Insider Brief
- QurieGen, a Dutch-Polish TechBio startup, has raised €2.2 million in pre-seed funding to advance its AI-driven single-cell analysis platform for accelerating cancer drug development.
- The company was founded by CEO Dr. Eng. Kinga Matula, whose personal experience as an oncology patient helped shape the technology, described as a “Google Maps for cells,” enabling deeper insight into drug efficacy at the cellular level.
- QurieGen was selected for the NATO DIANA program, securing €100,000 and access to dual-use innovation resources, adding to previous recognition from Draper Hero and the Extreme Tech Challenge.
PRESS RELEASE — TechBio startup QurieGen has secured EUR 2.2 million in pre-seed funding to develop advanced AI-based technology aimed at accelerating drug development progress in oncology. Dr. Eng. Kinga Matula, CEO and co-founder, describes QurieGen as a pioneer in building a groundbreaking solution — “Google Maps for cells” — with the potential to save millions of lives affected by serious medical conditions.
The project has been backed by a syndicate of investors from the CEE region: Tensor Ventures, Lighthouse Ventures, BSV Ventures, Moondust Ventures, and 22 Hor Invest, as well as renowned venture US capital investor Tim Draper of Draper Associates (who invested in companies like SpaceX, Tesla, Bitcoin, Carta). At the heart of this journey is a young scientist, innovator, and entrepreneur whose path has led her from academia, through a personal battle as an oncological patient, to founding the startup QurieGen. This Dutch startup with Polish roots has developed a groundbreaking technology that enables a deeper understanding of disease mechanisms and how specific cancer drugs work at the single-cell level. This innovation helps pharmaceutical companies accelerate and reduce the cost of developing new and more effective treatments.
“At the time I was diagnosed as an oncological patient, we were developing groundbreaking single-cell technology alongside a multidisciplinary team of scientists and pharma experts in the Netherlands. At the same time, there was a request from a pharmaceutical company to study a drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration as it did not work as expected. This was our first paid project in which we designed a special technology to study single cells. Eventually, this project and two others with pharmaceutical companies led to the creation of the startup QurieGen, which I currently lead”, Kinga Matuła describes.
We gained a deeper understanding of why some drugs work for certain cancers while others don’t. This realization was a breakthrough—our technology could help accelerate drug development, making it faster and more cost-effective. But beyond the science, my personal battle gave me firsthand insight into the challenges patients face. This experience also strengthened my resolve to create meaningful change,” says Kinga Matuła, co-founder and CEO of QurieGen, describing the rough beginnings.
Global Recognition: Silicon Valley & NATO
QurieGen currently operates at the interface between the Netherlands and Poland, leveraging the advanced scientific base in the Netherlands and the Polish technology ecosystem.
Kinga is a unique combination of a top scientist and businesswoman, and we hope that her example will attract other passionate and capable women like her to deep tech,” says Roman Smola of Tensor Ventures, the fund that led the investment under Jan Faflik.
“Our investment in QurieGen aligns perfectly with our mission at Moondust Ventures: backing outstanding and visionary teams leveraging technology to transform healthcare. QurieGen’s AI-driven approach to drug discovery has the potential to revolutionize therapeutic development and drive breakthroughs in precision medicine.” – Marios Nicolettis, Managing Partner, Moondust Ventures.
“We invested in QurieGen because we see not only a transformative technology with the potential to revolutionize cancer drug development, but also an exceptionally strong and diverse team driving it forward. Kinga and her team combine world-class scientific expertise with personal resilience and entrepreneurial grit. At BSV Ventures, we back deep tech founders who dare to build at the edge of science, and QurieGen is a perfect example of that ambition.” – Sandra Golbreich, General Partner at BSV Ventures.
The startup is thriving on many levels. In addition to winning the Draper Hero (July 2022), it also won the top spot in the Extreme Tech Challenge 2024. In addition to the accolades already mentioned, QurieGen has just been recognized as one of the top seventy-four startups selected from a pool of 2.600 applicants to participate in the prestigious NATO DIANA program.
“This is an incredible honor for us and a significant milestone in our journey”, says Maciej Jarząb, COO and co-founder. “Being part of the NATO DIANA program not only validates our technology but also provides us with a unique opportunity to develop dual-use solutions that can have a meaningful impact in both the commercial and defense sectors. This selection serves as a powerful catalyst for our growth, opening doors to new partnerships, cutting-edge research, and global expansion.”
This accelerator program supports the development of dual-use technologies, i.e., innovations applicable in the civilian and defense sectors. As part of the program, QurieGen will receive EUR 100.000 in funding, have access to more than 180 test centers, and participate in one of 13 dedicated accelerators.
