–News Direct–

Adro, a New York-based technology company enabling access to checking, savings and credit for international students and workers moving to the U.S. through its university partners, announced today Stearns Bank N.A. as its official bank sponsor.

With support from Stearns Bank N.A. to build a financial on-ramp for internationals, Adro is set to launch this summer. Product highlights include:

1. The ability to open an account before arrival in the U.S., no Social Security number required
2. Complete product access from the day of arrival, including debit and credit cards via Apple Pay and Google Wallet
3. The ability to begin building credit on Day 1, while waiting for a Social Security number to be issued, and
4. Discounted international money transfers

As one of our earliest and biggest supporters, choosing Stearns Bank N.A. as our sponsor bank was an obvious choice, said Amarildo Gjondrekaj, CEO and Co-founder at Adro. Stearns has a long history of recognizing minority groups that are traditionally underserved and underbanked. They have been an invaluable resource in sharing their expertise in risk and compliance oversight. Their team has shown great appreciation towards what were building to improve the banking experience for internationals.

We believe in listening to what our community needs. Our customers and communities are increasingly more global and mobile, and were all about increasing inclusion and access. Empowerment for all is our mission, and partnering with Adro to offer the full breadth of financial services to international students and workers aligns perfectly with our priorities, said Kelly Skalicky, President and Chief Executive Officer at Stearns Bank N.A.

Josh Hofer, Chief Risk and Information Security Officer at Stearns Bank N.A., who leads the fintech and innovation division adds, Were emerging as a leader in fintech partnership and innovation because of our strong risk management, compliance and regulatory expertise and our common-sense business approach, which were in a great position to leverage for Adro and its customers to expand and maximize Adros reach and impact.

With its bank sponsor now confirmed, Adros focus remains on narrowing down and finalizing its key university partners ahead of the upcoming 2024-2025 academic year. For more information, visit www.joinadro.com/university.

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About Adro

Adro is a technology company helping internationals unblock access to financial services so they can live like a local. Based in New York, Adro has raised a $1.5M pre-seed and is backed by investors who deeply believe in equal access and opportunity for newcomers arriving in the U.S.

Adro was selected to join the 2024 Hudson Valley Venture Hub Accelerator at SUNY New Paltz. Adro is a graduate of Westchester Countys Element 46 Tech Accelerator and a member of CELA Innovation. To learn more, visit www.joinadro.com.

About Stearns Bank N.A.

Minnesota-based Stearns Bank National Association is a $2.8 billion, independently owned financial institution with locations in Minnesota, Florida, and Arizona, and over 35,000 small business customers nationwide. Stearns Bank is consistently recognized as one of the Best Banks to Work For, most recently ranked by American Banker as the 5th best bank to work for among banks in the nation, while earning top rankings based on its strong capital and earnings as one of the nations highest-performing banks. The Independent Bankers 2023 Best of the Best ranks Stearns Bank as the 4th best-performing bank in the U.S. among banks having more than $1 billion in assets based on banks 3-year average Return on Assets. Stearns Banks financial strength and success is achieved by Stearns Bank becoming one of the most prominent community impact lenders in the nation through effective public-private partnerships and innovative local initiatives with community organizations, CDFIs, and Minority Deposit Institutions across the country. Stearns Bank specializes in nationwide affordable housing, workforce and multifamily housing, commercial construction lending, build-to-suit and CRE-repositioning lending, family office and lender financing, USDA and SBA lending, and small business and equipment financing to foster economic development and entrepreneurial growth at a local level in communities across the country. As a national leader and go-to bank for nonprofits, Stearns Bank created a customized suite of Nonprofit Banking Solutions specially designed and tailored to empower nonprofit organizations across the country. Driven by a passion to help others achieve their greatest ambitions, Stearns Banks mission is to Get the Job Done! For more information, visit StearnsBank.com.

Contact Details

Katherine Wong Too Yen

[email protected]

View source version on newsdirect.com: https://newsdirect.com/news/adro-selects-stearns-bank-as-sponsor-bank-to-bridge-financial-services-gap-for-international-students-793284173

Adro

COMTEX_452686752/2655/2024-05-21T09:10:22

–News Direct–

Over the last decade, several breakthrough Cell and Gene Therapy products have been approved in the USA and Europe to turn stem cells and immune cells into living cures, bringing hope to millions living with life-threatening conditions. However, these treatments remain out of reach for 98% of patients suffering from what are now curable conditions. This is in part due to complex, manual and costly manufacturing processes.

Life science startup Limula announces today it has raised CHF6.2M ($6.8M) to take their solution for automating cell therapy manufacturing to the next stage of development. The oversubscribed seed round was led by LifeX Ventures, with participation from Verve Ventures, Zhlke Ventures, Oxford Seed Fund, Lichtsteiner Foundation, W.A. de Vigier Foundation, the founders, and a lineup of private individuals who have been supporting Limulas vision from its inception.

The company was founded in 2020 by Dr. Yann Pierson, Dr Luc Henry. Dr. Thomas Eaton to deliver a disruptive approach to the ex vivo manipulation of cells, based on a novel technology. The trio witnessed that outdated manufacturing methods were a speed bump to the adoption of Cell and Gene Therapy products like chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cells. Combining breakthrough discoveries in genetic engineering and medicine led to a revolution in medicine, but boosting the patients own cells to produce a dose in a laboratory still requires too many manual steps. Highly skilled labour and sterile infrastructures represent the majority of the costs of a therapy, leading to a price tag of $500,000 or more per dose. As a result, these treatments are inaccessible for a majority of eligible patients.

To combat this, Limula developed a modular solution for on-demand and at-scale manufacturing of cell therapies in a single device. By combining the functionalities of a bioreactor and a centrifuge into one single closed vessel, Limulas proprietary solution can handle a wide range of volumes and cell numbers, removing transfer steps and therefore limiting stress, losses, and potential contamination. With a potential for scalability, it can be used by cell therapy providers in their transition from pre-clinical evaluation to clinical trials, and later commercial scale manufacturing of clinical-grade cell products.

Luc Henry, co-founder and CEO of Limula said: "Our team is driven by the ambitious goal of developing tools that are based on a fundamentally novel way of manipulating cells outside of the body. Our technology supports manufacturing workflows that are impossible to automate with existing tools. We believe automation is the only route to scalability and digital traceability. These two aspects are keys unlocking the full potential of Cell and Gene Therapy, making them accessible to the many, not just the few.

Limulas founders built a high performing multidisciplinary team, most recently joined by domain experts Olivier Waridel, former CEO of Cytiva-owned Biosafe, Caroline Boudousqui, former Head of Process Development at the Center for experimental therapeutics (CTE) of the University Hospital in Lausanne, and Maria Elena Grisostolo, former VP Operations at Lunaphore.

After completing an initial proof of concept, the company launched a program to provide selected industry and academic partners access to the innovative platform ahead of its commercial launch. With the aim to broaden the scope of applications, Limula has signed partnerships with several research centres including San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy in Milan, Italy – a world-recognized centre of excellence for research and clinical translation of cell and gene therapy.

Prof. Bernhard Gentner at San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy said: We believe the solution Limula is advancing can support our current process development activities and later enable the manufacturing of these cell products at scale. We also see its potential in improving the status quo in Cell & Gene Therapy manufacturing in general, and in the field of haematopoietic stem cell transplantation in particular.

Dr Inaki Berenguer, managing partner at LifeX Ventures added: "We're thrilled to stand with the Limula team as they reinvent cell and gene therapy manufacturing. It's evident that production tools have lagged behind scientific and clinical advancements, particularly in terms of price and scalability. Limula's commitment to addressing these bottlenecks is crucial to enhancing accessibility for patients.

Looking ahead, Limula will use its new seed capital to significantly advance the development of the proprietary platform composed of a device and single use consumables, towards meeting good manufacturing practice (GMP) requirements. The solution developed by Limula is an enabling tool for a rapidly growing market. The potential of Cell and Gene Therapies to save the lives of millions of patients globally has generated significant interest and investment leading to a significant pipeline and several recent approvals by health authorities. Both industrial and academic players are now eager to adopt next-generation automated and scalable solutions with the shared goal to significantly increase market reach and broaden accessibility.

About Limula

Limula SA is a Life Science Tools company based in Lausanne, Switzerland, looking to disrupt the status quo in the manufacturing of Cell & Gene Therapies. Their mission is to support rapid and cost-effective introduction of new advanced therapy products to the market. Their cell processing platform leverages a proprietary design and automation to bring all functionalities required for on-demand and at-scale manufacturing of cell therapies in a single device. www.limula.ch

About LifeX Ventures

LifeX Ventures is a New York-based venture capital firm investing in global visionary entrepreneurs using software and AI to develop transformational solutions that will extend the life of humans and the planet. With its $100M debut fund, LifeX is targeting the two largest sectors in the world: People (bio/health) and Planet (climate), where Software and AI suddenly matter. www.lifex.vc

About Verve Ventures

Verve Ventures is one of the most active venture investors in Europe with over 140 science and technology-driven startups in its portfolio. Verve Ventures dedicated team helps startups with their most pressing needs such as hiring, client introductions, and an expert network of high-profile individuals. www.verve.vc

About Zhlke Ventures

Zhlke Ventures is an early stage venture capital investor with focus on HealthTech. Zhlke Venturess investment is paired with actionable expertise for finding product-market-fit, for developing and deploying novel products, and for entering international markets. www.zuehlke.com/en/about-us/ventures

About Oxford Seed Fund

Oxford Seed Fund, run by the Entrepreneurship Centre at Sad Business School is the largest student-led VC fund outside of North America, investing in top Oxford-affiliated technology enabled pre-seed and seed stage companies. Supporting them with access to funding, talent, skills and networks. The Fund deploys 600,000+ per year across 10+ companies. https://www.sbs.ox.ac.uk/research/centres-and-initiatives/entrepreneurship-centre/oxford-seed-fund

About Lichtsteiner Foundation

The Lichtsteiner Foundation supports pioneers and early-stage startups in the field of health (medical technology, biotechnology, life science, mental health, public health and wellbeing) in order to improve peoples health in a sustainable way. https://lichtsteinerfoundation.org/

About W.A. de Vigier Foundation

Since the foundations establishment in 1987, the goal of the W.A. de Vigier Foundation has been to actively invigorate business development and further provide direct financial support to young people with innovative business ideas wishing to build performance and growth-oriented businesses in Switzerland. Until today, the W.A. de Vigier Foundation has awarded CHF 14.3 million in seed capital to Swiss startups. https://devigier.ch/

Contact Details

Limula

Bilal Mahmood

+44 7714 007257

[email protected]

Company Website

https://limula.ch/

View source version on newsdirect.com: https://newsdirect.com/news/limula-raises-6-8m-to-democratise-access-to-life-saving-cell-and-gene-therapies-with-swiss-made-manufacturing-platform-241080141

limula

COMTEX_452686378/2655/2024-05-21T09:02:21

Haymarket, VA – Vitality Aesthetics Face + Skin Studio, a leading medical spa and skin care clinic, invites individuals to experience the transformative benefits of its specialized treatments, including Botox, Dysport, and dermal fillers. This esteemed skin care clinic is renowned for its commitment to enhancing natural beauty through expertly delivered aesthetic services.

Vitality Aesthetics Face + Skin Studio prioritizes personalized care in a boutique setting, ensuring each client receives tailored treatment plans and thorough guidance throughout their aesthetic journey. The clinic’s focus is on achieving subtle enhancements that reflect each client’s unique desires and needs, promoting a natural, refreshed appearance.

Among the most popular treatments offered at Vitality Aesthetics Face + Skin Studio are Botox and Dysport injections, renowned for their efficacy in reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. These treatments are expertly administered by skilled professionals, and aimed at smoothing skin and promoting a youthful complexion without the need for invasive procedures.

In addition to Botox Haymarket VA and Dysport, Vitality Aesthetics Face + Skin Studio offers a comprehensive range of aesthetic services to address various skin concerns. From advanced skincare treatments to innovative anti-aging solutions, the clinic provides various options to help clients achieve their desired results. Whether seeking to rejuvenate aging skin, improve facial contours, or simply enhance overall skin health, this medical spa Haymarket VA has a solution.

Clients at Vitality Aesthetics Face + Skin Studio benefit from a comprehensive approach to skincare. The clinic’s services are designed to enhance facial aesthetics while maintaining the integrity and health of the skin. This meticulous attention to detail ensures that all treatments, from Botox to facial fillers, are conducted in a safe, comfortable, and clinically advanced environment that ensures optimal outcomes with minimal downtime.

The small scale of Vitality Aesthetics Face + Skin Studio allows for a level of service that is often lost in larger clinics. Each client is treated with the utmost care and respect, with treatments tailored to their specific goals and concerns. This personalized approach enhances the effectiveness of the treatments while building a trusting and lasting relationship between the client and Vitality.

Vitality Aesthetics Face + Skin Studio also places a strong emphasis on educating its clients about the details and benefits of each treatment. Understanding that the decision to pursue cosmetic enhancements is significant, the clinic ensures that clients are well informed and comfortable with their treatment choices. This educational approach fosters a deeper understanding and appreciation of the procedures, helping clients make informed decisions that align with their aesthetic goals.

For those interested in exploring the benefits of aesthetic treatments, Vitality Aesthetics Face + Skin Studio encourages a personal consultation. During these sessions, clients can discuss their specific concerns and goals, and receive personalized recommendations from the clinic’s aesthetic experts. This one-on-one approach ensures that each client’s treatment plan is as unique as they are and perfectly suited to meet their expectations and lifestyles.

About Vitality Aesthetics Face + Skin Studio:

Vitality Aesthetics Face + Skin Studio is a premier medical spa located in Haymarket, Virginia, specializing in non-invasive facial aesthetic treatments. With a commitment to natural-looking results and client education, the spa offers a range of services including Botox, Dysport, dermal fillers, and comprehensive skin care solutions. The clinic’s small size and personalized approach ensure that each client receives individual attention and care tailored to their specific needs.

Media Contact

Name
Vitality Aesthetics Face + Skin Studio
Contact name
Stephen Boice
Contact phone
(571) 222-5530
Contact address
15100 Washington St #201
City
Haymarket
State
VA
Zip
20169
Country
US
Url
https://vitality-aesthetics.com/

COMTEX_452686710/2737/2024-05-21T09:11:35