RealSeq Launches Fund Raising Campaign
Santa Cruz biotech company RealSeq Biosciences (RealSeq) has started a funding campaign based upon their successes over the past 3 years. Their groundbreaking proprietary technology is able to detect small fragments of the nucleic acid RNA which they named “RiboMarkers”. These markers can indicate disease and disease progression for cancer, viruses such as COVID, and fungal infections from a patient’s blood. RealSeq’s novel “point of need” testing, can be used directly with workers in the field. This is essential for an infectious disease known as Valley Fever seen in California among agricultural workers.
2007 Valley Fever
Forecasted spread of Valley Fever by 2095
About the CEO
“We are excited to take the next steps to growing our company,” explains Sergio Barberan-Soler. “We funded the first 3 years of our company through grants and sweat-equity. With our successes, we are ready to talk to investors.”
Originally from Mexico City, Barberan-Soler was not surprised that the COVID-19 pandemic exposed huge barriers to diagnostic testing and treatment among disadvantaged populations such as farm workers. The pandemic accelerated the need to create a simple PONT platform to improve access to testing for many of the diseases that are neglected by major diagnostic companies and that disproportionately strike underserved communities. It also highlighted using RNA itself as a tool for unprecedented rapid and effective vaccine development.
Sergio has strong ties to the area having completed his Ph.D. in Al Zahler’s lab at UC Santa Cruz. He and his family have since made Santa Cruz and the Central Coast their home. Located on the Westside near to the UCSC Genomics Institute and the SandBox start-up incubator, Sergio is looking forward to RealSeq’s continued participation in the local biotech scene as well as the opportunity to employ RealSeq’s technology to serve the local community.
Funding Round
RealSeq is seeking $2.5M seed funding with a post-money valuation of $10M. RealSeq has recently expanded its research capabilities and is currently seeking investors for a seed funding round to further support this exciting work. For more information, contact Sergio: sbarberan@realseqbiosciences.com
Related articles
August 2021, RealSeq announced “Point of Need Tests” to tackle neglected diseases such as Valley Fever.
April 2022, RealSeq announced their invitation and presentation to 66th Annual Valley Fever conference.
July 2022, RealSeq was selected to participate in the coveted BioTools Innovator Accelerator Program.