In December 2025, Axoltis Pharma, a French biotech company, made headlines by raising €18 million in Series A funding to advance treatment options for neurodegenerative diseases like ALS, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s. In my years as an entrepreneur, I’ve witnessed how funding success often mirrors a company’s potential to make meaningful market impacts. This development caught my attention because it highlights how targeted approaches, when paired with a strong strategy, can align business goals with unmet societal needs.
Let’s dive into the why, how, and what of this funding milestone.
Why This Funding Matters
Axoltis Pharma focuses on neurodegenerative diseases, a segment of healthcare that has long faced high failure rates and minimal solutions. Disorders like ALS, with rapid progression and limited treatment options, represent significant gaps. The company’s lead drug, NX210c, addresses these gaps by targeting the blood-brain barrier, a cornerstone of neurological health that, when compromised, exacerbates conditions like ALS, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s.
This financing isn’t just capital infusion. It’s an investment in hope for patients, families, and caregivers struggling with these diseases. As someone who builds startups to solve real-world problems, this resonates deeply. Investors aren’t merely betting on a drug; they’re backing a scientific narrative that connects biology, technology, and market viability.
Where the Money Goes
The €18 million raised includes contributions from institutional funds, private syndicates, and even equity crowdfunding via the Capital Cell platform. These funds will initially focus on advancing NX210c through clinical trials for ALS. The company is currently running a Phase 2 trial, named SEALS, which aims to confirm how effective NX210c is at restoring the blood-brain barrier.
In biotech, hitting trial milestones is often the key to unlocking further investment. Axoltis structured its raise in two tranches, with the second contingent on positive interim results from SEALS expected in mid-2026. This phased funding strategy signals confidence from investors, reducing their immediate risk while building anticipation for future breakthroughs.
Lessons in Structuring Investment Rounds
As a startup founder, I know the value of structuring a funding round strategically. Axoltis leveraged a wide pool of investors, including venture firms like FIDAT Ventures and niche investment groups like Le Cercle de Chiron. Its fundraising approach blended traditional mechanisms with innovative ones, including equity crowdfunding. Here’s why this approach works:
- Diversification builds resilience. Relying on various funding sources reduces dependency on one dominant group, spreading both risk and reward.
- Crowdfunding brings validation. When large numbers of private individuals invest in a biotech company, it signals strong public interest, which can also bolster subsequent institutional rounds.
- Creating milestones forces focus. The contingent second tranche of investment means Axoltis must deliver measurable results, something all startups should practice, no matter their industry.
Market Context and Competitive Edge
According to global ALS statistics, the disease affects about 400,000 people annually with an average survival of 2–5 years after diagnosis. Despite its prevalence, high costs and complex trials often deter development in this space. A drug that successfully repairs the blood-brain barrier would be groundbreaking, not just for ALS, but for other diseases marked by neurological decline.
Axoltis has positioned itself to lead in the emerging market of blood-brain barrier repair, one that other neuro-biotech competitors have yet to dominate. Back in 2023, few companies even explored this focus area. Competitors like Verge Genomics and Ionis Pharmaceuticals target related mechanisms like protein imbalances, while Axoltis has pivoted toward the blood-brain barrier as a core strategy. This differentiation could be the ticket to longevity in a competitive, funding-heavy space.
Common Biotech Fundraising Mistakes to Avoid
For entrepreneurs crafting their own fundraising strategies, Axoltis shows what biotech companies are doing right. Let’s talk about potential pitfalls that you’ll want to steer clear of:
- Unrealistic timelines: Overpromising on drug development pipelines destroys credibility. Stick to achievable milestones.
- Narrow investor base: Focusing solely on either VCs or individuals can overexpose you to market turbulence, diversify like Axoltis.
- Failure to communicate impact: Investors need to feel part of a vision. Axoltis showcases this clearly by spotlighting the scientific and societal relevance of NX210c.
In your own ventures, whether you’re pitching an app or a multi-million-euro biotech idea, these points remain strikingly relevant.
What Entrepreneurs Can Learn: Translate Science into Strategy
Beyond the biotech jargon is a simple takeaway: innovation needs storytelling. Axoltis raised €18 million not just because NX210c appears effective on a molecular level, but because the company demonstrated why that matters.
If your startup relies heavily on development timelines, for example, scaling software features or getting regulatory approvals, start thinking about how to position those milestones as key inflection points, both for your team and stakeholders. Investors don’t just fund progress. They fund ideas that align with practical and emotional needs.
What’s Next for Axoltis?
Success in the SEALS trial could lead to further drug applications for Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. These are conditions where any major breakthrough could quickly capture the attention of bigger players like Biogen or Novartis, which are actively acquiring or licensing similar-stage therapies. This raises questions for Axoltis about how to protect its intellectual property while increasing its market traction.
Additionally, scaling clinical trials means increased manufacturing expenses, regulatory hurdles, and potentially new partnerships with CROs (Contract Research Organizations). Startups following Axoltis’s trajectory should watch closely: partnerships in biotech often determine the difference between sustainable growth and overextension.
Final Thoughts
The Axoltis Pharma story isn’t just about biotech; it’s about perseverance, great leadership, and building bridges, both metaphorically in financing, and biologically in repairing the blood-brain barrier. For founders like me, it reinforces actionable lessons: collaborate broadly, keep your milestones sharp, and never stop refining your core value proposition.
Biotech and entrepreneurship share this in common, they both succeed on the backs of calculated risks and bold ideas. Axoltis is setting an example. Let’s make sure to learn from it.
FAQ
1. What is Axoltis Pharma known for?
Axoltis Pharma is a French biotech company focused on treating neurodegenerative diseases like ALS, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s through innovative therapies such as their lead drug candidate, NX210c. Learn more about Axoltis Pharma
2. How much funding has Axoltis Pharma recently raised?
Axoltis Pharma raised €18 million in Series A funding to drive the development of its lead drug candidate, NX210c, primarily targeting ALS. Read more about the funding
3. What is NX210c, and how does it work?
NX210c is a cyclic peptide designed to repair the blood-brain barrier, providing neuroprotection and improving synaptic activity. It’s being developed for ALS and other conditions affecting neurological health. Learn more about NX210c
4. Who are the primary investors in Axoltis Pharma’s funding round?
Major contributors to Axoltis Pharma’s Series A funding include FIDAT Ventures, Cenitz, and equity crowdfunding via the Capital Cell platform. Discover more about the investors
5. What is the purpose of Axoltis’s funding?
The funds will advance the clinical trials of NX210c, particularly the Phase 2 “SEALS” trial focused on ALS patients. Explore the trial details
6. What is the SEALS trial, and why is it important?
The SEALS trial is a Phase 2 study aiming to evaluate the efficacy of NX210c in repairing the blood-brain barrier in ALS patients. This trial could prove groundbreaking for neurodegenerative diseases. Learn more about the SEALS trial
7. How does Axoltis Pharma’s approach differ from competitors?
Unlike competitors focusing on protein dysfunctions, Axoltis targets the blood-brain barrier repair as a therapeutic strategy, setting it apart in the neurodegenerative disease market. Understand Axoltis’s strategy
8. Why is the blood-brain barrier a significant focus for ALS treatment?
Restoration of the blood-brain barrier can prevent further neurological damage, making it a critical target for conditions like ALS, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s. Read about the science behind the blood-brain barrier
9. How does Axoltis Pharma integrate crowdfunding into its funding strategy?
Axoltis used the Capital Cell platform for equity crowdfunding, allowing citizen investors to support innovative therapies while diversifying its funding sources. Learn about Capital Cell
10. What potential developments can stem from a successful SEALS trial?
If successful, NX210c could address broader neurodegenerative conditions like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, capturing the attention of bigger biotech players for partnerships or licensing. Follow Axoltis Pharma’s progress
About the Author
Violetta Bonenkamp, also known as MeanCEO, is an experienced startup founder with an impressive educational background including an MBA and four other higher education degrees. She has over 20 years of work experience across multiple countries, including 5 years as a solopreneur and serial entrepreneur. Throughout her startup experience she has applied for multiple startup grants at the EU level, in the Netherlands and Malta, and her startups received quite a few of those. She’s been living, studying and working in many countries around the globe and her extensive multicultural experience has influenced her immensely.
Violetta Bonenkamp's expertise in CAD sector, IP protection and blockchain
Violetta Bonenkamp is recognized as a multidisciplinary expert with significant achievements in the CAD sector, intellectual property (IP) protection, and blockchain technology.
CAD Sector:
- Violetta is the CEO and co-founder of CADChain, a deep tech startup focused on developing IP management software specifically for CAD (Computer-Aided Design) data. CADChain addresses the lack of industry standards for CAD data protection and sharing, using innovative technology to secure and manage design data.
- She has led the company since its inception in 2018, overseeing R&D, PR, and business development, and driving the creation of products for platforms such as Autodesk Inventor, Blender, and SolidWorks.
- Her leadership has been instrumental in scaling CADChain from a small team to a significant player in the deeptech space, with a diverse, international team.
IP Protection:
- Violetta has built deep expertise in intellectual property, combining academic training with practical startup experience. She has taken specialized courses in IP from institutions like WIPO and the EU IPO.
- She is known for sharing actionable strategies for startup IP protection, leveraging both legal and technological approaches, and has published guides and content on this topic for the entrepreneurial community.
- Her work at CADChain directly addresses the need for robust IP protection in the engineering and design industries, integrating cybersecurity and compliance measures to safeguard digital assets.
Blockchain:
- Violetta’s entry into the blockchain sector began with the founding of CADChain, which uses blockchain as a core technology for securing and managing CAD data.
- She holds several certifications in blockchain and has participated in major hackathons and policy forums, such as the OECD Global Blockchain Policy Forum.
- Her expertise extends to applying blockchain for IP management, ensuring data integrity, traceability, and secure sharing in the CAD industry.
Violetta is a true multiple specialist who has built expertise in Linguistics, Education, Business Management, Blockchain, Entrepreneurship, Intellectual Property, Game Design, AI, SEO, Digital Marketing, cyber security and zero code automations. Her extensive educational journey includes a Master of Arts in Linguistics and Education, an Advanced Master in Linguistics from Belgium (2006-2007), an MBA from Blekinge Institute of Technology in Sweden (2006-2008), and an Erasmus Mundus joint program European Master of Higher Education from universities in Norway, Finland, and Portugal (2009).
She is the founder of Fe/male Switch, a startup game that encourages women to enter STEM fields, and also leads CADChain, and multiple other projects like the Directory of 1,000 Startup Cities with a proprietary MeanCEO Index that ranks cities for female entrepreneurs. Violetta created the "gamepreneurship" methodology, which forms the scientific basis of her startup game. She also builds a lot of SEO tools for startups. Her achievements include being named one of the top 100 women in Europe by EU Startups in 2022 and being nominated for Impact Person of the year at the Dutch Blockchain Week. She is an author with Sifted and a speaker at different Universities. Recently she published a book on Startup Idea Validation the right way: from zero to first customers and beyond, launched a Directory of 1,500+ websites for startups to list themselves in order to gain traction and build backlinks and is building MELA AI to help local restaurants in Malta get more visibility online.
For the past several years Violetta has been living between the Netherlands and Malta, while also regularly traveling to different destinations around the globe, usually due to her entrepreneurial activities. This has led her to start writing about different locations and amenities from the POV of an entrepreneur. Here’s her recent article about the best hotels in Italy to work from.
About the Publication
Fe/male Switch is an innovative startup platform designed to empower women entrepreneurs through an immersive, game-like experience. Founded in 2020 during the pandemic "without any funding and without any code," this non-profit initiative has evolved into a comprehensive educational tool for aspiring female entrepreneurs.The platform was co-founded by Violetta Shishkina-Bonenkamp, who serves as CEO and one of the lead authors of the Startup News branch.
Mission and Purpose
Fe/male Switch Foundation was created to address the gender gap in the tech and entrepreneurship space. The platform aims to skill-up future female tech leaders and empower them to create resilient and innovative tech startups through what they call "gamepreneurship". By putting players in a virtual startup village where they must survive and thrive, the startup game allows women to test their entrepreneurial abilities without financial risk.
Key Features
The platform offers a unique blend of news, resources,learning, networking, and practical application within a supportive, female-focused environment:
- Skill Lab: Micro-modules covering essential startup skills
- Virtual Startup Building: Create or join startups and tackle real-world challenges
- AI Co-founder (PlayPal): Guides users through the startup process
- SANDBOX: A testing environment for idea validation before launch
- Wellness Integration: Virtual activities to balance work and self-care
- Marketplace: Buy or sell expert sessions and tutorials
Impact and Growth
Since its inception, Fe/male Switch has shown impressive growth:
- 5,000+ female entrepreneurs in the community
- 100+ startup tools built
- 5,000+ pieces of articles and news written
- 1,000 unique business ideas for women created
Partnerships
Fe/male Switch has formed strategic partnerships to enhance its offerings. In January 2022, it teamed up with global website builder Tilda to provide free access to website building tools and mentorship services for Fe/male Switch participants.
Recognition
Fe/male Switch has received media attention for its innovative approach to closing the gender gap in tech entrepreneurship. The platform has been featured in various publications highlighting its unique "play to learn and earn" model.