Bengaluru-based AI drug discovery startup Peptris has raised ₹70 crore (about $7.7 million) in a Series A round led by IAN Alpha Fund and Speciale Invest, with participation from Tenacity Ventures and BYT Ventures, underscoring growing investor interest in India’s convergence of artificial intelligence and biotechnology.
Founding, focus and technology
Founded in 2019 by Narayanan Venkatasubramanian, Shridhar Narayanan, Anand Budni and Amit Mahajan, Peptris develops AI and machine-learning platforms to accelerate early-stage drug discovery. The company’s stated goal is to cut the time, cost and uncertainty associated with bringing new molecules from concept to clinic using computational design and predictive modelling.
Transforming drug discovery with AI
Traditional drug discovery is lengthy and capital-intensive, often taking a decade or more and suffering high attrition rates in preclinical and clinical stages. Peptris uses proprietary algorithms to generate novel molecular structures, predict pharmacokinetic and safety properties early, and prioritise candidates with a higher probability of success.
By combining computational chemistry, biological data integration and machine learning, the platform aims to reduce late-stage failures and shorten the discovery timeline. The company says it has progressed in identifying Novel Chemical Entities (NCEs) and is pursuing drug repurposing and rescue programmes that seek new therapeutic uses for existing or shelved compounds.
Use of proceeds and development plans
The ₹70 crore will be deployed primarily over the next 24 months to advance lead discovery programmes toward clinical development and to expand the company’s NCE pipeline. Funds will also support drug repurposing initiatives that are moving towards clinical readiness.
Peptris plans to scale its scientific capabilities by hiring additional experts in AI, chemistry, biology and data science. The company also intends to deepen global partnerships, especially in the US and Europe, to collaborate with pharmaceutical groups and accelerate translational research.
Investment will further strengthen the technology stack—improving predictive models and computational infrastructure—to broaden research across multiple therapeutic areas.
Context: India’s deep‑tech and biotech momentum
The Series A reflects growing investor confidence in India’s deep‑tech ecosystem, where startups are applying advanced computation to high‑impact fields such as drug discovery. Peptris exemplifies a shift from AI applications in consumer sectors to mission‑critical domains that directly affect patient outcomes and global health systems.
With an experienced founding team, expanding AI infrastructure and international ambitions, Peptris seeks to position itself as a competitive player in global drug discovery, as pharmaceutical companies increasingly seek AI‑enabled solutions to improve R&D efficiency.
