LambdaVision, a U.S.-based biotechnology company developing artificial retinas, said on Wednesday it had raised $7 million in a seed funding round to support its manufacturing efforts in low-Earth orbit (LEO) and extend operations through 2027.
The round was led by Seven Seven Six and Aurelia Foundry Fund, with additional participation from Seraphim Space. The company said the funding will accelerate work on its protein-based artificial retina and help move toward human clinical trials.
“This seed round funding will help bring us closer to clinical trials, and continue to pioneer scalable production of our artificial retina, including manufacturing techniques implemented in low-Earth orbit,” said LambdaVision Chief Executive Nicole Wagner.
Founded with the goal of restoring vision to patients suffering from degenerative retinal diseases, LambdaVision believes microgravity conditions in space offer a more efficient environment for fabricating its multilayered protein films. Such films form the foundation of its artificial retina technology, designed to address disorders that impact millions of people worldwide.
The company has flown nine missions to the International Space Station (ISS) to refine its process, including the creation of a 200-layer protein thin film that serves as a precursor to its final product. In September, LambdaVision received a NASA Phase 2 In Space Production Applications award to advance its in-orbit manufacturing in partnership with research firm Space Tango.
LambdaVision said the $7 million announced this week represents new capital following the first closing of its seed round in May 2024. The company plans to continue fundraising as it prepares for a future Series A round to further scale production and development.
