Latest news with #venturecreation
Yahoo
08-08-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
RBL LLC secures investment from Modi Ventures
- Strategic investment to support RBL's mission to launch and scale breakthrough startups - Founder and general partner of Modi Ventures, Sahir Ali, to join RBL board of directors - Modi Ventures' Ali, RBL managing partner Wotton to speak on venture creation at Canaccord Genuity Growth Conference Aug. 12 HOUSTON, Aug. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- RBL LLC, a pioneering biotech venture creation studio dedicated to rapidly building companies based on breakthrough medical technologies, announced that it has secured an investment from Modi Ventures to support its mission to launch and scale breakthrough startups into clinical-stage companies. In addition, RBL has announced the appointment of Sahir Ali to its board of directors. Ali is the founder and current general partner of Modi Ventures, a leading venture capital firm investing in biology and technology based in Houston. Ali's experience as an accomplished technology and health care leader, investor and adviser will be instrumental in bridging the gap between academic biotech discoveries and the clinical care market. "This investment by Modi Ventures will be instrumental to RBL's growth as it reinforces confidence in our venture creation model and accelerates our ability to develop successful biotech startups," said Paul Wotton, RBL's managing partner. "Sahir's addition to the board will also amplify this collaboration with Modi. His strategic counsel and deep understanding of field-defining technologies will be invaluable as we continue to grow and deliver on our mission." "The bold thinking and entrepreneurial initiatives coming out of RBL represent an important cornerstone of the rapidly evolving Houston life sciences scene, and I am honored to contribute to this growth by joining this exceptional board," Ali said. "Partnering my new role at RBL with the investment made by Modi can truly help not only build companies but also shape the future of patient care in a collaborative and more efficient way." "Modi Ventures' investment is a strong signal of market validation for the acceleration model we've built into RBL," said Paul Cherukuri, board member of RBL and chief innovation officer of Rice University. "It reflects growing investor confidence in RBL's ability to turn breakthrough science into real-world therapies and in Houston's rise as a global force in biotech innovation." Modi Ventures employs a proprietary financial engineering framework grounded in modern portfolio theory and efficient frontier principles. With $134 million under management, Modi Ventures backs category-defining companies advancing artificial intelligence (AI)-driven drug discovery, diagnostics and engineered therapeutics. The firm also invests in leading funds across the biotech and technology spectrum. A parallel entrepreneur, scientist and innovator, Sahir has led transformative work and built companies across AI, cloud computing and precision medicine. Sahir serves on the board of directors of the Drug Information Association, a leading global life science membership association driving collaboration in drug, device and diagnostics development in pursuit of a healthier world. Sahir will join existing board members Wotton, Cherukuri, Omid Veiseh, Rima Chakrabarti, John Jaggers, Devyn Smith and James Watson, an accomplished group of leaders with deep expertise in biotech innovation, clinical translation and venture building who together provide strategic guidance to help drive RBL's continued growth and success. Wotton and Ali will participate in a panel discussion at the Canaccord Genuity 45th annual Growth Conference Aug. 12 to discuss the future of biotech venture creation and the evolving role of academic innovation in company formation. About RBL LLC: RBL LLC is a pioneering biotech venture creation studio based in Houston that is dedicated to accelerating the development of breakthrough medical technologies and therapies through company formation. RBL provides entrepreneurs, researchers and innovators with infrastructure, financial support and strategic guidance as well as access to laboratory space and shared resources in the Texas Medical Center Helix Park. For more information, please visit Media Contact: Russo PartnersDavid Schull or Liz Phillips(347) View original content: SOURCE RBL LLC
Wamda
01-07-2025
- Business
- Wamda
idea-L closes $1 million pre-seed round to launch AI-powered venture creation platform
UAE-based venture creation platform idea-L has raised a $1 million pre-seed round, backed by unnamed angel investors. Founded in 2024 by Peter Goodwin, Daniel Muller, and Mark Hill, idea-L uses AI and Web3 to turn ideas into investor-ready ventures. The funding will accelerate technical hiring and launch new products. Press release: idea-L®, the artificial intelligence (AI) and Web3-powered platform that turns ideas into investor-ready ventures, and potential into progress, announces the close of an oversubscribed $1 million pre-seed round. The round, secured from a wide syndicate of investment angels, encompasses capital injection in the Holding Company and for the idea-L overall Project, as well as valuable 'to be unveiled' partnership contributions. These funds will accelerate technical hiring, prime the launch of the firm's governance token, GovToken, alongside a world-leading DAO-managed deVC Fund™, and expand the i-Luminary™ mentor network. Headquartered in Dubai, idea-L® is strategically positioned at the heart of the Middle East's thriving innovation economy. The region's push to lead in AI, decentralised finance, and entrepreneurship makes it an ideal launchpad for idea-L®'s vision of democratising venture creation. 'We want every would-be founder to carry a supportive, tireless, data-driven co-founder in their pocket," said Peter Goodwin, CEO and Founder of idea-L®. 'We want to create an experience that costs minutes, not months.' At the centre of idea-L® is the Idea Realisation Platform™ (IRP™), your co-founder in your pocket. It's an AI-powered system that removes the guesswork and gives every founder a path forward. Users can begin with fast-Feasibility™, a rapid validation tool that blends structured datasets with generative AI to provide instant clarity on potential. From there, LIVE-Feasibility™ offers deeper, real-time insight into market conditions, competition, and operational risks, with the option to add human calibration through teamLIVE-Feasibility™, an advanced layer designed for founders preparing to scale or fundraise. Once an idea shows signal, the IRP™ activates full execution mode, charting a personalised roadmap, triggering behavioural nudges, and unlocking access to the IFP™, where funding is proposed, voted, and allocated by GovToken holders. This first round of funding fuels the imminent private beta of idea-L®, anchored in fast-Feasibility™. Additional components, including LIVE-Feasibility™, teamLIVE-Feasibility™, the full IRP™, and the IFP™ funding engine, will roll out progressively by year-end. This staged launch allows idea-L® to deliver immediate value, while continuously evolving the platform through real user feedback. 'We watched brilliant people walk away from great markets because their idea-to-launch costs were too high,' said Goodwin. 'By automating the riskiest slice of the journey, we unlock thousands of experiments that would otherwise die in someone's notebook.' idea-L® leverages best-in-class AI technology, including reasoning-led LLMs in both multi-model and multi-modal contexts, while actively developing proprietary workflows across logical reasoning, probabilistic programming, inference, and evolutionary learning. 'Our aim is to expand applied business theory across product categories, industries, and geographies. Ultimately, we envision large language models making up no more than 20% of our total AI architecture.' said Daniel Muller, speaking on idea-L®'s long-term product vision. A fair-launch sale of GovTokens is set for Q3, 2025. Once live, token holders will exercise quadratic voting over roadmap features, funding allocations, and ecosystem partnerships — effectively turning the user base into the platform's governing body. The same token steers idea-L®'s forthcoming deVC Fund™, an evergreen pool that backs graduates of the IRP™ and aligns incentives between validators, founders, and capital contributors.
Zawya
26-06-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Dubai-Based idea-L® raises $1mln in oversubscribed pre-seed to launch AI-powered cofounder platform across the Middle East
DUBAI, UAE: idea-L®, the artificial intelligence (AI) and Web3-powered platform that turns ideas into investor-ready ventures, and potential into progress, announces the close of an oversubscribed $1 million pre-seed round. The round, secured from a wide syndicate of investment angels, encompasses capital injection in the Holding Company and for the idea-L overall Project, as well as valuable 'to be unveiled' partnership contributions. These funds will accelerate technical hiring, prime the launch of the firm's governance token, GovToken, alongside a world-leading DAO-managed deVC Fund ™, and expand the i-Luminary™ mentor network. Headquartered in Dubai, idea-L® is strategically positioned at the heart of the Middle East's thriving innovation economy. The region's push to lead in AI, decentralised finance, and entrepreneurship makes it an ideal launchpad for idea-L®'s vision of democratising venture creation. 'We want every would-be founder to carry a supportive, tireless, data-driven co-founder in their pocket," said Peter Goodwin, CEO and Founder of idea-L®. 'We want to create an experience that costs minutes, not months.' At the centre of idea-L® is the Idea Realisation Platform™ (IRP™), your co-founder in your pocket. It's an AI-powered system that removes the guesswork and gives every founder a path forward. Users can begin with fast-Feasibility™, a rapid validation tool that blends structured datasets with generative AI to provide instant clarity on potential. From there, LIVE-Feasibility™ offers deeper, real-time insight into market conditions, competition, and operational risks, with the option to add human calibration through teamLIVE-Feasibility™, an advanced layer designed for founders preparing to scale or fundraise. Once an idea shows signal, the IRP™ activates full execution mode, charting a personalised roadmap, triggering behavioural nudges, and unlocking access to the IFP™, where funding is proposed, voted, and allocated by GovToken holders. This first round of funding fuels the imminent private beta of idea-L®, anchored in fast-Feasibility™. Additional components, including LIVE-Feasibility™, teamLIVE-Feasibility™, the full IRP™, and the IFP™ funding engine, will roll out progressively by year-end. This staged launch allows idea-L® to deliver immediate value, while continuously evolving the platform through real user feedback. 'We watched brilliant people walk away from great markets because their idea-to-launch costs were too high,' said Goodwin. 'By automating the riskiest slice of the journey, we unlock thousands of experiments that would otherwise die in someone's notebook.' idea-L® leverages best-in-class AI technology, including reasoning-led LLMs in both multi-model and multi-modal contexts, while actively developing proprietary workflows across logical reasoning, probabilistic programming, inference, and evolutionary learning. 'Our aim is to expand applied business theory across product categories, industries, and geographies. Ultimately, we envision large language models making up no more than 20% of our total AI architecture.' said Daniel Muller, speaking on idea-L®'s long-term product vision. A fair-launch sale of GovTokens is set for Q3, 2025. Once live, token holders will exercise quadratic voting over roadmap features, funding allocations, and ecosystem partnerships — effectively turning the user base into the platform's governing body. The same token steers idea-L®'s forthcoming deVC Fund ™, an evergreen pool that backs graduates of the IRP ™ and aligns incentives between validators, founders, and capital contributors.
Yahoo
17-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
RBL LLC welcomes James Watson to board of directors
Experienced biotech executive joins board to support RBL's venture creation and growth strategy HOUSTON, June 17, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- RBL LLC, a pioneering biotech venture creation studio dedicated to rapidly building companies based on breakthrough medical technologies from Rice University, announced the appointment of James Watson to its board of directors. Watson, an operating partner at Andreessen Horowitz and a seasoned executive in the life sciences sector, brings to RBL LLC extensive experience in business strategy, corporate development and venture-backed company building, strengthening the organization's mission to accelerate lifesaving therapies from lab to clinic. "The appointment of James Watson to our board reflects a powerful endorsement of RBL's model and potential," said Paul Wotton, RBL's managing partner. "James has occupied high-level positions across the full life cycle of biotech innovation, from company formation and financing to the construction of valuable partnerships in this field. His insights into market dynamics and his ability to drive successful outcomes for emerging ventures such as ours will be critical as we continue to grow." "James' leadership spans both operational roles within biotech companies and strategic roles at one of the world's top venture firms," said Omid Veiseh, Rice professor of bioengineering and managing partner of RBL. "His ability to bridge science and business, along with his track record in corporate development, aligns perfectly with RBL's mission to translate Rice University's biomedical breakthroughs into high-impact startups." "RBL is approaching company creation in an innovative and differentiated way, with a positive impact that is starting to be seen across the broader Houston life sciences community," Watson said. "RBL has distinguished itself through its efficient approach to company formation, identifying substantive technologies with clear clinical applications and establishing focused enterprises to advance them. I was also particularly drawn to the strategic positioning of the studio in Houston, where it operates at the intersection of world-class academic research, clinical scale and entrepreneurial rigor, all fundamental components of building a successful scientific venture." Watson is currently serving as operating partner on the Bio + Health team at Andreessen Horowitz, where he leads business and corporate development for the firm's life sciences portfolio. Prior to joining Andreessen Horowitz, he held executive positions at numerous biotech companies, including Carmot Therapeutics, where as chief business officer, he was head of strategy, finance and corporate development. At Carmot, Watson led the raising of over $200 million for the company's pipeline and discovery platform and built business development relationships that significantly contributed to Carmot's $2.7 billion acquisition by Roche. Notably, he also served as chief business officer and president ICT at Sigilon Therapeutics, where he led a $485 million cell therapies partnership with Lilly. Earlier in his career, Watson served as CEO of merchant banking at Burrill & Company, a life sciences investment bank, and held leadership roles at Alvine Pharmaceuticals, Incyte, Chemdex, The Wilkerson Group and Eli Lilly. He earned an MBA from Indiana University and a bachelor's degree in economics from the University of Portsmouth. Watson will join existing board members Wotton, Veiseh, Rima Chakrabarti, John Jaggers, Devyn Smith and Paul Cherukuri, an accomplished group of leaders with deep expertise in biotech innovation, clinical translation and venture building who together provide strategic guidance to help drive RBL's continued growth and success. About RBL LLC: RBL LLC is a pioneering biotech venture creation studio based in Houston that is dedicated to accelerating the development of breakthrough medical technologies and therapies through company formation. RBL provides entrepreneurs, researchers and innovators with infrastructure, financial support and strategic guidance as well as access to laboratory space and shared resources in the Texas Medical Center Helix Park. For more information, please visit Media Contact: Russo PartnersDavid Schull or Liz Phillips(347) View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE RBL LLC Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Wamda
22-05-2025
- Business
- Wamda
SC Ventures partners with DIFC Innovation Hub to launch National Venture Studio
SC Ventures, the innovation and venture arm of Standard Chartered, has partnered with DIFC Innovation Hub to launch the National Venture Studio in Dubai. The initiative aims to accelerate innovation and venture creation in the region by leveraging SC Ventures' Venture Building as a Service (VBaaS) model, which provides frameworks, tools, and global expertise to support end-to-end startup development. Through this collaboration, participants will benefit from venture ideation, prototyping, founder matching, and scaling support, along with opportunities for co-hosted events, research, and ecosystem-building programs in DIFC's innovative environment. Press release: SC Ventures, Standard Chartered's innovation, FinTech investment and ventures arm, has signed a strategic partnership with DIFC Innovation Hub to launch the National Venture Studio, a new initiative aimed at accelerating innovation and supporting venture creation across the region. As part of the collaboration, SC Ventures is providing its Venture Building as a Service (VBaaS) model to equip DIFC Innovation Hub with the tools, expertise, and frameworks required to operate and scale the National Venture Studio. This strategic service offering brings SC Ventures' global venture-building experience to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) leading innovation ecosystem. VBaaS supports the entire venture creation lifecycle, from identifying market gaps and validating ideas to prototyping, founder recruitment, and scaling. Through this collaboration, SC Ventures and DIFC Innovation Hub aim to enable government entities, corporates, and entrepreneurs to build bold, tech-enabled solutions addressing regional and global challenges. 'DIFC has a 20-year legacy of supporting innovation in the UAE, and this partnership reflects our commitment to shaping the future of entrepreneurship in the region,' said Gautam Jain, Operating Member, SC Ventures. 'Through our VBaaS model, we're proud to empower DIFC Innovation Hub in launching the National Venture Studio, bringing our proven frameworks and capabilities to local innovators.' The National Venture Studio will target a broad set of stakeholders, including individuals, corporates, and public sector entities, with the flexibility to source clients either through DIFC Innovation Hub referrals or joint outreach. The partnership also enables opportunities for co-hosted events, research, and capability-building programmes to advance the region's innovation agenda. "This partnership reinforces DIFC Innovation Hub's commitment to fostering entrepreneurship and innovation in the UAE. By launching the National Venture Studio with SC Ventures' proven VBaaS model, we are equipping local innovators with the tools and expertise needed to create impactful, tech-enabled solutions." said Mohammad Alblooshi, Chief Executive Officer of DIFC Innovation Hub. As the UAE continues to position itself as a global centre for innovation and digital transformation, the launch of the National Venture Studio represents a significant step in nurturing homegrown ventures, supporting economic diversification, and attracting world-class talent to the region.
