Apheris, a startup focused on federated computing, has raised $8.25 million in Series A funding to improve access to health data for AI model training without compromising patient privacy.
The company, founded by Robin Röhm and Michael Höh, aims to facilitate secure data collaboration in the pharmaceutical and life sciences sectors. Röhm highlighted that the challenge of utilizing health data stems from privacy concerns and regulatory issues.
The federated computing model allows computations to occur locally, maintaining data security while aggregating only necessary outputs centrally. Apheris has already attracted clients like Roche and various hospitals.
Marcin Hejka, co-founder of OTB Ventures, emphasized the growing ecosystem of tools that support federated data networks, positioning Apheris as a key player in this space. The startup's recent pivot to focus on data ownership and partnerships in pharma has led to significant revenue growth since launching its new product in late 2023.
With total funding now at $20.8 million, Apheris plans to further develop its offerings in the life sciences sector.