[ { "id": 657, "name": "Bikanta", "slug": "bikanta", "former_names": [], "small_logo_thumb_url": "/company/thumb/missing.png", "website": "http://bikanta.com", "all_locations": "San Francisco, CA, USA; Berkeley, CA, USA", "long_description": "Bikanta is introducing revolutionary nanodiamond-based technology to push the boundaries of current medical imaging and diagnostics, allowing researchers to answer questions and medics to detect diseases that they currently cannot.\r\n\r\nA nanodiamond is forever. They are brightly fluorescent, infinitely stable, non-toxic, functionalizable and can be used for background-free optical imaging. Early results have improved the signal by as much as 100-fold over conventional fluorescence imaging techniques. Bikanta’s vision is to redefine the boundaries of medical diagnostics by delivering cutting-edge imaging probes and background-free optical imaging.", "one_liner": "Nano-diamonds for cancer detection", "team_size": 2, "industry": "Healthcare", "subindustry": "Healthcare -> Diagnostics", "launched_at": 1398907618, "tags": [ "Nanomedicine" ], "tags_highlighted": [], "top_company": false, "isHiring": false, "nonprofit": false, "batch": "Summer 2014", "status": "Inactive", "industries": [ "Healthcare", "Diagnostics" ], "regions": [ "United States of America", "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/bikanta", "api": "https://devasheeshg.github.io/yc-api/batches/summer-2014/bikanta.json", "year_founded": 2013, "city": "San Francisco", "country": "US", "linkedin_url": "", "x_url": "", "fb_url": null, "cb_url": "https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/bikanta", "github_url": null, "logo_url": null, "app_video_url": null, "dday_video_url": null, "company_photos": [], "primary_partner": null, "founders": [ { "user_id": 39317, "full_name": "Ambika Bumb", "title": "Founder/CEO", "founder_bio": null, "is_active": true, "linkedin_url": "https://www.linkedin.com/in/ambikabumb", "x_url": null, "avatar_thumb_url": "https://bookface-images.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/avatars/ccaba4cc0a318e9cab9dc96716bacb121547116f.jpg" } ], "jobs": [], "news": [], "launches": [] }, { "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": 2028, "name": "Rejuvenation Technologies Inc.", "slug": "rejuvenation-technologies-inc", "former_names": [ "Rejuvenation Technologies Inc.", "Rejuvenation Technologies" ], "small_logo_thumb_url": "https://bookface-images.s3.amazonaws.com/small_logos/8570f907143e200c57848585eb12a16271d3643f.png", "website": "https://www.rejuvenationtech.com/", "all_locations": "San Francisco, CA, USA", "long_description": "Stanford-patented essential drug platform unlocks the healthspan, which is limited by short telomeres. Extends mouse lifespan by equivalent of 10 years in humans. Reverses 5-10 years of telomere shortening with one dose in one day. Preclinical efficacy in 4 organ systems including immune system. Entering clinical stage. CEO is Subject #1 in longevity trial. 50+ granted patents, 7 patent families. FDA INTERACT cleared. Raising $10M seed extension ($2M+ wired) to fund 3 investigator-initiated trials. Readouts in Q3 2027. $6.8B in comparable mRNA-LNP M&A in last 12 months. ", "one_liner": "mRNA therapeutics to extend healthspan entering clinical trials", "team_size": 2, "industry": "Healthcare", "subindustry": "Healthcare -> Therapeutics", "launched_at": 1527534662, "tags": [ "Anti-Aging", "Gene Therapy", "Nanomedicine" ], "tags_highlighted": [], "top_company": false, "isHiring": false, "nonprofit": false, "batch": "Summer 2018", "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/rejuvenation-technologies-inc", "api": "https://devasheeshg.github.io/yc-api/batches/summer-2018/rejuvenation-technologies-inc.json", "year_founded": 2016, "city": "San Francisco", "country": "US", "linkedin_url": "", "x_url": "", "fb_url": null, "cb_url": null, "github_url": null, "logo_url": "https://bookface-images.s3.amazonaws.com/small_logos/8570f907143e200c57848585eb12a16271d3643f.png", "app_video_url": null, "dday_video_url": null, "company_photos": [], "primary_partner": null, "founders": [ { "user_id": 258817, "full_name": "Glenn Markov", "title": "Founder", "founder_bio": "Stanford PhD Genetics (2018)", "is_active": true, "linkedin_url": "https://www.linkedin.com/in/glennmarkov/", "x_url": "", "avatar_thumb_url": "https://bookface-images.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/avatars/a56bc931d6209b5b6271761fac6314f084d0bdbe.jpg" }, { "user_id": 257342, "full_name": "John Ramunas", "title": "Founder", "founder_bio": "John Ramunas, PhD, invented TERT mRNA telomere extension at Stanford in Helen Blau's lab — reversing a decade of telomere shortening in one treatment. 50+ granted patents across 7 families through 2046. Preclinical efficacy in 4 organ systems. FDA INTERACT cleared. Khosla Ventures seed. YC S18. Raising $10M seed extension ($2M wired) for 3 clinical trials — Phase I readout Q3 2027. Subject #1 in first human trial.", "is_active": true, "linkedin_url": "https://linkedin.com/in/johnramunas", "x_url": "", "avatar_thumb_url": "https://bookface-images.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/avatars/78c9daa6b85e2b4ccd29f05dd92ac1f3dfb0f9b2.jpg" } ], "jobs": [], "news": [], "launches": [] }, { "id": 23522, "name": "Nuntius Therapeutics", "slug": "nuntius-therapeutics", "former_names": [], "small_logo_thumb_url": "https://bookface-images.s3.amazonaws.com/small_logos/490dca692522bd958768d197eafc08f9ea77c8fb.png", "website": "http://www.nuntiustx.com", "all_locations": "London, England, United Kingdom", "long_description": "", "one_liner": "Cell-specific genetic medicines", "team_size": 2, "industry": "Healthcare", "subindustry": "Healthcare -> Therapeutics", "launched_at": 1614621461, "tags": [ "Gene Therapy", "Nanomedicine" ], "tags_highlighted": [], "top_company": false, "isHiring": false, "nonprofit": false, "batch": "Winter 2021", "status": "Active", "industries": [ "Healthcare", "Therapeutics" ], "regions": [ "United Kingdom", "Europe", "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/nuntius-therapeutics", "api": "https://devasheeshg.github.io/yc-api/batches/winter-2021/nuntius-therapeutics.json", "year_founded": 2021, "city": "London", "country": "GB", "linkedin_url": "", "x_url": "", "fb_url": null, "cb_url": null, "github_url": null, "logo_url": "https://bookface-images.s3.amazonaws.com/small_logos/490dca692522bd958768d197eafc08f9ea77c8fb.png", "app_video_url": null, "dday_video_url": null, "company_photos": [], "primary_partner": { "name": "Jared Friedman", "url": "https://www.ycombinator.com/people/jared-friedman" }, "founders": [ { "user_id": 665140, "full_name": "Benita Nagel", "title": "Founder", "founder_bio": "", "is_active": true, "linkedin_url": "https://www.linkedin.com/in/benita-nagel-a71ba879/", "x_url": "", "avatar_thumb_url": "https://bookface-images.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/avatars/0b2f3002abe7a9ed4cfd11cb1bd3f113acb33c0c.jpg" }, { "user_id": 473801, "full_name": "Albert Kwok", "title": "Founder", "founder_bio": "", "is_active": true, "linkedin_url": "https://www.linkedin.com/in/albert-kwok-1344a858/", "x_url": "", "avatar_thumb_url": "https://bookface-images.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/avatars/c4891cbe6e9074c8ac09610746d40665535d5aa1.jpg" } ], "jobs": [], "news": [], "launches": [] }, { "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" } ] } ]