December 3, 2025
Member Spotlight: Aureka Bio
Accelerating Drug Discovery Through Agentic Discovery Innovation
When Dr. Weian Zhao looked at the traditional drug development process, he saw a system plagued by inefficiency—one that could take 10 to 15 years and billions of dollars to deliver a single therapy. As a scientist and innovator, Zhao knew there had to be a better way. Today, as founder and CEO of Aureka Bio, he is using active-learning models and high-throughput biology to transform therapeutic discovery, turning trial-and-error into rational design and giving hope to patients who can’t afford to wait.
Tell us about Aureka Bio and your mission.
Aureka Bio was founded to address inefficiencies in therapeutic discovery. Traditional drug development relies heavily on trial and error, making success unpredictable. Our platform combines agentic molecular design with high-throughput biology to accelerate drug design and make it reproducible. By generating sequence-binding-function data at scale—three orders of magnitude faster than current standards—we empower models to design therapeutics rationally and efficiently. This approach allows us to move beyond chance and toward precision.
What therapeutic areas is Aureka focused on today?
We are currently developing therapeutics for autoimmune disorders, inflammation, and metabolic health. These areas represent significant unmet clinical needs, and our technology enables us to scale development far beyond what traditional biotech can achieve. Instead of working on a handful of pipelines, we can advance multiple programs simultaneously, thanks to the speed and reproducibility of our platform.
How did you first connect with Biocom California?
Initially, we joined Biocom California for operational benefits like vendor access and cost savings. But the real value came from the network and mentorship. Programs like Venture Hub’s Pitch Studio, the Global Partnering & Investor Conference and Pharma Partner Days were game changers for us. These events gave us access to seasoned experts—investors, pharma leaders, and mentors—who provided candid feedback and opened doors to new opportunities.
What Biocom California programs have been most impactful?
Pitch Studio was transformative for us. You rarely get a panel of 10–15 seasoned experts—investors, pharma leaders, mentors—all providing candid feedback in one place. That experience validated our investor readiness and gave us actionable insights to strengthen our fundraising strategy.
The Global Partnering & Investor Conference was equally impactful. It felt like a mini-J.P. Morgan Conference—the concentration of top minds in one room is incredible. These events not only helped us refine our pitch but also led to introductions that strengthened our fundraising efforts and opened discussions with potential partners.
Biocom California’s Partner Days provided highly targeted opportunities to connect with global pharmaceutical companies. These focused meetings allowed us to explore strategic alignment and partnership opportunities that could accelerate our pipeline development.
What key lessons have you learned during your fundraising journey?
One of the most important lessons is to think like an investor. It’s not enough to showcase great science—you need to clearly articulate milestones and value inflection points that align with investor expectations. Transparent communication is also critical. Push for candid feedback and engage decision-makers early to make the process efficient. Finally, leverage credibility wherever possible. Partnerships, advisors, and ecosystem support—like Biocom California—signal strength and build trust with investors.
What’s next for Aureka Bio?
Despite market headwinds, we are optimistic. Biotech runs in cycles. Right now, it’s tough—but meaningful innovation always wins. We’re focused on accelerating therapeutic discovery to meet urgent clinical needs.
Editor’s Note: Since this interview, Aureka Bio has successfully completed a Series A financing. This milestone reflects the company’s strategic growth and the potential of its cutting-edge platform.
We’re turning trial-and-error into rational design—accelerating therapeutic discovery and making it a consistent process at scale.
