Apheris, a Berlin-based company specializing in federated computing solutions, has raised $20.8 million in its Series A funding round, led by OTB Ventures and eCAPITAL. The company, founded in 2019 by Robin Röhm and Michael Höh, aims to tackle the challenges of secure data collaboration in the life sciences sector, where privacy concerns often hinder the use of sensitive healthcare data for AI and analytics. This funding round highlights the growing demand for privacy-preserving technologies, especially in fields requiring high data security, like healthcare and pharmaceuticals.
How does Apheris address unused healthcare data?
The majority of healthcare data, estimated at 97%, remains underutilized due to its fragmented storage across organizations and stringent privacy regulations. Apheris addresses this issue through its Compute Gateway, enabling secure AI model training without transferring sensitive data. This ensures data owners retain full control while allowing for collaboration across networks. Pharmaceutical giants such as Roche, Johnson & Johnson, and members of the AI Structural Biology Consortium—including AbbVie, Sanofi, and Boehringer Ingelheim—use Apheris’ technology to improve tasks like protein structure predictions and drug discovery without compromising data privacy.
How will the new funding be used?
Apheris plans to expand its role in federated computing, focusing on creating what it envisions as the largest and most secure life sciences data network by 2025. The raised capital will be used to host advanced AI models, enhance collaborative model training, and strengthen its position as a preferred solution for secure data networks in healthcare. The company also aims to optimize the integration of privacy-enhancing technologies like homomorphic encryption and differential privacy with its platform. CEO Robin Röhm emphasized the strategic support from lead investors OTB Ventures and eCAPITAL in achieving these goals.
In 2020, Apheris had secured €2.5 million in funding from investors like LocalGlobe and Dig Ventures, focusing on its initial mission of enabling secure data collaboration. The current funding round indicates the company’s significant progress, both in technological development and its partnerships with major industry players. Compared to earlier funding rounds, this injection of capital highlights the growing confidence in Apheris’ potential to address long-standing data and privacy challenges in the life sciences sector.
The lead investors bring valuable expertise to this partnership. OTB Ventures specializes in deep tech startups, with a focus on enterprise AI and cybersecurity, managing over €350 million. Managing Partner Marcin Hejka noted their belief in Apheris’ role within emerging federated data networks. Similarly, eCAPITAL, a German venture capital firm managing €400 million, focuses on early-stage deep tech companies. Hannes Schill of eCAPITAL highlighted Apheris’ capabilities in redefining secure data collaboration in healthcare.
While the funding positions Apheris to scale its operations and deepen its impact in the life sciences domain, it also reflects the increasing relevance of federated computing. With privacy and security being critical factors in healthcare innovation, Apheris’ solutions have the potential to bridge significant gaps. However, the ultimate success in creating a robust data network for the industry will depend on adoption by other stakeholders and the effectiveness of its privacy-preserving technologies in real-world applications.
