Sarasota wound care company raises $8.5M

A Sarasota-based wound care company raised $8.5 million in Series A funding. Omeza Holdings, at 1610 Northgate Blvd., plans to use the proceeds to accelerate clinical trials, expand commercial capabilities and strengthen its evidence base to support broader reimbursement coverage, according to a statement.

Omeza’s lead offering is an FDA-cleared product derived from marine lipids and cold water fish peptides that reduces inflammation, disrupts bacterial biofilm and supports tissue regeneration, the statement says. Called OCM, the product provides a cost-efficient and effective alternative to traditional skin grafts, according to a statement.

“This financing marks a pivotal milestone for Omeza as we advance our clinical development and accelerate our commercial strategy" for OCM, Omeza CEO Cynthia Flowers says in the statement.

The $8.5 million funding round was co-led by Astanor and BluKap, with participation from Catalyst Investments and historical investors including the Florida Opportunity Fund. Astanor is a venture capital firm that backs agrifood tech solutions. BluKap is a venture capital firm that invests in ocean-related innovations. Catalyst Investments is an Israel-based private equity multi-fund firm that supports high-growth technology and life science companies. The Florida Opportunity Fund is a state-created nonprofit that provides capital for early-stage businesses.

“Omeza combines compelling clinical validation with a scalable commercial model addressing a large and underserved market,” Henry Gazay, co-founder and managing partner of BluKap Ventures, says in the statement. “Its use of sustainably sourced, marine-derived biological compounds positions the company at the forefront of a new generation of regenerative wound care solutions.”

Along with the closing of the funding round, Omeza announced three new appointments tied to its board of directors: Gazay and Catalyst Investments founder and Managing Partner Edouard Cukierman were appointed non-executive directors on the board. Astanor founder and Managing Partner Eric Archambeau was appointed board observer.