In the dynamic world of biotechnology, CircNova emerges as a pioneering startup leveraging artificial intelligence to revolutionize drug discovery. Founded in May 2023 by Crystal Brown and Joe Deangelo, CircNova focuses on targeting circular RNA structures, a novel approach in the biotech industry. With Brown steering the company as CEO and Deangelo serving as Chief Scientific Officer, CircNova has quickly gained attention for its world-first NovaEngine technology, which predicts circular RNA structures. The startup recently secured a $3.3 million seed round led by South Loop Ventures, marking a significant milestone in its early journey.
CircNova's inception is a testament to the bold vision of its founders. Despite her background in automotive manufacturing, Crystal Brown made a daring transition into the biotech sphere, leaving behind a lucrative six-figure salary. Her passion and determination caught the eye of Michigan's startup community and venture capitalists, who recognized her potential even without a formal biology education.
“You’re a good founder anyway,” remarked venture capitalists, acknowledging her innate leadership qualities.
Brown's journey into biotech began with skepticism due to her unconventional background. She candidly shared her initial doubts:
“I was like, no one’s gonna take me seriously. I’ve never studied biology. I studied poli sci and women’s studies,” admitted Brown.
However, her resolve was unwavering, leading her to co-found CircNova alongside Deangelo, whose previous experience includes leadership roles at biotech firms Neochromosome and Apex Bioscience. Together, they built NovaEngine, a groundbreaking AI tool that can reverse engineer RNA structures.
“We can reverse engineer. We can go from sequence to structure. We can go from structure to sequence when developing the molecule,” Brown explained, shedding light on the technological prowess of NovaEngine.
CircNova operates a wet lab where it produces physical molecules for rigorous research and validation. This practical approach is further bolstered by a collaboration with the University of Michigan, ensuring robust scientific backing for their innovations. The company's technology shows promise in treating diseases that have eluded effective therapies thus far.
The aim is to “treat diseases we haven’t treated so far, things like ovarian cancer, triple-negative breast cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, rare genetic diseases,” Brown stated with conviction.
The company's impressive seed round attracted investments from notable entities such as Dug Song, Union Heritage, Michigan Rise, Invest Detroit, Kalamazoo Forward Ventures, and SPARK Capital. Nia Batts, General Partner at Union Heritage Ventures, expressed strong support for Brown's leadership.
“We are no stranger to the resilience that is needed when you engage in the journey of entrepreneurship,” Batts affirmed, highlighting the determination required in pioneering ventures like CircNova.
Joining Brown and Deangelo as co-founder and Chief Business Officer is William Grenawitzke, who plays an integral role in steering CircNova's business strategy. Together, this formidable team is poised to advance the company's mission of innovative drug discovery through AI-driven solutions.
Despite her initial challenges, Brown has embraced her role as CEO with determination and adaptability. She reflected on some early missteps:
“I hired people too quickly. I opened up my lab,” she acknowledged, demonstrating her capacity to learn and grow in her leadership role.
Leave a Reply