IPIRA Startups

IPIRA Startups

Apertor Pharmaceuticals

Brief Description

Apertor creates novel molecular glues for therapeutic applications in multiple disease areas. The company applies a world-class synthetic biology platform using non-model organisms, a deep knowledge of complex natural products relevant to human health, and a computational pipeline enabled by structure-guided design. The result is a first-in-class approach to solving important pharmacological problems and delivering new, high-value treatment options for patients. The company was co-founded by UC Berkeley Professor of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering and of...

Aptility, Inc.

Brief Description

A distributed thermostat architecture, system and software that provides energy efficiency, enhanced comfort, and load management functionality for residential HVAC operation. The underlying software is a platform for home intelligence using wireless sensor technology. The technology was developed by UC Berkeley Professor of Mechanical Engineering Paul Wright and Mechanical Engineering PhD student Nathan Ota.

Inventors

Nathan Ota, Paul Wright

Company Founders

Nathan Ota

Timeline 2008. Company founded

Ansa Biotechnologies

Brief Description

With synthetic DNA fueling innovation in biological research, therapeutics, diagnostics, and biomanufacturing, there is an urgent need for faster and more accurate DNA synthesis. Currently, DNA is manufactured via a chemical method that has remained essentially unchanged for 35 years and has approached a plateau. Ansa Biotechnologies is developing a faster, more accurate, and cleaner enzyme-based DNA synthesis technology. The technique promises to dramatically accelerate innovation in biological research and engineering.

The approach is based on polymerase-...

Amber Bio

Brief Description

A biotechnology company offering genetic medicine through biologically inspired design. The company offers gene editing modalities using multi-kilobase RNA writing to easily reach previously undruggable diseases, enabling medical researchers to easily develop independent therapies for each separate mutation in the patient population.

Inventors

Jennifer Doudna

Company Founders

Jacob Borrajo, Basem Al-Shayeb (UC Berkeley, Ph.D., Doctor of Philosophy)

Timeline 2021. Company founded

Alien Technology

Brief Description

Founded in 1994, Alien Technology is a passive Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) industry pioneer and leading provider of high-quality RFID innovations, technologies, and products. The company has offices in the US, China, Korea, Europe, Brazil, Australia and other parts of Asia, supplying customers worldwid with UHF passive EPCglobal Gen2 and ISO/IEC 18000-6c compliant RFID transceiver chips transceiver chips, tags, inlays and labels, fixed and mobile readers, and related professional services for item tagging, retail/apparel, transportation, life sciences, and many...

Aguru Images, Inc.

Brief Description

Aguru Images, Inc. develops and markets image capture devices. It provides Dome, a spherical imaging device that is used for capturing the shape and reflectance properties of the human face to create computer generated digital doubles; Scope, a compact device that captures reflectance data for materials; and Scanner, which creates various photographs of an object moving lights across the image. The company's products are used in visual effects, animation, films, games, and multimedia and design industries. Aguru Images, Inc. was founded in 2006 and is based in Rockville,...

Adura Technologies

Brief Description

Adura Technologies provides wireless lighting and energy management systems to improve energy efficiency and facilitate cost savings.

Adura Technologies was acquired by Acuity Brands in 2013.

Inventors

Charlie Huizenga

Company Founders

Nathaniel Goldhaber (UC Berkeley, M.A. ’85, Education)

Timeline 2005. Company founded 2013. Adura Technologies acquired by Acuity Brands

Acrigen Biosciences, Inc.

Brief Description

Acrigin Biosciences is developing Precision Gene Editing Systems to harness the power of CRISPR for use in human therapeutics. Acrigen’s proprietary technology leverages novel αCas and μCas CRISPR gene editors coupled with ErAcrs (engineered anti-CRISPR proteins) to create an editing toolbox with best-in-class efficiency and precision. The company's technology will expand the impact of CRISPR by improving the efficacy and safety of novel gene editing therapies.

Inventors

Jennifer Doudna, Christof Fellmann, Haridha Shivram, Kyle Watters

Company Founders

David...

Aclima Inc.

Brief Description

Aclima’s platform combines leading-edge sensor technology, climate science, and an enterprise software back-end to generate high-resolution maps of emissions across pollutants – from CO2 and methane to particulate matter. Aclima fills a fundamental need in climate risk management by making hyperlocal emissions data and insights accessible and standardized, at a fraction of the cost of traditional methods.

Inventors

Frederick Doering, Igor Paprotny, Richard White

Company Founders

Daniel Ahn, Wendy Schmidt (UC Berkeley, M.S., Journalism), Deborah...

A/F Protein Inc.

Brief Description

A/F Protein Inc. is the world's only commercial producer of antifreeze proteins purified from natural sources for sale to the research and development community. The company was spun out of discoveries in the lab of UC Berkeley Professor of Bioengineering and Mechanical Engineering Boris Rubinsky, an expert in the field of ice physics. Dr. Rubinsky reported on the ability of antifreeze proteins and glycoproteins to interact with mammalian cell membranes at hypothermic temperatures and protect such cells from depolarization and death. This important finding has led to...