Bioptimus raises $35 million seed round to develop AI foundational model focused on biology

Paris-based startup Bioptimus is breaking new ground by applying AI specifically to the realm of biology, an area where access to training data is limited due to the sensitive nature of clinical information. Differentiating itself from AI giants like OpenAI, Bioptimus focuses on leveraging the collective knowledge of AI models, emphasizing its commitment to advancing biological research.

To support its ambitious goals, Bioptimus has secured a substantial $35 million seed funding round led by Sofinnova Partners, with participation from prominent investors including Bpifrance’s Large Venture fund, Frst, and Xavier Niel. This capital will enable Bioptimus to invest in cutting-edge technology such as pricey GPUs and top-tier talent to drive its research efforts forward.

Familiar names in the AI sphere make up Bioptimus’s leadership team, with Jean-Philippe Vert, the company’s co-founder and executive chairman, bringing expertise from his role as chief R&D officer at Owkin, a French biotech unicorn specializing in AI-driven drug discovery. Working alongside Vert is CTO Rodolphe Jenatton, a former senior research scientist at Google, and a team of co-founders with roots in prestigious institutions like Google DeepMind.

Benefiting from Owkin’s existing partnerships with global healthcare institutions, Bioptimus will leverage Owkin’s extensive patient dataset to train its foundational AI model, setting the stage for groundbreaking advancements in biotech research. The startup’s collaboration with Amazon Web Services further underlines its commitment to cutting-edge technology, with plans to train its AI model in Amazon’s state-of-the-art data centers.

As Bioptimus embarks on its mission to revolutionize disease diagnosis, precision medicine, and biomolecule discovery, the company’s collaborative approach and specialized focus on foundational models position it as a pioneering force in the intersection of AI and biology. With a strong financial foundation and strategic partnerships in place, Bioptimus is poised to drive transformative innovation in the biotech sector.