Intero Biosystems Closes Oversubscribed $2M Pre-Seed Round to Advance Human Intestinal Organoid Platform for Drug Discovery
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 11th, 2025
Ann Arbor, MI — Intero Biosystems, a biotechnology startup spun out of the University of Michigan, today announced the close of an oversubscribed $2 million pre-seed funding round.
Intero has developed the first adult stem cell–derived human “miniature intestine”, or organoid, that replicates the key cell types, spatial structure, and functions of the human gut. The company’s flagship product, GastroScreen, is a complete mini-organ “in a dish” that includes the intestinal lining along with supporting tissues—neurons, blood vessels, and muscle. It enables comprehensive safety and efficacy testing and serves as a powerful tool for accurate and predictive preclinical human modeling.
“Our goal is to close the gap between preclinical testing and real-world patient outcomes,” said Charlie Childs, Ph.D., CEO of Intero Biosystems. “This platform brings human relevance into drug discovery earlier—and this funding enables us to scale production, further validate clinical predictability, and build out disease models to accelerate partnerships with pharmaceutical companies.”
Intero’s momentum aligns with a broader industry shift: both the FDA and NIH have endorsed organoids as promising alternatives to animal testing in preclinical drug development. Intero’s work directly supports this transition away from animal models.
“Intero is addressing a critical gap in translational research with a technically sophisticated and commercially viable solution,” said Eric Wimbley, Managing Partner at Kalamazoo Forward Ventures. “We’re proud to support their mission to improve the predictability of drug development.”
The $2 million round included participation from Kalamazoo Forward Ventures, Evoce Capital, Goose Capital, Dr. Nancy Chang, Canyon Oak Ventures, Bronco Venture Fund, Michigan Rise, Accelerate Blue Fund, Michigan University Innovation Capital Fund, Michigan Biomedical Venture Fund, Ann Arbor SPARK Capital, Houston Angel Network, and nCourage Investment Group.
The round follows Intero’s first-place win at the Rice Business Plan Competition, the largest and most prestigious intercollegiate graduate startup competition in the world. The company also earned top prizes at the Heartland Challenge, the Baylor New Venture Competition, and the Michigan Business Challenge, along with funding from the University of Michigan’s Center for Entrepreneurship FUEL grant and the Zell Lurie Institute at the Ross School of Business—further validating its scientific innovation and commercial potential.
To learn more about Intero Biosystems, CLICK HERE
ABOUT INTERO BIOSYSTEMS
Intero Biosystems is a biotechnology company developing advanced adult human stem cell–derived intestinal organoid platforms for drug discovery and development. Founded in 2024 as a spin-out from Dr. Jason Spence’s lab at the University of Michigan, Intero’s mission is to improve the predictability and efficiency of preclinical testing—failing ineffective drug candidates faster and helping identify safer, more effective treatments for patients in need.
MEDIA CONTACT
Charlie Childs, Ph.D.
CEO, Intero Biosystems
charlie@interobiosystems.com
www.interobiosystems.com