# Atomic AI

> Atomic AI is a South San Francisco biotechnology company fusing machine learning with structural biology to unlock RNA drug discovery. Its platform pairs in-house wet-lab chemical-mapping data with deep learning models - including ATOM-1, a foundation model for RNA structure, and PARSE, its RNA structure exploration platform - to find structured, ligandable RNA motifs and design selective small molecules and RNA-based medicines for targets long considered undruggable.

- **Founded:** 2021
- **Headquarters:** South San Francisco, California, United States
- **Founders:** Raphael Townshend (Founder & CEO)
- **Team size:** ~30 employees
- **Products:** ATOM-1, PARSE (Platform for AI-driven RNA Structure Exploration), RNA-targeted small molecules, RNA-based medicines & tools
- **Notable:** Built ATOM-1, described as the first foundation model leveraging in-house chemical mapping data for RNA structure and function (preprint, Dec 2023)., Raised $42M total ($7M seed + $35M Series A) from top deep-tech and biotech investors., Founder Raphael Townshend's RNA structure research featured on the cover of Science (2021).

## Products & services

- **ATOM-1** — A foundation model for RNA structure and function, trained on large-scale in-house chemical mapping data spanning millions of RNA sequences and over a billion nucleotide-level measurements. The company says it predicts RNA secondary and tertiary structure more accurately than previously published methods.
- **PARSE (Platform for AI-driven RNA Structure Exploration)** — Atomic AI's integrated R&D platform that combines deep learning models with custom wet-lab assays to discover structured, ligandable RNA motifs and drive RNA-targeted drug discovery.
- **RNA-targeted small molecules** — Internal pipeline focused on discovering and developing highly potent, selective small-molecule drugs against RNA targets.
- **RNA-based medicines & tools** — Platform-enabled design of RNA-based therapeutics and research tools, pursued in part through partnerships.

## Achievements

- Built ATOM-1, described as the first foundation model leveraging in-house chemical mapping data for RNA structure and function (preprint, Dec 2023).
- Raised $42M total ($7M seed + $35M Series A) from top deep-tech and biotech investors.
- Founder Raphael Townshend's RNA structure research featured on the cover of Science (2021).
- Townshend named to Forbes 30 Under 30 (2022).
- Recruited Bristol Myers Squibb and Ribometrix veteran Dr. Manjunath Ramarao as Chief Scientific Officer.
- Named among 'Five Small Biotechs to Watch' by Pharma's Almanac (Feb 2025).

## Latest updates

- **2025-06** — Founder & CEO Raphael Townshend announced as a speaker at the BIO 2025 International Convention in San Diego.
- **2025-04** — Featured at the New Frontiers in AI + Biotechnology Summit.
- **2025-02** — Named one of 'Five Small Biotechs to Watch' by Pharma's Almanac.
- **2024-05** — Added RNA expert Dr. Amanda Garner to its Scientific Advisory Board.
- **2024-02** — Appointed Stuart Peltz, Ph.D. as an independent member of the Board of Directors and expanded the Scientific Advisory Board.
- **2023-12** — Published ATOM-1 foundation model preprint on bioRxiv.
- **2023-10** — Named Dr. Manjunath Ramarao as Chief Scientific Officer.

## Links

- Website: https://atomic.ai
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/atomic-ai-rna/
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/AtomicAICo

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/atomic-ai
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-06-16