Avenue Biosciences
Category: AI in Healthcare
An AI-enhanced protein engineering platform designed to optimize signal peptides, enabling the efficient and reliable manufacture of complex protein therapeutics. Avenue Biosciences was founded in 2023. The company is led by Tero-Pekka Alastalo. Based in Helsinki, Finland & Palo Alto, California, USA. Team size: 11-50. Total funding raised: $8.7M total. Latest round: Seed Extension (€4.8M, Jan 2026). Key investors include Voima Ventures, Inventure, Balnord, Tesi, University of Helsinki, Dimerent, US Angel Investors.
- Founded
- 2023
- Headquarters
- Helsinki, Finland & Palo Alto, California, USA
- Team size
- 11-50
- Total funding
- $8.7M total
Value proposition
Solves the 'production bottleneck' in biologics by optimizing the secretion and folding of complex proteins, significantly reducing manufacturing failure rates and accelerating time-to-market for life-saving drugs.
Products and solutions
Proprietary Signal Peptide Optimization Platform, AI-Driven Protein Secretion Screening, High-Throughput Protein Engineering Services, Customized Lead Optimization for Biologics
Unique value
Unlike many AI biotech firms focusing on drug discovery, Avenue focuses specifically on 'manufacturability' by targeting signal peptides—the 'postal codes' that direct protein transport within cells.
Target customer
Biopharmaceutical companies, biotechnology startups, and Contract Development and Manufacturing Organizations (CDMOs) focused on biologics.
Industries served
Biotechnology, Pharmaceuticals, Biomanufacturing, Life Sciences
Technology advantage
Utilizes a closed-loop system combining deep learning with high-throughput biological validation; the platform is built on decades of research from the University of Helsinki into protein biogenesis and translocation.
How they differentiate
Focuses specifically on 'manufacturability' by optimizing signal peptides—the cellular 'postal codes'—to solve the production bottleneck of complex proteins, rather than just drug discovery.
Main competitors
Absci, Cradle, BigHat Biosciences
Key partnerships
University of Helsinki (Academic spin-out partner & investor), Voima Ventures, Inventure, Balnord, Tesi, Dimerent, StartX (Stanford University founder community)
Notable customers
Biopharmaceutical companies, Contract Development and Manufacturing Organizations (CDMOs)
Major milestones
Spin-out from the University of Helsinki in 2023, Closed €2.3M ($2.5M) Seed round led by Voima Ventures in Oct 2024, Secured €4.9M ($5.7M) Seed Extension in Jan 2026, Selected for the 2025 BioTools Innovator Accelerator Program
Growth metrics
Scaling transatlantic operations with headquarters in Helsinki and commercial leadership in Silicon Valley.
Market positioning
Specialized AI-biotech platform provider for protein secretion and biomanufacturing optimization.
Geographic focus
Europe (Finland) and North America (USA)
Patents and IP
Proprietary technology based on University of Helsinki research; core technology co-invented by co-founder Juho Kellosalo (specific patent filings are typically held under the university spin-out framework).
About Tero-Pekka Alastalo
Tero-Pekka Alastalo is a physician-scientist and seasoned biotech entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience. He was the co-founder and CEO of Blueprint Genetics, which he led from inception to a successful acquisition by Quest Diagnostics in 2020. He subsequently served as Chief Medical Officer at CardioSignal and has held academic positions as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Helsinki and a Postdoctoral Fellow at Stanford University.
Official website: https://www.avenuebiosciences.com