Thierry Heles
Verified
(He/Him)
As seen in:
The Next Leap,
Holistic Women's Health,
Global Corporate Venturing,
Global University Venturing,
GlobalCorporateVenturing,
BI Foresight
Covers:
spinouts, university venture funds, incubators, technology transfer
Doesn't Cover:
General higher education news
Articles by Thierry Heles
Is AI and cybersecurity an arms race that no one truly understands yet?
From the BI Foresight Live panel, Attackers, Defenders and Algorithms: AI’s Cybersecurity Double-Edge Sword, three experts explain why the threat is real, the governance is patchy, and the ethics are unresolved By Thierry Heles 20 May 26 Reading time: 4 mins “You have to treat AI a bit like an insider threat,” declared Mark West, assistant director of innovation at Roke, at the most recent Foresight Live panel, Attackers, Defenders and Algorithms: AI’s Cybersecurity Double-Edge Sword.
A race to the bottom? AI, content, and the creativity question
From “slop” to weak oversight, Foresight Live experts express concerns about quality and accountability as AI scales By Thierry Heles 03 Mar 26 Reading time: 5 mins “Authors are humans. Artists are humans,” said Sue Turner OBE from the University of Bristol, talking at a recent Foresight Live panel Content With Conscience: AI’s Next Chapter. Machines can generate text, images, and music. They can replicate tone, structure, and style – but that does not make them authors or artists, Turner argued.
UK powers up trillion-pound tech ambition with semiconductor drive
Artificial Intelligence,Future Telecoms,Materials, Experts at Foresight Live say unlocking the UK’s semiconductor potential is key to scaling world-class companies and closing the gap between university research and industrial impact By Thierry Heles 24 Oct 25 Reading time: 7 mins The UK wants to create the world’s first $1 trillion technology business, which will require lifting the economy as a whole.
De-risking AI for telecoms is the opportunity
At Foresight Live experts debated how AI could evolve beyond the network to create real value in telecoms By Thierry Heles 20 Jun 25 Reading time: 8 mins A commonly held view in telecoms is that there are networks for AI and there is AI for networks. But Dan Warren, director of communications research at Samsung, argues there ought to be a third part to this equation: AI at the application level. Samsung has been working with the University of Bristol on the REASON project since 2023.
From research to reality: quantum is not AI
At Foresight Live, panellists warn against overpromising quantum breakthroughs, calling instead for collaboration, supply chain clarity, and a long-term strategy By Thierry Heles 17 Apr 25 Reading time: 8 mins Quantum sensing and quantum-based positioning, navigation, and timing systems are going to be “incredibly important” and some of the first quantum technologies with widespread real-world applications, according to a recent Foresight Live panel discussion.
Porsche's Aleksej Mitrjaschkin switches to German VC Incharge Capital -
Mitrjaschkin will be a partner at joint venture Incharge Capital Partners. Aleksej Mitrjaschkin has stepped down as Porsche’s head of investment after 12 years to become a founding partner of a venture capital firm linked to the German carmaker, Incharge Capital Partners. Incharge Capital Partners is a joint venture between Porsche and DTCP, an investment firm backed by telecoms provider Deutsche Telekom. It was established in March last year and is based in Berlin, Germany.
Talking Tech Transfer: Alexis Dormandy – Global University Venturing
On this week’s episode of the Talking Tech Transfer podcast, we welcome Alexis Dormandy, who has been the chief executive of Oxford Science Enterprises, the investment company set up by University of Oxford, since January this year.
Mozart tunes up with $55m series A
The gastrointestinal disorder drug developer was co-founded by researchers from Stanford University. Mozart Therapeutics, US-based autoimmune and inflammatory disease drug developer co-founded by Stanford University researchers, publicly launched yesterday with $55m in series A funding led by Arch Venture Partners.
Daily deal net: October 27 2021
Every day, Global University Venturing rounds up the smaller investments from across the university innovation ecosystem in its deal net. Biobot Analytics, a US-based developer of technology to detect levels of the coronavirus in wastewater that is based on research at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, has obtained $20m in a funding round backed by The Engine, according to Bloomberg.
Recode Therapeutics records $80m series B
Osage University Partners has helped the UT Southwestern precision medicine spinout close a round which will be used to advance and expand its pipeline of respiratory disease drug candidates. Recode Therapeutics, a US-based biopharmaceutical spinout of University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, completed an $80m series B round backed by Osage University Partners (OUP) on Wednesday.
Daily deal net: October 21, 2021
Every day, Global University Venturing rounds up the smaller investments from across the university innovation ecosystem in its deal net. Via Separations, a US-based industrial decarbonisation technology spinout of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), has secured $38m in a series B round backed by The Engine, the venture fund and incubator established by MIT.
Talking Tech Transfer: David Coleman – Global University Venturing
On this week’s episode of the Talking Tech Transfer podcast, we welcome David Coleman, the chief executive of University of Birmingham Enterprise, who is a passionate advocate for diversity and inclusion.
AutoGrid grips $85m in series D-2 funding
Stanford-backed energy management platform operator AutoGrid secured its latest funding from a host of corporates led by Schneider Electric. AutoGrid, a US-based energy management technology developer backed by Stanford University, has obtained $85m in series D-2 financing led by SE Ventures, the corporate venture capital arm of energy and automation system producer Schneider Electric.
PragmatIC folds in $80m
Cambridge Innovation Capital-backed flexible electronics manufacturer PragmatIC Semiconductor has raised the capital from undisclosed investors. PragmatIC Semiconductor, a UK-based flexible electronics manufacturer backed by patient capital fund Cambridge Innovation Capital (CIC), has received $80m in series C funding from unnamed investors.
Clarifai picks out $60m
NYU’s deep learning technology developer has pushed its overall funding to $100m in a series C round backed by the university. Clarifai, a US-based deep learning technology producer spun out of New York University (NYU), has hauled in $60m through a series C round backed by the NYU Innovation Venture Fund.
Daily deal net: October 15, 2021
Every day, Global University Venturing rounds up the smaller investments from across the university innovation ecosystem in its deal net. Axial Therapeutics, a US-based neurological disease therapy developer linked to University of Tokyo, has closed a $37.3m series C round co-led by University of Tokyo’s Innovation Platform and OneVentures.
Talking Tech Transfer: Itzik Goldwaser – Global University Venturing
On this week’s episode of the Talking Tech Transfer podcast, we welcome Itzik Goldwaser, president and chief executive of Yissum, the technology transfer company of Hebrew University of Jerusalem, to discuss how the country’s mandatory army service helps foster an entrepreneurial mindset.
BP lays out Blueprint Power acquisition
Congruent Ventures has achieved an exit through the purchase of Blueprint Power by BP. Blueprint Power, a US-based energy distribution technology platform, has been acquired by oil and gas company BP for an undisclosed sum, providing an exit to University of California-backed venture capital firm Congruent Ventures.
Manchester marks record year
University of Manchester’s Innovation Factory has celebrated its best financial year to date. University of Manchester’s commercialisation arm, Innovation Factory, has announced record results for its most recent financial period ended July 31 with 13 new spinouts created. Licensing income for the year reached a total of £7.4m ($10.1m) – 48% above target – while spinouts raised approximately £44m between them, including £3.4m put into new companies.
JHTV companies break $1bn barrier
Johns Hopkins’ portfolio companies attracted more than $1.2bn in combined funding during the past fiscal year, setting a new record for the university. Johns Hopkins Technology Ventures (JHTV), the technology transfer arm of Johns Hopkins University, has revealed a record 12-month period for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2021. The office’s portfolio attracted $750m in venture funding, with another $500m in public equity.
Sense Photonics detects $71m exit
Ouster has bought the Congruent Ventures-backed lidar technology developer and will restructure the business as a wholly-owned subsidiary called Ouster Automotive. Sense Photonics, a US-based developer of lidar technology that offers an ultra-wide field of view, has agreed to an acquisition by lidar system producer Ouster, offering an exit to University of California-aligned Congruent Ventures. Ouster will pay 9.5 million shares, worth – on the morning of the announcement – nearly $71.3m.
Daily deal net: October 11, 2021
Every day, Global University Venturing rounds up the smaller investments from across the university innovation ecosystem in its deal net. Neural Magic, a US-based developer of deep learning inference software spun out of Massachusetts Institute of Technology, raised $30m on Wednesday in a series A round featuring communications software producer Amdocs and, Comcast Ventures, the investment arm of mass media group Comcast.
Pyxis progresses to stock market
Having priced its shares at the top of its range, UChicago spinout Pyxis Oncology suffered a drop on the first day of trading. Pyxis Oncology, a US-based cancer therapy developer spun out of University of Chicago (UChicago), issued 10.5 million shares priced at $16 to raise $168m in an upsized initial public offering on Friday.
Earlybird cultivates $88m spinout fund
The Earlybird Uni-X Fund will support early-stage spinouts originating from European institutions such as RWTH Aachen and Imperial College London. Earlybird, a Germany-based venture capital firm, launched a €75m ($88m) fund today aimed at pre-seed and seed-stage spinouts across Europe. Called Uni-X Fund, the vehicle will aim to offer capital at a time when companies are still building their teams, developing their business plans and working on a proof of concept.
UnternehmerTUM receives $29m investment
Andreas und Thomas Strüngmann, two of Germany’s richest investors, have committed $29m to help expand TU Munich’s tech transfer operation. UnternehmerTUM, the commercialisation and innovation arm of TU Munich, secured a commitment for €25m ($29m) from Andreas und Thomas Strüngmann on Thursday.
U-M initiates Innovation Partnerships
The reorganised unit will consolidate and build on the work of the Office of Technology Transfer and Business Engagement Center. University of Michigan (U-M) has restructured its commercialisation activities with the launch of a central unit called Innovation Partnerships. The new division is based in the Office of the Vice-President for Research and consolidates and builds on the Office of Technology Transfer and certain elements and staff of the Business Engagement Center.
Lilac mines investors for $150m close
The Engine was among the investors that helped the lithium mining process developer raise a series B round first announced last month. Lilac Solutions, a US-based lithium extraction technology developer exploiting Northwestern University research, reached a final close of its $150m series B round on Wednesday featuring incubator and venture fund The Engine.
Talking Tech Transfer: Christy Wyskiel – Global University Venturing
On this week’s episode of the Talking Tech Transfer podcast, we welcome Christy Wyskiel, the executive director of Johns Hopkins Technology Ventures (JHTV), the tech transfer office of Johns Hopkins University, and the senior adviser to Johns Hopkins’ president for innovation and entrepreneurship.
WSU chooses Klee for tech transfer office
Lindsay Klee is the new senior director of technology commercialisation at Wayne State University, having previously worked twice for University of Michigan. Lindsay Klee has been named senior director of technology commercialisation at Wayne State University and will lead its Technology Commercialization Office. Klee’s professional career to date includes stints as interim managing director and commercialisation director for University of Michigan’s Medical Innovation Center.
Daily deal net: October 7, 2021
Every day, Global University Venturing rounds up the smaller investments from across the university innovation ecosystem in its deal net. Gaia BioMedicine, a Japan-based cancer immuno-cellular therapeutics developer spun out of Kyushu University, has secured ¥1.3bn ($11.9m) in a series B round backed by Osaka University Venture Capital (OUVC), a vehicle for Osaka University.
Exscientia expands IPO to over $350m
The cancer drug developer has closed its initial public offering after underwriters exercised the greenshoe option. Exscientia, a UK-based drug discovery technology developer spun out of University of Dundee, closed its initial public offering at just over $350m on Tuesday. The spinout floated in an upsized IPO last week, issuing more than 13.8 million shares priced at $22.
Gap casts CB4 for acquisition
Tel Aviv University spinout CB4 has been bought by Gap after having raised at least $22m in equity financing. CB4, a US-based predictive analytics platform for retailers spun out of Tel Aviv University, has been acquired by clothing retailer Gap for an undisclosed sum. CB4’s staff will join Gap as full-time employees following the acquisition.
Exo Therapeutics bags $78m
The small molecule drug developer has raised a series B round that brought its total funding to more than $100m. Exo Therapeutics, a US-based small molecule drug developer based on research at Harvard University and Salk Institute for Biological Studies, closed a $78m series B round yesterday led by Nextech Invest.
Anduril captures Copious Imaging
MIT spinout Copious Imaging has been acquired by Anduril Industries for an undisclosed amount. Copious Imaging, a US-based motion imaging systems spinout of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), was acquired by defence company Anduril Industries for an undisclosed sum at the end of last month.
Daily deal net: October 6, 2021
Every day, Global University Venturing rounds up the smaller investments from across the university innovation ecosystem in its deal net. Yuanbao Tech, a China-based cybersecurity insurance provider, has raised more than RMB100m ($15.5m) in a series B round featuring Tsinghua University-aligned TusStar, according to China Banking and Insurance News.
Daily deal net: October 1, 2021
Every day, Global University Venturing rounds up the smaller investments from across the university innovation ecosystem in its deal net. Vesper, a US-based smart sensor developer spun out of University of Michigan, raised $18m in funding on Wednesday.
Micreos makes space for $37.5m
Exploiting ETH Zurich research, Micreos is working on a clinical platform that enables the targeted killing of unwanted bacteria only. Micreos, a Netherlands-based endolysin platform developer using research from ETH Zurich, raised €32m ($37.5m) in funding from undisclosed investors yesterday. Micreos is working on technology that enables the targeted killing of unwanted bacteria only.
UTokyo initiates $536m fund
University of Tokyo will invest an initial $89m in the fund, which will also seek external limited partners. University of Tokyo (UTokyo) is launching a ¥60bn ($536m) fund to invest in its companies, Nikkei reported yesterday. The university itself is putting up $89m to start the fund and it will seek contributions from external investors to grow it to its target size over a period of 10 years.
Zylotech reaches Terminus for acquisition
MIT spinout Zylotech has been acquired by Terminus for an undisclosed amount. Zylotech, a US-based business-to-business customer data platform spun out of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), was bought by account-based engagement platform Terminus yesterday. Financial terms were not disclosed. Founded in 2014, Zylotech has built a customer data platform with features such as artificial intelligence-powered predictive analytics.
Lucid Diagnostics lines up IPO
Case Western Reserve University-linked Lucid Diagnostics is seeking an initial public offering that would net it up to $57.5m. Lucid Diagnostics, a US-based developer of a diagnostic test for oesophageal cancer, has filed for an initial public offering on the Nasdaq Global Market that could result in up to $57.5m in proceeds. The company has not yet set any terms for the offering.
Talking Tech Transfer: Christina Takke – Global University Venturing
On this week’s episode of the Talking Tech Transfer podcast, we are joined by Christina Takke, managing partner at V-Bio Ventures, a venture capital firm she co-founded to invest in spinouts from research institute VIB and other promising companies across Europe. She tells us why she helped set up V-Bio Ventures, why it is qualitative money that is missing in continental Europe and what can be done to improve the gender ratio in venture capital.
Oxford Science Enterprises emerges from rebrand
Originally known as Oxford Sciences Innovation, the investment company set up by University of Oxford has undertaken a rebranding exercise. Oxford Science Enterprises (OSE), the investment company founded to invest in University of Oxford spinouts, has relaunched with a new name and brand identity. Founded in 2015 as Oxford Sciences Innovation, Oxford Science Enterprise’s mission has been to increase the number of spinouts generated from university research.
Lilac coats series B in $150m
The Engine has reinvested in Lilac Solutions, a lithium extraction technology developer building on research at Northwestern University. Lilac Solutions, a US-based lithium mining technology producer exploiting research at Northwestern University, picked up $150m in a series B round featuring The Engine, the incubator and venture fund backed by Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University, yesterday.
Inpria processes $514m acquisition
Oregon State University spinout Inpria has agreed to a purchase by its existing shareholder JSR and will become a subsidiary of the petrochemical company. Inpria, a US-based semiconductor manufacturing technology spinout of Oregon State University (OSU), agreed to an acquisition by petrochemical materials provider JSR for $514m on Friday. JSR already owns a 21% stake in the company, having backed its series B and C rounds.
EnerVenue electrifies $100m series A
Stanford University has backed a round that will help the nickel-hydrogen battery developer finance construction of a Gigafactory. EnerVenue, a US-based battery manufacturer, secured $100m on Wednesday in a series A round backed by Stanford University, according to TechCrunch. Oil services provider Schlumberger and oil and gas supplier Saudi Aramco co-led the round through New Energy and Saudi Aramco Energy Ventures, respectively.
Hydrogenious LOHC fuels up on funding
Erlangen-Nürnberg spinout Hydrogenious LOHC Technologies has added $59m to its coffers. Hydrogenious LOHC Technologies, a Germany-based hydrogen fuel distribution technology spinout of Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, has raised €50m ($59m) in a funding round led by Jera Americas, a subsidiary of energy utility Jera.
Prenetics tests out $1.25bn reverse merger
Genetic testing services provider Prenetics, a spinout of City University of Hong Kong, will hold a reverse merger at a $1.25bn valuation. Prenetics, a China-based genetic testing services spinout from City University of Hong Kong, is set for a reverse merger with special purpose acquisition company Artisan Acquisition Corp.
Daily deal net: September 15, 2021
Every day, Global University Venturing rounds up the smaller investments from across the university innovation ecosystem in its deal net. Ambi Robotics, a US-based picking robots technology developer spun out of University of California, Berkeley, completed a $26m series A round yesterday led by Tiger Global Management, with participation from the House Fund, backed by the university, as well as Bow Capital and Vertex Ventures US.
Context Therapeutics frames IPO plans
Based on research at Drexel University, Context Therapeutics is seeking to raise up to $21m in an initial public offering on Nasdaq. Context Therapeutics, a US-based developer of treatments for cancers affecting women based on research at Drexel University, has filed for an initial public offering that could raise up to $21m. The company will issue 1.5 million shares and has set a price range of $12 to $14.
Prospection delves into $33m series B
Main Sequence Ventures has returned for Prospection’s series B round, having already participated in the company’s $6.7m series A last year. Prospection, an Australia-based healthcare data technology developer, obtained A$45m ($33m) in a series B round backed by Main Sequence Ventures, the venture firm set up by CSIRO, yesterday. Ellerston Capital led the round through its JAADE Private Assets Fund, while Horizons Ventures also contributed.
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