Sift Bio Secures $3.7M to Activate Immune Memory Against Disease

NORWALK, Conn. – February 18, 2026 – Sift Biosciences, a biotechnology startup developing a novel immunotherapy platform, has successfully closed an oversubscribed $3.7 million Pre-Seed financing round. The investment was co-led by Lifespan Vision Ventures, a firm dedicated to extending human healthspan, and deep-tech investor Freeflow Ventures.

The round saw significant participation from Valuence Ventures, Eisai Innovation, and SBI US Gateway Fund, signaling strong investor confidence in Sift's pioneering approach. The company aims to harness the body's pre-existing immune memory to combat diseases that have long eluded effective treatments, including immunologically "cold" solid tumors and complex autoimmune conditions.

Unlocking the Immune System's Memory

At the heart of Sift Biosciences' strategy is a next-generation peptide immunotherapy platform that integrates artificial intelligence, metagenomics, and high-throughput immune profiling. The UC Berkeley spinout is developing what it calls "T-cell booster" peptides, which are designed to awaken and direct powerful memory T-cells that already exist within a patient's body.

Many of today's most advanced immunotherapies, such as checkpoint inhibitors, struggle against "cold" tumors—cancers that lack sufficient immune cell infiltration to trigger a response. These include notoriously difficult-to-treat cancers like microsatellite-stable (MSS) colorectal and ovarian cancers. Sift's technology aims to bypass this limitation by activating memory T-cells that were originally trained to fight common infections. By identifying microbial peptide analogs that mimic tumor epitopes, Sift can potentially mobilize a potent, pre-existing army of immune cells, turning cold tumors "hot."

"We are pleased to support Sift because they are applying a clear immunology insight with a platform built to scale," said Altar Munis, Ph.D., Associate at Lifespan Vision Ventures. "The platform is designed to engage antigen-experienced memory T cells and tune response magnitude and phenotype."

This approach promises a more consistent and rapid immune engagement compared to therapies that must prime a new immune response from scratch. The applications extend beyond oncology. In autoimmune diseases, where the immune system mistakenly attacks the body, Sift's platform could be used to selectively expand regulatory T-cells, restoring immune balance and tolerance without the broad immunosuppression and side effects common to current treatments.

A Strategic Bet on Healthspan and Deep Tech

The investor syndicate behind Sift reflects a powerful convergence of two major trends in venture capital: longevity and deep tech. Co-lead investor Lifespan Vision Ventures focuses exclusively on companies developing technologies to prevent and treat age-related diseases, with a mission to enable healthier, longer lives. Sift's platform aligns perfectly with this thesis by addressing the age-related immune dysfunction that contributes to both cancer and autoimmunity. Dr. Munis noted the platform's "potential applications beyond oncology in autoimmunity and broader immune dysfunction that increases with age."

Co-leading the round is Freeflow Ventures, a firm that specializes in backing science-based companies emerging from top research institutions. Their focus on deep tech solutions for human and planetary health underscores the scientific rigor and transformative potential of Sift's AI-driven discovery engine. This dual backing validates not only the commercial opportunity but also the fundamental scientific innovation at the company's core.

Fueling the Path from Discovery to Clinic

The $3.7 million in capital will provide critical fuel for Sift's journey from a promising research concept to a clinical-stage therapeutic developer. The funds are earmarked for three key areas: advancing in vivo efficacy studies, expanding the company's AI-powered peptide discovery engine, and completing lead candidate selection.

"This financing will support in vivo efficacy studies, expansion of our AI powered peptide discovery engine, and lead candidate selection," said Clare Lou, Ph.D., CEO and Cofounder of Sift Biosciences. In vivo studies, which test the therapy in living organisms, are a crucial step to demonstrate proof-of-concept and gather the safety and efficacy data needed to approach regulators for human trials.

By enhancing its AI platform, Sift can accelerate the identification and optimization of new T-cell booster peptides for its pipeline. The company's initial focus is on developing candidates for its oncology pipeline, targeting gastrointestinal and gynecologic cancers first, while simultaneously exploring programs for autoimmune diseases.

"We are excited to partner with Lifespan Vision Ventures and this strong investor syndicate as we advance our initial pipeline toward the clinic," Dr. Lou added. This funding provides the necessary runway to translate the company's compelling preclinical data into a tangible lead program ready for the next stage of development.

New Expertise Joins the Board of Directors

As a condition of the financing, Sift Biosciences will add two key experts to its Board of Directors: Altar Munis of Lifespan Vision Ventures and Kevin Barrett, Managing Partner at Freeflow Ventures. Their appointments bring a powerful combination of scientific oversight and operational expertise to the young company.

Dr. Munis brings a data-driven, multidisciplinary approach focused on regenerative medicine and longevity. His scientific acumen will be invaluable in guiding Sift's research strategy and ensuring its technology remains at the cutting edge of immunology and age-related disease. His involvement directly connects Sift to the burgeoning healthspan and longevity ecosystem.

Conversely, Kevin Barrett provides nearly three decades of experience in scaling healthcare and life sciences companies. His proven track record in startup operations, deal-making, and fundraising will be critical as Sift navigates the complex path of business development, corporate strategy, and future financing rounds. This blend of scientific and business leadership on the board equips Sift with the strategic guidance needed to translate its groundbreaking science into a successful enterprise with the potential to impact millions of patients.