RBL, a biotech venture creation studio specializing in developing companies based on medical technologies, announced that it has received an investment from Modi Ventures to support its efforts in launching and scaling startups into clinical-stage companies.
Additionally, RBL reported the appointment of Sahir Ali to its board of directors. Ali is the founder and current general partner of Modi Ventures, a venture capital firm investing in biology and technology in Houston. Ali’s background in technology and health care, as well as his roles as investor and adviser, are expected to contribute to connecting academic biotech research with the clinical care market.
Modi Ventures uses a financial engineering framework informed by modern portfolio theory and efficient frontier principles. The firm manages $134 million and invests in companies working in AI-driven drug discovery, diagnostics, and engineered therapeutics, as well as funds across the biotech and technology sectors. Sahir Ali has experience leading projects and founding companies in fields such as AI, cloud computing, and precision medicine. He also serves on the board of directors of the Drug Information Association, a global organization involved in the development of drugs, devices, and diagnostics.
Sahir Ali will join board members Wotton, Cherukuri, Omid Veiseh, Rima Chakrabarti, John Jaggers, Devyn Smith, and James Watson, who have backgrounds in biotech innovation, clinical translation, and venture development, guiding RBL’s ongoing activities.
KEY QUOTES:
“This investment by Modi Ventures will be instrumental to RBL’s growth as it reinforces confidence in our venture creation model and accelerates our ability to develop successful biotech startups. Sahir’s addition to the board will also amplify this collaboration with Modi. His strategic counsel and deep understanding of field-defining technologies will be invaluable as we continue to grow and deliver on our mission.”
Paul Wotton, RBL’s managing partner
“The bold thinking and entrepreneurial initiatives coming out of RBL represent an important cornerstone of the rapidly evolving Houston life sciences scene, and I am honored to contribute to this growth by joining this exceptional board. Partnering my new role at RBL with the investment made by Modi can truly help not only build companies but also shape the future of patient care in a collaborative and more efficient way.”
Sahir Ali
“Modi Ventures’ investment is a strong signal of market validation for the acceleration model we’ve built into RBL. It reflects growing investor confidence in RBL’s ability to turn breakthrough science into real-world therapies and in Houston’s rise as a global force in biotech innovation.”
Paul Cherukuri, board member of RBL and chief innovation officer of Rice University
