Brown's unconventional path to biotech began when she left a successful automotive career to work in life sciences, eventually leading to her first startup, which failed but built her reputation in Michigan's startup community. Encouraged by VCs, she co-founded CircNova with Deangelo in May 2023, initially using small grants to develop the startup's processes and secure a patent application. The $3.3 million seed round, led by South Loop Ventures and supported by several other investors, reflects confidence in Brown's resilience and the potential of CircNova's innovative approach.
Key takeaways:
- CircNova, a Michigan biotech startup, raised $3.3 million in seed funding to develop AI technology targeting circular RNA for new therapies.
- Co-founder and CEO Crystal Brown transitioned from the automotive industry to biotech, overcoming initial setbacks to establish CircNova.
- CircNova's proprietary AI engine, NovaEngine, predicts circular RNA structures and collaborates with the University of Michigan for validation.
- The seed round was led by South Loop Ventures and included investments from several other venture capital firms.