The Founding Story

The Vision

IntellAif is a TechBio company focused on validating preclinical models and novel approach methodologies for assessing drug efficacy and safety. The company’s vision is to optimize drug development by improving the predictability of lead candidates in the pipeline, making the process more efficient and resource-conscious.

The Origin

The founding team consists of Dr. Katri Vaparanta and Dr. Parvin Kumar. The core idea behind IntellAif* was conceived by Katri, whose background as a biomedical researcher led her to confront a persistent challenge in the field: the limited translatability of preclinical models—such as rodents, non-human primates, and in vitro systems—to human biology. During her subsequent training in bioinformatics and drug development, Katri developed an innovative solution: building foundational AI models capable of predicting the biological differences between preclinical models and humans. These models are powered by multi-modal data derived from high-throughput and deep sequencing technologies, particularly in the form of multi-omics.

Dr. Parvin Kumar brings to the team a strong background in medical research and a deep interest in precision medicine and artificial intelligence, developed during his postdoctoral work. Following his academic career, he entered the startup ecosystem, and thereafter working in innovation and enterprise with A*STAR in Singapore. His entrepreneurial journey led him to join a founder residency program organized by Antler, where he met Katri. Their shared vision and complementary skill sets inspired them to co-found IntellAif.

The Future

Together, Katri and Parvin are advancing a platform that bridges the translational gap in preclinical research—bringing us closer to safer, more effective therapies with higher chances of clinical success.