Ataraxis AI Secures $20.4 Million
Ataraxis AI Secures $20.4 Million Series A to Advance AI-Powered Precision Medicine in Cancer Care
New York City – March 5, 2025 – Ataraxis AI, a leader in artificial intelligence- driven precision medicine, has announced a $20.4 million Series A funding round. The investment, led by AIX Ventures with participation from Founders Fund, Thiel Bio, Floating Point, Bertelsmann Investments, and existing backers Giant Ventures and Obvious Ventures, positions the company to bring its first commercial offering, Ataraxis Breast, to market later this year. Additional support from prominent angel investors, including Mario Schlosser (co-founder of Oscar Health) and Ryan Fukushima (COO of Tempus), as well as AI researchers from OpenAI and DeepMind, further reinforces confidence in the company’s mission.
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Transforming Cancer Diagnostics with AI
Founded by Dr. Jan Witowski, MD, PhD, and Dr. Krzysztof Geras, PhD, Ataraxis AI is pioneering new approaches to cancer treatment through Kestrel, its proprietary AI foundation model. Ataraxis Breast, the company’s first clinical application, has already demonstrated 30% greater accuracy in breast cancer prognostics and treatment prediction compared to current medical standards. With this latest investment, Ataraxis AI aims to expand its technology beyond breast cancer, enhancing treatment selection across multiple oncology domains.
“This investment is a testament to the groundbreaking work our team is accomplishing and the immense potential of AI in precision medicine,” said Dr. Jan Witowski, CEO of Ataraxis AI. “With this capital, we are on track to accelerate our mission to change how cancer is treated and ultimately impact at least 50 percent of new cancer cases by 2030.”
The Power of Kestrel: AI-Driven Precision Oncology
At the heart of Ataraxis AI’s innovation is Kestrel, an advanced AI model designed to detect previously undetectable patterns in cancer diagnostics. Unlike traditional AI models that require vast amounts of data and computational resources, Kestrel optimizes analysis through novel AI-driven methodologies, making precision medicine more accessible and efficient.
Kestrel’s ability to analyze complex patient data allows oncologists to make more informed, personalized treatment decisions, potentially reducing unnecessary treatments and improving patient outcomes. Ataraxis AI plans to leverage Kestrel’s capabilities to build a suite of AI-driven diagnostic tools for multiple cancer types, ultimately shaping the future of AI-powered oncology.
Leading Experts Join Clinical Advisory Board
To further validate and guide its innovations, Ataraxis AI has assembled a Clinical Advisory Board featuring key opinion leaders in oncology from top medical institutions:
• Dr. Francisco Esteva (Chief of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Northwell Lenox Hill)
• Dr. Lajos Pusztai (Co-Leader, Genetics, Genomics, and Epigenetics Program, Yale Cancer Center)
• Dr. Adam Brufsky (Co-Director, Cancer Therapeutics Program, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center)
• Dr. Freya Schnabel (Director of Breast Surgery, NYU)
Additionally, Yann LeCun, PhD, Chief AI Scientist at Meta and Turing Award Laureate, serves as the company’s AI advisor, bringing unparalleled expertise in machine learning and deep learning to the company’s AI development.
A New Era for AI in Cancer Care
The integration of AI into oncology is no longer a vision for the future—it is happening now. Ataraxis AI’s work represents a shift in how cancer is diagnosed and treated, enabling oncologists to harness cutting-edge AI models that complement human expertise.
“In the next five years, the world’s leading oncology centers won’t just have top physicians—they’ll have AI copilots revolutionizing diagnosis and treatment,” said Krish Ramadurai, Partner at AIX Ventures. “Ataraxis AI is setting a new standard for precision oncology, and we couldn’t be more excited to back them on this journey.”
As Ataraxis AI prepares to launch Ataraxis Breast for clinical use in 2025, the company remains focused on expanding its AI-driven solutions to impact millions of lives worldwide. With strong financial backing, a growing team of world-class researchers, and validated clinical results, Ataraxis AI is well-positioned to redefine the future of cancer care.
