Michigan-based biotech startup CircNova has raised a $3.3 million seed round for its innovative technology that utilizes artificial intelligence (AI) to target circular RNA, a relatively newly discovered class of RNA structures. This breakthrough holds promise as a new method to quickly develop therapies for conditions that currently have no drug treatments.

Circular RNA is a type of RNA molecule that forms a circle rather than a strand, regulating critical biological processes. The hope is that therapies based on these molecules will be able to target complex health issues, such as ovarian cancer, triple-negative breast cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, and rare genetic diseases.

CircNova's proprietary AI engine, similar to Google's AlphaFold, uses deep learning AI to generate and analyze new circular RNA for therapeutic use. The startup not only has its NovaEngine, which can predict circular RNA structures, but it also has a wet lab, allowing it to produce the actual physical molecules themselves, which can then be validated and researched in collaboration with the University of Michigan.

The company's co-founder and CEO, Crystal Brown, took an unconventional path to becoming a biotech founder. With a background in the automotive manufacturing industry, Brown made the leap to biotech seven years ago, bringing business tactics from auto factories to help a life science startup. Despite facing setbacks, including the failure of her first biotech startup, Brown's determination and reputation in Michigan's startup community earned her the support of venture capitalists (VCs) for her new venture.

Brown's journey is a testament to the resilience required in entrepreneurship. After shuttering her first startup, she began studying circular RNA and AI drug discovery, eventually co-founding CircNova in May 2023 with Joe Deangelo, the startup's chief scientific officer. The company's first patent application was filed with a $25,000 grant from the National Science Foundation, and Brown's cautious approach has led to this significant seed round.

The $3.3 million seed round was led by diversity-focused VC South Loop Ventures and includes investment from Dug Song, Union Heritage, Michigan Rise, Invest Detroit, Kalamazoo Forward Ventures, and SPARK Capital. VCs like Nia Batts, a General Partner at Union Heritage Ventures, have expressed confidence in Brown's ability to drive CircNova's success.

This funding milestone marks a significant step forward for CircNova, enabling the company to further develop its AI-driven circular RNA technology and bring new hope to patients suffering from complex health issues. As the biotech industry continues to evolve, CircNova's innovative approach is poised to make a meaningful impact in the years to come.