With a capital of €90 million, Innovestor’s Life Science Fund is dedicated to advancing life-saving science. Since 2022, the Fund has invested in 12 groundbreaking drug development and digital health companies. The most recent investments include three University spinouts in Finland, all developing novel treatments for some of the world’s most pressing neurological diseases, including Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s Diseases, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and depression.
This feature introduces the latest university spin–outs, highlighting their innovations and explaining why we are so excited about their potential.
Pekka Simula, Partner at Innovestor Life Science Fund:
“We are super excited about our portfolio and the international investors we have attracted to our investees. Almost all of our investments are syndicated with other European or US funds, which is exceptional considering their early stage. Our latest three investments in fresh academic spin outs are already supported by three international groups; these one-year-old companies have collectively raised about 10 million euros, which demonstrates the high quality of academic science in Finland – and our own investment thesis.”
Meet Life Science Fund’s Latest Portfolio Companies
Polku Therapeutics
Polku Therapeutics is a University of Helsinki spin-out developing novel small molecule drugs for neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s, which are the two most common neurodegenerative diseases, and among the greatest socio-economic burdens globally.
Founded in 2024, Polku Therapeutics has already attracted funding from American foundations supporting research and drug development for neurodegenerative diseases. The company’s €2 million pre-seed round was led by Innovestor’s Life Science Fund and Torrey Pines Investment, a specialty life-science investment company based in San Diego, with Helsinki University Funds also participating.
Kasvu Therapeutics
Kasvu Therapeutics, another drug development startup from the University of Helsinki, develops potent enhancers of neuroplasticity: the ability of the brain to adapt. This holy grail of drug development could address indications impacting hundreds of millions of people, including Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, addiction, and depression. Due to the immense need, pharmaceutical companies are even testing illegal psychedelics such as LSD for neuroplasticity despite their obvious problems. Kasvu has already proven that its molecules are very potent neuroplastogens – and they don’t cause hallucinations.
Innovestor helped to spin -out Kasvu from the university and led its pre-seed round in 2023, the year the company was founded. Innovestor also participated in the company’s seed round in 2024.
Soihtu DTx
Soihtu DTx, a spin–out from Aalto University, develops a game-based treatment for depression, based on more than a decade of neuroscientific research. Their innovative approach combines game design, neuroscience, and psychology to create a unique digital therapy. The company expects clinical data to be published in 2025 on its first promising results addressing treatment resistant depression. Founded in 2023, Soihtu DTx has already raised over €3 million; its pre-seed round was led by Innovestor together with an international specialist investor in brain health, NewFund HEKA.
Further information:
Pekka Simula
Partner, Innovestor Life Science Fund
pekka.simula@innovestor.fi
Heli Mehtätalo-Takala
Director, Marketing and Communications
heli.mehtatalo-takala@innovestor.fi
+358 50 402 6781
Get in touch with our communication at https://innovestorgroup.com/media/
Related media links:
Talouselämä
Mediuutiset
Startup Weekly
Startups Magazine
Silicon Canals