Surbhi Sarna's Bold Move: $30 Million Raised for AI Startup Revolutionizing Biotech Paperwork

Summary:

Surbhi Sarna raises $30 million for her new AI startup Collate.
Collate aims to automate paperwork in the life sciences industry.
Sarna previously sold her startup nVision Medical for $275 million.
The startup is backed by Redpoint and valued at over $100 million.
Collate plans to hire rapidly and establish a strong company culture.

Meet Surbhi Sarna

Surbhi Sarna, the visionary behind nVision Medical, which she sold for $275 million, is back in the startup game with her new venture, Collate. Leaving her role at Y Combinator, Sarna aims to tackle the tedious paperwork that life sciences companies face.

Collate founding team Surbhi Sarna, Nate Smith, and Jigish Patel

The Challenge in Life Sciences

The life sciences sector is bogged down by extensive documentation required for research, clinical trials, product development, and manufacturing. Sarna sees artificial intelligence as the solution to streamline these processes, accelerating the development of potentially life-saving drugs.

“If I talk to customers, they say they would use this immediately.” - Surbhi Sarna

Funding and Future Plans

Collate has successfully raised $30 million in seed funding led by Redpoint, valuing the startup at over $100 million. This funding will be pivotal in building their product and hiring a skilled engineering team.

A Personal Journey

Surbhi's passion for healthcare stems from her own health struggles as a teenager. After founding nVision in 2009, she overcame significant challenges to develop an FDA-cleared device for early ovarian cancer diagnosis.

Building the Team

Sarna has partnered with Nate Smith, a former YC visiting partner, to co-found Collate. They both recognize the opportunity to leverage large language models to create essential documentation in the life sciences industry.

The Road Ahead

With a strong vision and significant funding, Collate is poised to disrupt the life sciences industry by transforming how companies handle documentation. Sarna emphasizes the need for a strong company culture and is committed to hiring quickly and efficiently.