Canada-based biological research index developer BenchSci received $8m on Wednesday in a series A round that included Gradient Ventures, internet technology provider Google’s artificial intelligence investment vehicle.
Venture capital firm iNovia led the round, which also featured Golden Venture Partners, Afore Capital, Real Ventures and Radical Ventures.
BenchSci’s data analytics software applies machine learning to index information from biomedical research papers, allowing researchers to more easily find reliable antibodies. It claims the technology can find relevant antibodies 24 times faster than other methods.
The cash will help BenchSci recruit additional engineers and scientists as it looks to secure more customers by developing new features and scaling the platform’s underlying technology.
Golden Venture Partners and Real Ventures had previously co-led a C$1.4m ($1.1m at current exchange rates) seed round for BenchSci, after the company had raised C$250,000 in pre-seed funding from Real Ventures’ FounderFuel accelerator, according to Canadian daily Globe and Mail.