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Blank Bio

YC S25

San Francisco, US · Founded 2025 · 6 employees · 19 known investors

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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

AI & Machine LearningBiotechHealthtechUnited States of AmericaAmerica / Canada

Founders & leadership· Y Combinator alumni (S25)

Blank Bio was founded in 2025 by Jonny Hsu, Philip Fradkin, and Ian Shi.

JHJonny Hsu
Jonny HsuCo-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.
PFPhilip Fradkin
Philip FradkinCo-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.
ISIan Shi
Ian ShiCo-FounderIan Shi completed a PhD in computer science at the University of Toronto with publications in machine learning and computational biology. He previously worked as a software engineer at Amazon and held research internships at Pinterest and Amazon.
JH
Jonathan HsuFounder
RS
Ruian ShiFounder

Investors · 19

IA Seed Ventureslisted by IA Seed VenturesBerkeley

How we know: Y Combinator's founder network · Not right? Tell us

InvestorXlisted by InvestorX

How we know: Y Combinator's founder network · Not right? Tell us

Leonis Capitallisted by Leonis CapitalSan Francisco

How we know: the VCSheet dataset · Y Combinator's founder network · Not right? Tell us

Maiora Rebel Ventureslisted by Maiora Rebel Ventures
Rebel Fundlisted by Rebel FundSan Francisco · $100K – $5M

How we know: Y Combinator's founder network · rebelfund.vc · Not right? Tell us

Ripple Ventureslisted by Ripple VenturesToronto · $250K – $1M

How we know: Ripple Ventures's portfolio page · open dataset · 5k.vc investor directory · Y Combinator's founder network · Not right? Tell us

SignalFirelisted by SignalFireSan Francisco · $250K – $15M

How we know: SignalFire's portfolio page · open dataset · 5k.vc investor directory · Y Combinator's founder network · Not right? Tell us

Y Combinatorlisted by Y CombinatorSan Francisco · $500K

How we know: the Y Combinator directory · open dataset · 5k.vc investor directory · Not right? Tell us

Agrolimen Venturesreported

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BoxOne VenturesreportedMontréal · $500K

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Exit Venturesreported

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Heuristic Capital PartnersreportedSanta Clara

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Kaito Cunninghamreported

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Nova Threshold Trust Limitedreported

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OurCrowdreportedJerusalem

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Singularity Venturesreported

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Tekedia CapitalreportedLagos · $1K

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WefunderreportedSan Francisco

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Funding

SEC filings, press & company announcements

$7.2M disclosed across 1 of 2 rounds · 2026

Source: company announcements and press reports — follow each round's link for the claim.

Related companies · 7

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Companies working in the same space as Blank Bio.

Legal entities · 1

corporate structure
Blank Bio Inc.

In the news

Blank Bio Raises $7.2M in Seed Fundingfinsmes.com · May 2026Blank Bio - Computational toolkit for RNA therapeuticsycombinator.com · Aug 2025

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 Alumni Ventures, IA Seed Ventures, InvestorX, Leonis Capital, Maiora Rebel Ventures, Rebel Fund, Ripple Ventures, SignalFire and 11 more.
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.