Radical Numerics, a startup focused on AI-generated DNA and generative genomics, raised $50 million in a seed funding round led by Emergence Capital, the company confirmed. The round also included Obvious Ventures, Triatomic Capital, Factory, and First Spark Ventures. The funding was announced on June 15 and follows pre-seed backing from Stripe CEO Patrick Collison and the Arc Institute.
The company emerged from stealth with a founding team of researchers who helped create generative genomics, including Eric Nguyen, Michael Poli, Stefano Massaroli, and Armin Thomas. Nguyen, who holds a bioengineering PhD from Stanford, said he sought a problem worth fighting for and found it in DNA. Radical Numerics develops AI models that read, write, and reason across biology’s molecular language, including DNA, RNA, and proteins, using a single integrated model.
Radical Numerics’ technology builds on earlier work at Liquid AI, an MIT spinout where three of the founders developed Evo and Evo 2, the first AI models capable of generating DNA sequences at scale. The startup aims to reinvent biology by applying generative AI to molecular design, a field attracting growing investment as companies seek to accelerate drug discovery and biodefense capabilities.
The $50 million seed round positions Radical Numerics to scale its AI platform and expand research efforts. The company’s approach to generative genomics could influence multiple sectors, including pharmaceuticals and synthetic biology, as it moves beyond DNA to model complex biological systems comprehensively.