ZIM
ZIM Corporation is an Ottawa-based public holding company that invests in biomedical and emerging-technology businesses through its subsidiary NuvoBio and portfolio stakes in Equispheres and SpiderWort, developing peptide therapeutics and advanced materials for licensing to research institutes and industry partners.
- Company typePublic
- Founded2001
- HeadquartersOttawa, Canada
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What ZIM does
ZIM Corporation is a publicly traded Canadian holding company (OTCBB: ZIMCF) headquartered in Ottawa, Ontario, that invests in and develops biomedical and emerging-technology businesses. Founded in 2001 by Dr. Michael C.J. Cowpland, the company sold its legacy database and mobile software assets in June 2020 and reoriented entirely toward life sciences and advanced materials investments. Day-to-day leadership is concentrated in CEO Dr. Michael C.J. Cowpland and CFO John Chapman, operating with a lean core team.
The company's primary operating subsidiary is NuvoBio Corporation, which develops peptide therapeutics and bi-specific immunology therapies for cancer, including kidney cancer. The technology applies molecular interaction analytics running on supercomputing infrastructure to design small peptide drugs that bind to specific target proteins. ZIM also holds strategic minority investments in Equispheres, which uses proprietary atomization technology to produce spherical aluminum and titanium powders for additive manufacturing and aerospace applications, and in SpiderWort, which builds plant-derived cellulose scaffolds for regenerative medicine of bone and skin.
ZIM's business model is that of a public investment and IP-development vehicle rather than a product-sales company. It funds R&D within its subsidiaries and portfolio companies, develops intellectual property, and pursues global exclusive licensing agreements with leading drug research institutes to commercialize that IP. Revenue mechanics, where present, are expected to derive from licensing royalties, milestone payments, and investment returns rather than from direct commercial product sales. The company maintains minimal public-facing commercial activity beyond investor relations, and detailed financial disclosures are limited.
ZIM firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- ZIM
- Legal name
- ZIM Corporation
- Website
- https://zim.biz
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 2001
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- ZIM Corporation is an Ottawa-based public holding company that invests in biomedical and emerging-technology businesses through its subsidiary NuvoBio and portfolio stakes in Equispheres and SpiderWort, developing peptide therapeutics and advanced materials for licensing to research institutes and industry partners.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
ZIM industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Biomedical and Emerging Technology Investment Holding
- NAICS
- Biological Product (except Diagnostic) Manufacturing (325414)
- SIC
- Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Oncology & Hematology Pharmaceuticals (HLAIAAAC)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Immunology & Autoimmune Specialty Pharmaceuticals (HLAIACAB)
Keywords
Where ZIM is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Ottawa
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
ZIM business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Investment Returns and Royalties: ZIM Corporation generates returns through its investment portfolio in biomedical and emerging technology companies. The company focuses on developing intellectual property and advancing R&D in new synthetic drugs and immunotherapies through its wholly-owned subsidiary NuvoBio and strategic investments.
- Database and Mobile Software Products: Previously, ZIM derived revenue from software products and services for the database and mobile markets. In June 2020, the company sold its database technology assets to focus on bio-medical and other investment activities.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Marketing channels3 records
ZIM product offering
Product offeringCore offering
ZIM Corporation is a publicly traded holding and investment company that accelerates research and growth in biomedical and emerging technology companies. It develops intellectual property in novel synthetic drugs and immunotherapies through its wholly-owned subsidiary NuvoBio Corporation, and pursues strategic investments in portfolio companies such as Equispheres (additive-manufacturing metal powders) and SpiderWort (plant-derived regenerative-medicine scaffolds). Following the June 2020 divestiture of its legacy database technology assets, the company is focused exclusively on biomedical R&D and emerging-technology commercialization.
Product overview
ZIM Corporation operates as a biomedical and emerging technology investment company. Through its wholly owned subsidiary NuvoBio Corporation, the company is actively involved in research and development for novel cancer therapeutics including peptide drugs and immunotherapy treatments. The company also holds investments in Equispheres (advanced materials for additive manufacturing) and SpiderWort (biomaterials for regenerative medicine). As of June 2020, ZIM sold its legacy database technology assets (Zim IDE and database products) and pivoted entirely to biomedical investments and research.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- NuvoBio: Bio-medical technology subsidiary focused on peptide therapeutics, cancer research, and immunotherapy development.
- Zim Investments
Products and services
- NuvoBio Corporation A wholly-owned subsidiary of ZIM Corporation developing intellectual property and advancing R&D in new synthetic drugs and immunotherapies. Through strategic partnerships and global exclusive licensing agreements with leading drug research institutes, NuvoBio funds R&D in molecular interaction analytics-driven peptide drugs for cancer therapies and Bi-Specific Immunology therapies for kidney cancer treatment. Targeted at pharmaceutical and biotech partners seeking novel cancer therapeutics IP.
- Equispheres An investment portfolio company developing performance spherical metal powders engineered for Additive Manufacturing (3D Printing) and Metal Spray Coatings applications, with primary focus on the aerospace industry. Features patent-pending atomization technology that produces free-flowing, uniform, monograin, agglomerate-free spherical metal powders. Targeted at aerospace manufacturers and 3D printing service providers requiring high-quality metal powders.
- SpiderWort An investment portfolio company developing novel biomaterials derived from plant cellulose for regenerative medicine applications. The product is in pre-clinical stage and demonstrates high biocompatibility with induced angiogenesis (blood vessel generation inside the scaffold) for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine use cases.
Companies that use ZIM
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
ZIM technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
ZIM partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Leading Drug Research Institutes and CompaniescoreThrough strategic partnerships and global exclusive licensing agreements with leading drug research institutes and companies, NuvoBio is funding R&D projects in key areas including molecular interaction analytics for peptide drug design and bi-specific immunology therapies for kidney cancer treatment.
- EquispheresminorEquispheres is an investment portfolio company developing performance spherical metal powders engineered for Additive Manufacturing (3D Printing) and Metal Spray Coatings applications, with primary focus on aerospace industry.
- SpiderWortminorSpiderWort is an investment portfolio company using plant derived cellulose to create scaffold architectures for novel biomaterials in regenerative medicine. Product is in pre-clinical stage showing promising results with high biocompatibility and angiogenesis induction.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
ZIM competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Opko Health: Diversified healthcare company operating across diagnostics, specialty pharmaceuticals, and biotech. Broader incumbent analog to ZIM's model of running multiple life-sciences and emerging technology bets from a small public platform.
Direct peers
- Bicycle Therapeutics: Clinical-stage biotech developing bicyclic peptide-based therapeutics, including oncology candidates. Directly comparable to NuvoBio's peptide drug design (using supercomputing molecular-interaction analytics) for cancer indications.
- iBio: Public biotech using proprietary plant-based and AI platforms to develop biologics and other therapeutics. Comparable to ZIM/NuvoBio as a small public company pursuing differentiated discovery platforms for novel therapeutics.
- Fortress Biotech: Small-cap public pharmaceutical holding company that develops and commercializes a diversified portfolio of biotech and drug development programs. Highly comparable in structure to ZIM as a publicly listed micro-cap vehicle running multiple life-sciences bets through subsidiaries and partner companies.
- MacroGenics: Clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing bi-specific antibodies and immuno-oncology therapeutics. Directly relevant to NuvoBio's bi-specific immunology therapies for kidney cancer.
Emerging players
- SELLAS Life Sciences: Small-cap clinical-stage oncology biotech developing immuno-oncology and peptide-based therapies. Comparable to NuvoBio's cancer therapeutics focus and to ZIM's small public-company scale.
- BriaCell Therapeutics: Early-stage oncology biotech developing targeted immunotherapies for cancer. Comparable in scale and clinical orientation to NuvoBio's peptide and bi-specific immunology pipeline.
- 6K (formerly 6K Additive): Producer of uniform, high-performance metal powders for additive manufacturing in aerospace and industrial applications. Directly comparable to ZIM portfolio company Equispheres' spherical metal powders technology.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
ZIM social profiles
Digital presenceZIM financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
ZIM leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
ZIM subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
ZIM funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
ZIM M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments1 record
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about ZIM
What does ZIM do?
ZIM Corporation is a publicly traded holding and investment company that accelerates research and growth in biomedical and emerging technology companies. It develops intellectual property in novel synthetic drugs and immunotherapies through its wholly-owned subsidiary NuvoBio Corporation, and pursues strategic investments in portfolio companies such as Equispheres (additive-manufacturing metal powders) and SpiderWort (plant-derived regenerative-medicine scaffolds). Following the June 2020 divestiture of its legacy database technology assets, the company is focused exclusively on biomedical R&D and emerging-technology commercialization.
Is ZIM a public or private company?
ZIM is a public company. It is classified as public and is currently operating.
When was ZIM founded?
ZIM was founded in 2001. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is ZIM based?
ZIM is headquartered in Ottawa, Canada, in the North America region.
How does ZIM make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Investment Returns and Royalties are the primary driver. The others are database and Mobile Software Products.
Who are ZIM's main competitors?
Opko Health is listed as a broad incumbent. Direct peers are Bicycle Therapeutics, iBio, Fortress Biotech and MacroGenics. Emerging players are SELLAS Life Sciences, BriaCell Therapeutics and 6K (formerly 6K Additive).
Does ZIM have an API?
No public API is recorded for ZIM.
What industry is ZIM in?
ZIM's product category is Biomedical and Emerging Technology Investment Holding. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAIAAAC, Oncology & Hematology Pharmaceuticals, with a secondary code of HLAIACAB, Immunology & Autoimmune Specialty Pharmaceuticals. Its NAICS code is 325414 and its SIC code is 2834.