Berlin-based startup Apheris, a computing company powering data networks, has successfully closed a Series A funding round, bringing its total capital raised to €20.1 million in order to empower secure and collaborative data networks for the life sciences sector.
The round was led by European DeepTech investors OTB Ventures and eCAPITAL, with participation from existing backers, including Octopus Ventures and Heal Capital.
Robin Röhm, CEO of Apheris, expressed enthusiasm for the new partnerships: “I’m very excited to welcome OTB Ventures and eCAPITAL as new partners on our journey. Their deep understanding of the complexities of building a high-security, technically advanced product stood out. With their help, Apheris will unlock the potential of AI and machine learning for the life science industry by solving its critical bottleneck: access to large and diverse data..”
Founded in 2019, Apheris focuses on federated computing technology that enables secure, governed, and private access to data across organisations. The startup’s Compute Gateway allows for AI model training without moving sensitive data, addressing the challenges of regulatory and commercial sensitivities.
This approach has already attracted several pharmaceutical companies, including Roche and Johnson & Johnson, as well as hospitals.
By facilitating data collaboration while safeguarding intellectual property and privacy, Apheris is tapping into a market reportedly valued at over €29 billion.
According to Apheris, 97% of all healthcare data remains unused due to concerns over data sharing and trust. Apheris’ solution unlocks this untapped resource, enabling breakthroughs in AI-driven research and innovation.
The new funding will allow the company to scale its operations, support the deployment of foundational AI models, and expand its network of biopharmaceutical clients.
This Series A additionally allows Apheris to host leading foundational models, such as for protein-complex-prediction, surpassing the state-of-the art model performance based on access to more training data which is currently locked down in private data repositories.
Other critical focuses post-fundraise include providing end-to-end functionality around industry critical life sciences use cases where collaborative model training will lead to step changes in performance and furthering its position as a secure solution for life sciences data networks, supported by the cybersecurity expertise of its backers, OTB Ventures and eCAPITAL.
Lead investor OTB Ventures highlighted the potential of Apheris’ technology. Marcin Hejka, Co-Founder and General Partner at OTB Ventures, remarked: “We are thrilled to partner with Apheris as the lead investor in this equity round. Apheris is pioneering the future of distributed data infrastructure, enabling organizations to unlock the full potential of their AI/ML workloads while keeping sensitive raw data secure and local. By addressing the most pressing data challenges and allowing seamless, secure collaboration, Apheris product is setting new standards for data-driven innovations. We are confident that Apheris’ exceptional team and cutting-edge technology will drive significant value and redefine the future of AI-powered decision-making.”
Similarly, eCAPITAL underscored the importance of secure data collaboration in healthcare. Hannes Schill, Managing Partner at eCAPITAL, noted: “We have closely followed Apheris’ journey since its inception and have been impressed by Apheris’ technological advancements in federated computing. As cybersecurity investors, we recognize the growing importance of secure and private data collaboration, particularly in the life sciences sector where such capabilities can drive transformative outcomes. Apheris enables organizations to unlock value out of their IP-sensitive data while maintaining full control over it. We are proud to support the Apheris team in scaling its technology and redefining secure data collaboration in healthcare and beyond.”
With plans to establish the largest secure life sciences data network by the end of 2025, Apheris is positioning itself as a player in the ongoing evolution of AI and data-driven healthcare solutions.
Read the orginal article: https://www.eu-startups.com/2025/01/deeptech-apheris-secures-e20-1-million-to-transform-life-sciences-data-collaboration/
