[ { "id": 1746, "name": "Sixfold Bioscience", "slug": "sixfold-bioscience", "former_names": [ "Sixfold Bioscience " ], "small_logo_thumb_url": "https://bookface-images.s3.amazonaws.com/small_logos/b0f895aea5a3becf96dd016714d9e8aa78189e1b.png", "website": "https://www.sixfold.bio", "all_locations": "London, England, United Kingdom", "long_description": "Sixfold is focused on the commercialisation of its patented drug delivery systems for RNA therapeutics such as siRNAs for gene silencing and mRNAs for gene expression. \r\n\r\n", "one_liner": "Delivering RNA therapies.", "team_size": 27, "industry": "Healthcare", "subindustry": "Healthcare -> Drug Discovery and Delivery", "launched_at": 1509562895, "tags": [ "Gene Therapy", "Nanomedicine", "Drug Delivery" ], "tags_highlighted": [], "top_company": false, "isHiring": false, "nonprofit": false, "batch": "Winter 2018", "status": "Active", "industries": [ "Healthcare", "Drug Discovery and Delivery" ], "regions": [ "United Kingdom", "Europe" ], "stage": "Early", "app_video_public": false, "demo_day_video_public": false, "app_answers": null, "question_answers": null, "url": "https://www.ycombinator.com/companies/sixfold-bioscience", "api": "https://devasheeshg.github.io/yc-api/batches/winter-2018/sixfold-bioscience.json", "year_founded": 2018, "city": "London", "country": "GB", "linkedin_url": "https://www.linkedin.com/company/sixfoldbioscience/", "x_url": "https://twitter.com/sixfold_bio", "fb_url": "https://www.facebook.com/Sixfold.bio", "cb_url": "https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/sixfold-bioscience", "github_url": null, "logo_url": "https://bookface-images.s3.amazonaws.com/small_logos/b0f895aea5a3becf96dd016714d9e8aa78189e1b.png", "app_video_url": null, "dday_video_url": null, "company_photos": [], "primary_partner": null, "founders": [ { "user_id": 217941, "full_name": "George Foot", "title": "Founder", "founder_bio": "", "is_active": true, "linkedin_url": "https://www.linkedin.com/in/george-foot/", "x_url": "", "avatar_thumb_url": "https://bookface-images.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/avatars/fa1ac54f47585d9f2d977d94d4d7c444e56c4367.jpg" }, { "user_id": 208202, "full_name": "Anna Perdrix Rosell", "title": "Founder", "founder_bio": null, "is_active": true, "linkedin_url": "https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaperdrix/", "x_url": null, "avatar_thumb_url": "https://bookface-images.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/avatars/944367899b1165f36537591b7c806909171cb5a6.jpg" } ], "jobs": [], "news": [ { "title": "Sixfold Bioscience completes $10.5M USD (£7.8M GBP) seed financing — Sixfold.", "url": "https://www.sixfold.bio/post/sixfold-completes-seed-financing", "date": "Dec 02, 2021" } ], "launches": [] }, { "id": 1757, "name": "Avro Life Science", "slug": "avro-life-science", "former_names": [], "small_logo_thumb_url": "https://bookface-images.s3.amazonaws.com/small_logos/5ac9275384f9ff51e1062f157268e402e8ef1354.png", "website": "http://avrolifesci.com", "all_locations": "Waterloo, ON, Canada", "long_description": "", "one_liner": "Skin patches for generic drug delivery. ", "team_size": 8, "industry": "Healthcare", "subindustry": "Healthcare -> Drug Discovery and Delivery", "launched_at": 1509599008, "tags": [ "Biotech", "Drug Delivery" ], "tags_highlighted": [], "top_company": false, "isHiring": false, "nonprofit": false, "batch": "Winter 2018", "status": "Active", "industries": [ "Healthcare", "Drug Discovery and Delivery" ], "regions": [ "Canada", "America / Canada" ], "stage": "Early", "app_video_public": false, "demo_day_video_public": false, "app_answers": null, "question_answers": null, "url": "https://www.ycombinator.com/companies/avro-life-science", "api": "https://devasheeshg.github.io/yc-api/batches/winter-2018/avro-life-science.json", "year_founded": null, "city": "Waterloo", "country": "CA", "linkedin_url": "", "x_url": "", "fb_url": null, "cb_url": "https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/avro-life-science", "github_url": null, "logo_url": "https://bookface-images.s3.amazonaws.com/small_logos/5ac9275384f9ff51e1062f157268e402e8ef1354.png", "app_video_url": null, "dday_video_url": null, "company_photos": [], "primary_partner": null, "founders": [ { "user_id": 165778, "full_name": "Shak Lakhani", "title": "Founder", "founder_bio": "", "is_active": true, "linkedin_url": "https://ca.linkedin.com/in/shaklakhani", "x_url": "", "avatar_thumb_url": "https://bookface-images.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/avatars/f019d04e2b2cdd8b16195cca4cf7d12e9c2cbaf0.jpg" }, { "user_id": 145314, "full_name": "Keean Sarani", "title": "Founder", "founder_bio": null, "is_active": true, "linkedin_url": "https://ca.linkedin.com/in/imkeean", "x_url": null, "avatar_thumb_url": "https://bookface-images.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/avatars/0d85fa265d59bd3388eee431ba95fdf436817a5d.jpg" } ], "jobs": [], "news": [], "launches": [] }, { "id": 12056, "name": "Intact Therapeutics", "slug": "intact-therapeutics", "former_names": [], "small_logo_thumb_url": "https://bookface-images.s3.amazonaws.com/small_logos/3cd29a4a99693702d0e100b9a7d5fbcf89df7edc.png", "website": "http://www.intacttherapeutics.com", "all_locations": "San Francisco, CA, USA; Los Altos, CA, USA", "long_description": "Intatct is developing an advanced materials platform to improve the way drugs are delivered and absorbed in the digestive tract. Our vision is to improve the treatment of a wide range of gastrointestinal disorders that are currently underserved.", "one_liner": "Smart gels for local drug delivery to the gut", "team_size": 4, "industry": "Healthcare", "subindustry": "Healthcare -> Therapeutics", "launched_at": 1541617440, "tags": [ "Drug Delivery", "Therapeutics" ], "tags_highlighted": [], "top_company": false, "isHiring": false, "nonprofit": false, "batch": "Winter 2019", "status": "Active", "industries": [ "Healthcare", "Therapeutics" ], "regions": [ "United States of America", "America / Canada", "Remote", "Partly Remote" ], "stage": "Early", "app_video_public": false, "demo_day_video_public": false, "app_answers": null, "question_answers": null, "url": "https://www.ycombinator.com/companies/intact-therapeutics", "api": "https://devasheeshg.github.io/yc-api/batches/winter-2019/intact-therapeutics.json", "year_founded": 2015, "city": "San Francisco", "country": "US", "linkedin_url": "https://www.linkedin.com/company/intact-therapeutics", "x_url": "", "fb_url": null, "cb_url": "https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/intact-therapeutics", "github_url": null, "logo_url": "https://bookface-images.s3.amazonaws.com/small_logos/3cd29a4a99693702d0e100b9a7d5fbcf89df7edc.png", "app_video_url": null, "dday_video_url": null, "company_photos": [], "primary_partner": null, "founders": [ { "user_id": 270800, "full_name": "Ravi Pamnani", "title": "Founder/CEO", "founder_bio": "Passionate about intersection of health and technology.", "is_active": true, "linkedin_url": "https://www.linkedin.com/in/rpamnani/", "x_url": "", "avatar_thumb_url": "https://bookface-images.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/avatars/b11fefb446ab26da691ebbd5d48f90caa225653b.jpg" }, { "user_id": 292622, "full_name": "Sidhartha Sinha", "title": "Founder", "founder_bio": null, "is_active": true, "linkedin_url": "https://www.linkedin.com/in/sidhartha-sinha-47277125/", "x_url": null, "avatar_thumb_url": "https://bookface-images.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/avatars/9aa1a9e6d4a9b5e5b03463077d5455e541e5b3a1.jpg" } ], "jobs": [], "news": [], "launches": [] }, { "id": 25151, "name": "Keylika", "slug": "keylika", "former_names": [], "small_logo_thumb_url": "https://bookface-images.s3.amazonaws.com/small_logos/bd12fc4dc5d053441f31a9c528579e0d16f3449e.png", "website": "https://www.keylika.com", "all_locations": "San Francisco, CA, USA; Walnut Creek, CA, USA", "long_description": "Keylika is an early stage biopharma startup developing metal-based drugs using a platform synthesis technology to treat unmet medical needs. We then administer these drugs using proven delivery technologies to effect the best clinical outcomes. \r\n\r\nOur first product is a small molecule iron drug (new molecular entity) delivered by a wearable skin patch to treat Iron Deficiency Anemia (IDA), with significantly higher safety, efficacy and tolerability over existing treatments. This is poised to be a best-in-class, potentially breakthrough therapy for treating iron deficiency without any GI side-effects (eg. nausea, constipation, diarrhea, etc.) typically associated with oral iron supplements, and without the risks, costs and side-effects associated with IV iron infusions. When approved, Keylika’s proprietary transdermal iron will be the world's first prescription iron patch. Iron deficiency is a hugely understated problem affecting about 1.6 billion people worldwide and more than 30 million in the US alone, translating to a $17B US market.", "one_liner": "Redefining the Standard of Care for Iron Deficiency Anemia", "team_size": 1, "industry": "Healthcare", "subindustry": "Healthcare -> Therapeutics", "launched_at": 1658519436, "tags": [ "AI-powered Drug Discovery", "Medical Devices", "Drug Delivery", "Nanotechnology", "Therapeutics" ], "tags_highlighted": [], "top_company": false, "isHiring": false, "nonprofit": false, "batch": "Summer 2022", "status": "Active", "industries": [ "Healthcare", "Therapeutics" ], "regions": [ "United States of America", "America / Canada", "Remote", "Partly Remote" ], "stage": "Early", "app_video_public": false, "demo_day_video_public": true, "app_answers": [ { "question": "Describe what your company does in 50 characters or less.", "answer": "We develop metallodrugs for unmet medical needs." } ], "question_answers": null, "url": "https://www.ycombinator.com/companies/keylika", "api": "https://devasheeshg.github.io/yc-api/batches/summer-2022/keylika.json", "year_founded": 2022, "city": "San Francisco", "country": "US", "linkedin_url": "https://www.linkedin.com/company/keylika/", "x_url": "https://twitter.com/keylika_inc", "fb_url": null, "cb_url": null, "github_url": null, "logo_url": "https://bookface-images.s3.amazonaws.com/small_logos/bd12fc4dc5d053441f31a9c528579e0d16f3449e.png", "app_video_url": null, "dday_video_url": "https://bookface-images.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/video_event/58/1662662980325-y62ohje1s2-e76deefbbfbb2fb38de30a62b84546d9/714326f49aba38f91fda71a9c6d47471.mp4?X-Amz-Algorithm=AWS4-HMAC-SHA256&X-Amz-Credential=AKIAQC4NIECABPQ2AHNW%2F20261020%2Fus-west-2%2Fs3%2Faws4_request&X-Amz-Date=20261020T022701Z&X-Amz-Expires=3600&X-Amz-SignedHeaders=host&X-Amz-Signature=658b0a7fb2ce8bd68597d0a5076c7260b1d48c3c6ffdde07533bb121cf26ce6b", "company_photos": [], "primary_partner": { "name": "Jared Friedman", "url": "https://www.ycombinator.com/people/jared-friedman" }, "founders": [ { "user_id": 756768, "full_name": "Buddha Chaudhuri", "title": "Founder", "founder_bio": "Buddha spearheaded the technology development of a microneedle-based biosensor from lab-to-fab for a Series B stage medtech startup. Having worked across 3 continents and 6 countries, he has been instrumental in developing novel healthcare technologies in leading global research institutes and biotech companies, for the last 15 years. \n\nBuddha earned his PhD from Imec / KU Leuven in Belgium, in Drug Delivery Microsystems. He also pursued a Postdoc at UC San Francisco (UCSF) / UC Berkeley. ", "is_active": true, "linkedin_url": "https://www.linkedin.com/in/buddhadevpc", "x_url": "https://twitter.com/buddhachaudhuri", "avatar_thumb_url": "https://bookface-images.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/avatars/8e4a1a5185f5455f05b9967fc8793797c729bd4c.jpg" }, { "user_id": 776586, "full_name": "Frederik Ceyssens", "title": "Founder", "founder_bio": "With a deep passion for diverse technologies, I'm a true multi-domain expert. My interest go from tiny moving machines to nuclear space rockets, from electrical circuits to medical devices and beyond. Next to Keylika, I founded ReVision, a neurotech company aiming at restoring sight in blind people, developing widely useful high-res neurotech in the process.\n\nI have an EE PhD, a MSc. in IC design as well as a BSc. in Medicine. ", "is_active": true, "linkedin_url": "http://linkedin.com/in/frederik-ceyssens-43b6ab5", "x_url": "", "avatar_thumb_url": "https://bookface-images.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/avatars/20288d3198cb324772987da4da9b7f8137d8a725.jpg" } ], "jobs": [], "news": [ { "title": "Keylika Develops World's First Buccal Patch for Iron Deficiency Anemia (IDA) | Entrepreneur", "url": "https://www.entrepreneur.com/en-au/news-and-trends/keylika-develops-worlds-first-buccal-patch-for-iron/490791", "date": "Apr 29, 2025" }, { "title": "Keylika develops first Buccal Patch for Iron Deficiency Anemia (IDA) - Arabian Business: Latest News on the Middle East, Real Estate, Finance, and More", "url": "https://www.arabianbusiness.com/industries/healthcare/keylika-develops-first-buccal-patch-for-iron-deficiency-anemia-ida", "date": "Apr 25, 2025" }, { "title": "Bootstrapped Indian Startup Innovating Treatment for Eczema, Itch & Beyond | Entrepreneur", "url": "https://www.entrepreneur.com/en-in/news-and-trends/bootstrapped-indian-startup-innovating-treatment-for/490293", "date": "Apr 20, 2025" }, { "title": "TACKLING IRON-DEFICIENCY ANAEMIA: A LEAP FORWARD WITH A REVOLUTIONARY BUCCAL PATCH - ONdrugDelivery", "url": "https://www.ondrugdelivery.com/tackling-iron-deficiency-anaemia-a-leap-forward-with-a-revolutionary-buccal-patch/", "date": "Jun 17, 2024" }, { "title": "Bootstrapping in Biotech: How Keylika’s Founding Story Highlights Key Entrepreneurship Lessons", "url": "https://www.usatoday.com/story/special/contributor-content/2024/05/12/bootstrapping-in-biotech-how-keylikas-founding-story-highlights-key-entrepreneurship-lessons/73665473007/", "date": "May 12, 2024" } ], "launches": [ { "id": 64959, "title": "Keylika: Redefining the Standard of Care for Iron Deficiency", "tagline": "World's first prescription iron patch to treat Iron Deficiency Anemia", "body": "[Keylika](https://www.keylika.com) is combining its **metallodrug synthesis technology** with **optimized delivery methods** to obtain improved clinical outcomes. Our first product is a **novel iron drug** in a **wearable skin patch** with significantly improved safety, efficacy and tolerability to treat **Iron Deficiency Anemia (IDA).** When approved, Keylika’s proprietary transdermal iron will be the **world's first** prescription iron patch.\n\n### **The Problem**\n\n**Iron Deficiency Anemia (IDA) is a hugely understated, highly prevalent problem with subpar treatments.**\n\nIron deficiency (ID) affects **30 million** people in the US alone and about **1.6 billion** worldwide. Current treatments include oral iron supplements which are typically associated with low bioavailability and poor tolerability due to mild to severe gastrointestinal (GI) side-effects (constipation, nausea, stomach discomfort, diarrhea, etc.) often leading to patient non-compliance. Also, a significant number of patients just do not absorb iron taken orally.  The second line of treatment with intravenous (IV) iron infusions is more invasive, riskier, costlier and requires hospitalization due to the risk of anaphylactic shocks.\n\n### **Our Solution**\n\nOur first product is a **new small molecule (new molecular entity)**, an **iron-containing drug** designed for **transdermal** delivery by a wearable skin patch: **NistuFe**. It is a safe, highly bioavailable iron complex with higher efficacy. A therapeutically relevant dosage is administered through the skin directly into the systemic circulation, thereby circumventing the gastrointestinal tract and all associated adverse effects. Thus, we combine the benefits of both orals and IV iron, and without their respective downsides: a drug suitable for self-administration with no GI side effects and no required hospitalization that yields a superior treatment outcome from the convenience of a patient’s home. This is slated to be a potentially **best-in-class, breakthrough therapy**. Our preliminary proof-of-concept in vivo studies in rats have demonstrated excellent results.\n\n![uploaded image](/media/?type=post&id=64959&key=user_uploads/756768/c93eab67-c28a-45c2-8a20-42843bbd0d16)\n\n### **Our Science**\n\nAt our core is a **platform synthesis technology** we have developed for synthesizing mixed ligand metal complexes. We are using this platform to generate a range of drug candidates for treating therapeutic conditions in the fields of hematology, pain and inflammation, metabolic disorders, infectious diseases and oncology. We then administer these drugs using proven delivery technologies, to effect the best clinical outcomes. Positioned at the **intersection of drug development and drug delivery**, we customize the molecular structure of the drug and its formulation to optimize the therapeutic delivery per clinical requirements.\n\n### **Target Population**\n\nOur first indication being menorrhagia, our primary target population is **women of child-bearing age** in the US who suffer from severe to moderate ID, which has an estimated prevalence of 6 million. A wide range of other patient groups adds up to a potential **30 million** users in the US alone.\n\n### **Our Ask**\n\n1\\.     If you know anyone in your social circle suffering from Iron Deficiency, we would love to talk to them!\n\n2\\.     If you are connected to biopharma companies with interests in the hematology space, could you please introduce us?\n\nPlease follow us on [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/keylika/)!\n\nQuestions? Feel free to reach out: [founders@keylika.com](mailto:founders@keylika.com)", "url": "https://www.ycombinator.com/launches/Gtj-keylika-redefining-the-standard-of-care-for-iron-deficiency", "votes": 59, "created_at": "2022-07-28T02:09:46.908Z" } ] }, { "id": 29051, "name": "Nanograb", "slug": "nanograb", "former_names": [], "small_logo_thumb_url": "https://bookface-images.s3.amazonaws.com/small_logos/9ae1f1866a70286591b56aa5fd2f81bdf18af255.png", "website": "https://nanograb.com", "all_locations": "London, England, United Kingdom", "long_description": "Nanograb is a computational drug discovery company that uses AI to create novel targeted non-viral gene therapy vectors. Our platform designs unique combinations of small peptide binders attached to nanoparticles to safely deliver genetic medicines to specific cells and tissues in the body at scale. ", "one_liner": "Deliver genes to any cell with AI", "team_size": 5, "industry": "Healthcare", "subindustry": "Healthcare -> Drug Discovery and Delivery", "launched_at": 1688618716, "tags": [ "AI-powered Drug Discovery", "Nanomedicine", "Biotech", "Drug Delivery", "Therapeutics" ], "tags_highlighted": [], "top_company": false, "isHiring": false, "nonprofit": false, "batch": "Summer 2023", "status": "Active", "industries": [ "Healthcare", "Drug Discovery and Delivery" ], "regions": [ "United Kingdom", "Europe" ], "stage": "Early", "app_video_public": false, "demo_day_video_public": false, "app_answers": null, "question_answers": null, "url": "https://www.ycombinator.com/companies/nanograb", "api": "https://devasheeshg.github.io/yc-api/batches/summer-2023/nanograb.json", "year_founded": 2023, "city": "London", "country": "GB", "linkedin_url": "https://www.linkedin.com/company/94221598", "x_url": "https://twitter.com/nanograb", "fb_url": null, "cb_url": null, "github_url": null, "logo_url": "https://bookface-images.s3.amazonaws.com/small_logos/9ae1f1866a70286591b56aa5fd2f81bdf18af255.png", "app_video_url": null, "dday_video_url": null, "company_photos": [], "primary_partner": null, "founders": [ { "user_id": 983241, "full_name": "Debesh Mandal", "title": "Founder", "founder_bio": "Co-founder and CEO of Nanograb. PhD in Computational Biophysics from Imperial College London. Experienced in molecular simulations and building software for scientists. First software hire at Fabricnano", "is_active": true, "linkedin_url": "https://linkedin.com/in/debeshmandal", "x_url": "", "avatar_thumb_url": "https://bookface-images.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/avatars/3ead4cccc4160ea682b2035a3c1680aa154e1808.jpg" }, { "user_id": 790668, "full_name": "Christopher Lau", "title": "Founder", "founder_bio": "Co-founder of Nanograb. M.Eng Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering at Imperial College London. Biomedical engineering experience developing biosensors using aptamers, and a drug delivery device for hypertension management.", "is_active": true, "linkedin_url": "https://linkedin.com/in/christopher-lau-542798151", "x_url": "https://twitter.com/lauhoyeung", "avatar_thumb_url": "https://bookface-images.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/avatars/e715a57f758c8646639b497cdc0b29b013e14ec3.jpg" }, { "user_id": 986167, "full_name": "Shanil Panara", "title": "Founder", "founder_bio": "Cofounder and in silico lead at Nanograb; Imperial College PhD (dropout); \n\nFascinated by all things compute and physics... all in the name of figuring out real life things!\n\nOtherwise, I love singing and music in general. Fun fact: I was in an a cappella group for 5 years :)", "is_active": true, "linkedin_url": "https://linkedin.com/in/shanilpanara", "x_url": "https://www.twitter.com/shanilpanara", "avatar_thumb_url": "https://bookface-images.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/avatars/65049c750d88f435b953f0837b9dfe4cc622c836.jpg" } ], "jobs": [], "news": [], "launches": [ { "id": 115774, "title": "Nanograb: Deliver mRNA to any cell with AI", "tagline": "Announcing NGX1, a platform for designing multi-peptide targeted lipid nanoparticles (tLNPs)", "body": "**TLDR** Nanograb is announcing NGX1, a universal navigation system for mRNA drugs to deliver cures for any disease. Moderna proved that mRNA will transform skin cancer care, we expand this to all diseases.\n\n\n\nDelivery is one of the most important problems stopping life-changing mRNA drugs reaching millions. There are over 3,000 different cell types in the body, but mRNA drug developers can only hit 1% of them. The problem is so pressing that multiple public biopharma partners are paying for early access to NGX1.\n\n![uploaded image](/media/?type=post&id=115774&key=user_uploads/983241/4aac129e-0ad7-45af-9e54-ea4997a5c9d4)\n\n**Works the first time, every time.** There are more peptide sequences than atoms in the universe. Most approaches to solve delivery rely on screening thousands of formulations. NGX1’s biophysics-informed models achieved >25% hit rates on the first try across different targets in mice (4x improvement in cancer cells, 15x for immune cells).\n\n**We hit any cell, any state.** All cells have receptors. Their combination makes up a unique fingerprint. Most people try and target individual receptors whereas we can target the fingerprint, enabled by multivalent physics. We’re creating new drugs that have never existed before. \n\n**NGX1 solves major scale-up issues upfront.** Scaling up targeted mRNA drugs to millions of people is hard because of complex biomanufacturing requirements. Nanograb circumvents these requirements by utilising short peptides instead of antibodies or other biologics.\n\n**15 years of physics research powers NGX1.** Our team includes the foundational researchers of the multivalent biophysics models powering our platform. Our founding team are scientists from Imperial, Oxford and Cambridge.\n\n![uploaded image](/media/?type=post&id=115774&key=user_uploads/983241/1afa2be9-6b73-405a-9931-042318f53d19)\n\nModerna has already shown that mRNA drugs are the future. Eli Lilly showed that mRNA’s potential to be a one-time solution for high cholesterol could help the entire global population. NGX1 is the first step to realising a future where millions of people can access mRNA therapies.\n\nLearn more at [nanograb.com](http://nanograb.com) or reach out via [platform@nanograb.com](mailto:platform@nanograb.com).", "url": "https://www.ycombinator.com/launches/U7K-nanograb-deliver-mrna-to-any-cell-with-ai", "votes": 10, "created_at": "2026-09-17T15:45:22.879Z" }, { "id": 73562, "title": "🧪 Nanograb - Multivalent nanoparticles for next-generation targeted drugs", "tagline": "We use AI to generate the best combination of binders to treat different diseases", "body": "## 💊 **70% of drugs fail in clinical trials because of poor targeting**\n\nThese drugs need lower dosages due to their side effects. Targeting would minimise these side effects and mean that a smaller, more effective dose could be given to a patient. But there are no existing platforms for creating drugs that will target exactly where they need to be in the body.\n\nFor example in cancer, when scientists try to create targeted drugs, they use molecules like antibodies that attach to the cancerous cell at a single site on a single receptor. Since these cancerous cells have the same receptors as healthy cells, both types are killed by toxic payloads!\n\n![uploaded image](/media/?type=post&id=73562&key=user_uploads/983241/0e15bd9d-4ee0-419f-a114-8311a2bc4fa1)\n\n## 🎯 **Our product allows drugs to be targeted to very specific areas of the body**\n\nWe generate the best combination of binders using AI and a multivalent physics engine. We will do what no other technology is able to do:\n\n* Actively minimise binding to the wrong targets\n* Target new parts of the body that have been previously inaccessible\n\nNanograb’s vision is to transform the therapeutic landscape across the entire healthcare spectrum. Nanograb will be creating new therapies on-demand with next-generation targeting whether it’s [infinitely mutating cancers](https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-023-05729-x), [incurable neurodegenerative diseases](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neurodegenerative_disease) or [Disease X](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disease_X)\n\nOur scalable platform has proof of concept data _in vitro_ and _in vivo_ and our goal is to scale these methods to dozens of different applications.\n\n![uploaded image](/media/?type=post&id=73562&key=user_uploads/983241/9bd664c7-6e5f-4bb5-8ccc-bc6a89f951f3)\n\n## **🧠 Our founding team are experts in the field**\n\n* [**Debesh Mandal**](https://linkedin.com/in/debeshmandal) (CEO) completed PhD in computational biophysics and was the first software hire at FabricNano.\n* [**Shanil Panara**](https://linkedin.com/in/shanilpanara) (_In Silico_ Lead) dropped out of PhD to be our in silico lead, pioneering the deployment of our computational pipeline.\n* [**Christopher Lau**](https://linkedin.com/in/christopher-lau-54279815) (Product Lead) has experience delivering projects in energy, finance and biotechnology and brings a wealth of learnings from many industries.\n* [**Dr. Stefano Angioletti-Uberti**](https://www.linkedin.com/in/stefano-angioletti-uberti-b8319860/) (CSO) is the world leader in our theory having published the foundational papers on multivalency.\n* [**Professor Molly Stevens**](https://www.linkedin.com/in/molly-stevens-81742822/) (Advisor) won the Novo Nordisk Prize 2023 and her research group are recognised as pioneers in the biotechnology space.\n\n![uploaded image](/media/?type=post&id=73562&key=user_uploads/983241/3faaa3cd-9ab7-47c1-8a7b-5fe4792cfa53)\n\n## **📢 Get in touch **[**here**](mailto:hello+launchbf@nanograb.com)** if you can help:**\n\n* We are building partnerships with **biopharma companies** and would love any introductions to **principal scientists** or **business leaders** who want to work with us.\n* If you are a **doctor** or **know any doctors** who would enjoy sitting on **our scientific advisory board,** we want to talk about these areas:\n * Cancer\n * Degenerative Diseases (e.g. for internal organs)\n * Infectious Diseases\n * Neurological Conditions", "url": "https://www.ycombinator.com/launches/J8U-nanograb-multivalent-nanoparticles-for-next-generation-targeted-drugs", "votes": 159, "created_at": "2023-07-29T03:10:09.478Z" } ] }, { "id": 30747, "name": "Convexia", "slug": "convexia", "former_names": [], "small_logo_thumb_url": "https://bookface-images.s3.amazonaws.com/small_logos/c68bf871c0fe363c6048343df283d9282ab990f4.png", "website": "https://convexia.bio", "all_locations": "San Francisco, CA, USA", "long_description": "An AI-maximalist pharma platform. We use agents to buy drugs, run clinical trials, and sell for a profit. 10x faster and 20x leaner than incumbents.\r\n\r\nSourcing Agent: Mines public/private databases and unstructured global data to surface overlooked preclinical candidates.\r\nScientific Agent: Runs comp bio models (ESM-3, RFdiffusion, Boltz-2, AlphaFold) to assess safety and efficacy in silico.\r\nCommercial Agent: Analyzes FDA incentives, pricing dynamics, TAM, competitive landscape, and payer alignment.\r\nClinical Agent: Runs digital twin simulations, evaluates CRO/CMC risk, and builds trial plans to Phase 1.\r\nPoS Agent: Evaluates the most critical factors that impact the likelihood of clinical trial success. \r\n\r\nBuilt by 2 Stanford CS students who have built 3 startups together before. ", "one_liner": "The world's first AI-maximalist pharma company", "team_size": 4, "industry": "Healthcare", "subindustry": "Healthcare -> Drug Discovery and Delivery", "launched_at": 1752301183, "tags": [ "AI-powered Drug Discovery", "Biotech", "Drug Delivery" ], "tags_highlighted": [], "top_company": false, "isHiring": false, "nonprofit": false, "batch": "Summer 2025", "status": "Active", "industries": [ "Healthcare", "Drug Discovery and Delivery" ], "regions": [ "United States of America", "America / Canada" ], "stage": "Early", "app_video_public": false, "demo_day_video_public": false, "app_answers": null, "question_answers": [ { "question": "How did your company get started? (i.e., How did the founders meet? How did you come up with the idea? How did you decide to be a founder?)", "answer": "Ayaan and Rahul met at an entrepreneurship conference in 8th grade and have been building together ever since. By the end of high school, they’d launched two startups. At Stanford, they built a third, recently acquired. Now they’re on their fourth venture - and this is the one they believe can be a unicorn." } ], "url": "https://www.ycombinator.com/companies/convexia", "api": "https://devasheeshg.github.io/yc-api/batches/summer-2025/convexia.json", "year_founded": 2025, "city": "San Francisco", "country": "US", "linkedin_url": "https://www.linkedin.com/company/convexia-bio", "x_url": "", "fb_url": null, "cb_url": null, "github_url": null, "logo_url": "https://bookface-images.s3.amazonaws.com/small_logos/c68bf871c0fe363c6048343df283d9282ab990f4.png", "app_video_url": null, "dday_video_url": null, "company_photos": [], "primary_partner": { "name": "Ankit Gupta", "url": "https://www.ycombinator.com/people/ankit-gupta" }, "founders": [ { "user_id": 2433930, "full_name": "Ayaan Parikh", "title": "Founder/CEO", "founder_bio": "Building agents to find and acquire early-stage drug assets. \n \nStanford CS + Bio\n\nBuilt 3 healthtech startups (telemedicine, addiction recovery, hydroponic systems). \n\nPublished 4 papers on molecular dynamics. \n\nBiotech VC and consulting experience. ", "is_active": true, "linkedin_url": "https://www.linkedin.com/in/ayaan-parikh", "x_url": "", "avatar_thumb_url": "https://bookface-images.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/avatars/ae7004ae9a37271f3847d9919c6c0cd92a310ac2.jpg" }, { "user_id": 2712957, "full_name": "Rahul Vijayan", "title": "Founder/CTO", "founder_bio": "Building agents to find and acquire early-stage drug assets.\nStanford CS + Econ \nBuilt 3 healthtech startups (telemedicine, gamified recovery, hydroponic systems).", "is_active": true, "linkedin_url": "https://www.linkedin.com/in/rahulvijayan28/", "x_url": "", "avatar_thumb_url": "https://bookface-images.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/avatars/b62fd8479d819d4020ab4de6ddaa6a655eccfd2a.jpg" } ], "jobs": [], "news": [], "launches": [ { "id": 92466, "title": "Convexia: World’s First AI-Maximalist Pharma Company", "tagline": "AI agents that search and evaluate early-stage drugs", "body": "Hey 👋 We’re [Ayaan](https://www.linkedin.com/in/ayaan-parikh/) and [Rahul](https://www.linkedin.com/in/rahulvijayan28/) — Stanford CS dropouts who’ve exited 3 startups together.\n\nOur 4th startup is [Convexia](https://www.convexia.bio/), an AI-maximalist pharma company. We buy drugs, run clinical trials, and then sell for profit.\n\n🎥 [Launch Video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFaM-ceSGok)\n\n# **Problem**\n\nPharma is the most bloated, antiquated trillion-dollar industry on the planet.\n\nLife-saving drugs are overlooked, abandoned, or shelved because diligence is still done by hand. Slow, costly, and outdated.\n\n# **Our Solution**\n\nWe use agents to operate 10x faster and 20x leaner. Convexia’s AI agents autonomously handle:\n\n* **Sourcing** – Find hidden early-stage drugs from around the world.\n* **Scientific diligence** – Evaluate drug viability with leading computational biology tools\n* **Market analysis** – Model market size, competition, and IP positioning\n* **Clinical operations** – Simulate trials, flag CMC issues, and discover CROs\n* **Business development** – Match each drug to the right buyer\n\nTest our agents here: https://www.convexia.bio/playground \n\n![uploaded image](/media/?type=post&id=92466&key=user_uploads/2433930/cb571daa-a456-472c-a8fe-b370b2e3b50e)\n\n# **Our Ask**\n\nBefore buying and selling drugs ourselves, we are running pilots with early customers who want to accelerate their search and evaluation processes.\n\n📅 Book a call [here](https://calendly.com/ayaan-convexia/demo). \n\nHere’s who we’re looking to meet—see if anyone’s in your network [here](https://www.linkedin.com/search/results/people/?currentCompany=%5B%22434006%22%2C%2221263%22%2C%2211127960%22%2C%2277579063%22%2C%2218268402%22%2C%223204230%22%2C%2234756183%22%2C%222673956%22%2C%2210317593%22%2C%2286884606%22%2C%2238336%22%2C%2219031898%22%2C%224990022%22%2C%221337177%22%2C%228013%22%2C%2226195%22%2C%226761%22%2C%22617961%22%2C%2212150%22%2C%2248171%22%2C%2211647%22%2C%226866%22%2C%2213476%22%2C%225239%22%2C%227635%22%2C%2233408697%22%2C%223235%22%2C%221893%22%2C%225482%22%2C%222068%22%2C%221663%22%2C%221304385%22%2C%221773%22%2C%221603%22%2C%221399%22%2C%2291149342%22%2C%221642%22%2C%2216233341%22%2C%221485%22%2C%221486%22%2C%222227%22%2C%221406%22%2C%222276%22%2C%221602%22%2C%221204%22%2C%222281734%22%2C%2229088045%22%2C%221185%22%2C%229215024%22%5D&industry=%5B%2215%22%2C%2212%22%5D&network=%5B%22F%22%5D&origin=FACETED_SEARCH&sid=a*t).\n\n* Small/mid pharma companies (Incyte, Nimbus, Roivant SubCos)\n* Biotech VCs (Versant, Atlas, RA Capital)\n* Computational biotechs (Recursion, Insitro, Owkin)\n* Operators who’ve brought drugs to market\n\n# Reach us: [founders@convexia.bio](mailto:founders@convexia.bio)", "url": "https://www.ycombinator.com/launches/O3O-convexia-world-s-first-ai-maximalist-pharma-company", "votes": 34, "created_at": "2025-07-26T01:34:30.747Z" } ] } ]