TLDR:
- Paris-based Bioptimus emerges from stealth mode with €32M seed funding led by Sofinnova Partners.
- Bioptimus aims to build the first universal AI foundation model for biology to revolutionize scientific research and biotechnological innovation.
Paris-based Bioptimus, an AI-powered bioscience startup, has exited stealth mode after securing a seed funding round of $35M (€32M). The funding, led by Sofinnova Partners and supported by Bpifrance Large Venture and global funds based in France, aims to propel the company towards building the first universal AI foundation model for biology. The team at Bioptimus, under the direction of Professor Jean-Philippe Vert, PhD, plans to utilize cutting-edge AI technologies to capture the various scales of biology and transform the field.
Professor Jean-Philippe Vert stated that the application of foundation models and generative AI to biology will have a significant impact on science. By harnessing advanced algorithms trained on massive amounts of biological data, Bioptimus aims to understand the complex laws of biology that have previously been elusive. The company’s goal is to connect different scales of biology with generative AI, from molecules to organisms, to drive innovation in biomedicine and beyond.
In addition to the seed funding, Bioptimus will leverage data generation capabilities from Owkin and global access to patient data from top academic hospitals. With support from Amazon Web Services for a scalable computing environment, Bioptimus aims to create computational representations that differentiate from models trained solely on public datasets.
Owkin, the New York-based TechBio company collaborating with Bioptimus, combines human and artificial intelligence to ensure patients receive the right treatment. Bioptimus’s investor, Sofinnova Partners, specializes in healthcare and sustainability, partnering with companies to develop innovations that positively impact the future. Edward Kliphuis, Partner at Sofinnova Partners, believes that foundation models in biology are game-changers and that combining resources, talent, and computational power positions Bioptimus to redefine the industry’s future.
