MSU Research Foundation’s Captive Venture Funds Close 20 Investments

EAST LANSING, Mich. (July 17, 2025) — The MSU Research Foundation announced 20 new investment and purchase order financing transactions in startup companies through its Red Cedar Ventures and Michigan investment subsidiaries between April and June of 2025.

“This quarter’s investments show the breadth of Michigan’s startup ecosystem,” said Jeff Wesley, Executive Director of Ventures at the MSU Research Foundation. “From advanced therapies in women’s health and microbiome science, to digital platforms serving municipalities and artists, we’re seeing strong ideas and strong execution across the board.”

The Red Cedar Ventures Pre-Seed Fund supported the following companies:

• Iora Nature Tech: Provides real-time carbon reporting and nature monitoring using AI, machine learning, and satellite imagery.

• Akadeum: Uses buoyant microbubbles to separate cells and molecules without magnets or harsh chemicals, simplifying sample prep for research, diagnostics, and cell therapy.
• Flightpath Biosciences: Creates therapies for chronic diseases linked to infections and imbalances in the body’s microbiome.

• ArtClvb: An online platform that helps artists sell their work, connect with collectors, and earn royalties through an easy-to-use digital marketplace.
• Atterx Biotherapeutics: Developing targeted therapies to treat drug-resistant bacterial infections by preventing harmful bacteria from attaching to human cells.
• Chiyo: Offers meal programs rooted in traditional Asian ingredients to support women’s health during fertility, pregnancy, and postpartum recovery.
• CIBO Technologies: Helps companies manage agricultural carbon programs and track sustainability using satellite imagery and field-level data.
• Electric Plant Company: Uses sensors to read electrical signals from plants, enabling real-time insights into plant health for farmers and arborists.
• LIVAQ: Building an all-electric ATV that offers off-road performance without the noise or emissions—designed for a smarter, cleaner outdoor experience.
• Livegistics: Replaces paper tickets on construction sites with digital tools that track the movement of materials like asphalt, dirt, and concrete.
• Lutely: A commission-free platform that helps music creators license tracks, distribute content, and streamline their workflow using AI-powered tools.
• Magsorbeo Biomedical: Designs bioabsorbable implants that support healing and reduce the need for follow-up surgeries.
• Ocutheia: Developing therapies to prevent vision loss by restoring energy balance in the eye’s light-sensitive cells, targeting diseases like macular degeneration.
• Syncurrent: Helps local governments—including rural communities and tribal nations—use technology to access funding, improve services, and operate more effectively.
• One additional Michigan-based startup operating in stealth mode also received investment this quarter.

• ArcPath Automation: Builds custom automation and robotics systems that help industrial and automotive clients streamline production and improve efficiency.
• Electric Outdoors: Provides solar-powered EV charging canopies for off-grid camping, combining clean energy with customizable, Airbnb-style outdoor experiences.
• Grounded: Builds highly reliable, fully electric recreational vehicles designed for self-sustainability and life on the road.
• Official OrganicsRx: Produces 100% plant-based, animal-free dry fertilizers for organic gardening and farming certified by OMRI for organic use.
• Orbion: Builds plasma propulsion systems for small satellites, helping operators reduce costs and get more value from their data.

“Purchase order financing gives us another way to help startups grow when it matters most,” Wesley added. “It bridges the gap between receiving an order and having the capital to fulfill it, extending our impact beyond equity investment alone.”

The Red Cedar Ventures and Michigan Rise Pre-Seed Fund III investment funds provide critical support to tech startups at various stages of development. Red Cedar Ventures’ Pre-Seed Fund offers early-stage funding to help startups launch and secure additional investment, while the Opportunity Funds I and II provide follow-on funding as portfolio companies grow. The MSU Research Foundation established the Michigan Rise Pre-Seed Fund III in partnership with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), offering funding, coaching, and grant assistance to Michigan-based tech startups. Together, these funds deliver comprehensive financial support and resources to startups throughout their journey in the technology sector.

For more information about the MSU Research Foundation, its investment funds and portfolio companies, visit msufoundation.org.