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Syntax
Chicago, US · Founded 2021 · 17 employees on LinkedIn · 7 known investors
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Syntax Bio develops a discovery platform that accelerates stem cell-derived therapies by using its proprietary Cellgorithm technology to control and direct cell differentiation. The platform enables biopharma companies to speed up cell therapy development, reduce manufacturing costs, and expand their pipeline of potential treatments.
Founders & leadership
Syntax was founded in 2021 by Ryan Clarke, Niko Balanis, PhD, Brad Merrill, PhD, and Matt MacDougall, MD, PhD.
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Ryan ClarkeCo-Founder, Chief Scientific OfficerHe cofounded Syntax Bio in 2021, serving first as chief executive officer and later as chief technology officer before moving into the scientific leadership role, and has been a board director throughout. He was previously a scientist at Sana Biotechnology, completed his PhD at the University of Illinois at Chicago, and worked as a research assistant at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, with a stint contributing to TechCrunch.
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Niko Balanis, PhDCo-Founder, Chief Technology OfficerNiko Balanis holds a PhD and has authored and co-authored multiple peer-reviewed publications on cancer biology and cell differentiation, including work in Science and Cancer Cell. He is the Chief Technology Officer and co-founder of Syntax Bio, which develops cell differentiation control technology for stem cell-derived therapies.
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Brad Merrill, PhDCo-Founder, Head of Innovation
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Matt MacDougall, MD, PhDScientific Cofounder, Immunology Physician, Stanford UniversityMatt MacDougall completed his MD and PhD at the University of Illinois at Chicago and is conducting postdoctoral training in immunology at Stanford University. His research focuses on stem cell differentiation and CRISPR-based synthetic biology, including work identifying calcium signaling in embryonic stem cell fate decisions and developing methods for sequential gene editing.
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Patrick ShaddowExecutive
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John Craighead, PhDChief Executive Officer
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Rory Balfour RiggsNamed on SEC filing
Board
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Richard PhillipsBoard director
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Barry Michael FoxBoard director
Investors · 7
Astellas Venture Management LLClisted by Astellas Venture Management LLCSouth San Francisco · $200K – $5M
How we know: funding news · open dataset · 5k.vc investor directory · Not right? Tell us
DCVC (Data Collective)listed by DCVC (Data Collective)Palo Alto · $5M – $25M
How we know: DCVC (Data Collective)'s portfolio page · open dataset · 5k.vc investor directory · Not right? Tell us
Illumina Ventureslisted by Illumina VenturesFoster City
How we know: Illumina Ventures's portfolio page · the VCSheet dataset · open dataset · 5k.vc investor directory · Not right? Tell us
Portal Innovationslisted by Portal InnovationsChicago
How we know: Portal Innovations's portfolio page · Not right? Tell us
Walder VenturesreportedChicago
How we know: funding news · Not right? Tell us
Funding
SEC filings, press & company announcements$30.5M disclosed across 3 rounds · 2025–2026
▶$1.7MraisedJan 2026 · 27 investors · Other TechnologyRule 506(b)
▶$1.7MraisedJan 2026 · 27 investors · Other Technology
Rule 506(b)Officers, directors & promoters on the filing
- Patrick ShaddowExecutive Officer, Director
- Richard PhillipsDirector
- Rory Balfour RiggsDirector
- Barry Michael FoxDirector
- Offering amount
- $6M
- Amount sold
- $1.7M
- Minimum investment
- $25K
- Sales commissions
- $360K
- Finders' fees
- $60K
- Proceeds to insiders
- $390K
- Placement agents
- Metric, Metric Financial
- First sale
- Dec 2025
- Incorporated
- Limited Liability Company, New York
- Federal exemptions
- 06b
Source: SEC EDGAR Form D. Amounts as filed; amended filings shown once at their latest values.
Related companies · 5
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Thumbnail for SyntheXSyntheX develops the ToRFLEx platform, a first-in-class drug discovery technology that enables screening for compounds that modulate protein-protein interactions and targeted protein degradation for previously inaccessible drug targets identified by geneticists. The company builds an internal oncology pipeline and partners with external organizations to expand adoption of its platform.
AbiologicsAbiologics uses computational design tools to create protein-inspired molecules called Synteins, engineered to avoid the vulnerabilities of natural protein medicines while retaining biological function. The company develops these molecules as a new class of therapeutics with the aim of advancing candidates toward clinical development.
SynthesizeSynthesize develops generative AI models that simulate human tissue responses to drugs and diseases for clinical trial design. The company helps biotech and pharmaceutical development teams de-risk trials, identify biomarkers, and extend early-phase data by generating synthetic patient cohorts.
SynlogicSynlogic develops synthetic biology-based biotherapeutics that use engineered living organisms to treat diseases. The company applies synthetic biology approaches to design programmable therapeutic candidates for patients.
Companies working in the same space as Syntax.
Frequently asked questions
- What does Syntax do?
- Syntax Bio develops a discovery platform that accelerates stem cell-derived therapies by using its proprietary Cellgorithm technology to control and direct cell differentiation. The platform enables biopharma companies to speed up cell therapy development, reduce manufacturing costs, and expand their pipeline of potential treatments.
- Who founded Syntax?
- Syntax was founded by Ryan Clarke, Niko Balanis, PhD, Brad Merrill, PhD, Matt MacDougall, MD, PhD in 2021.
- Who are Syntax's investors?
- Syntax's investors include Astellas Venture Management LLC, DCVC (Data Collective), DCVC Bio, Draper Associates, Illumina Ventures, Portal Innovations, Walder Ventures.
- How much funding has Syntax raised?
- Syntax has disclosed $30.5M raised across 3 rounds.
- Where is Syntax headquartered?
- Syntax is headquartered in Chicago, US.