Altria Ventures, the corporate venturing unit of US-based tobacco company Altria Group, has invested $2m in Series B funding into US-based Sharklet Technologies, a developer of bacteria-inhibiting micro-texture surface technology. In return Altria will have a 12.5% stake in the company.
Joe Bagan, chairman of Sharklet Technologies board, said: “We are excited that Altria Ventures has invested in Sharklet Technologies, demonstrating their support for our company’s innovative and sustainable approach to solving human challenges and improving our environment, we will look for opportunities to draw from their experience in advancing our technology and our business.”
The Altria Group made their first disclosed corporate venturing deal in May, buying 5% of Micreos, a Netherlands-based developer of anti-bacterial phage technology.