Google's AI-focused Gradient Ventures invests in BenchSci to speed up biomedical discoveries

BenchSci, an AI-powered search engine for biomedical researchers, has raised $8 million in a series A round of funding led by iNovia Capital, with participation from Google's recently announced Gradient Ventures, Golden Venture Partners, Afore Capital, Real Ventures, and Radical Ventures. Founded out of Toronto, Canada in 2015, BenchSci uses machine learning to translate both closed- and open-access data into recommendations for specific experiments that a researcher is planning to carry out. Ultimately, it's about speeding up studies to help biomedical professionals find reliable antibodies and reduce resource waste. "Without the use of AI, basic biomedical research is not only challenging, but drug discovery takes much longer and is more expensive," noted BenchSci cofounder and CEO Liran Belenzon. "We are applying and developing a number of advanced data science, bioinformatics, and machine learning algorithms to solve this problem and accelerate scientific discovery by ending reagent failure." Google's various associated investment funds, including Alphabet's GV, have invested in a number of biotech and life science startups in recent years, including next-gen vaccine discovery startup SpyBiotech.