A51

A51 is a Paris-based deeptech company building a technology stack for programming RNA molecules, with the aim of making RNA a controllable interface for cell behaviour. Its public positioning is "engineering the logic layer of biology." According to the PC'up incubator profile, A51 is developing a new class of programmable synthetic non-coding RNAs (ncRNA) intended to move beyond the conventional "one target, one drug" model toward global reprogramming of gene-expression networks, addressing pathological cell states such as inflammation, autoimmunity and neurodegeneration, where single-target approaches are described as reaching their limits.

The centrepiece of the platform is ADA, described as an intelligent molecular programming engine — a system able to program cellular behaviour. Because access to large, consistent biological datasets is framed as the key bottleneck, A51 uses microfluidics to generate millions of high-quality biological data points, coupling a high-throughput microfluidic selection platform with AI. The CEO has described the company as developing therapies for previously incurable complex disorders, starting with autoimmune diseases, using RNA technology.

The company was co-founded by Marina Katava (CEO) and Viktor Wendelin Zahoransky, PhD (CTO). The incubator profile recounts that the founders spent about a month brainstorming and then four months of intensive work, travel and technical development to consolidate the vision. The name "A51" was chosen because it is short and clear, because the founders wanted to be tied to a vision rather than a single product, and because it places them first alphabetically.

Founding story

Per the PC'up incubator profile, A51 was co-founded by Marina Katava (CEO) and Viktor Wendelin Zahoransky, PhD (CTO), who met and spent roughly one month brainstorming before committing to four months of intensive day-and-night work, travel and critical technical development to solidify their vision; the incubator attributes their fast execution to a combination of professional rigour and shared sense of humour. Katava's prior background, per STATION F, includes work as a project leader at CNRS building models of polymer formation including DNA, followed by a role as Senior Associate at McKinsey. The company launched publicly out of stealth at an Entrepreneurs First Demo Day in San Francisco.

Traction

Traction to date is largely programmatic and reputational rather than commercial: coming out of stealth at an Entrepreneurs First Demo Day in San Francisco; selection for STATION F's Future 40 2025 and Female Founders Fellowship 2025; winning the i-Lab 2025 Innovation Award; Hello Tomorrow Deep Tech Pioneer status for ADA; participation in the Boost VC BioResidency in San Mateo; and admission to the Agoranov and PC'UP deeptech incubators. The company also states it was the first company invited to present at the RNA Club at École normale supérieure in Paris, and its CEO spoke at Bits in Bio in Paris. No revenue, funding amounts or clinical milestones are disclosed in the sources.

Latest developments

The most recent documented development is A51's selection for the PC'UP deep-tech incubator and its move into space at the Institut Pierre-Gilles de Gennes; a PC'up post dated 18 March 2026 describes the company as incubated there since January and profiles its ncRNA platform, ADA engine and microfluidics-plus-AI approach.