PCIV Spotlight 2022
The PCI Ventures 2022 Annual Report
About PCI Ventures
We provide a wide-ranging suite of products and services to support the development of early stage companies based on technologies and business ideas created at Penn as they make their way towards commercial success.
PCI Ventures actively seeks entrepreneurs to lead our portfolio companies and investors to provide funding for new ventures in development.
Learn MoreOur Mission
PCI Ventures, a division of the Penn Center for Innovation, helps maximize the potential of Penn’s pioneering research to benefit the University, the investigative team, and society through the creation and stimulus of entrepreneurial endeavors at Penn.
PCIV Resources
- Addressable market analysis
- Corporate governance support
- Commercialization grant assistance
- Marketing material development
- Company registration
- Education programs
- Entrepreneur coaching
- Executive-level recruitment
- Fundraising support
- IP strategy development
- Legal agreement templates
- Mentors in residence
- Preferred vendor relations
- Strategic partner outreach
- Weekly office hours
- Workshops
By the Numbers
2022 Statistics
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74
Active Companies
14
new companies
3
executives hired
7
Companies generating revenue
>$187+ million
Raised by 19 PCIV Supported Companies
$438k
Back to Penn from sponsored research
Overall Statistics
12
Years in Operation
75
COMPANIES HAVE RECEIVED FUNDING
>$536+ million
raised in funding
>$25+ million
Back to Penn
82
UNIQUE SOURCES OF FUNDING
5
Company Exits
4
FDA Approvals
Highlights
Portfolio Highlights
Other Fundraising Highlights
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Linnaeus Therapeutics – Awarded a $4M Phase II Bridge SBIR Award by the National Cancer Institute of the NIH
Learn MoreNew PCIV Supported Companies
Evinacel
Evinacel (George Xu UP-SOM-Path and Lab Medicine) is developing a variety of technologies that enable improved gamma delta T-cell therapy, a novel DR5 CAR construct, and an exosome therapy platform.
Fluorosurgical Biosciences
Fluorosurgical Biosciences (Jim Delikatny and Sofya Osharovich UP-SOM-Radiology)
Liquid BioDx
Liquid BioDx (Jay Dorsey and Gary Kao UP-SOM-Radiation Oncology) is developing a diagnostic blood test for sensitive detection of circulating tumor cells.
Neurostorative
Neurostorative (Justin Burrell and Kacy Cullen UP-SOM-Neurosurgery)
Paladai
Paladai (Eugene Ko UP-Dental) is developing a dental device that helps babies with cleft palate feed.
Paradigm Analytics
Paradigm Analytics (John Fischer UP-SOM-Surgery) is developing clinically-informed decision-based software to help with identification, stratification, and prioritization of patients for certain types of surgical procedures.
Stage One Immunotherapeutics
Stage One Immunotherapeutics (Malay Haldar UP-SOM-Path and Lab Medicine) is developing small molecules that target retinoic acid signaling pathway to treat solid tumors.
Ventru
Ventru (Rachel Blue and Michael Spadola, PSOM) aims to improve the safety and efficacy of neurosurgical procedures through surgical instrument innovation, currently focusing on improving the accuracy of placing ventricular drains in the brain.
Venture WarmUP
At the beginning of 2022 PCI Ventures launched Venture WarmUP, a new PCI program designed to assist faculty prior to starting a company as they explore different options for technology development and commercialization. Program participants may choose to work with PCI to pursue licensing or R&D alliance opportunities, start a company through PCI Ventures, start a company on their own (or with an outside partner), or simply continue with additional research. The program is already quite popular as evidenced by the following participant projects:
- ACE Genomics (Rahul Kohli SOM-Medicine) is developing novel enzymes to assess epigenetic modifications to allow for advanced research tools and diagnostics.
- Cesar de la Fuente (SEAS-Bioengineering) AI platform for discovery antimicrobial or antibiotic compounds.
- Kurt Brunden & Garret Gibbons (SOM-Pathology) targeting tau for alzheimers via microtubule stabilizer tech and tau mAB tech.
- Mike Mitchell (SEAS-Bioengineering) is developing a lipid nanoparticle screening platform that utilizes a barcode technology.
- PICI TCR mKRAS (Beatriz Carreno, Gerald Linette, Bob Vonderheide, Adham Bear SOM) are developing novel TCR therapies to treat mutated KRAS tumors.
PCIV Luminaries

Brian Biddulph-Krentar
Brian Biddulph-Krentar is the CEO of SchoolSims, a Saas company that produces software simulations designed to prepare and develop current and future school staff. In 2019, after selling his last software company, Brian was connected to SchoolSims founder, Ken Spero. As a founder himself, Brian was impressed with Ken’s passion and the two agreed to partner on growing the startup.
Brian initially came on board as the Chief Strategy Officer, his experience in implementing product, marketing and sales playbooks aligned well with Ken’s vision. That vision is, “to make a difference in how school leaders and teachers are prepared to succeed in challenging jobs. SchoolSims allows these stakeholders to practice in a safe yet realistic environment to improve decision-making and judgment before facing real challenges.” Since Brian started at the company, SchoolSims has doubled its simulation library, allowing the company to move into new areas such as simulations for teachers and counselors. By adding these areas, the company has been able to expand its total addressable market opportunity. In 2022 Brian moved into his role as CEO, now he runs the business and ensures their growth goals continue to align with Ken’s vision for company. Brian says it makes for a great partnership and splitting of responsibilities. He finds managing his team the most rewarding aspect of being a CEO. According to Brain, “being honest and bringing your team along for the ride is essential in a startup company.”

Mike Mitchell, PhD
The Team

Michael D. Poisel, MS, MBA
Executive Director, PCI Ventures

Melisa Lopez-Anton, PhD
Assistant Director, PCI Ventures

Bhavana Mohanraj, PhD
Associate Director, PCI Ventures

Jaime Sweet
Associate Director of Programming at Pennovation Works
