AI-Enabled Biotech
Why we invest
Combining scientific insights, wet lab innovation, applied AI, and advanced analytics promises to revolutionize life sciences, including discovery, diagnostics, and drug development. The newest generation of technology in life science is unlocking novel approaches to cure intractable diseases and generating drugs with increased precision and effectiveness. New tech-enabling layers are supercharging scientists to accelerate early-stage discoveries and lowering barriers to clinical breakthroughs. Madrona partners with leading research institutions, like the UW’s Institute of Protein Design, the Fred Hutch Cancer Center, and Caltech, to help researchers translate their innovations into real-world impact. With decades of experience investing in AI/ML and working alongside partners from pharma to tech hyperscalers, Madrona helps founders bring their vision for a brighter future to life.
Nautilus Bio’s
Sujal Patel and Parag Mallick
on the proteome 
A-Alpha Bio’s
David Younger
on advancing drug discovery and the role of company culture 
Terray’s
Jacob Berlin
on why data is the difference for AI-driven drug development AI-Enabled Biotech
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A-Alpha Bio is a biotechnology company harnessing synthetic biology and machine learning to measure, predict, and engineer protein-protein interactions. The company has developed a proprietary platform technology, called AlphaSeq, that uses genetically engineered cells to experimentally measure millions of protein-protein interaction affinities simultaneously at a library-on-library scale, generating enormous amounts of data to inform the discovery and development of the next generation of high-impact therapeutics. A-Alpha Bio was founded in 2017 by a team of synthetic biologists from the University of Washington's Institute for Protein Design and Center for Synthetic Biology.Initial Investment2019A-Alpha Bio is a biotechnology company harnessing synthetic biology and machine learning to measure, predict, and engineer protein-protein interactions. The company has developed a proprietary platform technology, called AlphaSeq, that uses genetically engineered cells to experimentally measure millions of protein-protein interaction affinities simultaneously at a library-on-library scale, generating enormous amounts of data to inform the discovery and development of the next generation of high-impact therapeutics. A-Alpha Bio was founded in 2017 by a team of synthetic biologists from the University of Washington's Institute for Protein Design and Center for Synthetic Biology. -
Envisagenics is an Artificial Intelligence-driven biotechnology company that focuses on the discovery of novel RNA splicing variants that cause cancer and other genetic diseases. Its principal technology is the SpliceCore® discovery platform. The platform re-envisions the human genome with a validated exon-centric approach, combined with machine learning algorithms and high-performance computing. It is up to 250 times more likely to discover novel targets than gene-centric discovery tools. Using innovative technology and RNA analysis expertise, Envisagenics accelerates the development of highly specific therapeutics that modulate RNA splicing events that drive pathogenesis of oncology, neurodegenerative, and metabolic disorders.Initial Investment2018Envisagenics is an Artificial Intelligence-driven biotechnology company that focuses on the discovery of novel RNA splicing variants that cause cancer and other genetic diseases. Its principal technology is the SpliceCore® discovery platform. The platform re-envisions the human genome with a validated exon-centric approach, combined with machine learning algorithms and high-performance computing. It is up to 250 times more likely to discover novel targets than gene-centric discovery tools. Using innovative technology and RNA analysis expertise, Envisagenics accelerates the development of highly specific therapeutics that modulate RNA splicing events that drive pathogenesis of oncology, neurodegenerative, and metabolic disorders. -
Modulus Therapeutics is a seed-stage cell therapy design studio developing an internal pipeline of NK cell anti-solid tumor programs. Failures in cell therapy efficacy can be traced to poor conceptualization, design and integration of engineered components. Modulus is uniting whole-cell synthetic biology with machine learning into a cell therapy design solution to dramatically reduce pipeline risk and accelerate the path to the clinic. The team is a diverse group of cell therapy veterans along with bioengineering and machine learning experts laser focused on driving therapeutic efficacy by accessing the full cell design space.Initial Investment2021Modulus Therapeutics is a seed-stage cell therapy design studio developing an internal pipeline of NK cell anti-solid tumor programs. Failures in cell therapy efficacy can be traced to poor conceptualization, design and integration of engineered components. Modulus is uniting whole-cell synthetic biology with machine learning into a cell therapy design solution to dramatically reduce pipeline risk and accelerate the path to the clinic. The team is a diverse group of cell therapy veterans along with bioengineering and machine learning experts laser focused on driving therapeutic efficacy by accessing the full cell design space.FoundersBryce Daines
Max DarnellInvestment JourneyAcquired by Ginkgo Bioworks
2024Initial Investment2021 -
Based in Seattle, Washington, Nautilus is a development stage life sciences company creating a platform technology for quantifying and unlocking the complexity of the proteome. Nautilus’ mission is to transform the field of proteomics by democratizing access to the proteome and enabling fundamental advancements across human health and medicine. To learn more about Nautilus, visit www.nautilus.bioInitial Investment2018Based in Seattle, Washington, Nautilus is a development stage life sciences company creating a platform technology for quantifying and unlocking the complexity of the proteome. Nautilus’ mission is to transform the field of proteomics by democratizing access to the proteome and enabling fundamental advancements across human health and medicine. To learn more about Nautilus, visit www.nautilus.bioFoundersSujal Petal
Parag MallickInvestment JourneyPublic June 2021
NASDAQ: NAUTInitial Investment2018 -
Ovation is a next-generation clinical informatics company.Initial Investment2019Ovation is a next-generation clinical informatics company. -
Ozette Technologies, Inc. is engineering a transformative leap in cell discovery and annotation of the human immune system. The Seattle-based (remote-first) life sciences technology startup is building a groundbreaking high-resolution, intelligent, single-cell immune monitoring platform and corpus of high-resolution data leveraging its novel AI technologies. Founded in late 2020, Ozette was spun-out from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center and incubated at the Allen Institute for AI. Ozette’s interdisciplinary team is made up of a deep bench of scientists, engineers, and designers with a wide range of experience spanning Genentech, Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Airbnb, and leaders and pioneers in the field of medical research and single cell analysis.Initial Investment2021Ozette Technologies, Inc. is engineering a transformative leap in cell discovery and annotation of the human immune system. The Seattle-based (remote-first) life sciences technology startup is building a groundbreaking high-resolution, intelligent, single-cell immune monitoring platform and corpus of high-resolution data leveraging its novel AI technologies. Founded in late 2020, Ozette was spun-out from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center and incubated at the Allen Institute for AI. Ozette’s interdisciplinary team is made up of a deep bench of scientists, engineers, and designers with a wide range of experience spanning Genentech, Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Airbnb, and leaders and pioneers in the field of medical research and single cell analysis. -
Proof is a startup working to make powerful CRISPR-based molecular testing affordable and accessible to everyoneInitial Investment2020Proof is a startup working to make powerful CRISPR-based molecular testing affordable and accessible to everyoneFoundersFeng Zhang
Jonathan Gootenberg
Omar Abudayyeh
Siddharth ShenaiInvestment JourneyAcquired by Ginkgo Bioworks
2024Initial Investment2020 -
Terray Therapeutics is an emerging biotechnology company led by pioneers and long-time leaders in AI, medicinal chemistry, biology and preclinical development, automation, and nanotechnology to propel drug discovery into the information age. Terray’s proprietary integrated computational and experimental platforms generate massively scaled, powerfully agnostic chemical data that are purpose-built to power computational learning and reveal new interactions. This foundation is building an iterative, flexible chemistry engine that aims to deliver more precise therapies to patients faster than ever before.Initial Investment2020Terray Therapeutics is an emerging biotechnology company led by pioneers and long-time leaders in AI, medicinal chemistry, biology and preclinical development, automation, and nanotechnology to propel drug discovery into the information age. Terray’s proprietary integrated computational and experimental platforms generate massively scaled, powerfully agnostic chemical data that are purpose-built to power computational learning and reveal new interactions. This foundation is building an iterative, flexible chemistry engine that aims to deliver more precise therapies to patients faster than ever before. -
TwinStrand Biosciences is a Seattle genomics company building a platform around Duplex Sequencing, a proprietary process that helps physicians, patients and drug researchers make life saving decisions faster based on DNA data.Initial Investment2019TwinStrand Biosciences is a Seattle genomics company building a platform around Duplex Sequencing, a proprietary process that helps physicians, patients and drug researchers make life saving decisions faster based on DNA data. -
Vilya is an AI enabled biotech company leveraging advanced computational approaches to design novel macrocycles with atomic-level accuracy and enhanced drug-like properties.Initial Investment2024Vilya is an AI enabled biotech company leveraging advanced computational approaches to design novel macrocycles with atomic-level accuracy and enhanced drug-like properties.