Avant Genomics announced it has raised more than $3 million in financing to accelerate development of its Avant Source platform, an automated liquid biopsy sample preparation system designed for precision cancer detection. The financing included participation from TitletownTech, Halyard Ventures, Virginia Venture Partners, CAV Angels, Global Impact Fund, along with additional angel investors and family offices.
The company said the new capital will support continued research and development, accelerate manufacturing efforts, and expand its team through additional hiring initiatives.
Avant Genomics is developing fully automated liquid biopsy sample preparation technology intended to improve consistency, scalability, and reliability in precision cancer detection workflows. According to the company, existing liquid biopsy sample preparation processes remain highly manual, involving dozens of labor-intensive steps that can create variability across laboratories and negatively impact tumor-derived cell-free DNA recovery.
The company’s Avant Source platform is designed to automate and standardize sample preparation by reducing manual handling from more than 50 workflow steps to two. According to Avant Genomics, the system can improve DNA yield by up to 70% compared to semi-automated systems while cutting processing time in half. The company said the platform is intended to improve reliability and scalability across clinical liquid biopsy applications.
Founded as a spinout from the University of Virginia, Avant Genomics was established by Rachelle Turiello and Renna Nouwairi. The company’s technology builds upon research in microfluidics and nucleic acid detection, focused on improving DNA preparation for clinical and forensic applications.
The company also highlighted prior support from National Science Foundation SBIR Phase I funding and recognition as a 2025 Startup World Cup Regional Finalist.
KEY QUOTES:
“We believe precision cancer care starts with preparation, and this support helps accelerate that shift. Liquid biopsy is only as reliable as its sample preparation. We’re building a platform that standardizes the preparation workflow so results are consistent and scalable, unlocking broader use in clinical settings.”
Rachelle Turiello, CEO, Avant Genomics
“We invested in Avant because the future of diagnostics and personalized medicine depends on automation. As technology advances, what labs are capable of is moving faster than the workflows supporting them. Avant is helping close that gap by bringing consistency and scalability to a step that has historically limited the field.”
Jill Enos, Managing Partner, TitletownTech
“Avant Genomics is exactly the kind of company Virginia Venture Partners was designed to back. With a world-class technical team, deep roots in the Virginia research ecosystem, and a platform that addresses a real and urgent unmet need in liquid biopsy sample preparation, we’re proud to support the team and their journey.”
Alex Euler, Senior Investment Director, Virginia Venture Partners
