JeNaCell Receives Seed Financing from High-Tech Gründerfonds and STIFT

High-Tech Gründerfonds and STIFT are jointly investing €700,000 in JeNaCell GmbH. The capital will be used to build up automated production in the creation of a high-performance, high-tech biomaterial.

The business idea of JeNaCell GmbH, a spin-off of the Friedrich Schiller University in Jena, Germany, is based on a new and patented process for the continuous production of a high-performance biomaterial with natural nanostructures, which can be used for making innovative medical and cosmetic products. Due to its material qualities, it is not only extremely suitable for treating poorly healing wounds, but also makes possible highly promising applications for wellness products and in technology.

Dr. Heßler, Dr. Kralisch, and their team have succeeded in developing an efficient production process through which the fascinating biomaterial can be offered on the market in large quantities, at high quality, and economically. The seed capital is to be used for optimizing the products as well as building up an automated production facility. In addition, the financing will fund preparatory measures for the market introduction of the high-tech biomaterial.

“We are very happy that we have received the financial support from High-Tech Gründerfonds and STIFT that we need to grow from developmental work to an industrial scale,” says Dr. Nadine Hessler, CEO of JeNaCell GmbH.

“JeNaCell’s developments not only in modifiable biomaterials but also in innovative production methods make the company an attractive partner for established providers on the market, especially in the area of active wound management,” states Dr. Martin Pfister, Investment Manager of High-Tech Gründerfonds.

Dr. Sven Günther, CEO of STIFT, says of his firm’s involvement: “In co-financing JeNaCell GmbH, we’re happy to support an especially innovative and promising business formation project that addresses internationally attractive market segments with effective production technology. JeNaCell GmbH shows how a highly qualified team can achieve the extraordinary when it enjoys a good formation environment and professional support.”

About JeNaCell GmbH
JeNaCell GmbH is a university spin-off from the Institute for Technical and Environmental Chemistry at the Friedrich Schiller University in Jena. The newly created company began in mid-June 2012 with an innovative business idea in the area of biotechnology. The focus of the company is on the production of a high-performance biomaterial for applications in medicine, cosmetics, and technology, as well as on specific product developments in the framework of industry partnerships. A one-of-a-kind, patented technology enables the high-quality production of this natural nanostructure material with which JeNaCell will offer their customers innovative and forward-looking solutions.

Contact:
JeNaCell GmbH
Gründerzentrum FSU Jena
Dr. Nadine Heßler, CEO
Kahlaische Straße 1
07745 Jena, Germany
Tel.: +49 3641 930 859
Fax: +49 3641 930 857
hessler@jenacell.de
www.jenacell.de

About STIFT
The Thüringen Foundation for Technology, Innovation, and Research, or STIFT, promotes the formation of innovative and technology-oriented companies in Thüringen within the framework of the Thüringen Network for the Foundation of Innovative Companies (ThürING). In addition, STIFT supports the startup of selected high-tech companies in financing their early phases as a side investor. The emphasis there is on the innovativeness of the company idea and its business potential, and not on any particular industry. The regional center of the investments is in Thüringen, Germany.

Contact:
Stiftung für Technologie, Innovation und Forschung Thüringen (STIFT)
Dr. Sven Günther, CEO
Peterstraße 1
99084 Erfurt, Germany
Tel.: +49 361 789 23 50
Fax: +49 361 789 23 46
info@stift-thueringen.de
www.stift-thueringen.de
www.innovativ-gruenden-thueringen.de

About High-Tech Gründerfonds
High-Tech Gründerfonds invests risk capital in young, high-opportunity technology companies that turn promising research results into business ideas. The seed financing is to help the startups move from R&D plans to the creation of a prototype or proof of concept and to market introduction. The funding share is initially €500,000; up to a total of €2 million is available per company. Investors in the public-private partnership include the German Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology, the KfW Banking Group, and 14 industrial companies: ALTANA, BASF, B. Braun, Robert Bosch, CEWE Color, Daimler, Deutsche Post DHL, Deutsche Telekom, Evonik, Qiagen, RWE Innogy, SAP, Tengelmann, and Carl Zeiss. High-Tech Gründerfonds has total available funds of €565.5 million (€272 million in Fund I and €293.5 million in Fund II).

Contact:
High-Tech Gründerfonds Management GmbH
Dr. Martin Pfister
Investment Manager
Schlegelstraße 2
53113 Bonn, Germany
Tel.: +49 228 823 00 100
Fax: +49 228 823 00 050
www.high-tech-gruenderfonds.de