LambdaVision, a biotech startup, is redefining how sight can be restored to those who have lost it. The company has secured $7 million in seed funding, co-led by Seven Seven Six and Aurelia Foundry Fund, with backing from Seraphim Space.
With over $15 million in prior non-dilutive funding from NASA, the National Science Foundation, and the National Eye Institute, LambdaVision has already built a robust foundation.
This new capital extends its runway into 2027, enabling further progress on its groundbreaking protein-based artificial retina, designed to help patients with retinal degenerative diseases like retinitis pigmentosa (RP) and age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The recent round fuels preclinical development and positions the company for future clinical trials.
A game-changer for biotech
Led by CEO Nicole Wagner, LambdaVision’s innovation lies not just in its retinal implant but in how it’s made. On Earth, gravity makes it nearly impossible to create perfectly uniform protein films, but in microgravity aboard the International Space Station (ISS), LambdaVision can produce flawless, 200-layer protein thin films. These layers form the foundation of its artificial retina, mimicking how natural photoreceptor cells respond to light.
Through nine successful ISS missions in collaboration with NASA and Space Tango, LambdaVision has refined its process to achieve precision and consistency unattainable on Earth. This unique space-enabled manufacturing capability represents a new frontier in biomanufacturing, one that could revolutionise both ophthalmology and space-based production of advanced therapeutics.
Brings space-engineered medicine back to Earth
What sets LambdaVision apart is its vision for real-world applications. Its photoactive protein technology works by mimicking the light-absorbing functions of healthy photoreceptors, stimulating the neuroreceptors that remain active in degenerated retinas. This could allow patients who have lost their sight to perceive light once again and form visual images. This is a breakthrough that goes beyond treatment to true restoration.
“Support from Seven Seven Six, Aurelia Foundry Fund, Seraphim Space, and other investors in the round underscores the growing recognition of the potential for space-based biomanufacturing to accelerate the development of life-changing therapies on Earth,” said Nicole Wagner, Ph.D., CEO of LambdaVision. “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.”
“LambdaVision is redefining what’s possible at the intersection of space and human health,” said Katelin Holloway, Founding Partner at Seven Seven Six. “Their mission to restore vision through space-based biotechnology is deeply meaningful to me and a powerful example of how innovation beyond our planet can transform lives here on Earth. At Seven Seven Six, we’re proud to back founders who turn scientific breakthroughs into lasting human impact—and LambdaVision is doing exactly that.”
“LambdaVision is a perfect example of how the microgravity environment can unlock groundbreaking advances in human health,” said Ariel Ekblaw, Ph.D., Founding Partner of Aurelia Foundry Fund. “Their pioneering work at the intersection of space manufacturing and biotechnology showcases how orbital platforms can directly enable new classes of therapeutics. We’re thrilled to support LambdaVision as they translate their success in orbit into clinical impact here on Earth.”
LambdaVision demonstrates the potential for space-enabled biotech to deliver transformative therapies on Earth,” said Rob Desborough, Partner at Seraphim Space. “We’re excited to support their journey as they scale their microgravity manufacturing platform toward clinical impact.”
