Newton Fund

Swati Chaturvedi is the CEO of Propel(x) and also a partner at Newton Fund. She is also credited with coining the term ‘deep tech’ way back in 2014.

How would you describe your journey with Propel(x), and what are your key responsibilities here?

I am affiliated with two firms; Propel(x) and Newton Fund. I am Propel(x)’s CEO and a Partner at Newton Fund.

Propel(x) is a digital alternative investment platform that enables accredited investors to invest in startups focused on life sciences, including medical devices, diagnostics and drug therapeutics. Our customers range from individual accredited investors writing checks as small as $5,000 to some of the largest family offices and funds writing checks of a million dollars or more. We source and place deal flow on this platform with the help of our subsidiary, Hubble Investments, a FINRA registered broker-dealer and a fully-owned affiliate of Propel(x).

Newton Fund is a venture capital fund which aims to potentially generate returns for investors wishing to invest in next-gen technologies. The funds’ mandate is to invest in early-stage deep tech companies and leverage the deal flow that appears on Propel(x). 

What are some of the trends existing in the market and your recent project initiatives?

There are a lot of changes happening in med tech today. During COVID-19, telemedicine came to the forefront, now other medical sectors which are precision based are also emerging.

For example, we invested in a company called ProbiusDx which aims to decentralize clinical diagnostics and provide biomarkers on demand. The company’s technology yields a high-fidelity digital representation of the biochemistry of health for more detailed and predictive insights. 

“There are a lot of changes happening in med tech today. During COVID-19, telemedicine came to the forefront, now other medical sectors which are precision based are also emerging.”

As some people may know that not everything in our genes is manifested in our current lives. Some genes may be activated while others may remain dormant. So, to develop personalized therapies, we need to analyze the proteins in a person’s body as opposed to the genome. The protein analysis is currently still in its initial stage compared to genome sequencing. Therefore, we invested in ProteoWise, a biotech company working on protein analysis. This company has been founded by scientists from Yale University.

We also invested in Zenflow that developed a device to solve urination problems due to enlarged prostrate for senior male citizens. This is a game-changing outpatient procedure that enables easy and regular urination.

Addressing issues of bone density is a revolutionary concept. In this regard, we recently invested in a life sciences therapeutic company trying to reverse osteoporosis.

Longevity is a big theme in the medical and life sciences sector. Although there are many advancements in telemedicine, personalized medicine and patient record keeping, I believe there is still more to be done.

Please shed some light on the factors you consider while investing.

We strictly follow four mandates before investing in a company.

a. We invest in deep technology start-ups and look for breakthrough technologies that are solving big problems.

b. Founding team’s experience

c. Startup’s valuation 

d. Exit options 

How do you envision Propel(x) investing in med tech in a couple of years with the potential disruptions and transformations?

“The best time to invest is when there is fear in the market,” says Warren Buffett, American business magnate and investor. And I believe now is the right time to make good deals for investors investing in long-term venture capital businesses. I am excited about presenting some good deals on the Propel(x) platform for ordinary investors, as I feel the returns could be more significant in the future. Of course, there are many deals to be invested in. But, just like a venture firm conducting its due diligence, individual investors must continue to search for opportunities with lower valuations for higher potential outcomes.