CellType
YC W26New York City, US · Founded 2025 · 5 employees · Hiring · 3 known investors
Find your way into CellType
440 people in our graph share verified history with the CellType team — schools, employers, funds. One of them is your warm intro.
Martijn Kleijwegtunlockedknows David van Dijk · together at University of Amsterdam (overlapped)
×2knows the team · via Yale University
knows the team · via EPFL
knows the team · via University of Amsterdam
×5knows the team · via Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU Amsterdam)
knows the team · via Technische Universität Wien
CellType uses AI agents and biological models to automate drug discovery, having identified a novel cancer treatment signal and partnering with major pharmaceutical companies.
Also known as Contextual Bio
Founders & leadership· Y Combinator alumni (W26)
CellType was founded in 2025 by David van Dijk and Ivan Vrkic.
DV

David van Dijkin𝕏Co-Founder & CEODavid van Dijk holds a position as professor at Yale and has contributed to biological foundation models research. He is co-founder and CEO of CellType.
IV

Ivan VrkicinCo-FounderHe studied machine learning at Yale and EPFL, contributed to Cell2Sentence research published at ICML, and previously led foundation model training at a biotech startup and developed software for CERN's Large Hadron Collider.
Investors · 3
Competitors · 2
by search overlapOup20 shared keywordsOxford University Press (OUP) provides dictionary data, language datasets, and lexical content in over 60 languages to power digital literacy tools, educational software, gaming platforms, and media experiences. The company works across reading apps, word games, quiz shows, and broadcast media to expand access to language learning and comprehension.
10x Genomics 1-color14 shared keywords10x Genomics offers single cell analysis technology, including its Flex assay and Flex Apex product, which use probe-based chemistry and plate-based multiplexing to profile fresh, frozen, and FFPE samples for researchers. The tools support applications in cancer, immunology, and neuroscience, enabling gene expression and multiomic profiling of cell surface protein, intracellular protein, and CRISPR guides.
Companies competing with CellType for the same Google search keywords, organic and paid, via search-intersection analysis.
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Frequently asked questions
- What does CellType do?
- CellType uses AI agents and biological models to automate drug discovery, having identified a novel cancer treatment signal and partnering with major pharmaceutical companies.
- Who founded CellType?
- CellType was founded by David van Dijk, Ivan Vrkic in 2025.
- Who are CellType's investors?
- CellType's investors include ACVC Partners, Y Combinator, ZAKA VC.
- Where is CellType headquartered?
- CellType is headquartered in New York City, US.





