Despite a sharp contraction in global healthcare startup funding since 2020 - North America (-90.4%), Asia (-94.7%), and LATAM (-96%) - AI pharma startups are surging in workforce growth and strategic focus, according to new data from AI market intelligence platform, FounderNest.

In 2024, global pharma startups raised $4.17 billion, with $1.28 billion already secured in 2025. More than 300 new AI-driven pharma startups launched last year alone - 60% in the U.S., with California accounting for 59% of those. Despite the funding pullback, hiring in AI pharma surged, led by +31% growth in data science and AI roles, +14% in regulatory affairs, and +12% in clinical research between 2022 and 2025. 

FounderNest’s data suggests the industry is undergoing a strategic shift - from capital-intensity to talent and technological capability. “Pharma is no longer just capital-intensive, it’s increasingly talent-driven,” says Felix Gonzalez, CEO and co-founder of FounderNest. “While the VC cycle cools, healthcare innovation is accelerating in the lab, clinic, and data pipeline.”

Key findings from FounderNest’s analysis of 1,800+ AI pharma startups globally also include:

• Top focus areas: AI drug discovery, generative molecular modeling, predictive diagnostics, and regulatory automation
• Hiring resilience: Growth in compliance and decentralized trial roles, particularly in Europe and North America
• Investor activity: NEA, RA Capital, ARCH Venture Partners, and Blackstone Life Sciences remain highly active, joined by Canaan, Forbion, and Qiming Ventures
• Average funding rounds: Pre-seed ($1.36M), Seed ($4.2M) for AI pharma companies - smaller but strategically targeted

High-profile 2025 mega-rounds underscore this momentum:

• Isomorphic Labs: $600M for AI-first drug discovery, considered a likely unicorn
• Verdiv Bio: $411M Series A focused on obesity and cardiometabolic innovation
• Callio Therapeutics: $187M Series A for antibody-drug conjugates in oncology
• Grin Therapeutics: $140M Series D, backed by Blackstone and Angelini Pharma

Europe maintained steady hiring across regulatory and clinical roles, supported by centralized R&D and EU health programs, while LATAM saw declines in both funding and workforce growth. 

“The data is clear: while funding headlines suggest contraction, the real momentum is in workforce and intellectual firepower,” concludes Gonzalez. “Pharma is doubling down on core science, smarter trials, and AI-led drug discovery. The future of healthcare is being built, not just funded.”

FounderNest is an AI-powered market intelligence platform used by leading corporations, investors, and innovation teams to track, scout, and evaluate the most relevant companies, technologies, and trends