Informuta, First Tulane Spinout to Attract Tulane Venture Investment, Builds on Early Success in Innovation & Entrepreneurship Programs
 

Tulane Ventures, a fund managed by the Tulane Innovation Institute (TUII), has announced its latest strategic investment in an innovative startup originating from research developed at the Tulane University School of Medicine. Informuta, Inc., co-founded by Kalen Hall, PhD, and Leo Williams, PhD, will receive $125,000 from Tulane Ventures. This investment signals Tulane University's burgeoning role in translating academic research into viable, market-driven solutions. 

Informuta was an early and active participant in many Tulane Innovation Institute’s programs, serving as the first recipient or winner across multiple initiatives. From the inaugural Open Medical Innovation Challenge (Open MIC) Night and Provost’s Proof of Concept Fund (PPOC) in Spring 2023 to NSF I-Corps in Fall 2023 and first place at the $50K Demo Day Pitch Competition in Spring 2024—securing $25,000 in non-dilutive funding—Hall and Williams maximized these opportunities for funding, mentorship, and operational support. Informuta is now the first Tulane spinout to receive investment from Tulane Ventures, further advancing its commercialization efforts.

Pictured above: The first Tulane Innovation Institute Open MIC Night.

Kimberly Gramm, PhD, managing director of Tulane Ventures and the David and Marion Mussafer Chief Innovation & Entrepreneurship Officer at the Tulane Innovation Institute, articulated the overarching vision behind this investment: 

"The Tulane Innovation Institute was established to inspire researchers to translate their transformative discoveries from laboratory settings into market-ready applications. By funding ventures like Informuta, we are converting advanced research into impactful solutions confronting significant global health challenges.” 

While studying at Tulane, the Informuta team, under the mentorship of Tulane faculty members Lisa Morici, PhD from the Department of Microbiology and Immunology, and Zac Pursell, PhD from the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, addressed a critical issue in contemporary medicine: antibiotic resistance. Their research, recently published in Nature Communications, pinpointed a unique “mutational signature” (i.e., genetic fingerprint) that predicts whether bacteria will develop resistance to antibiotics, a capability no existing diagnostic test offers. While their initial work focused on Pseudomonas aeruginosa, deemed a ‘serious’ resistance threat by the CDC, the technology is broadly applicable to virtually all medically important and difficult-to-treat bacteria. Building on this research, Informuta has leveraged machine learning to develop a predictive diagnostic platform that assesses bacterial infections for current antibiotic resistance and prognostic resistance likelihood. This approach promises to facilitate precision medicine while reducing antibiotic misuse—a vital measure in tackling the escalating threat of superbugs. 

Hall holds a Ph.D. in Biomedical Science from the Tulane School of Medicine, while Williams is a Ph.D. graduate of Tulane University's Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship (IGERT) BioInnovation program. They have effectively used resources available through the university and the broader innovation ecosystem. By collaborating with local partners, such as the New Orleans BioInnovation Center, and seeking external funding sources, the team has successfully raised $1.8 million since March 2023 through a combination of investments, grants, and pitch competitions. Their achievements were notably recognized with a $275,000 grant from the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program. 

"The success of Informuta is a testament to the collaborative spirit fostered by Tulane. We owe much of our progress to the Tulane Innovation Institute, which has helped us transform our idea and lab research into a company. This investment will further accelerate our development and bring us one step closer to helping patients,” remarked Kalen Hall. 

Hall will return to Tulane University for Tulane Innovation Day, part of New Orleans Entrepreneur Week, on March 26, 2025. She will be recognized for this venture investment at this event. Hall will also serve as a judge for the second annual $50K Demo Day competition. Additionally, she will participate in a high-energy and insightful panel discussion with investors and Tulane Venture portfolio companies, sharing tangible takeaways on venture funding in Louisiana.  Additional panelists include Andrea Turner Moffitt, founder of Future Heights Ventures and a member of the Tulane Ventures Investment Committee; Rebekah Gee from Nest Health, another Tulane Ventures investee; and Brett A. Hurt, a well-known entrepreneur, investor, and author of The Entrepreneur Essentials. The discussion will highlight venture funding as a critical driver of economic and technological advancement in the state. 

Tulane Ventures’ $10M Seed Fund provides early-stage capital to Louisiana-based startups in health, artificial intelligence, technology, and energy, supporting their growth and impact. As Tulane University establishes itself as a key player in research commercialization, the Tulane Innovation Institute continues to offer a robust framework—from mentorship to funding—helping turn innovative ideas into successful ventures. The Institute’s programming works in tandem with Tulane Ventures to bridge the gap between early-stage ideas and startups, like Informuta, that are poised to scale in the market.