QurieGen Raises €2.2M
QurieGen Raises €2.2M to Advance AI-Driven Cancer Drug Discovery
Dutch biotech startup QurieGen has secured €2.2 million in pre-seed funding to further develop its AI-powered platform designed to transform oncology drug development. The investment round was led by Tensor Ventures, with participation from Lighthouse Ventures, BSV Ventures, Moondust Ventures, 22 Hor Invest, and legendary Silicon Valley investor Tim Draper of Draper Associates.
Combining AI with Cellular Precision
Founded in 2022 by Dr. Kinga Matuła and Maciej Jarzab, QurieGen is building a next-generation platform that helps pharmaceutical companies understand how drugs work at the single-cell level. Traditional methods in oncology research rely on fragmented data from incompatible tools. QurieGen’s technology, however, maps entire signaling pathways within cells, giving researchers a clearer view of drug efficacy and potential resistance.
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This breakthrough allows pharma teams to simulate how cancer cells will respond to new compounds—accelerating discovery cycles, improving treatment targeting, and ultimately reducing the cost of drug development.
Dr. Matuła, who has faced cancer herself, emphasized the human side of this mission:
“My personal battle gave me firsthand insight into the challenges patients face. This experience strengthened my resolve to create meaningful change. Our technology is not just a scientific achievement—it’s about delivering impact for those who need it most.”
Backed by Deep Tech Visionaries
The round attracted capital from top early-stage investors focused on deep tech. Tensor Ventures, based in Prague, is known for backing startups across AI, quantum computing, and biotech. BSV Ventures, which recently secured a €15M fund, targets early-stage startups developing disruptive technologies with commercial potential in life sciences and AI.
Notably, Tim Draper, whose past investments include SpaceX, Tesla, and Bitcoin, also backed the round, highlighting global confidence in QurieGen’s platform.
Joining the syndicate are Lighthouse Ventures and several European angel investors, strengthening QurieGen’s ties to the Central and Eastern European innovation ecosystem.
A Strategic Role in European Defense Innovation
In addition to its commercial traction, QurieGen was recently accepted into the NATO DIANA accelerator, a dual-use innovation program that supports startups working at the intersection of civilian and defense technologies. QurieGen is among the 74 startups selected to join, receiving €100,000 in non-dilutive funding, access to over 180 NATO test centers, and placement in one of 13 international accelerators.
This strategic endorsement not only expands QurieGen’s R&D capabilities but positions the company as a future partner in applying biomedical AI for national and global security use cases.
Shaping the Future of Oncology
QurieGen’s approach reflects a broader trend in biotechnology where data-rich platforms and AI modeling are reducing risk in clinical development. As the pharma industry continues to grapple with high failure rates and long timelines, companies like QurieGen are offering tools that may radically improve outcomes and efficiency.
With a fresh round of funding and momentum from NATO’s innovation network, QurieGen is poised to become a key player in the future of oncology therapeutics.
