Delaware Money Moves: Oncology startup Synnovation Therapeutics raised a list-topping $70M

Health and the environment are the big winners in this month’s roundup of deals, investments and grants in Delaware.

Hydrogen, in particular, is an area that is doing especially well lately. Aside from Delaware’s inclusion in the Mid-Atlantic Clean Hydrogen Hub and some recent groundbreaking industry news from Versogen, Delaware-based Gore just made an overseas deal that could be another step toward making cars powered by hydrogen fuel cell systems widely accessible.

Add in some news in fintech, manufacturing, higher ed and agriculture, and Delaware looks to be doing well in its niche areas.

Here’s the first Delaware Money Moves of 2024:

Delaware precision medicine startup had the region’s biggest deal in Q4 2023

Synnovation Therapeutics, a precision oncology startup based at the Innovation Space at the Delaware Experimental Station, raised $69.9 million in December. That made it Greater Philadelphia’s largest venture capital deal of Q4 2023, according to the latest Venture Monitor report from PitchBook and the National Venture Capital Association.

Executive Director Hui Wang previously worked for Incyte, including as its associate director of small molecule therapy oncology programs. According to a recent report in BioWorld, the life sciences company and 2023 RealLIST Startups honoree has synthesized inhibitors called phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase α (PI3Kα) that may be used to treat cancer and other conditions.

Synnovation declined to comment at the moment about its plans for the funding.

Gore, Hyundai and Kia made a next-gen EV deal

A Hyundai Tucson FCEV fuel cell vehicle. (Flickr/DENNIS SCHROEDER/NREL)

Newark-based W.L. Gore and Associates closed a deal in Seoul, Korea with automakers Hyundai Motor Company and Kia Corporation. The three will collaborate on the development of advanced polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) for hydrogen fuel cell systems for electric vehicles.  Financial figures were not disclosed.

Gore has been developing advanced materials for the auto industry for decades, and has a history of collaboration with Hyundai and Kia.

“We look forward to advancing our long-standing partnership with Hyundai Motor and Kia,” said Michelle Augustine, leader of Gore’s Clean Energy Business Group, via press release. “Leveraging our advanced PEM technology solutions, we will work together with Hyundai Motor and Kia to enable them to deliver fuel cell vehicles that provide a performance and cost advantage to consumers.”

More Money Moves

• High-Tech Machine Company Inc. will receive up to $219,525 from the State of Delaware’s Modernization Investment Support Initiative.
• Miami fintech company Novo expands its operations into Wilmington, further reinforcing Delaware’s reputation as a hub for financial technology.
• Wilmington University’s Brandywine Campus received a $1 million Longwood Foundation grant to build a new law school building and a convocation center.
• Delaware ag economy going strong: Farmers Market sales are at an all-time high, passing the $4 million mark.