The IST SPIN-OFF community will welcome three new members at their annual meeting: Seedrs, an equity crowdfunding platform, Action Modulers, which operates in the field of security consulting, and Magnomics, a startup that is developing a new diagnostics device based on innovative DNA detection technology. Read on to get to know them a little more.
Seedrs
Seedrs is an equity crowdfunding platform that allows companies with high growth potential to raise capital, allowing simultaneously for anyone to invest in such companies.
Founded in 2012 by Jeff Lynn and Carlos Silva, a former student of Técnico, the company was born when their founders were confronted with the problems and limitations that existed in the capital raising market, namely its ineffectiveness, the geographic concentration in two or three places and the limited innovation in the area over the years.
Seedrs was the first worldwide platform of its kind to obtain authorization from a financial market regulator (Financial Services Authority – FSA) to be able to operate – enabling anyone to participate in the social capital of a company in an ideally regulated marketplace for startups and investors.
At this moment, the company has offices in three locations: Lisbon, London and San Francisco – the latter is the newest, and will be the foundation for the start of operations in the United States. Most of the 33 employees working at Seedrs come from Técnico, a fact that Carlos Silva believes provides a “quality assurance”. The former student of computer science and engineering ensures the maintenance of a strong connection to the institution, collaborating on many initiatives aimed at promoting entrepreneurship.
In 2014, more than 30 million euros were invested in 110 companies through Seedrs, and the company’s growth momentum remains very strong. Carlos Silva is also one of the founding members of Beta-i.
Action Modulers
Action Modulers is a security consulting firm, focused primarily in IT, numerical modelling and security planning services.
It emerged in early 2004 with the mission to provide high-quality consulting services. Through a strong connection to academia, Action Modulers maintains its focus on technological and scientific development, which maintains a high level of expertise in this area.
Action Modulers currently has two business areas, research and development, and protection and security, and three partners: Frank Braunschweig, Carlos Ferreira de Castro and Luís Fernandes. All are former Técnico students (civil engineering, electrical engineering and environmental engineering, respectively) and they keep a close relationship with the institution.
Over the years, they have contributed with occasional educational activities and research group projects, and participated in conjunction with Técnico in a series of domestic and international research and development projects.
Action Modulers focuses strongly on the development of software products and services related to numerical modelling. Many of these products and services are related to MOHID – a system of numerical models initially developed by the MARETEC-IST group led by professor Ramiro Neves.
Magnomics
Magnomics is a Portuguese startup that is developing a new diagnostic device that is quick and easy to use, based on an innovative technology of DNA detection using magnetic nanoparticles.
Betting on the concept of “lab on a chip”, Magnomics intends to present a solution for the identification of bacteria in any type of biological sample. This solution has several possible uses: the first is the use of this product in the animal health market, a market that is growing fast.
The DNA detection technology with magnetic nanoparticles was developed at INESC-MN and INESC-ID throughout a decade of research. Once they felt that this technology was developed enough to become the foundation of a commercial product, Magnomics was created in 2013 as a spin-off of both institutes, which remain partners of the company.
Not only the founding technology has its origins in institutes affiliated with Técnico, but also all five founders (Filipe Cardoso, José Germano, Sofia Martins, Verónica Romão, João Pereira) attended the institution for professional training, obtaining undergraduate, Master’s or doctorate degrees.
The plan of Magnomics is to be the reference in animal health diagnostic with a strong international presence in a few years. Following this entry in the animal health sector, other applications and markets may be explored, particularly food safety and human health.
