Acurion, a San Diego-based precision oncology technology company, announced it has closed an oversubscribed $4.3 million seed financing round, exceeding its initial $4 million target as it advances development of its AI-driven biomarker detection platform, OncoGaze.
The round was led by TK & Partners, with participation from Mesa Verde Venture Partners, The National Foundation for Cancer Research, the Asian Fund for Cancer Research, Bootstrap Ventures, along with institutional investors, impact funds, and healthcare executives.
The company said the funding will support clinical validation, platform development, regulatory preparation, and commercialization efforts as it moves toward broader clinical and research adoption. Acurion’s OncoGaze™ platform uses AI-powered image analysis to extract biomarker insights directly from routine pathology slides, aiming to deliver faster and more accessible precision oncology without requiring additional tissue or specialized molecular testing.
The technology builds on foundational research by co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer Ludmil Alexandrov, a professor of Cellular and Molecular Medicine at UC San Diego, whose work on mutational signatures has influenced the understanding of cancer origins and treatment response.
Acurion noted that, despite advances in targeted therapies, many cancer patients still lack timely access to biomarker testing. The company’s approach addresses this gap by enabling scalable, instantaneous analysis within existing clinical workflows.
The company also highlighted recent progress, including scientific publications, expanding clinical collaborations, and engagement with industry leaders, as it prepares for regulatory milestones and broader deployment.
Acurion expects to announce additional clinical partnerships and regulatory developments in the coming months.
KEY QUOTES:
“This financing represents strong validation of our technology and mission. The future of precision oncology depends on making advanced biomarker detection accessible, scalable, and instantly actionable in real-world clinical settings. This investment helps us accelerate development and bring our technology closer to meaningful impact for cancer patients. We’re moving quickly from validation to deployment. Our focus now is executing key clinical and regulatory milestones and getting this into the hands of physicians who can use it.”
Rick Fultz, CEO of Acurion
“Acurion stood out immediately — tackling a global problem with a strong technical edge, a standout team, and a clear approach to execution.”
Tomas Koch, Chairman of TK & Partners
“AI has the potential to reshape how we detect and act on cancer biomarkers. What stood out to us about Acurion is their ability to translate complex science into a solution that fits directly into existing clinical workflows. This is the kind of innovation that can expand access to precision oncology at scale.”
Carey Ng, Ph.D., Managing Partner at Mesa Verde Venture Partners
