Startup profile · funding coverage
MimiVax startup funding profile
Clinical-stage immuno-oncology company developing SurVaxM cancer vaccine; Roswell Park spinout.
Stage
See coverage
Status
private
Coverage
full
Overview
MimiVax is a privately held, clinical-stage biotechnology company founded in 2012 as a spinout from Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center in Buffalo, NY. Its lead candidate, SurVaxM, is a peptide immunotherapy targeting survivin, a protein that helps cancer cells survive; the program has advanced through clinical studies in newly diagnosed glioblastoma and other indications. Per the company, MimiVax has raised nearly $25 million from Buffalo Capital Partners, Varia Ventures, Fosun Pharma, the National Brain Tumor Society / Brain Tumor Investment Fund, the Sontag Foundation, MEDA Angels, Tech Coast Angels, private investors, and Roswell Park. Funds support clinical development rather than typical consumer SaaS growth metrics. HQ remains Buffalo, NY.
Why MimiVax is interesting
Buffalo Roswell Park spinout commercializing SurVaxM, a survivin-targeted vaccine in Phase 2b for glioblastoma — nearly $25M raised from local capital, angels, and brain-tumor philanthropy rather than a classic Silicon Valley syndicate.
Product & use cases
SurVaxM immunotherapy vaccine platform targeting survivin for glioblastoma and other cancers, developed for clinical use under MimiVax's license from Roswell Park research.
- Newly diagnosed glioblastoma clinical trials
- Investigational use in other solid tumors expressing survivin
- Partnership-sponsored trials with pharma or academic centers
Key facts
- Founded 2012 as Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center spinout (Buffalo, NY)
- Lead asset SurVaxM: survivin-targeted vaccine; Phase 2b program in newly diagnosed glioblastoma
- Nearly $25M raised (company-disclosed) from Buffalo Capital Partners, Varia Ventures, Fosun Pharma, NBTS/BTIF, Sontag, MEDA Angels, Tech Coast Angels, privates, and Roswell Park
- Jan 2024: additional investments from Brain Tumor Investment Fund, Sontag Innovation Fund, MEDA Angels, Varia Ventures to support Phase 2b and commercialization prep
- No Silicon Valley fund IDs in our directory for this syndicate — investors[] left empty by design
Fundraising history
Cumulative disclosed capital
~$25M- Buffalo Capital Partners (participant)
- Varia Ventures (participant)
- Fosun Pharma (participant)
- National Brain Tumor Society / Brain Tumor Investment Fund (participant)
- Sontag Foundation / Sontag Innovation Fund (participant)
- MEDA Angels (participant)
- Roswell Park (participant)
Clinical development financing
2024-01- Brain Tumor Investment Fund (participant)
- Sontag Innovation Fund (participant)
- MEDA Angels (participant)
- Varia Ventures (participant)
Competitive landscape
Edge: Roswell Park–originated survivin vaccine with exclusive commercialization rights and a focused glioblastoma clinical path — differentiated from broad checkpoint-inhibitor platforms.
Glioblastoma has seen few durable advances beyond temozolomide-era care. MimiVax's bet is a tumor-associated antigen vaccine (survivin) rather than a general checkpoint approach — clinical readout risk remains high.
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Standard of care (surgery + radiation + temozolomide) incumbent
Current baseline for newly diagnosed glioblastoma.
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Other glioblastoma immunotherapies / vaccines in trial direct
Multiple clinical-stage GBM immunotherapy approaches compete for patients and capital.
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Checkpoint inhibitors in neuro-oncology adjacent
Different IO modality; limited historic success in GBM.
Notable stories
- Company materials emphasize community and Roswell Park origins — seed support from Roswell and Buffalo rather than a coastal mega-round (mimivax.com/investors).
Industries
Related funding articles
Venture Capital Tracker pieces that cover MimiVax's financing or category context.
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Last updated: 2026-07-26