Broadview Ventures

Heart disease and stroke are the only conditions this investor works on. Broadview Ventures says its mission is to bring forward promising technologies that diagnose and treat cardiovascular disease and stroke, through targeted investments in companies that are still developing their products.

Impact investing aimed at cardiovascular care

The firm frames its work as impact investing, with the aim of getting treatments to patients rather than only producing returns. Its site is organized around three ideas: investing for impact in cardiovascular disease, getting treatments to patients, and holding a diversified portfolio across different kinds of technology. Its portfolio pages describe each company in some detail.

Monitoring heart failure without invasive tools

Cardiosense is building a platform that applies artificial intelligence to physiological waveforms in order to create predictive biomarkers. The company has developed digital tools, multi-sensor devices and analysis algorithms intended to detect changes in cardiovascular disease without invasive procedures. Its clinical-grade monitoring device, CardioTag, is aimed first at monitoring and managing patients with congestive heart failure.

Repairing valves and supporting failing hearts

Nyra Medical, a spinout of Emory University, is working on a device for mitral regurgitation, a condition in which the valve between the left atrium and left ventricle does not seal and blood leaks backward. The firm's text notes this can lead to enlargement of the heart chambers, abnormal rhythms, pulmonary hypertension and heart failure. Nyra's cardiac leaflet enhancer is described as a first-in-class device delivered through a catheter that corrects the leak while preserving the valve's natural geometry.

Puzzle Medical Devices has ModulHeart in development, a heart pump placed by catheter for advanced heart failure. Its modular design uses several small pumps anchored in the descending aorta, which the company expects to keep pump speeds low, protect blood integrity, reduce embolic events and allow use outside hospital.

Clots, pregnancy and sleep

RapidPulse is developing a cyclic aspiration system for fast, consistent mechanical removal of blood clots in acute ischemic stroke. Comanche Biopharma, a preclinical company, is working on an siRNA therapy for preeclampsia, with the aim of safely sustaining pregnancy so the fetus can mature. XII Medical is developing a minimally invasive technology for obstructive sleep apnea, a condition the portfolio text says affects around 45 million people in the US and is linked to cardiovascular disease when left untreated.

Broadview Ventures is an impact investor with a narrow aim: to speed up promising technology for diagnosing and treating heart disease and stroke, using targeted investments. It holds a spread of companies across different technologies and works to get treatments in front of patients.

Services

• Targeted investment: funding for early medical companies in cardiovascular care.
• Diagnostic technology: Cardiosense builds an AI platform and a non-invasive monitoring device called CardioTag, first aimed at congestive heart failure.
• Heart devices: Nyra Medical is developing a device for mitral regurgitation, and Puzzle Medical Devices is developing ModulHeart, a percutaneous pump for advanced heart failure.
• Stroke treatment: RapidPulse is working on an aspiration system for removing clots in acute ischaemic stroke.
• Drug development: Comanche Biopharma is developing an siRNA therapy for pre-eclampsia, and XII Medical is working on a minimally invasive technology.

Who it serves

Developers of medical devices, digital tools and therapies in heart disease and stroke.

Key facts

• Focus: Cardiovascular disease and stroke
• Portfolio: Cardiosense, Comanche Biopharma, Nyra Medical, Puzzle Medical Devices, RapidPulse, XII Medical