Canaan

With $35M of new funding in hand, the team at Vivace Therapeutics, Inc. is full speed ahead on the clinical development of its first-in-class #TEAD autopalmitoylation inhibitor, VT3989. The company plans to move into a registrational Phase 3 trial in #mesothelioma and expects to meet with FDA later this year to discuss plans for the study.  With more than 150 patients already treated and evaluated as part of the ongoing Phase 1 trial, Vivace is the only company in the TEAD inhibitor space to report compelling #clinical activity. This encouraging efficacy is paired with an impressive safety and tolerability profile to position VT3989 as best-in-class. Importantly, the #Hippo pathway, which VT3989 targets, is implicated in a number of additional #cancer types beyond mesothelioma, offering the potential to impact the lives of more patients. We're proud to have participated in the company's Series D round and excited to follow its continued progress. Canaan’s own Tim Shannon is a founding member of the Vivace board. You can read more about the company and its Series D raise in today's press release. https://lnkd.in/e9pRkUcw

Consumer Tech is at an (exciting!) inflection point. Enjoyed sharing my thoughts (alongside Jason Fiedler, Meera Clark, and Matt Nugent and the full SVB research team). Check out the data driven report on how startups’ pursuit of profitability, capital scarcity, the emergence of AI and other key trends are impacting the consumer internet sector: https://lnkd.in/g5B_nXdv Renuka Kumar, CFA, Arianne Perry, Anjalika Komatireddy, Josh Pherigo

Alterome Therapeutics, Inc has kicked off a Phase 1/1b clinical study of ALTA3263 in adults with #KRAS mutant solid #tumors. This morning, the company announced dosing of the first patient in this trial of the potential best-in-class oral KRAS-selective small molecule inhibitor. We're excited to follow the program's progress.  Canaan's Uwe Schoenbeck sits on the Alterome board.  https://lnkd.in/eW6BQufr

The sixth annual Forbes Best Startup Employers 2025 list highlights the top-performing startups based on employer reputation, employee satisfaction, and company growth. Congratulations to the Canaan-backed companies that made the list and stood out among thousands of startups: Diligent Robotics, Dragos, Inc., Dusty Robotics, Fireflies.ai, Lily AI, Roofstock, Snyk, and Tomorrow.io ✨✨ Read more ➡️: https://lnkd.in/dGSX3ahr

Early-stage founders are used to one constant: change. What matters most during uncertainty is a strong foundation and flawless execution of the fundamentals. Canaan’s Dana Malman Warren and Brendan Dickinson recently shared with Fintech Nexus how startups can navigate uncertainty, stay capital-efficient, and turn volatility into opportunity. Read more at https://lnkd.in/gJQ6tptz 

We're excited to back HeyMilo AI in building a more expansive and inclusive talent pool – and a hiring process that’s faster, smarter, and more equitable. More from Rayfe Gaspar-Asaoka on why we invested: https://lnkd.in/gpiqwjZn

Big milestone for Canaan portfolio company Halda Therapeutics with the dosing of the 1st patient in a Phase 1/2 clinical trial of HLD-0915. The study will evaluate safety and tolerability when treating metastatic castration-resistant #prostate #cancer. This is a big step in Halda's work advancing its novel small molecule #RIPTAC modality as a new cancer treatment approach. Canaan's own Tim Shannon chairs the company’s board. https://lnkd.in/eNC_yGHH

We're excited to back Valid on their mission to build the ad agency of the future ✨ ✨ Here's more from Jared Newman on why we invested: https://lnkd.in/g4hKGV_7

Qlaris Bio, Inc. reported impressive topline results from the company's two Phase 2 clinical trials of QLS-111. The two studies (Osprey and Apteryx), which included patients with primary open angle #glaucoma (#POAG) and ocular hypertension (#OHT), achieved all primary and secondary endpoints. Treatment with QLS-111 demonstrated impressive reductions in intraocular pressure (#IOP), including additive IOP reductions when paired with latanoprost, as compared to latanoprost dosed as a monotherapy. Furthermore, QLS-111 showed an encouraging safety and tolerability profile. All in all, great clinical support for the therapeutic potential of QLS-111 and its differentiated mechanism, which targets episcleral venous pressure (#EVP). Canaan’s Wende Hutton sits on its board. https://lnkd.in/eN3C7Jpg

Congratulations to our newest portfolio company WiseLayer on today's funding milestone! 🎉 WiseLayer's specialized AI agents tackle essential yet time-consuming financial and accounting tasks with unparalleled precision. By doing so, WiseLayer empowers teams to move past the frustration of troubleshooting and administrative work and redirect their focus toward growth and innovation. Read more from Brendan Dickinson on why we're excited to partner with Josh Stein, Vikram Bellapravalu, and the entire WiseLayer team as they work toward a new future for financial management 📊 https://lnkd.in/g-fCwcP8