CBIH, the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Platforms (C-CAMP) - Beyond Next Ventures Innovation Hub, has announced Biomoneta, a Bengaluru-based and C-CAMP incubated startup in industrial biotechnology space as the first Indian Life Sciences startup to join its investment portfolio.The current round of funding is led by CBIH in partnership with ArthaVida Ventures and IVF specialist and angel investor, Dr. Aniruddha Malpani. Biomoneta will use the funds to take its decontamination devices to market, and further develop its products and technologies.

Biomoneta, a C-CAMP portfolio startup under the BIRAC BIG scheme has developed an advanced air decontaminant technology they call Zebox that can trap and kill a billion microbes – viruses, bacteria and fungi (including spores) within 10 mins. An intelligent airflow design and active biological components come together in this device to render a near-sterile zone in a matter of minutes.

With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Zebox can be a powerful preventive technology in high risk areas like hospitals and also other closed spaces like homes, offices etc to check air-borne transmission of the virus, and other secondary infections. Its high precision level also ensures that it can be used in industry to decontaminate laboratories and help in maintaining a clean environment.

Centre for Cellular and Molecular Platforms or C-CAMP has recently collaborated with Beyond Next Ventures (BNV), one of the leading independent accelerators in Japan dedicated to incubation investment in technology start-ups to launch the C-CAMP BNV Innovation Hub CBIH. CBIH is facilitating Japanese investment of up to 5 million USD in Indian start-ups working on exciting technologies in the Life Sciences and Biotech domain through a jointly managed fund. Biomoneta is their first venture in India.

Tsuyoshi Ito, Managing Partner & CEO, BNV and Mayu Morishima, Executive Officer, BNV said, “We are very excited with the strong science and evidence Biomoneta accumulated. There is huge opportunity for growth in the space especially after COVID-19, and we believe Biomoneta will establish the standard of infection control not only in India but also globally.

We are also pleased to mention that our strong collaboration with CCAMP for the C-CAMP – BNV Innovation Hub (CBIH) , a joint funding activity to contribute to both the Japanese and Indian ecosystems and economies, as well as strengthening ties between the two countries, made this wonderful investment happen”.

Dr Taslimarif Saiyed, C-CAMP CEO and Director said “C-CAMP is delighted have our first CBIH funding, in collaboration with BNV to BioMoneta, a phenomenal start-up developing technology to reduce microbial load and infections. We look forward to continuing our support to BioMoneta for further scale-up and deployment. This technology has a potential to make a big impact across India and beyond.