immunitoAI, a Bengaluru-based biotech startup, has secured $6.1 million in fresh funding to push forward its mission of creating AI-designed antibodies at record speed. The round was led by prominent investor Ashish Kacholia, who contributed nearly half of the total investment. Several major venture firms and angel investors also participated, showcasing strong confidence in the startup’s ability to transform how antibody treatments are developed in India and beyond.
Founded in 2020 by Aridni Shah and Trisha Chatterjee, immunitoAI focuses on solving a major global challenge: the long and expensive process of designing and testing new antibodies. These antibodies are essential tools in medicine because they are used to treat cancers, immunity disorders, viral infections, and many emerging diseases. Traditional development methods can take up to four or five years to produce a viable antibody, which slows down the ability to respond to new health threats. immunitoAI aims to change this timeline completely by using artificial intelligence to design antibodies from scratch.
AI That Reduces Years of Work to Months
According to the company, its AI-powered platform can reduce the typical development time to just 11 to 12 months, making it one of the fastest approaches in the industry today. The platform can design antibody sequences by understanding how the body reacts to a target, such as a virus or a harmful cell. Once the system generates strong candidates, immunitoAI tests them inside its own biology lab, ensuring both quality and accuracy. This powerful combination of AI and lab validation gives the startup a unique advantage, especially because few Indian companies operate at this level of deep-tech integration.
The founders have emphasised that their long-term goal is to become a global leader in AI-driven antibody engineering. They believe their technology can serve pharmaceutical companies looking for innovative solutions and faster development timelines.
Expanding Research and Building Intellectual Property
The newly raised funds will support the development of immunitoAI’s first batch of antibody candidates. These candidates will target specific diseases and could eventually move into more advanced testing and development stages. Another major focus is building strong intellectual property around these antibodies. By owning the designs, the company can license them to pharmaceutical partners or offer complete developmental support.
In the future, immunitoAI plans to follow a revenue model that includes licensing fees, partnership contracts, and fully customised antibodies for global clients. The founders estimate that a high-value custom antibody, once fully successful, could be worth over $300 million, along with additional royalty income.
A New Chapter for India’s Biotech Innovation
Antibody development is a massive global market, projected to grow into hundreds of billions of dollars within the next decade. India has the scientific talent but lacks a strong AI-biology hybrid ecosystem that can compete at global speed and quality. immunitoAI is setting the foundation for that ecosystem. Its rapid approach could help the world respond more quickly to sudden outbreaks and difficult-to-treat diseases. Investors believe that if the company succeeds, it could become one of India’s most impactful biotech innovators.
Explained Simply: Why This Matters
Antibodies can be thought of as tiny superheroes that fight off germs. Making these superheroes normally takes years, but immunitoAI uses AI like a super-fast designer that creates them in months. This means when a new disease appears, doctors can get help sooner. With its new funding, immunitoAI is getting ready to build some of the world’s fastest and smartest antibody solutions.