IPIRA Startups

IPIRA Startups

Algen Biotechnologies

Brief Description

Algen Biotechnologies is building a next-generation, functional genomics-based platform for the discovery of novel therapeutics for cancers with high unmet need. Algen’s research group focuses on developing and applying novel functional genomics technologies to address scientific challenges in drug discovery. The company's biologists and data scientists are collaborating to deliver innovative, patient-centric medicines for the toughest-to-treat diseases.

The company was founded to commercialize technology developed at UC Berkeley while Algen Biotechnologies CEO...

Tessera Therapeutics, Inc.

Brief Description

Developer of gene writing technology designed to permanently make small and large alterations to the human genome. The company's technology helps scientists and clinicians with the ability to write small and large therapeutic messages into the genome to treat diseases at their source, enabling healthcare providers to cure their patients and improve their lives.

Tessera Scientific Advisory Board Member David Schaffer co-invented the company's foundational technology as UC Berkeley Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Bioengineering, Molecular and Cell...

ReRx Therapeutics

Brief Description

ReRx is developing novel oral therapeutics to treat patients with severe metabolic diseases including obesity, metabolic syndrome, diabetes, and liver diseases. The company's therapeutics target metabolic pathways involved in regulating energy homeostasis and improve treatment outcomes compared to similar pharmacological agents.

Timeline 2023. Company founded; Joins Berkeley Skydeck Cohort 17 Inventors

Chi Zhu, Anders Michael Naar, Justin Yu-Sun Lee

AsparaGlue

Brief Description

AsparaGlue has developed a superglue-like medical adhesive for external wound closure and internal tissue adhesion. The proprietary technology is the world’s only biocompatible and biodegradable medical superglue.

Timeline 2023. Company founded; joins Berkeley Skydeck accelerator, cohort 16 Inventors

Philip Messersmith, Subhajit Pal, Ji Soo Shin, Kelsey Gray DeFrates

MZR Neurotech

Brief Description

MZR Neurotech has developed an in-ear electroencephalogram (EEG) sensor packed with biosensors that detect brain activity. The discreet, comfortable brain-machine interface is being developed for monitoring and diagnosing sleep disorders.

Timeline 2023. Company founded Inventors

Ryan Kaveh, Arya Reais-Parsi, Rikky Muller, Saavan Patel

Resvita Biosciences

Brief Description

Resvita Biosciences seeks to restore and maintain the vitality of the skin by properly considering the skin microbiome as part of the human body. A harmless skin probiotic will continuously deliver the therapy that a body would to maintain skin health.

Through synthetic biology and metabolic engineering, the company's goal is to develop a safe and versatile skin microbial platform that can address the causes of skin aging and disease. Resvita Biosciences has a unique patented approach, a rich product pipeline, clear regulatory advantages, and an experienced...

Monolets, Inc

Brief Description

MonoLets, Inc. is a systems company developing a wireless sensor network for the Internet of Things. The company builds the network with the lowest power System-on-Chip (SoC) hardware platform that can be operated from harvested energy requiring no external battery. The company's patented silicon and wireless mesh technology was developed over five years of research and development at UC Berkeley. Monolets' mission is to enable extremely reliable connectivity in challenging RF environments (metal & liquid obstruction), thereby providing access to real-time information...

Berkeley Yeast

Brief Description

Berkeley Yeast is a startup founded by UC Berkeley scientists, with grant funding from NSF, NIH, and USDA, as well as from venture capital. Berkeley Yeast bioengineers yeast strains that improve fermentation for brewers, winemakers, and beyond. The company uses synthetic biology to develop yeast strains with a variety of benefits, ranging from unprecedented control over flavors, to protection against the increasing vulnerability of crops, to greater product shelf stability and increased production efficiency. CEO Charles Denby co-founded the company based on the...

Iota Biosciences

Brief Description

Established in 2017, iota Biosciences was formed with a vision to change how the world monitors and treats disease. Building on award-winning 'neural dust' technology invented at the University of California, Berkeley, Iota Biosciences is building a platform for the future of bioelectronic medicine.

Timeline 2017. Company founded. Inventors

Michel Maharbiz, Jose Carmena

Silicon Clocks, Inc.

Brief Description

Headquartered in Fremont, CA, Silicon Clocks was founded in 2006 to develop high performance semiconductor timing and sensor designs and its patented CMEMS(TM) technology. Silicon Clocks was backed by leading venture investors including Tallwood Venture Capital, Charles River Ventures, Formative Ventures, Lux Capital and Silicon Labs.

The company was co-founded by Dr. Roger Howe, former co-director of the Berkeley Sensor and Actuator Center and UC Berkeley Professor of Electrical Engineering, and BSAC post-doctoral researcher Emmanuel Quevy.

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