Scientific Venture Partners

Scientific Venture Partners Research Investment Thesis Scientific Venture Partners (SVP) is a deep tech venture studio that starts, nurtures, and invests in companies solving global challenges with transformative deep technology. Unlike traditional venture capital firms, SVP operates as a venture builder — the partners are hands-on operators who co-found and build portfolio companies from the ground up, bringing scientific expertise, entrepreneurial experience, and operational support. The firm's thesis centers on translating breakthrough science into commercially viable enterprises, with particular strength in life sciences, diagnostics, medical devices, and physical security. The team has a proven track record of building and exiting successful deep tech companies, most notably Solus Scientific (a food diagnostics company acquired by PerkinElmer). Sector Focus SVP focuses exclusively on deep technology sectors: Medical Devices & Digital Health : Neurostimulation therapies for post-stroke dysphagia (Phagenesis), gut health supplements (Ateria Health) Biotech & Diagnostics : Synthetic RNA binders for disease biomarker detection (Nemdx), food pathogen detection (Ceres Diagnostics) Animal Health : Microbiome-based gut health products for horses and dogs (Tharos) Physical Security : AI-powered concealed threat detection systems proven with US Army and NATO (Mantacus) Telecommunications Infrastructure : 5G network optimization and aesthetically integrated wireless infrastructure for smart cities (Bellantenna) The common thread is transformative science applied to real-world problems, with a bias toward areas where the team has deep domain expertise in life sciences and diagnostics. Stage Focus As a venture studio, SVP primarily operates at the earliest stages of company creation: Company creation / Pre-Seed : Co-founding and incubating new ventures from scientific breakthroughs Seed : Providing initial capital and operational support to get products to market The firm appears to nurture companies through to growth stage and strategic acquisition Check Size As a venture studio rather than a traditional fund, SVP does not appear to operate with standardized check sizes. Investment is deeply integrated with company building — the partners contribute intellectual property, operational expertise, and scientific know-how alongside capital. Based on the portfolio companies' stages and the studio model, estimated initial investments likely range from pre-seed to seed-stage amounts. Lead Tendency SVP leads by definition — they co-found and build their portfolio companies. They are the originating investors and typically remain deeply involved as board members and operators. Recent Activity SVP appears to be actively building and growing its portfolio: Phagenesis : Major milestone in 2025 — Pharyngeal Electrical Stimulation (PES) was included in the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association 2026 guideline, a significant clinical validation. The company has FDA de novo classification and CE marking. Bellantenna : Deployed a 5G network for Racing Force Group's Skier's Eye technology in alpine skiing (February 2025) Ceres Diagnostics : Actively developing food pathogen detection technology with novel RNA-based approach Nemdx : Received $400,000 grant from ALS Finding a Cure (ALSFAC) and presented at NEALS 2024 Conference Mantacus : Continuing commercialization of concealed threat detection technology proven with US Army and NATO Portfolio Highlights SVP's portfolio consists of 7 known companies, all co-founded or deeply built by the partners: Phagenesis (Manchester, UK) — Medical device company developing Phagenyx, a neurostimulation therapy for post-stroke dysphagia. FDA-cleared, CE-marked, backed by EQT, Sectoral, and Nestlé Health Science. Included in AHA/ASA 2026 stroke guideline. 30+ publications supporting clinical evidence. Tharos (UK) — Animal microbiome company producing EquiNectar (horses) and CaniNectar (dogs) gut health supplements. Active consumer product with strong customer testimonials. Nemdx (Boston, MA & Sandwich, UK) — Biotech company pioneering synthetic short RNA binders for ultra-sensitive disease biomarker detection. Applications in neurodegenerative diseases, cancer, and infectious diseases. Received ALS research grant. Mantacus — Security technology company with patented concealed threat detection for open areas. 27+ worldwide patents, 30+ successful defense and commercial trials. Proven with US Army and NATO. Bellantenna — 5G wireless infrastructure company focused on aesthetically integrated, high-performance urban wireless systems with Open-RAN compatibility. Ceres Diagnostics (Sandwich, UK) — Food safety diagnostics developing RNA-based pathogen detection technology for Salmonella and Listeria with breakthrough speed and cost efficiency. Ateria Health — Consumer health company with JUVIA brand, a gut health supplement using ERME enzyme technology to improve microbiome health. Notable Exit : Solus Scientific (food diagnostics) — acquired by PerkinElmer. This was co-founded by Fred Edenius and involved Will Addison, demonstrating the team's ability to build and exit deep tech companies. Team The SVP team consists of four partners who are hands-on operators and company builders: Douglas Dundonald — Partner Will Addison — Partner. Entrepreneur and investor. Co-founded Apta Biosciences (synthetic affinity reagents), NemDx, and Qbiotix. Senior roles at Microtest Diagnostics and Solus Scientific (PerkinElmer). Adviser to Singapore Diagnostics Hub. Vito Levi D'Ancona — Partner Fred Edenius — Partner. Life sciences entrepreneur and board-level leader. Co-founded Solus Scientific (acquired by PerkinElmer), Phagenesis (backed by EQT, Sectoral, Nestlé Health Science), and Apta Biosciences. Extensive experience in building, financing, and scaling diagnostics and medtech businesses. The team photo shows all four partners in lab coats, emphasizing their hands-on scientific involvement. Decision Process As a small partnership of four co-founders/operators, decisions appear to be made through direct partnership consensus. This is a tightly knit team that co-founds companies together. Geographic Focus Primarily UK and Europe, with some US presence: Phagenesis: Manchester, UK (also commercializing in the US with FDA clearance) Nemdx: Boston, MA and Sandwich, UK Ceres Diagnostics: Sandwich, UK Mantacus: Appears US/international (US Army, NATO trials) Bellantenna: Europe (alpine skiing deployment) Founder Preferences As a venture studio, SVP does not typically back external founders. They create companies internally, with the partners serving as co-founders and bringing in specialist CEOs and technical leaders (e.g., Ray Wakefield at Ceres Diagnostics, Dr. Ian Thrippleton as CTO at NemDx). The model is one of internal company creation rather than external founder backing.