Funding details
Venomics AI has announced the completion of a $2.7 million pre-seed funding round. The round was co-led by Speciale Invest and South Park Commons, with additional participation from Operators Studio.
The startup was spun out of the Indian Institute of Science (IISc). The newly raised capital will support the expansion of the company's platform and its technical team.
Venom-based medicine platform
Venomics AI is a biotechnology company that combines venom biology, artificial intelligence, and experimental laboratory screening to discover and develop therapeutic compounds derived from animal venoms.
The company is building a molecular dataset named 'Venom Atlas', which uses molecular sequencing and venom biology to map the molecular diversity of animal venoms. Venomics AI uses artificial intelligence to prioritize promising molecular candidates and validates these predictions through functional laboratory screening. The business aims to turn these venom-derived compounds into drug candidates and medicines.
Use of proceeds
The company plans to use the fresh funds to expand its Venom Atlas dataset and strengthen both its artificial intelligence and laboratory screening capabilities.
Venomics AI also intends to use the capital to validate and optimize promising molecules, as well as hire additional personnel across biology, computational science, and drug discovery.
Founders and market context
Venomics AI was founded in 2026 by Kartik Sunagar and Vinay Prabhu. Speaking on the company's approach, Sunagar stated that animal venoms represent a rich yet under-explored source of potential medicines, and that the company is combining experimental science with artificial intelligence to access these natural compounds.
According to data from IBEF, India's bioeconomy is projected to reach $300 billion by 2030. The country currently hosts more than 11,000 biotech startups.