Y Combinator is a startup accelerator that invests in a large number of startups twice a year. It created a new model for funding startups. Twice a year, the company invests a small amount of money ($150k) in a large number of startups. The startup accelerator works intensively with the companies for three months, to get them into the best possible shape and refine their pitch to investors. Each cycle culminates in Demo Day when the startups present their companies to a carefully selected, invite-only audience.

Y Combinator

BossaNova is the number one Brazilian Micro Venture Capital. We are the most active investor in the pre-seed stage in Latin America with more than 1200 investments in over 1000 Startups. We also invest in global companies, directly or through co-investment syndicates on AngelList.

Bossanova Investimentos

What If Ventures invests in stigmatized verticals within the healthcare market. For too long, stigma has artificially suppressed demand for care in indications such as mental health, fertility, and many others.  Societal changes are creating markets where stigma once stood in the way of people getting the care they need. The firm was founded in 2019 by Stephen Hays, after his own personal struggles with mental health and addiction fueled his desire to see more funding for solutions in that space.  Since then, the firm has broadened its aperture and has deployed nearly $80mm into more than 60 disruptive healthcare startups.

What If Ventures

Incisive Ventures is a pre-seed investor focused on transformational founders. They invest in low-cost investment vehicles that boost LP returns in the asset class, especially compared to the classic Venture model. The company is a theme syndicate with high conviction but low volume.

Incisive Ventures

Offline Ventures they provide services for science, engineering, design, and art.

Offline Ventures

Noveus Capital is a venture capital firm.

Noveus Capital

Aera VC invests at the frontier of deep technology and sustainability to accelerate the world to a better future. Those who create breakthrough ideas the fastest will generate new markets, exponential financial returns, and a better future for us all. Aera VC will be right behind them. We believe sustainability is the largest investment opportunity of our lifetime. We have been generating outstanding financial returns since 2016 while investing in the pursuit of a better world. The companies we have backed are the best illustration of what we invest in, aspire to, and can achieve.  We are excited that these companies are only just getting started and we have already established a truly global footprint. 70% of Aera Portfolio companies are co-founded by women or those from minority backgrounds.

Aera VC

Pioneer Fund is a fund of 420+ Y Combinator alumni, investing in the top Y Combinator startups.

Pioneer Fund

Prime Movers Lab is a venture capital firm that seeks to invest in startups reinventing energy, transportation, infrastructure, manufacturing, human augmentation, and agriculture.

Prime Movers Lab

Palo Alto Investors is an investment advisory company that provides money management services. It also operates as a private investment firm that offers long-term investments for high-net-worth and institutional investors based on original and fundamental research. Palo Alto Investors was founded in 1989 and is based in Palo Alto, California.

Palo Alto Investors

Route 66 Ventures is a private investment firm focused on helping entrepreneurs shape the financial services landscape of tomorrow by providing Venture Capital and Credit solutions to emerging financial technology and services companies.   Route 66’s Venture Capital team invests globally in early and growth stage disruptors, incumbents and service providers throughout various sectors in the financial services ecosystem.   Route 66’s Credit team seeks to fund alternative lending platforms and business models with balance sheet needs by purchasing whole loans or providing secured debt facilities.

Route 66 Ventures

Gaingels is a venture investment syndicate in service of the LGBT+ community and its allies, investing in companies with LGBT+ founders and C-suite leaders at all stages of growth, as well as in more established companies resolved on building more inclusive teams, with a global portfolio of 130+ companies and $70M in deployed investment capital to date.  The Gaingels network also actively supports its portfolio in identifying and recruiting diverse talent to their C-suite and board leadership teams and fosters a vibrant global community of industry leaders, investors, operators, and entrepreneurs who share a common goal for positive social change through business and successful investments.

Gaingels

Alumni Ventures Group provides high-quality, diversified venture portfolios to individual investors who previously haven't had access to VC. It helps accredited alums from top entrepreneurial schools invest together in the ventures of fellow alums. The firm backs companies with an alumni connection and an institutional lead investor with expertise in the space. AVG also offers focused funds that allow any accredited investor access to a venture portfolio, diversified by type, sector, stage, and geography. Beth Obermiller, Michael Madden, and Mike Collins co-founded the firm in Manchester, New Hampshire in 2013.

Alumni Ventures

Gron Ventures is a venture capital firm that invests in the cannabis, e-commerce, food-tech, consumer products, and services sectors.

Gron Ventures

Noetic Fund is a venture fund launched by Grey House Partners GP Inc. to invest in emerging and early-stage wellness, therapeutic and pharmaceutical companies around the globe. The company has proudly taken the North Star pledge and believes in the importance of stewarding this sector in the right way. It aims to nurture the scientific advancement of mental, emotional, psychological and physical health by investing in alternative therapies, modalities, and sciences that are committed to optimizing our human experience.

Noetic Fund

JLS Fund is a venture capital firm that invests in the psychedelics and technology intersection.

JLS Fund

Ayuh Ventures is an early stage fund investing in startups focused on neuroscience to address longevity, and aging

Ayuh Ventures

Satori Capital is a team of passionate CEOs, investment professionals, and sustainability leaders on a mission to invest in aligned private companies and help them grow - this is our life's work.   We assemble the partners, resources, tools, and frameworks to help inspired leaders achieve their vision and continue building their business.

Satori Capital

The future of mental wellness is being built today. Through its diversified investment fund, Palo Santo is positioned to increase the supply of clinically effective, affordable, and accessible mental health and addiction treatment solutions needed in today’s world. Supported by a rapidly growing body of evidence and strong FDA support, psychedelic-assisted treatments represent a paradigm shift in mental health care. Yet the emerging ecosystem of business opportunities is highly fragmented and, with a lack of institutional capital available, Palo Santo is targeting high growth opportunities within biotech & drug development, health care services, and digital health solutions led by passionate, experienced, and ethical management teams. These businesses are positioned to have a profound impact on treating conditions such as depression, PTSD, anxiety, OCD, drug and alcohol dependence, chronic pain, Alzheimer’s, and a range of inflammatory-related illnesses.

Palo Santo Fund

Negev Capital is a psychedelic medical intervention investment fund with assets of USD$21+ million. We invest in drug discovery, with a focus on preclinical and/or Phase 1 stages of development. We aim to support those early stage companies in need of capital that promote the thoughtful, responsible, and therapeutic use of psychedelic interventions for neuropsychiatric disorders; as well as those who have excellent management and science teams, and robust IP.  Negev believes that psychedelic medications will be not only disruptive to the practice of psychiatry but hold the potential to reduce enormous amounts of human suffering, and is committed to helping the field mature, and further promote ways for these treatments to reach all of those in need.

Negev Capital

WPSS.bio is a venture capital firm that invests in revolutionary diagnostics and treatments for central nervous system health.

WPSS.bio

Gilgamesh Pharmaceuticals

Gilgamesh is a pioneering early-stage biotech developing novel compounds that build upon the benefits of classic psychedelics with improvements of other components such as safety, tolerability, duration, and efficacy. Mental health worldwide has reached epidemic proportions and novel treatments have not kept pace with the urgent need to treat depression, anxiety, drug addiction and many other devastating diseases. Our purpose is to accelerate treatments and fundamentally improve mental health.

<div>New York-based Gilgamesh Pharmaceuticals is a biotechnology company developing psychedelic-inspired medicines for neuropsychiatric conditions such as depression, anxiety, addiction, and cognitive deficits. The company has three research programs in its pipeline: 1) Serotonergic Micro-Dose&ndash;a non psychedelic therapeutic treatment for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and mood/anxiety disorders, 2) Arylcyclohexylamine&ndash;an improved molecule of ketamine for treatment-resistant depression and opiate use disorder, and 3) Novel Ibogaine Analogue&ndash;for the treatment of substance use disorders.&nbsp;</div>

Promising research and receding stigma are giving investors cannabis-boom flashbacks.

Psychedelic Medicine

AbbVie and Gilgamesh Pharmaceuticals Announce Collaboration and Option-to-License Agreement to Develop Next ...

AbbVie

To develop advanced treatment methods for psychiatric disorders. The partnership will leverage AbbVie's psychiatric expertise and Gilgamesh's research platform to create novel "neuroplastogens."

Companies conducting research on psychedelic compounds and developing novel therapeutics.

BrightDime

To develop advanced treatment methods for psychiatric disorders. The partnership will leverage AbbVie's psychiatric expertise and Gilgamesh's research platform to create novel "neuroplastogens." 

<div>
 
 New York-based Gilgamesh Pharmaceuticals is a biotechnology company developing psychedelic-inspired medicines for neuropsychiatric conditions such as depression, anxiety, addiction, and cognitive deficits. The company has three research programs in its pipeline: 1) Serotonergic Micro-Dose&ndash;a non psychedelic therapeutic treatment for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and mood/anxiety disorders, 2) Arylcyclohexylamine&ndash;an improved molecule of ketamine for treatment-resistant depression and opiate use disorder, and 3) Novel Ibogaine Analogue&ndash;for the treatment of substance use disorders.&nbsp;
 
 
 Gilgamesh is one of the few psychedelic companies launched by the startup accelerator Y Combinator, and as such enjoys the accelerator&rsquo;s world-famous business expertise and network.
 
 
 Key customers and partnerships
 
 
 In 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/29382">
 May 2024
 </a>
 , the company partnered with AbbVie to leverage AbbVie's psychiatric expertise and Gilgamesh's research platform to create novel &quot;neuroplastogens.&quot; 
 
 
 Funding and Financials
 
 
 In 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/27575">
 March 2024
 </a>
 , the company received a grant of&nbsp; USD 14 million from the National Institute on Drug Abuse to develop the GM-3009 compound. Prior to this, it raised USD 39 million in a 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/15359">
 Series B 
 </a>
 funding round led by Prime Movers Lab in December 2022. 
 
</div>

<div>
 
 Canadian biotech firm Core One Labs maintains three primary business operations: 1) developing novel delivery systems for psychedelic medicines, 2) psilocybin manufacturing, and 3) medical clinics to provide psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy. The company has developed proprietary technology with infused strips that dissolve immediately when placed in the patient&rsquo;s mouth to deliver molecules with a higher level of bioavailability. The company plans to advance this technology to incorporate psychedelic molecules, particularly psilocybin.&nbsp;
 
 
 Core One Labs also claims it has discovered a patentable method of producing high-quality psilocybin, which it may license to pharmaceutical companies. Additionally, the company has two psychedelic clinics in Vancouver that currently support clinical trials and maintain a database of more than 275,000 patients. The company acquired Vocan Biotechnologies and Akome Biotech in May 2021 for undisclosed amounts. Akome is developing a patent-pending psychedelic drug formulation for the treatment of Alzheimer&rsquo;s Disease.&nbsp;
 
 
 Core One Labs is listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE) and OTC markets.
 
 
</div>

Core One Labs

<div>
 
 Vancouver-based Lobe Sciences (formerly GreenStar Biosciences) is a biotechnology company developing psychedelic medicines (microdose applications) and medical devices for efficient drug delivery. The company&rsquo;s main focus is the treatment of mild traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It is also conducting early studies on psilocybin combined with N-acetylcysteine (NAC), and MDMA combined with NAC as a treatment. Lobe is also developing a patent pending nasal mist transducer device for the delivery of medicines directly to the brain&rsquo;s olfactory bulb.&nbsp;
 
 
 In June 2020, Lobe acquired Eleusian Biosciences, a company focused on the development of psychedelic medicine which expanded its intellectual property portfolio with three US patent applications for psychedelic therapeutics. Lobe is also collaborating with the University of Miami&rsquo;s Miller School of Medicine to conduct preclinical studies. After its restructuring and name change, the company started trading on the Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE) in November 2020.
 
 
 
</div>

Lobe Sciences

<div>
 
 Cybin is a psychedelic biotechnology company developing treatments for psychiatric and neurological conditions. Through its Serenity Life Science division, Cybin conducted Phase II of clinical trials on using psilocybin to treat major depressive disorder. Additionally, the company's Nature's Journey division focuses on creating non-psychedelic medicinal and nutraceutical mental health products.
 
 
 Cybin is actively building a patent portfolio, including chemically-synthesized compounds, delivery mechanisms, protocols, and new drug formulations. It has also filed an International Patent Application through the Patent Cooperation Treaty, potentially covering 153 countries.&nbsp;
 
 
 In July 2023, the company announced 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/20076">
 EMBARKCT, 
 </a>
 a streamlined version of its EMBARK training program for pivotal studies of lead candidates, CYB003 for major depressive disorder and CYB004 for generalized anxiety disorder, respectively. In 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/27577">
 March 2024
 </a>
 , the company received a breakthrough designation from the FDA for CYB003, and expects to initiate Phase III clinical trials for the program by mid-2024.
 
 
 Cybin implements an M&amp;A strategy to grow in the psychedelic industry. It did a reverse takeover of Charmin in June 2020, raising CAD 45 million (USD 35.5 million) for clinical studies. It acquired Adelia Therapeutics in December 2020, adding novel treatments and patent applications. Also in 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/21335">
 August 2023 
 </a>
 it acquired 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/companies/470858">
 Small Pharma 
 </a>
 in an all-share transaction to strengthen its psychedelic portfolio.&nbsp;
 
 
 Founded in 2019, Cybin is listed on the NEO exchange under the ticker symbol &ldquo;CYBN&rdquo; and was uplisted to the NYSE American Stock Exchange in July 2021 under the same symbol. For FY2023, the company reported a decrease in net loss by 29.7% YoY to CAD 47.5 million (USD 35 million).&nbsp;
 Further in 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/33849">
 September 2024
 </a>
 , it completed a 38-to-1 share consolidation of its common stock which reduced the number of outstanding common shares to ~20 million. 
 
 
 Key customers and partnerships&nbsp;
 
 
 In July 2020, Cybin expanded its operations and research activities in the European region via research partnerships and transferred its intellectual property assets to its fully-owned Irish subsidiary (formed in May 2021). In July 2023, the company partnered with 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/20455">
 Worldwide Clinical Trials
 </a>
 to develop new psychedelic-based treatment options for mental health conditions, including major depressive disorder. Further, in September 2023, the company partnered with 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/22180">
 Fluence
 </a>
 to support Cybin's EMBARK facilitator training program.
 
</div>

Cybin

<div>
 
 Canadian cannabinoid-based therapeutics company BioNxt Solutions
 (formerly Xphyto Therapeutics) announced in November 2020 that it has expanded its drug development program to incorporate a number of psychedelic compounds. This includes substances such as psilocybin, mescaline, LSD, MDMA, and DMT. Xphyto&rsquo;s initial focus is on developing standardized drug formulations with efficient delivery mechanisms for therapeutic use.
 
</div>

BioNxt Solutions

Companies operating digital platforms to deliver psychedelic therapies including psychedelic integration, virtual experiences, and mental coaching and tracking. AI drug discovery companies specializing in psychedelic therapeutics are also included.

Companies operating clinics and treatment centers to deliver psychedelic therapies.

Companies supplying psychedelic compounds through cultivation, chemical synthesis and biosynthesis for medical research and drug development.

Companies building a patent portfolio of novel analogs and derivatives of first-generation psychedelics and new drug delivery mechanisms. 

INCUMBENTS_PRESENT

PROMINENT_CATEGORY

<div>
 Biopharmaceutical company AbbVie is collaborating with Gilgamesh Pharmaceutical, a firm specializing in psychedelic biotechnology. Together they aim to develop innovative treatment methods for psychiatric disorders. Their joint research will focus on creating new "neuroplastogens". This advanced generation of compounds aims to offer substantial clinical advantages while lessening psychoactive side effects. AbbVie will be given the option to lead both the development and marketing aspects of this venture. Additionally, AbbVie is set to pay an advance of USD 65 million to Gilgamesh. Assuming certain milestones and sales-related royalties are met, potential future payments could mount up to USD 1.95 billion.
</div>

Gilgamesh Pharmaceuticals

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