VCU start-up companies in the past 10 years 

60+

Start-ups launched

27

Currently in operation

>$97M

Start-up funding

11

Products to market

Select start-up companies

Based on technologies licensed from VCU TechTransfer and Ventures

Arche VR llc

Arche (aar-kee) VR is the first scientist and clinician led VR company to provide evidence-based mental health treatment and psychological assessment. Arche VR is not just the origin of mental health treatment and psychological assessment, but it is the future.

https://archevr.com/

InterLeukin Combinatorial Therapies

Interleukin Combinatorial Therapies is developing the next generation of cancer-selective interleukin (cytokine)-based therapeutics. Through a process called “bystander antitumor activity” their unique engineered therapeutic cytokines destabilize cancer cells, resulting in direct killing or indirect toxicity through activation of the immune system and inhibition of angiogenesis.

https://aim-hiaccelerator.org/ilct/

InVaMet Therapuetics

Drug discovery – small-molecule inhibitors of invasion and metastasis focusing on a specific cancer-promoting protein, MDA-9/Syntenin Targeted Cancer(s): Applicable to the majority of metastatic and invasive cancers

Lighthouse XR

LIGHTHOUSE XR is creating innovative, cost effective and evidence based programs to extend clinical resources for recovery through the use of XR technologies. By supporting our therapists and counselors with xr programs, we can provide them with supplemental therapy beyond their in person work and allow the patient to continue their recovery journey “24/7”.

https://www.lighthousexr.com/

Light Switch Bio

Light Switch Bio is a seed-stage biotech spin-out from Massey Cancer Center. The company is developing multiple drug delivery platforms that allow them to control drug activity with laser-precision to avoid the off-target activity that produces side effects.

https://www.lightswitchbio.com/

NCMN Bio

The Native Cell Membrane Nanoparticle system: A comprehensive, detergent-free protein extraction, sample preparation, and structure elucidation platform for drug discovery. With the NCMN detergent-free extraction technique, cell membrane proteins retain more of their native lipid environments, enabling more accurate structure determinations with cryo-EM, NMR, EPR and MS workflows, and computational fitting techniques.

https://www.ncmnbio.com/

Nuzzi

Developed by a team of lactation consultants, nurses, and pediatric providers. Nuzzi holds you so you can hold your baby. Made of a rice filled pouch which gently supports the breasts to give mom the extra hand needed when feeding baby.

https://thenuzzi.com/

Pascal Medical

Pascal is a development-stage medical technology company that produces advanced synthetic polymer products used to make orthopedic, spine and neurosurgery safer and more effective. We are developing safe and effective synthetic polymeric CLICK-polyethyelene glycol (PEG) hydrogel to seal surgical and traumatic leaks, and release antibiotics onto surgical sites, stopping infections and preventing sepsis.

https://pascalmed.com/

Perfusion Medical

Perfusion Medical is commercializing PEG-20k, a breakthrough IV solution for restoration of tissue perfusion invented at the Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) School of Medicine. PEG-20k shows potential to be a disruptive solution for addressing severe blood loss (hemorrhagic shock) and related medical conditions.

https://perfusionmedical.com/

Pleros Therapeutics

Pleros Therapeutics is a biotechnology company founded in 2022 by researchers at Virginia Commonwealth University. Our focus is developing small molecule therapies that alter dendritic cell function for the treatment of immunological disorders such as allergic diseases.

https://www.plerostherapeutics.com/

Quench Medical

Quench Medical is developing a novel aerosol platform technology to deliver medicine into deep areas of the lung with unprecedented efficiency to greatly increase efficacy in treating pulmonary airway diseases.

http://www.quenchmedical.net

Realistic Anatomical Model (RAM) Phantoms LLC

Anatomically accurate human brain phantoms that can be used as a research tool to perfect treatment plans for neurological disorders such as Parkinson's disease, depression, etc.

https://www.ramphantoms.com/

Respiratory Drug Delivery

RDD coordinates meetings and sessions with special interest groups such as the Inhalation and Nasal Technology Focus Group of the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists, the International Society for Aerosol in Medicine, and the Product Quality Research Institute, in an attempt to maximize delegate participation in important issues.

https://www.rddonline.com

St. Teresa Medical, Inc.

Just as Mother Teresa was a healer and saved lives, this platform technology is designed to stop life-threatening bleeding or fluid leaks during surgery and aid in wound healing. St Teresa Medical is aimed to revolutionize the hemostatic and therapeutic markets with soft matter nanotechnology fibers to better patient outcomes and improve lives.

https://stteresamedical.com/

Static Sim LLC

The company offers an anesthesia training tool which is the only training aid that demonstrates the distribution and behaviors of medications with various densities within the intrathecal space post medication injection.

https://staticsim.com

Symple Solutions Inc.

Symple Solutions develops and licenses the Symple FPGA overlay, an IEC 61508 SIL 3/4 - compliant industrial automation framework. Our innovation stems from understanding, managing, and constraining complexity according to our Complexity-Aware design philosophy. We use proven hazard-avoiding and cost-saving methodologies.

https://symplesolutions.com/

Teclison Limited

Teclison is a venture backed company developing novel stilben derivatives for cancer treatment. The team is distinguished for their induced tumor hypoxia treatments for liver cancer with a focus in the US, EU, and China.

http://www.teclison.com

ThermaGEL Innovations, Inc.

ThermaGEL Innovations, a startup spun out of VCU research, is commercializing what it calls a “breakthrough” insulation material using aerogels, porous solids mostly made of air. The company says its aerogel insulation improves heat resistance, known as R-value, by 136% over conventional materials such as fiberglass. Its aerogels are also thinner, lightweight, flameproof, moisture-proof and reduce noise.

https://thermagelinnovations.com/

WEAVEonline

Dedicated to improving student learning through assessment, Weave provides software solutions and expertise for institutional and programmatic effectiveness. With technology costs in higher education exploding, Weave is committed to providing the most user-friendly software on the market at a cost any size institution can afford.

https://weaveeducation.com/

Wingspan

The company offers a nationally recognized early childhood prevention program, Al’s Pals: Kids Making Healthy Choices and the companion parent education program, Here, Now and Down the Road…Tips for Loving Parents.

http://wingspanworks.com