Medium Biosciences
YC S21San Francisco, US · Founded 2021 · 6 employees · 2 known investors
Medium Bio engineers customized proteins using AI and protein design to create affinity reagents for research teams and diagnostic developers. The company accelerates molecular tool development from design to experimental validation within weeks.
Also known as Medium Bio
Founders & leadership· Y Combinator alumni (S21)
Medium Biosciences was founded in 2021 by Adil Yusuf and Mohamed Hassan Kane.
Investors · 2
Company profile
researched Aug 2026Medium Biosciences (medium.bio) is a San Francisco-based biotechnology company that applies artificial intelligence and computational protein design to the creation of custom affinity reagents. The company designs binding proteins against a customer-specified target and application, then experimentally validates them, positioning the service as delivering molecular tools in weeks rather than months.
The company works with research teams and diagnostic developers across industry and academia. As stated on its website, it has completed more than 25 projects, engineered more than 20 unique proteins, and served more than 10 customers. Y Combinator classifies the company under artificial intelligence, machine learning and biotech, and lists a team size of six.
Founding story
The company was founded in 2021 by two MIT alumni: Mohamed Hassan Kane, Co-Founder and CEO, who studied computer science and AI at MIT and has published papers across large language models, computer vision and protein design; and Adil Yusuf, Co-Founder, an MIT computer science and electrical engineering alum focused on machine learning and protein design, with stated interests in industrial chemicals, drug development and agriculture.
Business model
Medium Biosciences operates as a provider of custom-designed affinity reagents, engaging customers on a per-target, per-application basis and delivering experimentally validated proteins for their specified use cases.
Traction
The company reports more than 25 completed projects, more than 20 unique proteins engineered, and more than 10 customers spanning industry and academia.
Latest developments
The company's website lists an advisory group including Emily LeProust, CEO of Twist Bioscience; Melissa Starovasnik, former VP of Protein Sciences at Genentech; and Debora Marks, professor at Harvard Medical School.
▸Full profile — market position, technology, go-to-market, geography, history
Market position
An early-stage, venture-backed company applying AI-based protein design to the affinity reagent market, serving both academic research groups and commercial diagnostic developers.
The company positions its offering around target- and application-specific reagent design with turnaround measured in weeks rather than months, in contrast to conventional reagent development timelines.
Technology
The company combines advances in AI and computational protein design with experimental validation, converting designed candidate binders into tested molecular tools. Its founders have backgrounds in computer science, AI, machine learning and biology at MIT, including published work spanning large language models, computer vision and protein design.
Go-to-market
Research teams in academia and industry, and developers of diagnostics that require affinity reagents against specific targets.
Geography
Headquartered in San Francisco, United States.
History
Founded in 2021, Medium Biosciences took part in Y Combinator's Summer 2021 batch and is based in San Francisco. It has since built a team of six and reports completed reagent design projects for customers in industry and academia.
Compiled by commissioned research from 4 cited public sources — announcements, filings, and press listed under research sources below.
Key figures
latest reportedCompany-reported or press-reported figures, each dated to when it was claimed — not independently audited.
Timeline · 1
launches, deals, and filingsMedium Biosciences was part of Y Combinator's Summer 2021 batch, categorized under artificial intelligence, machine learning and biotech.
Dated company events from announcements, filings, and press; legal rows summarize public dockets and regulator releases.
▸Research sources · 4
primary sources listed
- Medium Biosciencesmedium.bio · web
4 public sources were cited for this profile; the first-party ones are listed here.
Frequently asked questions
- What does Medium Biosciences do?
- Medium Biosciences uses AI and computational protein design to deliver custom, experimentally validated affinity reagents.
- Who founded Medium Biosciences?
- Medium Biosciences was founded by Adil Yusuf, Mohamed Hassan Kane in 2021.
- Who are Medium Biosciences's investors?
- Medium Biosciences's investors include AIX Ventures, Y Combinator.
- Where is Medium Biosciences headquartered?
- Medium Biosciences is headquartered in San Francisco, US.