Bioptimus, a newly launched generative AI startup based in Paris, has raised $35 million in a seed funding round led by Sofinnova Partners. The company aims to leverage collective knowledge in AI models with an exclusive focus on the field of biology.
Unlike general AI models, Bioptimus will concentrate on the complexities of biological data, which often involve sensitive clinical information not publicly available.
One of the driving factors for creating a startup exclusively dedicated to AI in biology is the challenge of obtaining training data. Unlike OpenAI, which is transitioning away from web crawling, the company faces the unique obstacle of working with clinical data that is not easily accessible. The startup acknowledges the capital-intensive nature of its endeavor, planning to utilize expensive GPUs and hire skilled researchers for model training.
Bioptimus Funding
The $35 million seed round attracted participation from notable investors, including Bpifrance’s Large Venture fund, Frst, Cathay Innovation, Headline, Hummingbird, NJF Capital, Owkin, Top Harvest Capital, and Xavier Niel.
Jean-Philippe Vert, Chief R&D Officer at Owkin, takes on a non-operational role as the co-founder and executive chairman of Bioptimus. Vert, along with Rodolphe Jenatton, Bioptimus’ CTO and former senior research scientist at Google, brings valuable AI expertise to the startup.
While Bioptimus could be perceived as a spin-off from Owkin, the decision to create a separate entity was driven by the complexity of building foundational AI models. Owkin, a French biotech unicorn focusing on drug discovery and diagnostics through AI, supports the company and aims to collaborate with the specialized company.
Bioptimus has also entered into a partnership with Amazon Web Services, intending to train its models in Amazon’s data centers. The well-funded startup plans to work on its AI model, aiming to contribute to disease diagnosis, precision medicine, and the creation of new biomolecules for medical or environmental applications.
As it embarks on its journey, the collaboration with industry leaders and the focus on specialized AI for biology positions it as a promising player in the intersection of artificial intelligence and biotech research.