Portrai, a Korean precision medicine-based techbio startup, has secured $9.8 million (14.5 billion KRW) in Series B funding. The round was led by major domestic venture capital firms including Stick Ventures, BNH Investment, Kakao Ventures, Envisioning Partners, BonAngels Venture Partners, Pearl Abyss Capital, and CKD Venture Capital.

Portrai has built the world’s largest spatial transcriptomics-based cancer data platform, combining it with AI analysis technology to enhance drug development efficiency. The company is now advancing its analytical platform by integrating spatial biology—an emerging life science technology—with AI to precisely interpret real patient tissue data.

Spatial biology analyzes gene expression and microenvironments based on cellular information within tissues. Unlike conventional bulk RNA analysis, this technology precisely interprets spatial structures of cell-to-cell interactions and tumor microenvironments. Portrai’s platform integrates gene expression patterns with pathological structures through this analysis, enabling faster and more accurate identification of drug target candidates. This approach reduces trial and error in preclinical stages and significantly lowers early-stage research and development risks.

The company’s technological capabilities have led to growing industry partnerships. Portrai was selected as an award-winning company in the “Golden Ticket” program jointly organized by global pharmaceutical company Amgen and the Korea Health Industry Development Institute. Subsequently, it was also selected to participate in Celltrion‘s and Seoul Biohub‘s open innovation programs. The company is currently conducting joint research with Celltrion for drug target discovery. Moving forward, Portrai aims to create an innovative R&D model that overcomes limitations of traditional drug development methods and practically implements an AI-based precision medicine paradigm.

With this investment, Portrai plans to accelerate the advancement and commercialization of its spatial transcriptomics-based patient-derived database, multi-omics-based drug target discovery, and expanded joint research with global pharmaceutical companies. The company views this as a starting point to enhance spatial transcriptomics-based precision medicine technology and expand its platform business and collaborative research ecosystem, positioning itself for a full-scale leap toward becoming a global techbio company.

Daeseung Lee, CEO of Portrai, stated, “This investment represents encouragement for the advancement of AI-based techbio companies and confidence that we can establish a new standard for data-driven drug development. We will continue to expand the depth and resolution of spatial transcriptomics-based cancer data to realize global-level precision target discovery and patient-customized treatment.”