Indian CRISPR diagnostics startup CrisprBits raised US$3 million in a Pre-Series A round led by Spectrum Impact to expand CRISPR-based diagnostics and R&D capabilities. The funding aims to accelerate productization and commercial traction for point-of-care and lab-based CRISPR assays. At the LSX Investival, industry leaders warned that venture capital alone won’t bridge the 'valley of death' for many biotechs; panelists urged companies to prioritize technological validation, commercialization readiness and alternative financing such as royalty deals. Jonathan Brayman (Blackstone) and Sam Gray (Apposite Capital) stressed that investor scrutiny now demands differentiated, less-risky assets with clear paths to revenue. The CrisprBits raise exemplifies smaller, targeted rounds supporting technology translation while the broader funding discussion underscores investor selectivity and the need for operational maturity before scaling.