DataJoint, a leading computational database and AI platform designed to streamline data management and accelerate research in neuroscience, oncology, and systems biology, announced the successful closing of its $4.9M Seed funding round. The round was co-led by Barcelona-based Nina Capital, Salt Lake City-based Inoca Capital Partners, and Austin-based Capital Factory, with additional participation from existing investors. DataJoint's geographically diverse investor base reflects the international commercial potential of its platform. The company already has customers and partners in multiple countries.

The funding will enable DataJoint to scale its operations, enhance its proprietary SaaS platform, and expand its market reach to commercial life sciences and pharmaceutical companies in the United States and in Europe. With a unique value proposition of harmonizing multimodal data sources and enabling complex AI/ML workflows, DataJoint is poised to bring new capabilities and address inefficiencies in data management and reproducibility in research labs worldwide.

Additionally, DataJoint was recently selected for the 9th cohort of PharmStars, the leading pharma-focused global accelerator for digital health startups. As part of this program, DataJoint will engage with pharma leaders to explore partnerships and innovation opportunities centered around its groundbreaking platform.

A Founder's Vision

DataJoint's story begins with CTO Dimitri Yatsenko, whose journey into tech started in Ukraine before pursuing computer science studies in the United States in the 1990s. Early in his career, Dimitri worked in database development for public safety and then at a dot-com startup, where he learned the importance of solid engineering and rigorous data models. He then led a team at GE Medical Systems, working on surgical imaging and navigation, where precision and quality control were paramount.

Later, Dimitri joined the neuroscience startup Ripple Neuro, inspiring him to pursue a PhD at Baylor College of Medicine. While in grad school, he helped launch another AI and medical imaging company, nView Medical. It was during this time, at the intersection of engineering and scientific discovery, that Dimitri recognized a critical gap in how research data was managed and AI models were developed. This realization drove him to create DataJoint, bringing engineering discipline and innovation to the challenges of modern scientific research.

Transforming Data Management in Life Sciences

DataJoint's platform is already used by over 100 labs in the U.S. and Europe, including top-tier institutions such as Johns Hopkins, UCSF, Harvard, and UCL. By automating data structuring, processing, and analysis, the platform addresses critical challenges such as fragmented data management, poor reproducibility, and limited collaboration in research environments. While expanding to pharma companies, DataJoint will continue to serve and collaborate with Academic Medical Centers, in whose environment the platform was originally incubated and has proven its effectiveness.

"This investment will allow us to expand our reach and continue delivering transformative solutions to researchers and organizations in life sciences," said Jim Olson, CEO of DataJoint. "With the support of Nina Capital, Inoca Capital, and Capital Factory, we are well-positioned to scale our platform and bring the power of advanced AI and data harmonization to a broader market."

Investor Support

Marta G. Zanchi, Founding Partner at Nina Capital, emphasized the platform's unique capabilities:
"DataJoint's computational database is a game-changing solution for data management and AI enablement in life sciences. Its ability to streamline workflows and improve reproducibility makes it a crucial tool for advancing scientific discovery and innovation. We are thrilled to support the team in their mission to transform research and accelerate progress in healthcare."

Chris Sheffert, Managing Director at Inoca Capital, highlighted the commercial potential of DataJoint:
"DataJoint's platform is uniquely positioned to address the significant challenges faced by commercial life science and pharmaceutical companies. From managing vast amounts of complex data to enabling actionable insights through AI, the opportunities for adoption in these industries are immense. We are excited to partner with DataJoint as they scale their transformative technology."