/Companies

Gilgamesh Pharmaceuticals

YC S20

New York City, US · Founded 2019 · Delaware corporation · 15 employees · 33 known investors

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Gilgamesh Pharmaceutical develops novel chemical entities for psychiatric disorders using medicinal chemistry and AI-powered translational platforms to design rapid-acting therapies targeting neurobiological mechanisms rather than symptom management. The company's pipeline spans depression, anxiety, addiction, and schizophrenia, with programs validated by AbbVie's acquisition of its first asset and partnerships with Columbia University and the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

Also known as Gilgamesh Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Gilgamesh Pharma Inc.

Founders & leadership· Y Combinator alumni (S20)

Gilgamesh Pharmaceuticals was founded in 2019 by Jonathan Sporn, Andrew Kruegel, Dalibor Sames, and Andrew Kruegel, Ph.D..

JSJonathan Sporn
Jonathan SpornCo-founder · Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the BoardJonathan Sporn holds a BS from Duke University and an MD from the University of Miami. He has held leadership roles including Chief of Psychiatry in the Boston area, researcher at Mass General Hospital and the NIH, and clinical positions at Johnson & Johnson and Pfizer in neuroscience and psychiatry. He previously founded Perception Neuroscience, which exited, and is currently an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Experimental Therapeutics at Columbia University while founding Gilgamesh Pharmaceuticals.
AKAndrew Kruegel
Andrew KruegelFounderAndrew Kruegel is a medicinal chemist and pharmacologist who has focused on drug design and preclinical development for psychiatric treatment. He has also developed expertise in business operations, fundraising, and intellectual property strategy.
DSDalibor Sames
Dalibor SamesCo-FounderChemistry professor at Columbia University with research background in synthetic and medicinal chemistry, molecular imaging, and neuropharmacology. His work has included research on C-H bond functionalization methods, fluorescent probes for synaptic imaging, and the pharmacology of various natural alkaloids.
AK
Andrew Kruegel, Ph.D.Co-founder
TK
Thomas Kevin Murphy, Ph.D.Executive
JSJONATHAN SPORN
JONATHAN SPORNChief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board
KM
Kevin MurphyHead of Operations

Investors · 33

Alumni Ventureslisted by Alumni VenturesManchester · $100K – $10M

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JLSlisted by JLSNew York

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Noeticlisted by NoeticToronto

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Palo Santo VClisted by Palo Santo VC

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Prime Movers Lablisted by Prime Movers LabJackson · $2M – $30Mvia Gaetano Crupi · board

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Beagle VenturesreportedSantiago

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Brain TrustreportedLos Angeles

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Cerity Partners VenturesreportedNew York

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Conscious Venture LabreportedBaltimore

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CTR Capitalreported

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Gron Ventures, LlcreportedNewport Beach

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Noveus CapitalreportedSan Francisco

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Prithvi VenturesreportedNew York

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Satori CapitalreportedDallas

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Sharding Capitalreported

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Vanareported

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Vine VenturesreportedNew York · $10M

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What If VenturesreportedFrisco

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Funding

SEC filings, press & company announcements

$111.8M disclosed across 6 of 7 rounds · 2020–2026

▶$13.8MraisedMay 2022 · 14 investors · Pharmaceuticals
Rule 506(c)
Officers, directors & promoters on the filing
  • Robert BermanDirector
  • Gerard MarekExecutive Officer
  • Phil SkolnickDirector
  • Jonathan SpornExecutive Officer, Director
  • Yoni FalksonExecutive Officer
  • Thomas Kevin MurphyExecutive Officer
  • Andrew KruegelExecutive Officer, Director
  • Gaetano CrupiDirector
  • Laszlo KissExecutive Officer
  • Amy KruseDirector
Offering amount
$50M
Amount sold
$13.8M
Minimum investment
$50K
First sale
May 2022
Incorporated
Corporation, Delaware, 2019
Federal exemptions
06c
Full filing on SEC EDGAR ↗
▶$951offeredFeb 2022 · 1 investors · Pharmaceuticals
Rule 506(b)
Officers, directors & promoters on the filing
  • Robert BermanDirector
  • Phil SkolnickDirector
  • Amy KruseDirector
  • Andrew KruegelExecutive Officer, Director
  • Jonathan SpornExecutive Officer, Director
Offering amount
$951
Minimum investment
$951
First sale
Feb 2022
Incorporated
Corporation, Delaware, 2019
Federal exemptions
06b
Full filing on SEC EDGAR ↗
▶$34.7MraisedMay 2021 · 66 investors · Pharmaceuticals
Rule 506(b)
Officers, directors & promoters on the filing
  • Andrew KruegelExecutive Officer, Director
  • Amy KruseDirector
  • Robert BermanDirector
  • Dalibor SamesDirector
  • Jonathan SpornExecutive Officer, Director
Offering amount
$34.7M
Amount sold
$34.7M
Minimum investment
$10K
Proceeds to insiders
$630K
First sale
Apr 2021
Incorporated
Corporation, Delaware, 2019
Federal exemptions
06b
Full filing on SEC EDGAR ↗
▶$735KraisedSep 2020 · 10 investors · Pharmaceuticals
Rule 506(b)
Officers, directors & promoters on the filing
  • Dalibor SamesDirector
  • Andrew KruegelDirector
  • Jonathan SpornExecutive Officer, Director
Amount sold
$735K
Minimum investment
$10K
First sale
Aug 2020
Incorporated
Corporation, Delaware, 2019
Federal exemptions
06b
Full filing on SEC EDGAR ↗
▶$150KraisedJul 2020 · 1 investors · Pharmaceuticals
Rule 506(b)
Officers, directors & promoters on the filing
  • Jonathan Sporn, M.D.Executive Officer, Director
  • Andrew Kruegel, Ph.D.Executive Officer
  • Thomas Kevin Murphy, Ph.D.Executive Officer
Offering amount
$150K
Amount sold
$150K
Minimum investment
$150K
First sale
Jul 2020
Incorporated
Corporation, Delaware, 2019
Federal exemptions
06b
Full filing on SEC EDGAR ↗
▶$2.4MraisedJul 2020 · 25 investors · Pharmaceuticals
Rule 506(b)
Officers, directors & promoters on the filing
  • Thomas Kevin Murphy, Ph.D.Executive Officer
  • Andrew Kruegel, Ph.D.Executive Officer
  • Jonathan Sporn, M.D.Executive Officer, Director
Amount sold
$2.4M
First sale
Apr 2020
Incorporated
Corporation, Delaware, 2019
Federal exemptions
06b
Full filing on SEC EDGAR ↗

Source: SEC EDGAR Form D. Amounts as filed; amended filings shown once at their latest values.

Founder mafia

2 people who came through Gilgamesh Pharmaceuticals went on to found or lead other companies.

Related companies · 6

Allia HealthAllia Health offers an electronic health record (EHR) platform for behavioral health practices, combining intake, scheduling, documentation, prescribing, and billing in one system. It includes an AI scribe that transcribes visits and drafts structured clinical notes, and serves solo practitioners, group practices, and multi-site providers across the US.
Perspectives HealthPerspectives Health provides AI-powered clinical documentation and utilization review management for healthcare providers. The platform automates nightly chart audits, generates utilization review packets, manages documentation workflows, and tracks compliance issues for clinical teams.
IntellectIntellect provides mental health support solutions for workplaces and individuals, offering employee assistance programs combined with self-care platforms and coaching/therapy sessions. The company serves corporate employers and individuals seeking mental wellbeing support.
Legion HealthLegion Health provides online psychiatric care and medication management for mental health conditions including ADHD, depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder through board-certified providers via telehealth. The service accepts most major insurance plans and offers virtual appointments with quick scheduling and prescription delivery to patients' pharmacies.
SynapticureSynapticure provides virtual care services for individuals and families with neurodegenerative conditions, offering access to expert-led care, cutting-edge treatments, clinical trials, and wraparound support across all 50 US states through a network of local partners.
Eli LillyEli Lilly discovers, develops, manufactures, and markets human pharmaceutical products across cardiometabolic, oncology, immunology, and neuroscience therapeutic areas, selling to healthcare providers and patients in approximately 90 countries through wholesalers, direct sales representatives, and digital platforms.

Companies working in the same space as Gilgamesh Pharmaceuticals.

Legal entities · 1

corporate structure
Gilgamesh Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Gilgamesh Pharma Inc.

In the news

Frequently asked questions

What does Gilgamesh Pharmaceuticals do?
Gilgamesh Pharmaceutical develops novel chemical entities for psychiatric disorders using medicinal chemistry and AI-powered translational platforms to design rapid-acting therapies targeting neurobiological mechanisms rather than symptom management. The company's pipeline spans depression, anxiety, addiction, and schizophrenia, with programs validated by AbbVie's acquisition of its first asset and partnerships with Columbia University and the National Institute on Drug Abuse.
Who founded Gilgamesh Pharmaceuticals?
Gilgamesh Pharmaceuticals was founded by Jonathan Sporn, Andrew Kruegel, Dalibor Sames, Andrew Kruegel, Ph.D. in 2019.
Who are Gilgamesh Pharmaceuticals's investors?
Gilgamesh Pharmaceuticals's investors include Aera VC, Alumni Ventures, Awareness Venture, Frontera Technology Ventures, Frontier Path VC, Gaingels, James Beshara Fund, JLS and 25 more.
How much funding has Gilgamesh Pharmaceuticals raised?
Gilgamesh Pharmaceuticals has disclosed $111.8M raised across 6 of its 7 known rounds.
Where is Gilgamesh Pharmaceuticals headquartered?
Gilgamesh Pharmaceuticals is headquartered in New York City, US.