Barcelona-based healthtech startup Biorce has secured €5 million in funding from Norrsken VC, Europe's largest impact venture capital firm, to accelerate the development of its AI-driven clinical trial optimization platform. The investment comes just seven months after the company's €3.5 million Series A round in November 2024, led by healthtech specialist YZR Capital and Mustard Seed Maze.
Addressing Critical Industry Inefficiencies
Clinical trials face significant operational challenges that delay patient access to potentially life-saving therapies. According to the company's data, approximately 70% of clinical trials experience startup delays, while nearly 60% require costly amendments that average between $250,000 and $450,000 each. These disruptions primarily stem from poorly designed protocols, miscommunication at trial sites, and logistical mistakes.
Pedro Coelho, CEO of Biorce, emphasized the personal motivation behind the company's mission: "We're tackling the root causes of delay and inefficiency in clinical trials: issues that cost time, money, and ultimately lives. When my father was diagnosed with cancer, we were lucky to find a clinical trial that extended his life by ten months, but that kind of access is far from the norm."
AI-Native Platform Shows Measurable Impact
At the core of Biorce's solution is Jarvis, an AI-native platform designed to streamline clinical trial processes from protocol design to patient recruitment and site selection. The therapeutic area-agnostic system provides tailored recommendations and predicts which sites are most likely to succeed, helping trial sponsors avoid common pitfalls.
The platform has already demonstrated measurable impact, having streamlined over 300 clinical trial protocols across diverse therapeutic areas including oncology and neurology. Biorce's technology is currently being adopted by leading pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology firms, and contract research organizations (CROs).
Market Opportunity and Growth Projections
The clinical trial market is projected to experience substantial growth, expanding from $84 billion in 2024 to $150 billion by 2034. AI-driven solutions like Biorce's Jarvis platform are positioned to unlock significant value, with potential industry savings estimated at $13-25 billion. The technology could reduce trial amendments by 30-50% and accelerate protocol improvements by 25%.
Tove Larsson, General Partner at Norrsken VC, highlighted the investment rationale: "Biorce is exactly the kind of pioneering company we're here to back. They're combining deep sector expertise with cutting-edge AI to solve what truly matters. Their platform has the potential to radically reduce both the time and cost of bringing new treatments to market."
Strategic Expansion Plans
The fresh €5 million investment will be allocated toward several key growth initiatives. The company plans to expand its sales team in the United States, accelerate product development, and scale operations to drive revenue growth toward eight-digit figures. Coelho outlined priorities including hiring AI engineers and sales professionals while establishing a stronger US market presence.
Biorce currently operates in Spain, the UK, and the Nordic countries. The company has experienced significant client interest and doubled its team size since its first funding round in November 2024, having been part of Norrsken Barcelona from its early beginnings.
Industry Validation and Future Outlook
The rapid succession of funding rounds demonstrates strong investor confidence in Biorce's approach to addressing clinical trial inefficiencies. Markus Feuerecker, Founding Partner at YZR Capital, noted: "From day one, we had a strong conviction in the team and the market. The early traction has been outstanding, and it's been exciting to watch their momentum build."
Sofia Queiroz, Investment Principal at Mustard Seed Maze, added: "Biorce's journey since we backed Pedro and the team has been truly impressive — from strong product development and real-world outcomes to tangible commercial traction. This rapid growth demonstrates that the company is addressing a genuine market need."
The investment from Norrsken VC aligns with the firm's recent €300 million commitment, announced alongside Norrsken Launcher and Norrsken Accelerator, to support European startups using AI to tackle pressing global challenges. For pharmaceutical companies, the potential savings from implementing AI-driven clinical trial solutions could reach tens of millions annually, making Biorce's technology increasingly attractive as the industry seeks to improve efficiency and reduce costs.
