Blank Bio
YC S25San Francisco, US · Founded 2025 · 6 employees · Hiring · 6 known investors
Blank Bio develops RNA foundation models for precision oncology, helping pharmaceutical companies identify the right patients for clinical trials and predict disease progression using bulk RNA-seq data. The company applies AI to patient selection and disease trajectory modeling to improve clinical trial outcomes.
Also known as Orthrus Bio
Founders & leadership· Y Combinator alumni (S25)
Blank Bio was founded in 2025 by Jonny Hsu, Philip Fradkin, and Ian Shi.
JH
Jonny Hsuin𝕏Co-Founder & CEOJonny Hsu holds a degree in biochemistry from the University of Waterloo and was an early-stage employee at Valence Discovery, where he led product and strategy until the company's acquisition by Recursion in 2023. He subsequently joined Recursion's AI research division, Valence Labs, and is now developing foundation models for RNA therapeutics.
PF
Philip Fradkinin𝕏Co-FounderPhilip Fradkin holds a PhD from the University of Toronto and was an early employee at Deep Genomics, where he worked on machine learning applications for RNA, small molecules, and phenomics. He now leads efforts in AI for RNA design at Blank Bio and has published research at top machine learning and biology venues.
Investors · 6
Funding
SEC filings, press & company announcements$7.2M disclosed across 1 of 2 rounds · 2026
- $7.2MSeedMay 2026 · 2 sourcesSource ↗
Source: company announcements and press reports — follow each round's link for the claim.
Competitors · 6
by search overlap
Origin6 shared keywordsOrigin generates spatial molecular maps from patient tumor samples to enable cancer biology research in native tissue context. The platform combines spatial transcriptomics, imaging, and functional perturbation assays on fresh and archived tumors, paired with AI models for drug response prediction and target discovery.
bio4 shared keywordsThe Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) is an advocacy organization representing biotech companies, industry leaders, and state biotech associations across the United States and more than 35 countries. It provides members with policy advocacy, cost-saving programs, educational webinars, and organizes the BIO International Convention and other industry conferences.
Network Bio4 shared keywordsNetwork Bio activates biobanks through securitization and capital infusion, providing research-grade data assets and operational infrastructure for precision medicine and biomedical research.
Manifold3 shared keywordsManifold Bio combines AI-guided protein design with high-throughput in vivo screening to engineer tissue-targeted biologics and deliver therapeutic payloads to specific organs. The company develops a computational and experimental platform to optimize pharmacokinetics and biodistribution directly in living systems for drug discovery and development.
Generate Biomedicines3 shared keywordsGenerate:Biomedicines develops protein-based therapeutics using artificial intelligence and machine learning in a field it calls Generative Biology, combining computational protein design with biological engineering. The company creates new drugs on demand across diverse biologic modalities for immunology, oncology, infectious disease, and vaccines.
BodyBio3 shared keywordsBodyBio is a third-generation family business that develops and manufactures science-backed dietary supplements and vitamins, including phosphatidylcholine (PC), butyrate, and detox products, aimed at cellular health and wellness. Products are made at the company's in-house facility with third-party testing.
Companies competing with Blank Bio for the same Google search keywords, organic and paid, via search-intersection analysis.
In the news
Frequently asked questions
- What does Blank Bio do?
- Blank Bio develops RNA foundation models for precision oncology, helping pharmaceutical companies identify the right patients for clinical trials and predict disease progression using bulk RNA-seq data. The company applies AI to patient selection and disease trajectory modeling to improve clinical trial outcomes.
- Who founded Blank Bio?
- Blank Bio was founded by Jonny Hsu, Philip Fradkin, Ian Shi in 2025.
- Who are Blank Bio's investors?
- Blank Bio's investors include IA Seed Ventures, Leonis Capital, Ripple Ventures, SignalFire, Y Combinator, BoxOne Ventures.
- How much funding has Blank Bio raised?
- Blank Bio has disclosed $7.2M raised across 1 of its 2 known rounds.
- Where is Blank Bio headquartered?
- Blank Bio is headquartered in San Francisco, US.