EQT Foundation

As we wrap up the Holiday Hope Calendar, we’re spotlighting SiTration, Inc., a company redefining how we extract critical minerals. Traditional methods for recovering base and precious metals are inefficient, resource-intensive, and environmentally damaging. SiTration’s innovative silicon membrane technology changes the game—recovering high-purity minerals directly from complex industrial streams with minimal pretreatment. Their scalable solution reduces waste, cuts costs, and supports a circular economy by reclaiming materials from mining waste, recycled batteries, and more. Cleaner extraction. Smarter solutions. A circular future. Read about the final day here: https://lnkd.in/eMVbpxU2 Founders: Brendan Smith Jeffery Grossman

Feeding 10 billion people by 2050 is a challenge—but with climate change reducing crop yields, it’s an urgent one. Gene-editing offers solutions, but identifying the right genes to edit remains costly, slow, and complex. Enter Biographica. Using advanced deep learning and knowledge graph technologies, they analyze entire genomes to pinpoint high-value genetic targets for gene-editing. The result? Faster development of crops that are more productive, nutritious, and resilient to climate change. It’s more than innovation—it’s the future of food security. Read about Day 24: https://lnkd.in/e8VeW7w6 Founders: Cecy Price Dominic Hall

What happens when the pace of drug innovation outstrips the tools we have to test them? Digital Biology, Inc. is bridging that gap. Their cutting-edge platform combines spatial sequencing, AI-powered lab automation, and molecular imaging to create precise preclinical models. By tracking RNA with sub-cellular precision using DNA “GPS-tags,” they’re turning patient tumors into detailed maps that guide the development of better biological drugs. Check out Day 23: https://lnkd.in/eK3C-ie9 Founders: Emma West Jocelyn (Josie) Kishi, PhD Sylvain Lapan Peng Yin Sinem Saka

Detecting cancer cells quickly and accurately is critical, but traditional histology methods are slow, labor-intensive, and time-consuming—delays that can impact patient care and surgical outcomes. PhoMedics is transforming cancer detection with their CHAMP Microscope™, an AI-powered device that delivers preparation-free imaging in just three minutes. Nearly 1,000 times faster than traditional methods, it achieves over 90% image similarity to the clinical gold standard, giving clinicians real-time insights when it matters most. It’s not just faster diagnostics—it’s a leap forward in cancer care. Read about Day 22 here: https://lnkd.in/eM8vZxbC Founder: Terence T. W. Wong

How do we make life-saving biologic therapies easier to take and more accessible to patients? Today, we’re spotlighting Exolvo Biosciences, a company transforming the delivery of biologic therapies. Their smart capsule technology replaces injections with dissolvable microneedles, enabling oral administration of complex biologic drugs. This innovation doesn’t just eliminate the need for needles; it improves patient adherence, reduces healthcare costs, and broadens access to critical treatments. Simpler delivery. Greater access. A new era in biologics. Check out Day 21 here: https://lnkd.in/eKFmptNu Founders: Brian Longstreet Nicholas Ibery

Methane is 86 times more potent than CO₂, yet much of it—from agriculture, landfills, and industrial sources—remains too dilute and costly to capture. The result? A massive contributor to climate change left unchecked. Windfall Bio is changing that. Using methane-eating microbes, they convert harmful emissions into valuable outputs like organic fertilizers and carbon credits. Scalable, low-cost, and low-maintenance, their solution helps industries reduce their methane footprint while boosting profitability and sustainability. It’s not just about cutting emissions—it’s about turning waste into opportunity. Check out Day 20 here: https://lnkd.in/dcHTQtik Founders: Josh Silverman Jordan Smith Carla Risso Louis Stenmark Judy Su

What happens when we combine neurotechnology with oncology to tackle some of the toughest cancers? Opto.bio Biosystems is leading the way with SOMA-1, a groundbreaking neural interface that senses and stimulates electrical activity in the body. This minimally invasive device provides real-time data on disease states and treatment responses, empowering clinicians to personalize therapies for aggressive cancers like glioblastoma. By bridging critical gaps in cancer treatment, Opto is creating new possibilities for care and hope for patients facing the toughest battles. Read Day 19 here: https://lnkd.in/gVEPtNUU Founders: Ben Woodington Elise Jenkins

One-third of all food produced is wasted, generating 75 million tonnes of methane emissions every year. At the same time, traditional protein production strains the planet—depleting marine ecosystems and driving greenhouse gas emissions. Enter EntoZyme. By enhancing black soldier flies with synthetic biology, they’re turning organic waste into high-quality proteins and oils for pet food, animal feed, and aquaculture. Their innovative approach diverts waste from landfills, eases pressure on marine resources, and transforms insects into a scalable platform for sustainable biomanufacturing. From waste to value. Check out Day 18: https://lnkd.in/e3F3ppNT Founders: Evan Hayes Maciej Maselko Owain Edwards Kate Tepper Chan Pfitzner

Alzheimer’s disease affects over 50 million people globally—a number expected to triple by 2050. Traditional diagnostic tools are invasive, costly, and often too late to enable effective intervention, leaving millions undiagnosed during the critical early stages of the disease. Cognitact Limited is transforming the future of cognitive health. Their blood-based biomarker test uses advanced machine learning and a panel of 21 proteins to detect Alzheimer’s disease in its earliest stages. Minimally invasive and accessible, it provides clinicians with actionable insights to guide care, making early detection scalable and life-changing. Earlier detection. Better outcomes. Smarter care. Check out Day 17: https://lnkd.in/eYjcYNvg Founder: Fanny Ip

Rare metals like platinum and iridium are the backbone of clean energy technologies, from hydrogen production to electric vehicles. But their extraction is costly, environmentally damaging, and creates significant supply chain vulnerabilities. Milvus Advanced is changing the equation. By engineering high-performing nanomaterials from abundant, low-cost metals, they’re replacing rare metals in catalysts at just one-hundredth of the cost—without sacrificing efficiency or durability. This breakthrough not only lowers costs but also expands access to the materials powering the green economy. It’s innovation that makes clean energy more sustainable and scalable. Check out day 16 here: https://lnkd.in/efEA5bQE Founder: Assia Kasdi