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§ Private Profile · Vienna, Wien, Austria
AI biotechnology company using AI microscopy to test drug responses in patient cancer tissue for oncology precision medicine.
Based in Vienna, Austria, Allcyte is a biotechnology company that develops AI-powered microscopy technology to test drug responses in fresh patient cancer tissue samples at single-cell resolution. The firm's functional precision medicine platform, known as Pharmacoscopy, utilizes computer vision to assist pharmaceutical clients like Boehringer Ingelheim in selecting promising oncology drug candidates for clinical trials. Prior to its strategic exit, the enterprise raised $6 million in venture funding, generated an estimated $8 million in annual revenue, and grew its workforce to approximately 30 employees. In June 2021, the United Kingdom-based artificial intelligence drug discovery firm Exscientia acquired the business for €50 million to serve as its translational medicine hub. Originating as a spin-off from the CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine, Allcyte was founded in 2016 by Nikolaus Krall, Gregory Vladimer, Giulio Superti-Furga, and Berend Snijder.
Allcyte has raised $6.0M across 1 funding round.
Allcyte has raised $6.0M in total across 1 funding round.
Allcyte is a biotech startup founded in 2017 that developed the Pharmacoscopy platform—a high-content imaging technology combining advanced microscopy and AI to test drug efficacy in fresh, primary human cancer tissues.[1][2][3][4] It serves pharmaceutical companies and physicians by identifying optimal drugs for specific patients, supporting preclinical drug development, clinical decision-making, and repurposing existing therapies for new cancer indications.[1][3] The platform addresses precision oncology challenges by directly querying tumors for effective treatments, bypassing less reliable DNA-based predictions, which improves clinical trial success and patient outcomes.[2][3] Allcyte raised $6M in funding before its acquisition by Exscientia in June 2021, marking strong early momentum in AI-driven drug discovery.[1][2][3]
Allcyte emerged from the CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences in Vienna, where its founders collaborated on innovative cancer research.[1][3] Co-founders include Nikolas Krall (CEO, chemist), Gregory Vladimer (CSO, immunologist), Berend Snijder, and Giulio Superti-Furga (both molecular biologists), who spun out the company in 2017 after developing Pharmacoscopy from their work on functional drug testing in primary human tissues.[3] Headquartered at Campus Vienna Biocenter, the idea stemmed from recognizing limitations in traditional extrapolations from DNA sequencing, instead using real tumor samples for direct, AI-analyzed responses to drugs.[3] Early traction included partnerships with 10 major pharma firms like Boehringer Ingelheim and a $6M funding round in 2021 from investors such as Air Street Capital and 42CAP, culminating in its acquisition by Exscientia.[2][3]
Allcyte rides the AI-precision oncology wave, where tech accelerates personalized cancer therapies amid rising demands for efficient drug development and real-world evidence.[2][3] Its timing aligns with post-2020 surges in AI-biotech investments, as firms seek tools to de-risk clinical trials amid high failure rates (over 90% for oncology drugs).[3] Market forces like aging populations, patent cliffs on legacy drugs, and regulatory pushes for precision medicine favor its tumor-direct approach, differentiating it from genomics-heavy competitors like Biodesix or Lantern Pharma.[3] Post-acquisition, Allcyte influences Exscientia's ecosystem by enhancing AI-driven pipelines, contributing to broader shifts toward functional assays in digital health and oncology tech collections.[1][2]
Integrated into Exscientia since 2021, Allcyte's Pharmacoscopy will likely expand within larger AI-pharma platforms, powering more clinical validations and partnerships.[1][2] Trends like multimodal AI (imaging + genomics) and real-world data integration will shape its evolution, potentially boosting Exscientia's trial success rates amid a projected $100B+ precision oncology market.[3] Its influence may grow by standardizing functional testing, evolving from startup innovator to core tool in global drug discovery—reinforcing how tissue-based AI unlocks "right drug, right patient" at scale, as pioneered in Vienna.[1][3]
Allcyte has raised $6.0M across 1 funding round. Most recently, it raised $6.0M Seed in June 2020.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 1, 2020 | $6M Seed | AIR Street Capital, Amino Collective, 42CAP, Push Ventures, Vp%20venture%20partners | Band OF Angels, Bornschein & Keine Töchter, Philipp Herkelmann | Announced |
Allcyte has raised $6.0M in total across 1 funding round.
Allcyte's investors include Air Street Capital, Amino Collective, 42CAP, Push Ventures, VP%20Venture%20Partners, Band of Angels, Bornschein & keine Töchter, Philipp Herkelmann.