Variational AI Raises $5.5M Seed Extension to Advance AI-Driven Drug Discovery

Variational AI is pioneering the application of AI to small-molecule drug discovery.

Variational AI Raises $5.5M Seed Extension to Advance AI-Driven Drug Discovery
Source: Variational AI

Company Name: Variational AI
Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada
Industry: Health Tech

Funding Details:

  • Amount: $5.5M (Seed extension round)
  • Investors:
    • Lead: Nimbus Synergies
    • Participants: Merck Global Health Innovation Fund, Quimby Investments, Threshold Impact, Defined Capital
    • Existing Investors: Flying Fish, A&E Investment, Nepenthe Capital

Purpose of Investment:

  • Expand access to its AI-powered foundation model for drug discovery
  • Help biopharmaceutical companies design novel drugs faster and more efficiently
  • Accelerate commercialization of its generative AI platform

Leadership:

  • CEO: Handol Kim

Product:

Variational AI is transforming drug discovery with Enki™, its foundation model for small molecule drug design. The platform enables:

  • Rapid hit discovery and lead optimization through generative AI
  • Accelerated early-stage drug development, reducing the time and cost of identifying promising compounds
  • Enhanced efficiency for biopharmaceutical chemistry teams, improving the unit economics of drug discovery

About the Company:

Founded by a machine learning team with experience at Google, Microsoft, MIT, Caltech, and D-Wave Quantum, Variational AI is pioneering the application of AI to small molecule drug discovery. By leveraging generative AI, the company aims to significantly improve drug development timelines and success rates for pharmaceutical companies.

Future Plans:

With this funding, Variational AI will continue refining Enki™, expanding its market reach, and partnering with biopharmaceutical companies to revolutionize the drug discovery process.

Read next