Gate Bio Ventures Who We Are: Guillermo Repizo, PhD, @Juan Cruz Cuevas, and Ariel Notcovich are passionate biotech entrepreneurs with over 50 years of combined experience in founding, scaling, exiting, and advising biotech ventures. They’re dedicated to supporting biotech startups in the Bay Area and abroad. Let’s drive the future of biotech innovation together — see you at the Biomixer 2026