Noetik
Overview
Noetik is an AI-native biotechnology company based in San Francisco, California, specializing in precision cancer immunotherapy. Utilizing machine learning and multimodal human data, Noetik aims to innovate in drug discovery by targeting novel pathways in tumor biology. Founded in 2022 by Ron Alfa and Jacob Rinaldi, the company stands out for its use of self-supervised learning to develop precision therapeutics. As of 2024, Noetik has raised $62 million over three funding rounds, with its latest Series A round securing $40 million led by Polaris Partners.
Recent Developments
- August 2024: Noetik closed a $40 million Series A financing round led by Polaris Partners, with participation from Khosla Ventures, Wittington Ventures, and others. This funding is allocated to expanding Noetik’s spatial omics-based atlas of human cancer biology and training multi-modal foundation models for cancer.
- August 2024: Shafique Virani joined Noetik as Chief Business Officer to strengthen partnerships with academic institutions, healthcare providers, and pharmaceutical companies. This strategic hiring aims to bolster Noetik's position in precision oncology.
- November 2023: Noetik launched Perturb-map, an in vivo functional genomics platform allowing pooled parallel analysis of genetically altered tumor clones, significantly contributing to precision cancer immunotherapy. The platform's launch coincided with the addition of Dr. Brian Brown to the Scientific Advisory Board, bringing expertise in immuno-oncology.
- September 2023: Noetik raised $14 million in seed financing to enhance internal data generation and develop transformer-based machine learning methodologies. This round was led by DCVC with contributions from multiple investors including Catalio Capital Management and Zetta Venture Partners.
Company Information
| Attribute | Information |
|---|---|
| Founding Date | 2022 |
| Headquarters | San Francisco, California, USA |
| Founders | Ron Alfa, Jacob Rinaldi |
| Revenue | N/A |
| Profits | N/A |
| Key Investors | Polaris Partners, DCVC, Khosla Ventures |
| Industry | Biotechnology, AI in Drug Discovery |
| Number of Employees | 27 as of 2024 |
Early History
Noetik was founded in 2022 by Ron Alfa and Jacob Rinaldi, both of whom bring extensive expertise in computational biology. The company was established with the vision of applying AI to redefine the landscape of cancer treatment, focusing on the burgeoning field of immuno-oncology. By leveraging self-supervised learning and human multimodal data, Noetik built a platform capable of developing foundation models for cell and tissue biology. Within its first year, Noetik successfully completed a seed financing round to fuel its innovative research approach, marking its entrance into the competitive biotech industry.
Company Profile and Achievements
Noetik's business model centers around using artificial intelligence to enable precision cancer therapeutics through machine learning and proprietary data platforms. The company boasts an innovative multimodal tissue profiling platform utilizing spatial biology and self-supervised learning. Key achievements include:
- Development of OCTO, a multimodal transformer-based AI model designed to understand cancer biology and simulate patient-specific treatments.
- Launch of the Perturb-map technology, enhancing genetic variant analysis in vivo.
- Successful seed and Series A funding rounds that surpassed expectations, securing significant investment from leading biotech-focused venture firms.
- Building a team of interdisciplinary experts led by seasoned industry professionals like Ron Alfa and Jacob Rinaldi, positioned to address complex cancer therapeutics challenges.
Current Operations and Market Position
Today, Noetik operates as a leading figure in AI-driven drug discovery, particularly focused on cancer immunotherapies. Positioned firmly in the biotechnology industry, the company aims to expand its proprietary datasets and enhance foundational models like OCTO. With strategic partnerships and a robust framework built on advanced machine learning, Noetik has poised itself as a formidable competitor in precision oncology. The company's pioneering methods and experimental platforms have been pivotal in identifying potential therapeutic candidates at scale.
Conclusion
Noetik represents a new wave of innovation in the biotechnology sector, combining advanced AI capabilities with comprehensive biological data to address cancer’s most pressing challenges. With strategic funding and executive leadership, Noetik is poised to make significant breakthroughs in precision cancer therapy. As it advances, its commitment to integrating patient-specific insights into drug discovery can potentially alter the trajectory of cancer treatments globally. The company's impactful developments and strategic vision underscore its potential influence on oncological therapy in the coming years.