22-12-2023
CellmAbs, a biotechnology company focused on discovering and developing the next generation of immunotherapies, has just had its work recognised in two categories of the 2023 Portugal Ventures Awards: Startup Health Technologies Award 2023 and Startup Revelation Award 2023.
Founded by Paula Videira, a professor and researcher at NOVA FCT's Department of Life Sciences, and alumnus Nuno Prego Ramos, in 2019, CellmAbs is one of the official spin-offs recognised by NOVA University Lisbon. That very year it raised a substantial first round of investment from this venture capital company. These fundings have made it possible to develop a new class of immunotherapies with potential for cancer treatments.
"The recognition and investment by Portugal Ventures validates CellmAbs' commitment to innovation and excellent work. It also highlights the positive impact of the transfer of knowledge generated in the Academy and particular research into new immunotherapies in the area of Glycobiology," emphasises Paula Videira, who also leads the Glycoimmunology research lab.
In total, Portugal Ventures, the venture capital company of the Banco Português de Fomento Group, awarded 11 prizes to the start-ups in its investment portfolio that stood out during 2023 - two of which went to NOVA FCT spin-off CellmAbs.
In addition to the 2023 Revelation Startup Award, for being the company that stood out the most in the portfolio of each business unit during the year, CellmAbs also received the 2023 Health Technologies Startup Award - which recognizes its positioning and development from a global market perspective, taking into account the product, its internal capabilities, progress towards the market and the attraction of partners and investors.
"Recognition of the work done by the companies in which we invest is extremely important, as it shows that we continue to believe in their businesses and encourages the rest of the portfolio to achieve their goals," said Rui Ferreira, President of Portugal Ventures, in announcing the awards. "For us, it is also a thank you for choosing us as an investment partner who is present in good times and bad, and who believes in the success of these startups daily".
To determine the winners of this edition - which you can read in full here - Portugal Ventures relied on the collaboration of a group of personalities who work every day in the entrepreneurial ecosystem: António Grilo, from the National Innovation Agency; Luís Guerreiro, from IAPMEI; Pedro Silveira, from AICEP; Carlos Abade, from Turismo de Portugal; Manuel Caldeira Cabral, from Startup Portugal; Conceição Zagalo, from the Corporate Citizenship Reflection and Support Group (GRACE); Cristina Campos, investor; Marcelo Lebre, from Remote; Isabel Neves, investor; and Vanda Jesus, from iCapital.
Press
Portugal Ventures anuncia startups vencedoras dos prémios de 2023, Business.IT, 18-12-2023
Portugal Ventures distingue mais de uma dezena de startups do seu portefólio, Executive Digest, 18-12-2023
