I-Corps alumni company AvantGuard (formerly Halomine) recently closed a $2.85 million seed funding round with investments from Blue Ledge Capital, SOSV, LaunchNY, and Red Bear Angels.
The startup, which develops anti-microbial technologies to make disinfectants more effective, will put the new funding toward accelerating research and development, hiring additional scientists, and expanding its product offerings.
“We’re thrilled to have secured such a significant investment that enables us to bring our innovative chemistries to market and scale at a more rapid pace,” CEO Ted Eveleth said. “Our team consists of world-class scientists who are dedicated to solving some of the biggest challenges in the antimicrobial industry. We’re excited to have the support of our investors who share our vision and have vested their trust in our expertise.”
AvantGuard’s antimicrobial chemistry technologies protect against pathogens including viruses, bacteria, fungi, and mold. The company has already made a name for itself in the antimicrobial industry with its effective, long-lasting solutions.
“Supporting AvantGuard’s mission and innovative solutions for managing surfaces and providing long-term protection against dangerous pathogens in areas such as hospitals, food production, cruise ships, and lodging was a no brainer,” Andy Roche, founder of Blue Ledge Capital, said.
Before rebranding as AvantGuard, Halomine completed an NSF I-Corps Regional Course hosted by the former UNY I-Corps Node and the national I-Corps Teams program.
The successful funding round comes on the heels of several other milestones for AvantGuard.
In May, CEO Monthly recognized Eveleth as the most influential CEO in chemical manufacturing in the U.S. The company has also raised more than $7.5 million in grant funding, including a recent $1 million SBIR Phase III award from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to demonstrate the efficacy of its spray product AvantGuard247.
“AvantGuard’s unique approach to antimicrobial chemistries has already gained them recognition, and we’re confident in their potential to revolutionize the industry,” said Roche. “We look forward to partnering with the AvantGuard team as they continue to develop their technology and expand their global reach.”