1 The EIC Accelerator Project

The EIC Accelerator program, part of the European Innovation Council (EIC), is a flagship initiative aimed at supporting innovative small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and startups within the European Union. This program focuses particularly on deep-tech innovations that have the potential to disrupt markets and create substantial economic and social impact.

Funding Structure

The EIC Accelerator provides a unique blended finance model that combines grants and equity investments. The grant component can reach up to €2.5 million, which is primarily intended to cover early-stage innovation activities, such as prototyping, testing, and market validation. The equity component, which is available until 2024, allows successful applicants to secure up to €15 million in equity investment, whereas from 2025 onwards, this amount is set to decrease to €10 million. This financial structure is designed to facilitate growth and scaling, making it easier for companies to transition from early innovation to market-ready products.

Purpose in the Startup Ecosystem

The EIC Accelerator serves a critical role in the European deep-tech and startup ecosystem by providing vital funding and support at a stage when private investment may be difficult to secure. Through its funding, the program aims to bridge the gap between early innovation and commercial success, enabling companies to attract additional private funding. By fostering an environment conducive to innovation, the EIC Accelerator also aims to bolster Europe’s competitiveness in the global market.

Scaling and Private Funding

The EIC Accelerator plays a pivotal role in helping companies scale by not only providing financial resources but also offering access to mentorship, networking opportunities, and business development support. This multifaceted approach enhances the likelihood of success for startups, enabling them to leverage the EIC Accelerator funding as a signaling mechanism to attract further investments from private sectors. Companies that have successfully secured EIC funding are often perceived as having undergone rigorous assessment, thereby increasing their credibility in the eyes of private investors.

Case Study: LiMM Therapeutics SA and the PILCKY Project

LiMM Therapeutics SA, a French biotechnology company, is a recent winner of the EIC Accelerator funding, securing support for its project PILCKY, which stands for "Harnessing the therapeutic Potential of Innate Lymphoid Cells to prevent and treat KidneY-related diseases." The project was submitted on October 6, 2021, and aims to explore groundbreaking therapeutic avenues for kidney diseases using innovative cellular therapies.

Technology Basics and Background

Innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) are a type of immune cell that plays a critical role in the body’s defense mechanisms. They are known for their capacity to respond rapidly to infection and inflammation, which makes them an attractive target for therapeutic applications. The PILCKY project focuses on understanding how ILCs can be harnessed to develop treatments that not only prevent but also treat kidney-related diseases, which are often complex and challenging to manage.

The project aims to leverage the natural properties of ILCs to create therapies that can modulate immune responses, thereby targeting the underlying causes of kidney diseases rather than merely addressing symptoms. This innovative approach has the potential to transform treatment paradigms in nephrology, with implications for improving patient outcomes and reducing healthcare costs.

LiMM Therapeutics SA's success in the EIC Accelerator program highlights the importance of innovative research in addressing critical healthcare challenges. By providing substantial funding and support for the PILCKY project, the EIC Accelerator is facilitating advancements in medical technology that could have far-reaching impacts on the treatment of kidney diseases and beyond.

In summary, the EIC Accelerator program is a vital resource for deep-tech startups in Europe, combining financial support with strategic assistance. Through initiatives like the PILCKY project by LiMM Therapeutics SA, the program exemplifies its role in fostering innovation and addressing significant health challenges within the European context.

2 The Funding Rounds

LiMM Therapeutics SA: Financing and Funding Events Since EIC Accelerator Award

LiMM Therapeutics SA, based in France, is a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing antibiotics and immunomodulators through harnessing the molecular cross-talk between neuronal and innate lymphoid cells.

Financing Raised

The company has raised approximately €8.5 million in total funding to date, with key contributions coming from both equity rounds and non-dilutive grants.

Funding Rounds

Date	Type	Investor(s)	Amount
Jun 2018	Venture Round	Not specified	Not disclosed
Apr 2019	Seed Round	Seventure Partners	Not disclosed
Jul 2020	Venture Round	Portugal Ventures	Not disclosed
Jan 2021	Undisclosed	Seventure Partners	€1.5 million
Oct 2021	Grant	European Innovation Council (EIC)	€2.5 million

The EIC Accelerator grant of €2.5 million was awarded following the successful Step 3 interview after submitting the proposal in October 2021.

Timing and Amount of Funding Rounds

• Early venture funding began as early as June 2018.
• A seed round was completed by April 2019.
• Additional equity or venture investment occurred in July 2020.
• By January 2021, Seventure Partners invested approximately €1.5 million.
• In October 2021, LiMM Therapeutics secured a significant non-dilutive grant of €2.5 million from the European Innovation Council Accelerator program.

Investor Information

Key investors include: - Seventure Partners: Participated actively since at least the seed round (April 2019) and contributed to subsequent rounds including a notable investment of about €1.5m in January 2021.

• Portugal Ventures: Participated during the July 2020 round.
• European Innovation Council (EIC): Provided a major grant of €2.5m post-EIC Accelerator award decision in October 2021.

No additional major institutional investors have been publicly listed for later-stage rounds post-EIC award as per available data up to April 23, 2025.

Information Related to Funding Rounds

LiMM Therapeutics’ funding history is characterized by:

• Early-stage venture capital support targeting innovation at preclinical or early clinical stages.
• Strategic use of non-dilutive public funds (notably EIC funding), which minimizes shareholder dilution while supporting R&D activities related to their core science platform addressing immune modulation via neural sensing pathways.

The company's ability to attract both private investment from sector-focused VCs like Seventure Partners and public innovation grants demonstrates strong validation for its technology approach within Europe’s biotech ecosystem.

Company Valuation

As per Dealroom estimates from January 2021, LiMM Therapeutics' enterprise valuation ranged between $7–10 million USD (~€6–9 million). No updated valuation figures have been published since that period.

Exit Events: IPOs, Buyouts, Acquisitions

There are no publicly reported exit events—such as initial public offerings (IPOs), buyouts, or acquisitions—for LiMM Therapeutics SA up to April 23, 2025. The company remains privately held with ongoing development activities supported primarily through VC backing and public grants.

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Sources: LiMM Therapeutics company information — Dealroom Seventure Partners profile – gigCMO LiMM Therapeutics profile — Startup Luxembourg Directory Seventure Partners investor database – TeaserClub

3 The Press Releases

LiMM Therapeutics SA: Advancing Neuroimmune Therapies Post-EIC Accelerator Funding LiMM Therapeutics SA, a France- and Portugal-based biotech company, secured a €12.5 million ($13.5 million) grant from the European Innovation Council (EIC) Accelerator in December 2021 after submitting its Step 2 proposal in October 2021. The funding supports preclinical safety studies and clinical trials for novel immunotherapies targeting inflammatory diseases by modulating neuroimmune interactions.

Key Developments

• Technology Focus: LiMM’s platform centers on neuronal reprogrammers of innate lymphocytes (NRILs), which exploit cross-talk between neuronal cells and innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) to address immune-mediated conditions in gastrointestinal, renal, and metabolic disorders.
• Leadership: Founded in 2019 with backing from Seventure Partners (France) and PME investimentos (Portugal), the company appointed Jacques Mizrahi as chairman to guide strategic development.
• Clinical Pipeline: The EIC funding accelerates Phase I/II trials for renal diseases, aiming to validate NRILs’ therapeutic potential.

No recent press releases or updates from limmtx.com were identified in available sources as of April 2025.

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Sources

• 7 biotech companies in Portugal you should know about in 2024
• LiMM Therapeutics incorporated to translate breakthrough science into first-in-class therapeutic agents

4 The Technology Advancements

LiMM Therapeutics SA: Current Capabilities and Advancements

LiMM Therapeutics SA, operating in both Portugal and France, is a biotech company focused on decoding the cross-talk between neurons and immune cells. Their technology aims to treat diseases caused or mediated by the immune system, including infections, inflammation, and metabolic diseases. This is achieved by regulating a specific type of immune cells called innate lymphoid cells.

EIC Accelerator Funding and Advancements

After receiving €12.5 million from the European Innovation Council (EIC) Accelerator in December 2021, LiMM Therapeutics has been working on developing novel immunotherapy treatments for inflammation. The funding was intended to support safety studies in animals and phase one and phase two clinical studies of renal disease in humans.

However, specific advancements made by LiMM Therapeutics since receiving the EIC Accelerator funding in October 2021 are not widely detailed in available sources. The company's focus remains on harnessing the potential of innate lymphoid cells to develop innovative treatments.

Technology and Market Demonstrations

While there is no detailed information about new features or technology improvements, LiMM Therapeutics has been working on leveraging innate lymphoid cells for therapeutic applications. The company's approach involves understanding and modulating these cells to address various immune-related diseases.

Clinical Trials and Scientific Publications

There is no recent information on new patents filed, scientific studies published, or clinical trials initiated by LiMM Therapeutics since the EIC funding. The company's primary goal is to advance its immunotherapy platform, but specific achievements or milestones in these areas are not currently documented.

Conclusion

LiMM Therapeutics continues to focus on developing immunomodulatory treatments by targeting innate lymphoid cells. However, detailed advancements or new developments since the EIC funding are not publicly disclosed. The company remains committed to its mission of treating immune-related diseases through innovative therapies.

Sources

• LiMM Therapeutics company information, funding & investors
• 7 biotech companies in Portugal you should know about in 2024
• Unfortunately, there is no specific data available on LiMM Therapeutics' website as it does not appear to be accessible or updated with recent information.

5 The Partnerships and Customers

LiMM Therapeutics SA Strategic Partnerships and Market Positioning Post-EIC Accelerator Funding LiMM Therapeutics SA, a France-based biopharmaceutical company, focuses on developing neuronal reprogrammers of innate lymphocytes (NRILs) by leveraging neuroimmune crosstalk to treat inflammatory, metabolic, and oncological diseases. While specific partnerships or customers post-2021 EIC Accelerator funding are not publicly disclosed in available records, the company's foundational collaborations and operational strategy offer insights into its market positioning.

Key Historical Collaborations and Investors

• Seventure Partners (France) and PME Investimentos (Portugal) provided initial venture capital backing during LiMM’s 2019 incorporation. These investors emphasized LiMM’s unique approach to bridging neural sensing with immunology.
• Jacques Mizrahi, an industry leader, was appointed chairman to guide strategic development at inception.

Technology Advancements Through Neuroimmune Focus
LiMM’s NRIL platform targets molecular interactions between neuronal cells and innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) in peripheral tissues like the gastrointestinal tract. This approach aims to overcome limitations in treating immune-mediated diseases through novel mechanism-of-action therapeutics, positioning the company as a pioneer in neuroimmunology.

Post-EIC Funding Market Positioning
While no new partnerships or customers are explicitly documented since October 2021, LiMM’s participation in international consortia or undisclosed collaborations could align with typical EIC Accelerator objectives—scaling proprietary technologies for clinical validation. The absence of recent updates suggests either confidentiality or ongoing negotiation phases common in therapeutic development cycles.

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Sources

• LiMM Therapeutics incorporated to translate breakthrough science into first-in-class therapeutic agents
• LiMM - Portugal Ventures
• Companies - Biocant

6 The Hiring and Company Growth

LiMM Therapeutics SA Growth and Team Dynamics Post-2021 EIC Accelerator Funding As of the latest available information, specific details about LiMM Therapeutics SA’s hiring activities, current team size, or headcount since its October 2021 EIC Accelerator win are not publicly disclosed in the provided sources. The company’s website (limmtx.com) did not appear in the search results, limiting access to direct updates on its operational scaling.

For context, EIC Accelerator recipients typically use funding to expand R&D capabilities and commercialize innovations. While no explicit growth metrics or recent hires for LiMM Therapeutics were identified, such funding often supports strategic roles in clinical development, regulatory affairs, or partnerships to accelerate therapeutic pipelines.

Future Implications of Team Growth
Hypothetically:

• Key hires (e.g., clinical trial managers or bioprocessing experts) would align with advancing preclinical candidates into human testing phases.
• Leadership changes, if any post-funding, could signal shifts toward commercialization readiness or international market expansion common among biotech startups post-EIC financing.

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Sources
EIC Accelerator Awardees (no direct mention of LiMM Therapeutics SA)
Note: Specific sources about LiMM Therapeutics SA’s team dynamics were unavailable in the provided data.

7 The Media Features and Publications

LiMM Therapeutics SA Media and Public Engagement Overview

While LiMM Therapeutics SA’s EIC Accelerator funding (October 2021) marks a significant milestone, publicly available records show limited specific media coverage, interviews, or conference participation directly referencing the company. Below is a synthesis of available information and contextual insights:

• Company Focus: LiMM Therapeutics specializes in neuro-immune crosstalk research, developing NRILs (neuronal reprogrammers of innate lymphocytes) to treat inflammatory diseases, metabolic disorders, and cancer.
• Leadership: Co-founded by David Braga Malta and Henrique Veiga-Fernandes, though no direct interviews or podcasts featuring them at the company are evident in public records.
• Publications: No peer-reviewed studies or press releases explicitly naming LiMM Therapeutics were identified in the provided sources. The Portugal Ventures portfolio page remains a primary reference for its scientific scope.
• Events/Conferences: No conference presentations, fair participations, or public engagements were located post-EIC funding. Competitor entities like LimFlow SA (a separate vascular device firm) dominate recent event mentions.

Limitations: The absence of detailed media features may reflect non-public data gaps or proprietary development stages typical of early-phase biotech firms. For updates beyond 2021–2023 data coverage here, monitoring regulatory filings or direct inquiries to LiMM Therapeutics is advised.

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Sources
LiMM - Portugal Ventures
Altamira Leadership Team