Othram Secures $4 Million Series A Funding to Advance Genomic Sequencing for Human Remains Identification

VCBeat (WeChat Official Account: vcbeat) has learned that Othram, a startup specializing in forensic genomics, recently announced the completion of a $4 million Series A financing round. Toronto-based venture capital firm Nimble Ventures served as the lead investor. To date, Nimble Ventures has made six investments, with Othram being the third biotechnology company it invested in during 2019. Additionally, Othram received a $10,000 grant from Illumina to support its genomic sequencing research.

Othram, headquartered in Texas, operates a forensic DNA sequencing laboratory specializing in genome sequence reconstruction from degraded or low-input source materials. As part of its humanitarian efforts, Othram is currently focused on applying its technology to identify human remains.

One of Othram’s pilot partners is the DNA Doe Project. The DNA Doe Project is a nonprofit organization that collaborates with law enforcement agencies and medical examiners to identify unidentified remains. Othram is providing whole-genome sequencing services to the organization.

Othram CEO David Mittelman stated in a press release that the company is leveraging its laboratory and information technology platforms to serve the public by helping to identify unidentified remains. Mittelman previously served as Chief Technology Officer at Tute Genomics, which was acquired by PierianDx in 2016. Prior to that, he was a partner and Chief Operating Officer at Gene by Gene, based in Houston, Texas. He also co-founded the sequencing analytics company Arpeggi, where he served as Chief Technology Officer.

In the future, Othram will expand beyond criminal investigations to conduct research in clinical, defense, and security sectors. Nick Griggs, Sales Director at Othram, stated in a press release that the company possesses the funding and technological capabilities to explore these areas and has already developed corresponding strategic plans for the future.

Othram, founded in 2018, specializes in the interdisciplinary fields of molecular biology, population genetics, and bioinformatics. Othram is dedicated to bridging 20th-century population genetics with 21st-century computational genomics, providing clients with relevant consulting services. The Othram team comprises top scientists and engineers at the forefront of genomics, who leverage cutting-edge laboratory techniques and computational algorithms to extract information from sequenced human genomes.

Nimble Ventures, founded in 2012 and headquartered in Toronto, Canada, specializes in corporate management consulting and venture capital. The firm initially raised its seed funding through crowdfunding portals. In December 2012, Amitesh Tyagi and Keshava Ramaswamy established Nimble Ventures, drawing on their extensive experience at top-tier technology companies and international organizations such as Infosys, Wipro, TCS, and Tata Motors. Nimble Ventures’ first investment was in IndiaLetsPlay. The success of this investment led Amitesh and Keshava to recognize that technology would increasingly solve problems previously deemed intractable worldwide.

(Compiled by Wang Shuijing)