The first significant investment into the internet was done by ARPA in the 1960s. Today, ARPHA-H, a new government org focused on health R&D, just made its first ever investment into Thymmune, our featured startup for E18 of S³.

Thymmune was founded in 2019 by Stan Wang, with the goal of developing novel therapies to treat a range of immune system disorders through scalable thymic cell therapies — watch and read on for episode 18 of S³.

Once you watch the episode you can expect this blog post to go deeper on:

• What does your Thymus do and why does it matter

• Founding at the intersection of therapeutics and business

• ARPA-H’s first ever investment (this is a big deal)

Your Thymus: the key to your health

Nestled snugly in our chest, the thymus gland might not be a household name, but it's a superstar in the immune system. This unsung hero is where T cells, the front-line warriors of our immune defense, get their training. During early life, the thymus is busy schooling these cells to differentiate friend from foe, ensuring your body's immune responses are sharp and accurate.

But here's the catch: as we age, the thymus shrinks, and its efficiency plummets. This decline is a major reason why older adults are more susceptible to infections and have a tougher time battling diseases like cancer.

In a nutshell, the thymus is like the boot camp for your immune system; when it's not in top shape, the whole defense strategy suffers.

Imagine if we could maintain a youthful thymus throughout life. We're talking fewer illnesses, stronger responses to vaccines, and a robust defense against cancer.

That's the dream Thymmune is chasing.

By rebooting the thymus, they're not just patching up a small organ; they're revitalizing the entire immune system. This isn't just about adding years to life; it's about adding life to those years, ensuring that as we grow older, we don't have to resign ourselves to weakened immunity.

Founding a novel cellular therapy company

For Stan, the founder of Thymmune, the idea sparked during his time working with stem cells and regenerative medicine. Witnessing the transformative potential of these technologies, he saw a glaring gap in their application: they weren't being used to tackle one of the most critical aspects of our health – the aging immune system.

Combining his deep scientific insights with a knack for entrepreneurship, Stan envisioned a company that could turn this groundbreaking science into a lifeline for millions.

Thymmune isn't just a biotech company; it's the realization of Stan's belief that the best scientific innovations deserve a path to those who need them most.

Launching Thymmune was no walk in the park. It meant navigating the complex world of biotech, where groundbreaking science meets the harsh realities of business. Stan and his team had to balance cutting-edge research with the nitty-gritty of company building – funding, team recruitment, regulatory landscapes.

But for Stan, this intersection is where magic happens. It's where scientific discoveries transform from lab curiosities into real-world therapies. In Thymmune, Stan saw not just a company but a vessel to carry a revolutionary idea from the lab bench to the clinic.

Thymmune is ARPA-H’s first ever investment

When ARPA-H, the shiny new kid on the block in government health agencies, decided to make its first investment, it wasn't in some traditionally safe or incremental innovation.

They went big and chose Thymmune.

This isn't just a funding round; it's a resounding vote of confidence in Thymmune's vision. ARPA-H is all about high-risk, high-reward ventures, and their backing is a signal to the world that Thymmune is onto something potentially game-changing.

This funding isn't just a financial lifeline; it's a beacon that draws attention to the importance of the thymus in our overall health. It propels Thymmune onto a global stage, spotlighting the potential of regenerative medicine in tackling age-related immune decline.

For the team at Thymmune, this investment is more than just a pat on the back; it's a clarion call to accelerate their mission. And for the rest of us? It's a promise that a future where our immune systems can remain robust into our twilight years isn't just a fantasy. Thanks to ARPA-H’s backing, it's a future that's being built, right here, right now, at Thymmune.

This episode is a testament to the incredible advances in biotech, with Thymmune leading the charge in organ regeneration. As always, a huge thank you to our sponsor, Pillar VC, for their unwavering support of innovative biotech ventures.

Closing thoughts and a new chapter for S³

As we wrap up the 2nd to last episode of our S³ bio blackout, get ready for a strong return to the world of hardware! We’ve got some exciting stuff for you.

Also, in case you didn’t see it on Twitter, S³ is now expanding to be a news source for tech positive media — we’re doing this to help promote and elevate people changing the world.

Thanks for reading and watching, things are about to get exciting.

Keep on building the future,

— Jason

Filmed in Boston, MA | Edited in San Francisco, CA | Composed in Davis, CA