New World Angels (NWA) is a group of private investors dedicated to providing equity capital to  early-stage entrepreneurial companies in the state of Florida. NWA has chapters in South Florida and the Tampa Bay area and is typically a lead or co-investor in transactions totaling between $0.5 million and $2.5 million.  Members of NWA have extensive experience in founding, building, and managing companies     in a wide variety of industries. In addition to providing funding, NWA members  make their expertise and resource networks available to portfolio companies.  NWA works closely with other regional and national venture firms. In addition, it is supported by such leading institutions as The Research Park at Florida Atlantic University, Enterprise Development Corporation, Florida Atlantic University, and Florida International University.

New World Angels

Johnson & Johnson Development Corporation (JJDC) is the venture capital subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson. JJDC is comprised of experts and leaders in the health care and technology venture communities who identify early market indicators, health care trends, and strategic investment opportunities. Unlike traditional venture capital firms, JJDC determines the success of an investment’s performance not only in financial returns, but also in the viability of providing strategic growth options for Johnson & Johnson.  JJDC plays an integral role in the identification of new business opportunities outside of Johnson & Johnson’s traditional portfolio and market presence. JJDC identifies new market opportunities and develops new businesses in emergent health care sectors while also creating support venture investments in alignment with the strategic objectives of Johnson & Johnson operating companies.

Johnson & Johnson Development Corporation

Johnson & Johnson Innovation is a center for science and business experts to collaborate with innovators to incorporate science into healthcare solutions, including medical device and diagnostic technologies, consumer healthcare products, and pharmaceuticals. It is focused on the advancement of new healthcare solutions in the consumer, pharmaceutical, and medical devices and diagnostics sectors.’ The company provides financing tools that include early-stage research funding, seed funding, equity investments, licensing, and collaborations. Additionally, it offers its partners access to international markets, pricing and reimbursement, market testing, company creation services, and more. They conduct their activities with the help of regional incubators, satellite operations, single bench tops, modular labs, office space for entrepreneurs, and a year-round curriculum focused on business and drug development. Johnson & Johnson Innovation is a subsidiary of [Johnson & Johnson](http://www.crunchbase.com/organization/johnson-johnson)  and its centers are located in Boston, California, London, and Shanghai.

Johnson & Johnson Robotics and Digital Solutions

TMC Venture Fund invests in entrepreneurs who are shaping the future of health care.TMC Venture Fund's mission is to serve the world's health, education, and research needs.TMCVF is the venture capital arm of Texas Medical Center Corporation.

TMC Venture Fund

Phase One Ventures, LLC is a venture fund designed to manage Phase One Ventures Limited Partner Fund, LLP. The fund invests in technologies at the intersection of biotechnology and nanotechnology to create successful companies with the help of our experienced team.  There is an abundance of both State and private capital available in New Mexico to invest in innovation and technology based entrepreneurial companies. Phase One Ventures LLC believes that higher returns on investment and improved success rates can be achieved by taken a decidedly different, highly focused approach to the market. Key Elements of this strategy for success are shown at the right.

Phase One Ventures

Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas is a state agency that invests in cancer prevention and academic research. It's goal is to accelerate innovation in cancer research and product development, and to improve access to evidence-based prevention programs. It also accepts applications and awards grants for a wide variety of cancer-related research and for the delivery of cancer prevention programs and services by public and private entities located in Texas. All CPRIT-funded research will be facilitated in state by Texas-based scientists and reflect the mission to attract and expand the state’s research capabilities and create high quality new jobs in Texas. Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas was founded on 2007 and is headquartered in Austin, Texas.

Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas

The Houston Angel Network (HAN) is the oldest angel network in Texas and most active angel network in the USA according to the Angel Resource Institute.  Its members have invested more than $61.7M in 198 deals since its inception in 2001.  In 2014, HAN members invested $15.3M in 66 deals.  The typical individual HAN member is an accredited investor seriously interested in providing capital and coaching to early stage companies. HAN also has institutional members such as seed funds, accelerators, universities and other networks within the innovation ecosystem.  HAN is a non-profit association that does not charge fees to entrepreneurs; its revenue consists of membership fees and sponsorships.

Houston Angel Network

cultivate(MD) is a unique, medical venture capital fund.

cultivate(MD)

GenHenn Capital is a single-family office that specializes in private equity and venture capital investments.

GenHenn Venture

Prana Thoracic

Houston-based medical device startup Prana Thoracic, Inc. is dedicated to developing solutions for early intervention in lung cancer. We are an experienced team of surgeons, engineers and entrepreneurs on a mission to tackle lung cancer; the #1 cancer killer in the US. The paradigm of screening, detection, and early intervention that has been deployed in other major cancers has so far eluded lung cancer. As a result, only 16% of lung cancers are found at an early stage and the current 5-year survival rate is < 20%. Recent changes to lung cancer screening guidelines have illuminated a path to improving outcomes in lung cancer. However, these advances rely on excising suspicious nodules and providing sufficient tissue for definitive diagnosis. We believe this is the missing piece of the puzzle, and physicians need a new generation of surgical oncology tools for lung cancer. Prana Thoracic plans to revolutionize the early diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer by making it easier and less invasive to deal with the rapidly growing number of early suspicious lung nodules; ensuring that we do not miss the window of opportunity to intervene early.

Prana Thoracic, a medical device startup based in Houston, is dedicated to developing solutions for early intervention in lung cancer. The company is working on the ThoraCore System, a minimally invasive, lung-sparing device designed for the excision of targeted lung tissue. This electrosurgical instrument utilizes a specialized anchor to target lung nodules under computed tomography guidance, employing bipolar radiofrequency to seal the incision and minimize bleeding and air leaks.

Houston lung cancer diagnostics startup launches, snags $3M grant

MedTech Innovator selects Prana Thoracic, Ankr, NeuraStasis, Nininger Medical

INVEST Pitch Perfect Spotlight: How Prana Thoracic Can Help Treat Lung Cancer Sooner

Prana Thoracic Announces Series A Financing

Prana Thoracic Announces That Its Subsidiary Receives $3 Million CPRIT Grant to Develop a Minimally Invasive Device for Early Interception of Lung Cancer

Pushing the envelope in MedTech with emerging technologies

Next-gen Medical Devices

Prana Thoracic: MedTech Company Closes $3 Million (Series A Extension)

Prana Thoracic, a medical device startup based in Houston, is dedicated to developing solutions for early intervention in lung cancer. The company is working on the ThoraCore System, a minimally invasive, lung-sparing device designed for the excision of targeted lung tissue. This electrosurgical instrument utilizes a specialized anchor to target lung nodules under computed tomography guidance, employing bipolar radiofrequency to seal the incision and minimize bleeding and air leaks.
The ThoraCore System aims to address the limitations of current lung cancer screening methods, which often fail to provide definitive diagnoses. Needle biopsies are ineffective for smaller nodules, while invasive surgeries carry significant risks and complications. By enabling minimally invasive tissue extraction, ThoraCore promises to facilitate earlier and more accurate diagnoses, leading to improved treatment outcomes for lung cancer patients.
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the US, accounting for nearly 25% of all cancer deaths. While over 14 million patients are eligible for lung cancer screening annually, less than 5% undergo the procedure. Prana Thoracic's technology aims to bridge this gap, providing physicians with a tool to intervene earlier in the patient's journey.
In March 2023, Prana Thoracic announced the closing of a USD 3 million Series A financing round led by New World Angels, joined by Johnson & Johnson Innovation, Texas Medical Center Venture Fund, and the University City Science Center's Phase one Ventures. Additionally, the company received a USD 3 million award from the Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) in August 2022. These funds will support the development of ThoraCore and the company's first-in-human clinical studies.

Convergent Dental, Inc. is a privately owned dental equipment and technology company. Its flagship product, Solea, is the only CO2 laser cleared by the FDA for all-tissue indications, delivering an anesthesia-free, blood-free, and suture-free experience for dentists and patients. Solea represents a breakthrough in dental laser technology, offering a distinct experience compared to traditional instruments or earlier laser treatments.
Solea is a novel 9.3-micron CO2 laser that nears the peak absorption of hydroxyapatite (enamel), enabling it to vaporize enamel with speed and precision. This unique wavelength, coupled with computer-controlled motors (galvos) that manipulate the beam thousands of times per second, allows dentists to perform procedures ranging from hard tissue to soft tissue with total control and efficiency.
A key feature of Solea is its variable-speed foot pedal, which lets dentists seamlessly transition from hard to soft tissue by adjusting the pressure applied. This intuitive design streamlines the learning curve for dentists accustomed to using a drill. Solea's three ergonomic handpieces – Contra-Angle, Straight, and Ultraguide – further enhance its versatility across various procedures.
Solea not only improves patient experiences but also offers practice benefits such as increased productivity, new patient flow, and efficiency gains. In October 2022, Convergent Dental received FDA clearance for Solea to aid in reducing mineral loss in dental enamel, protecting teeth against acid attack and caries development. This breakthrough application was commercially launched in November 2023 under the name Solea Protect.

Convergent Dental

Ossio is an orthopedic fixation technology company that has developed OSSIOfiber Intelligent Bone Regeneration Technology, a breakthrough implant material designed to securely fixate and fully integrate into the body's native anatomy without leaving any permanent hardware behind. This technology addresses the limitations of conventional metal and resorbable implants, combining unparalleled mechanical strength with natural bone healing.
Made from a proprietary mineral fiber matrix held together by a naturally degradable polymer, OSSIOfiber implants provide surgeons with a more biologically friendly way to restore patient stability and mobility. These implants are engineered to provide the strength required for functional fixation while allowing full integration into the native bone without adverse biological response.
Ossio's product portfolio includes compression screws, trimmable fixation nails, hammertoe fixation systems, suture anchors, and compression staples, all made with OSSIOfiber technology. These implants have received multiple FDA clearances since 2019, and the company has initiated commercialization of its products in the US. As of March 2022, over 6,000 implantations of OSSIOfiber products had been performed, demonstrating adoption of this innovative technology.
OSSIOfiber Intelligent Bone Regeneration Technology can address various surgical applications through the manufacturing of implant designs like nails, screws, staples, anchors, and plates. Ossio plans to pursue multiple applications in distal extremities, trauma, sports, reconstruction, pediatrics, and spine segments.
In February 2023, Ossio launched the world's first and only non-permanent compression staple made with OSSIOfiber technology, designed for predictable bone in-growth, regeneration, and replacement.

Ossio

Casana is a healthcare technology company that has developed the Heart Seat, an innovative toilet seat that enables effortless, integrated, and consistent in-home health monitoring. The Heart Seat is a replacement for a standard toilet seat and is designed to measure key clinical parameters such as heart rate, blood oxygen saturation (SpO2), and blood pressure.
In May 2023, Casana received FDA clearance for the Heart Seat to measure heart rate and SpO2 in adults aged 22 years and older, weighing between 90 to 350 pounds. The company plans to file for additional indications, including systolic and diastolic blood pressure, with the goal of launching the product in the market by the end of 2023.
The Heart Seat is equipped with sensors that passively capture health data whenever the seat is used, eliminating the need for user compliance or behavior changes. The data is automatically uploaded to the Casana Cloud, where it can be viewed by healthcare providers, enabling them to monitor patients' health trends and respond to changes in near real-time.
Casana's technology allows for the effortless collection of consistent and reliable data, assisting medical teams in monitoring chronic conditions beyond the hospital or physician's office. The company aims to unlock a new category in healthcare technologies that enables seamless, integrated, and continuous in-home health monitoring.
In January 2022, Casana was acquired by an undisclosed entity, further accelerating the commercialization of the Heart Seat.

Casana

Neurent Medical is a company pioneering innovative non-surgical interventions to treat chronic inflammatory sinonasal diseases, particularly chronic rhinitis. The company's flagship product is the NEUROMARK System, a device that received US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 510(k) clearance in October 2021.
The NEUROMARK System is designed to gently apply controlled low-power radio frequency (RF) energy to target regions of the nasal cavity, disrupting the parasympathetic nerve signals that can trigger an inflammatory response. This alleviates chronic rhinitis symptoms such as persistent congestion, rhinorrhea (runny nose), swelling of the mucosal membrane, sneezing, and nasal itching. The system's unique flexible leaflet design and proprietary smart algorithms enable precise neurolysis (disruption) of the posterior nasal nerves (PNN) and accessory pathways, accommodating a range of patient anatomies while maintaining mucosal and vascular integrity.
Neurent Medical announced the limited market release of the NEUROMARK System in the US in February 2023, following the establishment of a new Category I Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) code by the American Medical Association (AMA) for PNN procedures, effective January 2024. The American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS) also endorsed the PNN procedure in 2023.

Neurent Medical

Genetesis is a medical imaging company specializing in biomagnetic cardiac imaging solutions. It has developed CardioFlux, a flagship magnetocardiography (MCG) system that non-invasively identifies myocardial ischemia, a condition where blood flow to the heart muscle is reduced. The technology measures the magnetic fields generated by the heart's electrical activity to detect ischemia within minutes, without using pharmaceuticals or radiation. CardioFlux MCG is designed to provide advanced imaging while prioritizing patient comfort.
The company's solutions target the diagnosis of coronary microvascular disease (CMD), a condition that has been challenging to identify due to a lack of effective functional diagnostics. By offering an accurate and rapid test for CMD, Genetesis aims to address an unmet clinical need and enable timely management of the condition.
In April 2023, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted CardioFlux MCG Breakthrough Device designation for the non-invasive diagnosis of myocardial ischemia in patients suspected of having CMD.
Genetesis was founded in 2013 and is headquartered in Mason, Ohio. The company has received over USD 40 million in funding to date, including a USD 17.5 million Series C round in October 2022. In April 2020, TDK Ventures, the corporate venture capital arm of TDK Corporation, invested in Genetesis, providing access to TDK's expertise in areas like biomagnetic sensors and magnetic noise suppression.

Genetesis

Companies that develop diagnostic devices used in a hospital setting to identify a disease, condition, or injury, such as imaging systems and endoscopes

Companies that develop implantable medical devices designed to be surgically placed inside the human body, either temporarily or permanently, including devices such as pacemakers, artificial joints, stents, and cochlear implants

Companies that develop non-surgical devices that are used in a procedure or intervention to cure or relieve a patient from an illness or disease such as laser treatments, dental equipment, and wound care management

Companies that develop monitoring devices that are used in a hospital setting to measure patient vital signs and ensure patient well-being post-treatment, such as cardiac and respiratory monitoring systems

Providers of software that enhances the functionality of medical device hardware (diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring)

Companies that develop surgical devices involving invasive interventions (cutting into a patient's body tissues) to treat, cure, or relieve a patient of an illness or disease

Companies that develop devices to administer pharmaceutical substances into a patient's body, ensuring controlled release or targeted delivery, specifically for use in clinical settings to treat or manage medical conditions effectively

Providers of software that helps manage risks, ensure quality, and streamline audit processes during medical device development

IoT connects devices to EHR systems for precise patient diagnosis and treatment support

Devices are linked to software platforms that use digital technologies such as AI/ML and VR

Startups leverage AI/ML and deep learning to support patient diagnosis and early detection

Prana Thoracic

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