Date: 2017-12-15
Type of information: Series A financing round
Company: Univercells (Belgium)
Investors: Takeda Ventures, US and EU private investors
Amount: €3 million ($3.56M)
Funding type: series A financing round
Planned used:
- Univercells is a technology company delivering novel biomanufacturing platforms. The company was founded in 2013 by experienced entrepreneurs Hugues Bultot, CEO, and José Castillo, CTO, who bring close to 25 years of expertise in the biotechnology and life sciences sectors. Headquartered in Gosselies (Belgium), Univercells benefits from support from the Walloon region and received €3 million from Takeda in 2015. Most recently, the company was awarded a $12 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
- The proceeds will support the commercial roll-out of Univercells' viral platform and the completion of its recombinant platform. The investment will support the commercial roll-out of Univercells’ viral micro-facility, with a first technology transfer anticipated for Q4 2018 within the framework of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation-supported program. In addition, the capital will benefit the completion of Univercells’ innovative recombinant platform development, paving the way for the cost-effective production of biosimilars.
Others:
- • On December 15, 2017, Univercells announced the successful closing of a €3 million ($3.56M) capital increase in a Series-A equity financing round, led by private investors. In addition to the company’s founders and Takeda Ventures – who joined them in 2015 – Univercells has welcomed a dozen private investors who embraced its mission to make biologics available and affordable to all. Among them are US and EU-based executives from the equipment development and vaccines industries, together with Belgian entrepreneurs. All bring a significant professional background and are willing to mobilize their extended network to position Univercells’ innovative solutions on the global market.
Therapeutic area: Technology - Services
Is general: Yes
