#USA #AI #New York #Stratum Biosciences #Skin Biology

Stratum Biosciences Secures $2M Seed Round

Stratum Biosciences, a trailblazer in the biotechnology sector focused on dermatology and artificial intelligence, has successfully closed a $2 million seed funding round. This funding, which received backing from the Harvard Business School Alumni Angels of Greater New York and Skin Angels—an extensive network dedicated to early-stage investment in skin and dermatology—will accelerate the company's groundbreaking research and development efforts.

Founded in 2024 by dermatology experts Dr. Ross Lane Pearlman and Dr. Buu Duong, Stratum has positioned itself at the forefront of technology integration within the skincare industry. Dr. Pearlman, who serves as the CEO, emphasizes the pressing need for deeper knowledge of skin biology to drive innovation. He states, "As a dermatologist, I see every day that the biggest gap in skin innovation is our limited understanding of skin biology. With modern AI, we can finally uncover the mechanisms hidden within skin that can translate into entirely new solutions to skin health."

Leveraging AI for Advanced Insights

A core component of Stratum’s strategy involves participation in NVIDIA's Inception program, which supports startups that are changing the landscape of their industries through technological advancements. Utilizing NVIDIA's computational resources, Stratum aims to sift through its sizeable database of over 200,000 skin samples, seeking valuable biomarkers and insights that traditional research methodologies may have overlooked.

Dr. Buu Duong, who serves as the President of the company, adds, "Our skin is a window to our bodies, and Stratum's biobank holds the keys to new, undiscovered targets for anti-aging and beyond. We are now equipped to decode the skin's biological language, which will redefine how the industry approaches longevity and health."

The SkinSync™ platform, developed by Stratum, has already generated game-changing insights regarding skin structure and function, challenging longstanding beliefs about the skin barrier.

Dr. David Osborne, the Chief Scientific Officer and former co-founder of Arcutis, acknowledges the remarkable scientific progress achieved by the Stratum team in a relatively short timeframe. He remarks, "It's exciting to take my career experience and use the platform created by Stratum to rethink our understanding of dermatology and fundamentally improve human skincare."

Building Global Partnerships

In the past year, Stratum Biosciences has validated its research approach through partnerships with global consumer packaged goods (CPG) leaders. These collaborations have focused on developing innovative active ingredients and formulations using the SkinSync™ platform, targeting urgent skincare issues such as hyperpigmentation and skin longevity.

With the new funding in place, the company is actively pursuing partnerships that emphasize skin biology discovery while facilitating the transition from research to product development, including novel ingredients and formulations. Currently, Stratum operates out of JLabs@NYC, a Johnson and Johnson accelerator situated in SoHo, New York.

Stratum Biosciences is on a mission to tackle some of the toughest challenges in skincare globally, with a portfolio of intellectual property that aims to address various needs ranging from anti-aging to hyperpigmentation and eczema.

As the company continues to grow, it stands poised to make significant contributions not only in the realm of dermatology but also to the beauty and health industries worldwide, driven by innovative technology and a visionary approach.