AcuraStem
Pasadena, US · Founded 2016 · Delaware corporation · 2 known investors
Find your way into AcuraStem
452 people in our graph share verified history with the AcuraStem team — schools, employers, funds. One of them is your warm intro.
Matt Wittunlockedknows Sam Alworth · together at University of Washington (overlapped)
×2knows the team · via University of Washington
×7knows the team · via UW Foster School of Business
×2knows the team · via Fudan University
AcuraStem is a patient-based biotechnology company developing therapies for neurodegenerative diseases including sporadic ALS and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). It uses individual patient-derived cell models to identify and develop treatments, with a lead clinical candidate advancing toward first-in-human testing.
Founders & leadership
AcuraStem was founded in 2016 by Justin Ichida and Sam Alworth.
JI
Justin IchidainCo-Founder
SA
Sam AlworthinCo-founder · Chief Executive OfficerHe has over 20 years of experience in life sciences including research and drug development, and previously led development of AI-enabled drug discovery software that was acquired by Leica.
MV
Board
QL
Qing Liu-MichaelBoard director
PA
Paul AugustBoard director
Investors · 2
Reported raises · per SEC filings
Form D private placements$3.9M disclosed across 3 of 6 rounds · 2018–2026
▶$5MofferedJun 2026 · BiotechnologyRule 506(b)
▶$5MofferedJun 2026 · Biotechnology
Rule 506(b)Officers, directors & promoters on the filing
- Samuel AlworthExecutive Officer, Director
- Qing Liu-MichaelDirector
- Paul AugustDirector
- Marcel van der BrugExecutive Officer
- Justin IchidaDirector
- Offering amount
- $5M
- Minimum investment
- $10K
- Incorporated
- Corporation, Delaware
- Federal exemptions
- 06b
▶$3.1MraisedNov 2022 · 1 investors · BiotechnologyRule 506(b)
▶$3.1MraisedNov 2022 · 1 investors · Biotechnology
Rule 506(b)Officers, directors & promoters on the filing
- Justin IchidaDirector
- Samuel AlworthExecutive Officer, Director
- Paul AugustDirector
- Qing Liu-MichaelDirector
- Offering amount
- $3.1M
- Amount sold
- $3.1M
- Minimum investment
- $25K
- First sale
- Nov 2022
- Incorporated
- Corporation, Delaware
- Federal exemptions
- 06b
▶$400KraisedNov 2022 · 1 investors · BiotechnologyRule 506(b)
▶$400KraisedNov 2022 · 1 investors · Biotechnology
Rule 506(b)Officers, directors & promoters on the filing
- Paul AugustDirector
- Justin IchidaDirector
- Samuel AlworthExecutive Officer, Director
- Qing Liu-MichaelDirector
- Offering amount
- $3.5M
- Amount sold
- $400K
- Minimum investment
- $25K
- First sale
- Nov 2022
- Incorporated
- Corporation, Delaware
- Federal exemptions
- 06b
▶$380KraisedJun 2019 · 1 investors · BiotechnologyRule 506(b)
▶$380KraisedJun 2019 · 1 investors · Biotechnology
Rule 506(b)Officers, directors & promoters on the filing
- Samuel AlworthExecutive Officer, Director
- Paul AugustDirector
- Justin IchidaExecutive Officer, Director
- Qing Liu-MichaelDirector
- Offering amount
- $2M
- Amount sold
- $380K
- Minimum investment
- $25K
- Proceeds to insiders
- $150K
- First sale
- Jun 2018
- Incorporated
- Corporation, Delaware, 2016
- Federal exemptions
- 06b
Source: SEC EDGAR Form D. Amounts as filed; amended filings shown once at their latest values.
Competitors · 4
by search overlap
Verastem12 shared keywordsVerastem Oncology is a biopharmaceutical company that discovers and develops drugs to treat cancer patients. The company focuses on oncology therapeutics including small molecules and monoclonal antibodies targeting pathways such as RAS, KRAS, and immune modulation.
Bioworld12 shared keywordsBioWorld is a suite of daily news and data services covering therapeutics, medical technology, biopharma business transactions, and drug R&D, serving biopharmaceutical and medtech industry professionals. Owned by Clarivate, it publishes products including BioWorld, BioWorld Science, and BioWorld Asia with reporting from writers stationed globally.
Quralis10 shared keywordsQurAlis develops precision therapies for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and related neurodegenerative diseases by targeting specific disease-causing genetic drivers and molecular mechanisms. The company was founded by neuroscientists from Harvard to translate emerging discoveries about disease pathways into treatment breakthroughs for ALS patients.
BioStem Technologies9 shared keywordsBioStem Technologies develops human amniotic membrane allograft products for advanced surgical care and wound care, used as adjunct treatments for chronic and acute wounds. Its offerings use cryopreserved, hydrated, and dehydrated membrane technologies for clinical and veteran patient populations.
Companies competing with AcuraStem for the same Google search keywords, organic and paid, via search-intersection analysis.
Non-dilutive funding · 6 SBIR/STTR awards
Federal grants — no equity taken| Agency | Phase | Year | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Institutes of Health (NIH)National Institutes of Health | Phase II | 2023 | $1.5M |
| National Institutes of Health (NIH)National Institutes of Health | Phase II | 2023 | $1.4M |
| National Institutes of Health (NIH)National Institutes of Health | Phase II | 2021 | $2.6M |
| National Institutes of Health (NIH)National Institutes of Health | Phase II | 2019 | $3M |
| National Institutes of Health (NIH)National Institutes of Health | Phase I | 2018 | $433.1K |
| National Institutes of Health (NIH)National Institutes of Health | Phase I | 2017 | $224.9K |
Source: SBIR.gov award data (U.S. Small Business Administration). SBIR/STTR awards are competitive federal R&D grants and contracts — non-dilutive capital alongside any venture rounds above.
In the news
Frequently asked questions
- What does AcuraStem do?
- AcuraStem is a patient-based biotechnology company developing therapies for neurodegenerative diseases including sporadic ALS and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). It uses individual patient-derived cell models to identify and develop treatments, with a lead clinical candidate advancing toward first-in-human testing.
- Who founded AcuraStem?
- AcuraStem was founded by Justin Ichida, Sam Alworth in 2016.
- Who are AcuraStem's investors?
- AcuraStem's investors include CANTILEVER INVESTORS, Keiretsu Forum.
- How much funding has AcuraStem raised?
- AcuraStem has disclosed $3.9M raised across 3 of its 6 known rounds.
- Where is AcuraStem headquartered?
- AcuraStem is headquartered in Pasadena, US.