Founder and Co-Founders

Generative AI for Novel Target Combinations

The Opportunity

AION Labs is looking for exceptional founders to build a groundbreaking AI-driven startup tackling multi-target drug discovery. Through our Venture Studio model, we bring together pharma leaders, AI & biotech entrepreneurs, and computational scientists to create innovative startups with full funding, mentorship, and strategic support. This challenge presents a unique opportunity to launch a fully funded company with access to pharma expertise, advanced AI tools. We empower startups to accelerate their journey from idea to market.

Who Should Apply?

We invite entrepreneurs, scientists, and technologists in computational biology, bioinformatics, AI-driven drug discovery, target identification, machine learning and related fields, including academic experts to submit proposals for a new startup addressing this challenge.

The Founder role is intended to suit candidates who would like to build and lead a startup or aspire to develop themselves towards an entrepreneurship path.

Candidates for Co-Founder roles are expected to have technology experience and have a certain degree of specialization in one or more relevant cutting-edge technologies or scientific areas including:

• Computational biology,
• Bioinformatics
• Complex disease biology
• Biology Systems and network pharmacology
• Computer science/machine learning
• Language model
• Encryption methods.

We also welcome teams with at least one scientific or technical founder.

The Challenge

Traditional drug discovery focuses on single-target approaches, limiting therapeutic impact in complex diseases like cancer and metabolic disorders. We seek a novel AI-powered platform that can systematically identify, rank, and validate molecular target combinations for multi-specific biologic drugs. A successful platform should address:

• Target pair ranking: Given an indication, patient population, the desired clinical phenotype modulation and the strategy (synergism/engager/etc.), generate a ranked list of potential target pairs.
• Mechanistic explanation: Provide detailed scientific rationale linking selected molecular target combinations to disease phenotype.
• Biomarker prediction: Identify downstream biomarkers to select patient populations and assess target engagement.
• On-target adverse reactions: Considering potential toxicity and incorporating them into the hypothesis ranking.
• Validation strategy: Propose a functional validation to refine and confirm target combination hypotheses.

The new technology developed by the startup will be tested using selected indications as a proof-of-concept according to the pharma partner's guidance. Disruptive ideas that go far beyond the current state-of-the-art are particularly encouraged. More information about the challenge is available here.

What we offer

• A fully funded startup with salaries, services, travel, and access to core facilities in Israel and beyond.
• Founders’ equity in the new startup company.
• An initial investment of at least $1M for the first two years, with working space provided in the AION Labs premises, including wet and computational labs and access to our network of investors for additional funding.
• Mentorship and guidance from pharma, AI, and venture capital experts.
• A dynamic environment in one of the world’s most innovative biomedical ecosystems.

Application & Selection Process

• Please apply online at https://career.bio.mx/call/2025-AIL-C08
• As part of the online application procedure, you will be asked to submit: (i) A competitive project proposal addressing the challenge of this call (3-5 pages describing your core hypothesis, scientific rationale, and unique approach to solve the challenge); (ii) Your curriculum vitae including your publication record.
• Deadline for applications: May 5, 2025.
• After a first selection round, candidates will be invited to a five-day innovation workshop in Israel from July 6 to 10, 2025. You will get a chance to receive feedback and guidance from experienced industry mentors. The candidates will jointly work on their project proposals and present them in front of a jury on the final day. Successful candidates will be offered the opportunity to found a startup company at AION Labs in Israel.

About AION Labs

AION Labs is a venture studio backed by AstraZeneca, Merck, Pfizer, Teva, the Israel Biotech Fund, Amiti Ventures, and AWS, in partnership with BioMed X and supported by the Israel Innovation Authority. Our mission is to revolutionize AI-driven drug discovery by building startups that solve the industry’s most pressing R&D challenges.

Contact Us

Email: workshop@aionlabs.com