Funding · AI & Deep Tech

Peptris raises Rs 70 Cr Series A for AI drug pipeline expansion

By Startup Enthusiast · 17 February 2026

What they do

Peptris uses generative AI to design molecules and outsources lab work to partners

The company raised Rs 70 Cr in a Series A round led by IAN Alpha Fund and Speciale Invest

Funds will expand the pipeline and hire biology and data science experts over 24 months

Peptris has raised Rs 70 Cr ($7.7 Mn) in a Series A funding round.
The round was co-led by IAN Alpha Fund and Speciale Invest.
Tenacity Ventures and BYT Ventures also participated in this investment.
This brings Peptris' total funding to over Rs 78 Cr including previous pre-seed rounds.
The startup plans to use the capital to expand its drug discovery pipeline.
The funds will support clinical readiness and business development units in the US and Europe.
Peptris intends to hire specialists in biology, chemistry, data science, and AI.
The company aims to scale these operations over the next 24 months.

Peptris operates in the competitive AI drug discovery space with several notable rivals.
The company leverages advanced technology to reduce traditional drug development timelines.
This funding validates the business model of virtual operations outsourcing wet lab work.

Peptris utilizes an AI/ML platform for molecule design using unsupervised learning.
It employs generative AI to create new molecular structures for potential drugs.
The company uses a virtual ops model that outsources wet lab experiments to CROs.
Revenue comes from licensing deals, milestone payments, and royalties from partners.
Clients include pharma, biotech, and FMCG companies seeking B2B solutions.
Competitors in this sector include ImmunitoAI, Boltzmann, Medvolt, and AarogyaAI.
Founders Narayanan Venkatasubramanian, Shridhar Narayanan, Anand Budni, and Amit Mahajan started the firm in 2019.
The platform accelerates early-stage research by focusing on computational design rather than physical testing.
Business development units are being established to manage international partnerships effectively.

IAN Alpha Fund (lead) — Co-led the Series A round for Peptris.
Speciale Invest (lead) — Co-led the Series A round and previously led the $1 Mn pre-seed round in 2023.
Tenacity Ventures (participated) — Participated in the Series A funding round.
BYT Ventures (participated) — Participated in the Series A funding round.

Product: AI models designed to generate novel molecules and predict key parameters critical to drug development
Customers: Pharmaceutical companies and biotech firms seeking faster drug discovery
How it makes money: B2B licensing or partnership model with pharma companies for drug discovery services
What sets it apart: Reduces failure risks in early-stage research and enables faster drug molecule generation and prediction