DataJoint Secures $4.9 Million to Transform Data Management and AI in Life Sciences
On September 30, 2025, DataJoint, a leading computational database and AI platform, announced the successful closure of a $4.9 million seed funding round. The investment aims to revolutionize data management and enhance AI capabilities in the fields of neuroscience, oncology, and system biology.
The funding was spearheaded by Nina Capital based in Barcelona, Inoca Capital Partners from Salt Lake City, and Capital Factory located in Austin. This diverse investor base highlights the international commercial potential of DataJoint’s platform, which is already being leveraged by customers and partners across several countries.
Scaling Operations and Expanding Market Reach
The secured funding will enable DataJoint to scale its operations, refine its proprietary Software as a Service (SaaS) platform, and broaden its market reach to commercial life sciences and pharmaceutical companies in both the United States and Europe. DataJoint uniquely positions itself to harmonize multimodal data sources and enable complex AI and machine learning workflows, addressing inefficiencies in data management and reproducibility across research laboratories globally.
Recently, DataJoint was also selected for the 9th cohort of PharmStars, an accelerator focused on health startups aimed at the pharmaceutical sector. This program will allow DataJoint to connect with leading pharma companies to explore innovative partnerships centered around its groundbreaking platform.
The Vision Behind DataJoint
The journey of DataJoint traces back to its CTO, Dimitri Yatsenko. His background in technology began in Ukraine and later brought him to the United States, where he studied computer science in the 1990s. Early in his career, he was engaged in database development for public safety and worked in a Dot-Com startup, recognizing the critical importance of robust technology and strict data models. He later led a team at GE Medical Systems focusing on surgical imaging and navigation.
Dimitri’s experience with Ripple Neuro, a neuroscience startup, propelled him to earn a Ph.D. at Baylor College of Medicine. While at Baylor, he co-founded nView Medical, an AI and medical imaging company. During this time, he identified a significant gap at the interface of technology and scientific research regarding research data management and AI model development. This critical realization motivated him to establish DataJoint to tackle the challenges facing modern scientific research with technical discipline and innovative solutions.
Transforming Data Management in the Life Sciences
DataJoint’s platform is currently utilized by over 100 laboratories across the U.S. and Europe, including prestigious institutions like Johns Hopkins, UCSF, Harvard, and UCL. The system addresses critical challenges such as fragmented data management, poor reproducibility, and limited collaboration in research environments through automated data structuring, processing, and analysis. While DataJoint continues to expand into the pharma sector, it will maintain its established collaborations with academic medical centers where the platform was initially developed and proven effective.
“Securing this investment will enable us to grow our reach and continue delivering transformative solutions for researchers and organizations in the life sciences,” stated Jim Olson, CEO of DataJoint. “With support from Nina Capital, Inoca Capital, and Capital Factory, we are well-positioned to scale our platform and make the power of advanced AI and data harmonization accessible to a wider market.”
Support from Investors
Marta G. Zanchi, founding partner of Nina Capital, emphasized the unique capabilities of DataJoint’s platform. “DataJoint’s computational database is a revolutionary solution for data management and AI application in the life sciences. Its ability to streamline workflows and improve reproducibility positions it as a crucial tool for advancing scientific discoveries and innovations. We are excited to support the team in their mission to transform research and accelerate healthcare progress.”
Chris Sheffert, managing director at Inoca Capital, also highlighted the commercial potential of DataJoint, stating, “DataJoint’s platform is uniquely positioned to address the significant challenges faced by commercial life science and pharma companies. From managing vast amounts of complex data to deriving actionable insights through AI, the opportunities for disruption in these industries are tremendous. We look forward to working alongside DataJoint as they scale their transformative technology.”
About DataJoint
DataJoint was founded to eliminate inefficiencies in academic and pharmaceutical research laboratories, offering a unified database infrastructure that harmonizes multimodal data sources within automated workflows. The company’s SaaS platform is built on an open-source foundation and aims to achieve SOC2, HIPAA, and ISO27001 compliance to serve a growing client base across academia and industry.
About the Investing Firms
- - Nina Capital: A specialized venture capital firm focusing exclusively on the intersection of healthcare and technology. Since its founding in 2019, it has invested in 52 companies across 18 countries, empowering founders with innovations that transform healthcare.
- - Inoca Capital Partners: A private equity firm based in Salt Lake City that collaborates with strong management teams to drive growth and create long-term value, with expertise in data, AI, cloud, and health IT.
- - Capital Factory: A hub for entrepreneurs outside Silicon Valley, based in Austin, Texas, facilitating connections between transformative startups and investors, clients, and talent.
Conclusion
As DataJoint embarks on this new chapter with significant funding, its commitment to reshaping data management and AI integration within the life sciences continues to position it as a leader in the field. With continued support from visionary investors and a robust technological foundation, DataJoint is set to aid in pioneering the future of scientific research and development.