iOrganBio, a biotechnology startup developing AI-based cell manufacturing solutions, has emerged from stealth with $2 million in seed funding to launch CellForge, the first artificial intelligence-powered platform for scalable and reproducible human cell and organoid engineering. The round was led by First Star Ventures, with participation from IndieBio, Cape Fear BioCapital, 2ndF, Terasaki Institute, and Alix Ventures.
Founded in 2024 by Dr. Daniel Delubac, Dr. Shuibing Chen, and Prof. Xiling Shen, iOrganBio is focused on bringing industrial precision to cell manufacturing through a convergence of AI, automation, and biology. The company’s proprietary CellForge platform integrates predictive machine learning with high-throughput experimental control to automate and optimize the development of human cells across applications in drug discovery, regenerative medicine, and cell therapy production.
At the heart of CellForge lies the Functional Human CellAtlas, a dynamic database of single-cell and multi-omics data that enables precise control of human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC) differentiation. By applying closed-loop AI control to 3D culture systems, the platform dynamically adjusts environmental conditions to achieve desired cell outcomes in real time—allowing for consistent, high-quality cell production at scale.
The technology enables pharmaceutical and biotech companies to engineer diverse human cell types with predictable performance, significantly improving the efficiency and reproducibility of preclinical research and therapeutic manufacturing. For instance, iOrganBio’s system has already demonstrated success in creating customized pancreas models that feature tailored vasculature and immune properties for disease modeling and regenerative applications.
CellForge was designed to overcome five key challenges in cell-based R&D and therapy production:
— Definability – digitally defining exact cellular characteristics.
— Generalizability – producing diverse cell types across use cases.
— Adaptability – leveraging multiple cell sources for flexibility.
— Reproducibility – ensuring consistent outcomes across batches.
— Scalability – expanding from lab-scale to industrial-scale production.
The founding team brings together expertise in biomedical engineering, automation, and stem cell biology, with experience spanning Guardant Health, Freenome, Chemify, and Weill Cornell Medicine. iOrganBio’s approach builds directly on groundbreaking science from Dr. Chen’s lab at Weill Cornell, combining biological insight with engineering precision to enable “living manufacturing systems.”
The company’s investors see the technology as a key enabler of the next era of biomanufacturing. By reducing variability and costs in cell-based research and therapies, iOrganBio aims to help partners accelerate the path from discovery to clinic.
KEY QUOTES:
“The future of human health depends on our ability to intelligently design human cells and organoids with the same precision and reliability we expect from any other industrialized process. With CellForge, we are seeking to create a new standard for cell manufacturing—one that is configurable, reproducible, and scalable, and adapted to living products.”
Daniel Delubac, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, iOrganBio
“As a scientist, one of the most rewarding moments is seeing your discoveries move beyond the lab and begin transforming how we use human cells in the real world. By scaling the engineering of cells that reflect true human biology, we’re opening the door to breakthroughs across drug discovery and patient care.”
Dr. Shuibing Chen, Co-Founder, Board Member, and Senior Scientific Advisor, iOrganBio; Kilts Family Professor of Surgery, Weill Cornell Medicine
“Pharma has long needed human-relevant models that can reliably predict how therapies will work in the clinic. The level of engineering precision by iOrganBio’s technology uniquely positions the company to become an indispensable partner. Their digital-first approach, grounded in AI and data, will dramatically reduce costs and accelerate the path from idea to therapy.”
Drew Volpe, Founding Partner, First Star Ventures
