IPIRA Startups

IPIRA Startups

Spiral Devices LLC

Brief Description

Spiral Devices LLC is a biotechnology company committed to developing and commercializing technologies that improve the in vivo delivery of biological molecules for studying and treating disease. The company's BioDriver particle bombardment device delivers biolactive molecules into cells.

The company was co-founded by Kenneth Greenberg, to commercialize technology he invented as a UC Berkeley postdoctoral fellow in MCB Neurobiology, where he developed gene therapies for neurological diseases using chemogenetics,...

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...

Calyx

Brief Description

Calyx is a materials science company that harnesses biology to provide low cost and highly accurate sensors for real-time detection and analysis of air chemicals in a variety of industries, including safety, healthcare, transportation, and food. The company offers commercial customers phage-based sensing and analysis of multiple gasses.

Company co-founders Ray Chiu and Benson Fan developed the company’s founding technology as a capstone project while they were students in the UC Berkeley-UCSF Masters in Bioengineering program. With the encouragement of UC Berkeley...

Colusa Software

Brief Description

Colusa commercialized software for developers to produce memory-protected high-performance internet components in popular programming languages. The company provided a cross-language virtual machine that provided secure execution within systems such as databases and operating systems.

Microsoft Corporation acquired Colusa Software Inc. in 1996. Co-inventor, co-founder, and CEO Robert Wahbe became an executive at Microsoft after Colusa's acquisition.

Inventors

Steven Lucco, Robert Wahbe

Company Founders

Robert Wahbe (UC Berkeley PhD, computer science,...

Ekso Bionics

Brief Description

Since 2005, Ekso Bionics has used exoskeleton technology to enhance natural abilities and improve quality of life. The exoskeleton industry leader, offering technologies that help those with paralysis to stand up and walk, enhancing worker capabilities globally, and providing research for the advancement of R&D projects intended to benefit U.S. defense capabilities.

Formerly known as Berkeley Bionics and Berkeley Exotech.

Inventors

Russdon Angold, Andrew Chu, Nathan Harding, Homayoon Kazerooni, Jean-Louis Racine, Adam Zoss

Company...

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.

Inventors

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

Company Founders

UC Berkeley Professor Phillip Messersmith (Ph.D., Professor of Bioengineering and Materials Science & Engineering) and Subhajit Pal (postdoc, 2022-present, Messersmith Lab)

Timeline 2023. Company founded; joins Berkeley Skydeck...

MaxiVio Inc.

Brief Description

MaxiVio, Inc. is building next‑generation light engines by uniting novel quantum materials with electron and photon structures in a highly integratable form. The foundational photonic solution for AI ecosystems offers a new class of light engines that merge quantum materials with advanced electron–photon engineering in an ultra‑integratable platform. This breakthrough unlocks AI‑driven wearables, creates seamless interfaces between the physical and digital worlds, and cuts the energy footprint of data‑intensive hyperscale computing.

Inventors

Peidong Yang, Maria...

Clarity Movement Co.

Brief Description

Clarity Movement Co. is a team of passionate engineers and scientists focused on making a positive impact in the world by tackling the global air pollution crisis. We leverage our expertise in air sensing technology, IoT devices, and data analytics to create solutions that empower communities to make more informed decisions and improve quality of life. Having already developed the world’s most accurate low-cost particulate matter sensor, Clarity is now deploying the next generation of dense air quality monitoring networks around the world to build smarter cities through...

BreezeBio

Brief Description

BreezeBio develops innovative therapies through targeted delivery of genetic medicines. The company's founders share the vision that recent scientific advancements in engineering CRISPR components and delivery vehicles offer a groundbreaking opportunity to develop safe and effective medicines for genetic diseases.

The company's proprietary Polymer nanoparticle can deliver CRISPR protein and gRNA. CRISPR in a protein form has many advantages, delivery has been a challenge limiting its application. To deliver CRISPR protein, encapsulation of CRISPR ribonucleoprotein...

Silicon Clocks, Inc.

Brief Description

Silicon Clocks was founded in 2006 to develop high performance semiconductor timing and sensor designs and its patented CMEMS 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.

Silicon Clocks Inc. was...