QUEBEC CITY--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Saguaro Biosciences, a pioneering developer of live cell reagents for AI-enhanced discoveries, today announced the successful closing of a $3 million seed funding round, comprised of equity investments and non-dilutive grant funding. The funding round was led by AQC Capital and Anges Québec, featuring significant contributions from notable figures including Martin Leblanc, Co-Founder and Vice-Chairman of CellCarta Biosciences, alongside strategic investments from Investissement Quebec and Ville de Québec.
This investment will drive the commercial expansion of ChromaLive™, the groundbreaking reagent platform developed by Saguaro Biosciences, which enables time-sensitive imaging and AI-enabled analysis of cells. Already adopted by major pharmaceutical companies, ChromaLive™ empowers researchers to advance more effectively in the development of new therapies and breakthrough discoveries.
"Our mission to advance life science discoveries by illuminating the complexities of cell biology has never been more critical," said Louis Turcotte, CEO and Co-Founder of Saguaro Biosciences. "This funding will not only accelerate our technology's adoption but also allow the expansion of our portfolio, paving the way for transformative applications that contribute to building the future of human health."
Martin Leblanc, Co-Founder and Vice-Chairman of CellCarta Biosciences, and newly appointed Chairman of the Board of Saguaro Biosciences, brings a wealth of experience and an extensive network to the company. "The potential of ChromaLive™ to improve how we analyze cells and gain new insights into cell biology is very significant. I am thrilled to help steer Saguaro Biosciences towards becoming a global leader in its space," said Leblanc.
Kalthoum Bouacida, Partner at AQC Capital, shared her enthusiasm for their leading role in the funding round: “AQC Capital is thrilled to have led the Seed funding round for Saguaro Biosciences, a company that is setting new standards in life sciences innovation with its revolutionary ChromaLive™ platform. We are confident in Saguaro Biosciences’ vision and look forward to seeing their impact on the future of medical research and therapeutic discovery.”
Highlighting the sector’s strategic significance, Pierre Fitzgibbon, Minister of Economy, Innovation and Energy, Minister Responsible for Regional Economic Development and Minister Responsible for the Metropolis and the Montréal Region, commented: “We’re committed to stimulating private investment in the entire life sciences value chain as it is a strategic sector for our economy. By supporting SMEs in this field, we support innovation and showcase Québec expertise, both here and abroad.”
Bicha Ngo, President and CEO, Investissement Québec, also added: “Life sciences is a strategic growth industry, and Investissement Québec is proud to contribute to the emergence of new players like Saguaro. With the Impulsion PME program, young and innovative Québec companies have an additional source of funding to help them develop and advance new ideas, here and abroad.”
Félix Lavoie-Pérusse, Chief Commercial Officer and Co-Founder, finally commented: "We are proud to see such strong validation from the scientific and investment communities. Our technology not only accelerates the pace of scientific discoveries but also opens new avenues for enhancing human health."
About Saguaro Biosciences: Saguaro Biosciences is dedicated to advancing life sciences with innovative reagents for AI-enabled cell analysis. With its flagship product, ChromaLive™, the company provides researchers around the world with powerful tools to demystify cell biology, thereby accelerating the path to new discoveries and therapies.
About AQC Capital: AQC Capital manages two venture capital funds to support businesses in the startup phase. The fund invests in Quebec companies in all sectors that seek to bring innovation to global markets. AQC Capital teams up with Anges Québec, the largest angel investor network in the country, and together the groups bring smart capital to startups thanks to their experience and network.
About Anges Québec: As Canada's largest group of angel investors, Anges Québec has been supporting passionate, innovative entrepreneurs for 15 years. With over 200 members from diverse backgrounds, we have invested close to $149 million in over 200 Quebec technology companies, in partnership with the AQC Capital fund. We are proud to play a leading role in Quebec's venture capital industry, actively supporting local innovation.
