Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner (Russia) LLP | View firm profile
Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner has advised Mubadala Investment Company on an investment in MEL Science. This London-based company has raised USD 14 m in Series B funding from investors to support expansion of its subscription-based science education business.
MEL Science provides science kits that combine hands-on experiments with interactive science simulations using virtual reality technology, enabling children to learn in an intuitive, fun and engaging manner. MEL Science’s products are designed for children aged 5–14, and intended to be used as a teaching aid in schools or by parents.
Vassili Philippov, Founder & CEO at MEL Science, said: “There has been increased demand for home education solutions in 2020 to support parents fill the role of classroom teachers when schools have been closed. The natural sciences can be particularly difficult for children to learn from home due to the need for specialist lab equipment and models or visualisations to bring scientific concepts and atoms and molecules to life. Our kits have been developed to address these issues and make science more accessible and easier to learn. We have seen significant growth in sales since we launched in 2015, and this fundraising round will enable us to accelerate our plans.”
BCLP team on this multijurisdictional project was led by Anton Panchenkov, Partner, and Alexey Koshelev, Counsel (both Corporate, Moscow). Russian team also included Anastasia Kudryashova, Senior Associate, Ruslan Nurullaev, Associate, and Valentina Mikhaylova, Associate (all Corporate, Moscow), Alexander Muravin, Counsel and Irina Vitushinskaya, Junior Associate (both Antitrust and Competition, Moscow), Nadezhda Ilyushina, Associate Director and Vladislav Li, Associate (both Employment, Moscow), Anton Nefedev, Counsel (IP, Moscow). UK team was led by Ian Ivory, Partner and included Daniel Bell, Senior Associate, Alisa Sasko, Associate (all Corporate, London, UK), Mimi Curran, Associate Director, Ash von Schwan, Senior Associate (both IP, Technology and Commercial, London). US team included Scott Perlov, Associate and Stephanie Drumm, Associate (both Technology and Commercial, Boulder, USA). The project was also supported by TGS Baltic, our preferred Baltic law firm, on Estonian law aspects.
Anton Panchenkov, Partner at BCLP, commented: “This is a very interesting and complex venture investment project and we were delighted to support our strategic clients on this transaction. We believe that this is a truly win-win partnership for both investors and the company. Our work on the deal allowed us to showcase our expertise in cross-border venture investments and further raise the firm’s profile in this area.”