Bengaluru: AI-driven biotechnology startup Mandrake Bio has secured approximately ₹16 crore in a pre-seed funding round co-led by Activate and Antler, marking a significant milestone in its mission to develop next-generation programmable gene-editing technologies.
The funding round also attracted participation from Spectrum Impact and DeVC, along with notable angel investors including Vijay Chandru, Paras Chopra, Sanjiv Rangrass, and Vatsal Du.
Funding to Accelerate AI-Based Protein Engineering
Mandrake Bio said the fresh capital will be used to strengthen its AI-powered protein design platform, expand its research capabilities, and accelerate the validation of its gene-editing enzymes through laboratory testing.
The investment will primarily support:
- Advancing its generative AI-based protein design platform
- Expanding research teams across artificial intelligence and biophysics
- Scaling wet-lab validation of programmable gene-editing enzymes
- Accelerating applications across agriculture and healthcare
The company aims to build next-generation gene-editing solutions capable of improving crop development and advancing therapies for genetic diseases.
Building the Future of Gene Editing
Founded in March 2025 by Tanay Lohia and Kutubuddin Molla, Mandrake Bio focuses on developing programmable gene-editing enzymes by combining generative AI, structural biology, biophysics, and experimental validation.
Unlike conventional gene-editing approaches that rely on naturally occurring systems such as CRISPR-Cas9, the startup designs entirely new enzymes from scratch using artificial intelligence.
This approach allows the company to create smaller, highly precise, and customizable gene-editing tools tailored for specific agricultural and medical applications.
Applications Across Agriculture and Healthcare
Mandrake Bio believes its technology can significantly reduce the time required to develop improved crop varieties while enabling more targeted therapies for inherited genetic disorders.
The startup plans to commercialize its platform by licensing its proprietary gene-editing enzymes to:
- Seed and agricultural biotechnology companies
- Pharmaceutical companies
- Therapeutic developers
- Gene-editing technology partners
The company expects its AI-first approach to accelerate innovation while improving the precision and efficiency of genome engineering.
AI Meets Biotechnology
Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming biotechnology by enabling researchers to predict protein structures, design novel biomolecules, and accelerate drug discovery.
Mandrake Bio’s platform represents the growing convergence of AI, computational biology, and synthetic biology, positioning the startup within one of the fastest-growing segments of the global biotech industry.
With increasing investor interest in AI-driven life sciences, startups developing foundational technologies for protein engineering and gene editing are attracting significant early-stage funding worldwide.
The latest investment is expected to help Mandrake Bio strengthen its research capabilities while advancing the commercialization of programmable gene-editing technologies for global agriculture and healthcare markets.
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Ruchi Kumar is the associate editor at Entrepreneur News Network and TVW News India, where she leads editorial strategy, brand storytelling, and startup ecosystem coverage. With a strong focus on innovation, business, and marketing insights, he curates impactful narratives that spotlight India’s evolving entrepreneurial landscape. She has written extensively on fintech, AI and emerging startups.