A new generative AI startup, Bioptimus, emerges in Paris with a unique focus on applying AI advancements exclusively to the field of biology. Unlike other AI initiatives, Bioptimus aims to leverage the collective knowledge gained in AI model development to address the complexities of biological data.
Addressing Data Challenges in Biology
Access to training data poses a significant challenge in biology, especially considering the sensitivity of clinical data, which is not readily available publicly. While other AI ventures may rely on web crawling or licensing deals with content publishers, Bioptimus faces the task of navigating the complexities of acquiring and utilizing clinical data.
Securing Capital for AI Development
Recognizing the capital-intensive nature of AI research, Bioptimus embarks on a $35 million seed round, led by Sofinnova Partners. Additional support comes from prominent investors such as Bpifrance’s Large Venture fund, Frst, Cathay Innovation, and others. This funding will fuel the training of AI models on high-performance GPUs and the recruitment of skilled researchers.
Leadership and Expertise
Jean-Philippe Vert, serving as co-founder and executive chairman, brings valuable experience from his role as chief R&D officer at Owkin, a French biotech unicorn focusing on AI-driven drug discovery and diagnostics. Rodolphe Jenatton, Bioptimus’ CTO, contributes his expertise as a former senior research scientist at Google, along with other co-founders who previously worked at Google DeepMind.
Leveraging Data from Owkin
Owkin’s extensive partnerships with academic hospitals worldwide have enabled the accumulation of multimodal patient data. Bioptimus will harness this unique dataset to train its foundational model, benefiting from Owkin’s established network and expertise in biopharma research.
A Strategic Partnership with AWS
Bioptimus solidifies its infrastructure with a partnership with Amazon Web Services (AWS), indicating that its model will be trained in AWS data centers. This collaboration underscores Bioptimus’ commitment to leveraging top-tier resources for AI development.
Advancing Biotech Research with AI
With ample funding secured, Bioptimus is poised to pioneer AI-driven advancements in disease diagnosis, precision medicine, and the discovery of new biomolecules for medical and environmental applications. As it embarks on its journey, Bioptimus holds the promise of revolutionizing the intersection of AI and biology.
