BERKELEY, Calif., Feb. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- C. Light Technologies, a Berkeley-based neurotech company pioneering the next generation of neurological health assessment tools using the first ever 10-second retinal eye-tracking scan for neurological disease, today announced the closing of their $2.5 million seed round. Their proprietary tracking technology, paired with advanced analytics, is poised to redefine the neurodegenerative space - providing new hope for millions of people worldwide.
Creative Ventures led the round with participation from Yamaha Motor Ventures, Wisconsin Investment Partners, Berkeley Skydeck Fund, the Band of Angels, EGB Capital, Monde Green Ventures, Puck Ventures, and the Vectors Angel Group. The new round brings the company's total funding to date to more than $3.25 million, which includes over $475K in grant funding from the National Institutes of Health.
The new investment will be used to improve upon existing neural network analytics to predict multiple sclerosis (MS) disease progression, as well as to advance the development of their proprietary retinal eye tracking device that uses high resolution retinal videos to map eye motion. Funding will enable the company to procure a design and manufacturing firm to turn their working prototype into the finalized commercial product and ultimately through 510(k) FDA clearance.
"We are on the verge of major breakthroughs in the neurodegenerative space - and, it could not have come at a better time. Worldwide, millions of people suffer from neurodegenerative health conditions, including MS, Alzhiemer's and Parkinson's," said Dr. Christy K. Sheehy, P.h.D., C. Light Technologies' Co-Founder and CEO. "Innovative and objective biomarkers to better understand neurological disease progression and therapeutic efficacy are desperately needed. We take pride in being on the forefront of innovation and look forward to reshaping the neurodegenerative landscape using our non-invasive, cost effective solutions."
C. Light Technologies' non-invasive, eye tracking technology is a revolutionary approach to assessing neurodegeneration through the mapping of fixational eye motion - the involuntary movements of the eye while trying to remain stable. With a device sensitivity down to 1 micron of movement, C. Light captures novel eye motion data to create a unique digital fingerprint of neurodegeneration. With an estimated 1M people in the United States diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and millions more around the world, C. Light Technologies has developed a novel solution for monitoring disease progression, therapeutic efficacy, and improving patient outcomes.
According to General Partner, James Wang, the lead investor from Creative Ventures, "C.Light is the first company in over a hundred we've looked at that actually makes sense in the current landscape of neurological disease, and can revolutionize both diagnosis and early intervention—starting with multiple sclerosis, but ultimately across most neurological diseases." Mr. Wang describes the company's CEO and co-founder as, "A stellar founder with the deep technical background and natural charisma to succeed in this massively important area of healthcare."
In February, C. Light Technologies will also be relocating their corporate offices to Boston, MA in an effort to be better aligned with strategic partners, pharmaceutical companies, and patients.
About C. Light Technologies, Inc.
C. Light is a neurotech and AI company using their proprietary retinal eye tracker to better understand brain health, starting with multiple sclerosis. The device is capable of retinal imaging down to the cellular level and tracking movements of the eye as small as 1 micron, measuring microsaccades (small, jerk-like involuntary eye movements). Microsaccades are a type of fixational eye motion that can have predictive value for monitoring neurodegenerative disease progression. In the future, the company plans to fundamentally reshape treatment options for Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, ALS, and concussion recovery.
For more information, please visit the company website at http://www.clighttechnologies.com
Media Contact
Christy K. Sheehy, PhD, C. Light Technologies, (518) 339-2895, [email protected]
SOURCE C. Light Technologies
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