A batch of cell therapy can be worth over a million dollars by the time it reaches final quality control. The process is a data nightmare, with information scattered across paper records, isolated instruments, and different teams. Native Labs, a UK startup, is building an AI layer to sit on top of that chaos, aiming to predict failures before they scrap a batch [LinkedIn, May 2025].
The biomanufacturing data bottleneck
The company’s product is described as a next-generation quality operating system for drug manufacturing. Its core function is to unify manufacturing data from disparate sources, automate manual quality processes, and use neural network models to predict issues in real time [Perplexity Sonar Pro Brief]. The target is the cell and gene therapy sector, where processes are complex, batches are small and valuable, and regulatory scrutiny is intense. For developers and contract manufacturers, the platform promises to turn historical process data into a predictive asset, potentially improving yield and reducing costly deviations.
A team built at the intersection
The founding team brings together the necessary, and rare, combination of deep bioprocessing experience and applied AI robotics. CEO Louis Brookstein’s background is in CAR-T and induced pluripotent stem cell manufacturing, giving him direct insight into the production challenges [Perplexity Sonar Pro Brief]. CTO Arya Shabani holds a PhD in robotics and AI and led the development of a patented intelligent 3D bioprinter for manufacturing human tissues, an award-winning project that commercialized robotics in a biological context [Perplexity Sonar Pro Brief]. This pairing suggests the company is approaching the problem from the ground up, with an understanding of both the biological material and the machines and data systems that handle it.
| Role | Name | Key Background |
|---|---|---|
| CEO & Co-Founder | Louis Brookstein | Experience in CAR-T and iPSC manufacturing. |
| CTO & Co-Founder | Arya Shabani, PhD | Award-winning PhD in robotics & AI; led development of a patented intelligent 3D bioprinter. |
Early traction and the path forward
Native Labs is in the validation phase. The company closed a pre-seed equity round in May 2025, led by Zinc VC, which FundedIQ reports was for $200,000 [FundedIQ, July 2026]. This followed non-dilutive support from an Innovate UK grant, lab space at Stevenage Bioscience Catalyst, and participation in the Science Creates accelerator [LinkedIn, May 2025]. The capital is earmarked for deploying the platform into manufacturing sites and process-development labs for early testing. The company has stated it is working with early adopters and inviting beta testers to co-develop tailored AI solutions [LinkedIn, May 2025].
The technical premise rests on integrating with existing lab equipment and workflows to create a unified data lake. From there, the platform’s neural networks would analyze patterns to flag anomalies or predict outcomes like cell viability. The potential scale problem isn’t compute, but data quality and integration. Success depends on:
- Data access. Convincing risk-averse manufacturers to provide deep, historical process data for model training.
- Integration depth. Building connectors for a fragmented landscape of bioreactors, analyzers, and legacy lab information management systems (LIMS).
- Regulatory alignment. Ensuring any AI-driven recommendation or automated decision is explainable and auditable for FDA or EMA submissions.
At scale, the largest risk is that the platform becomes another data silo instead of the unifying layer. If integration is too shallow or the AI models cannot deliver clear, actionable insights that improve the bottom line, the product becomes a nice-to-have dashboard rather than a critical operating system. The company’s next twelve months will be defined by its ability to move from a promising beta to a deployed system that demonstrates a measurable impact on batch success rates for its first commercial partners.
Sources
- [LinkedIn, May 2025] Native Labs Closes Pre-Seed Round to Advance AI Platform Enabling the Industrialisation of Cell and Gene Therapies | https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/native-labs-closes-pre-seed-round-advance-ai-platform-brookstein-6yvje
- [FundedIQ, July 2026] Native Labs Funding | https://fundediq.co/native-labs-nativelabs-ai-funding/
- [Perplexity Sonar Pro Brief] Native Labs product, team, and technology description
- [Science Creates, October 2026] Native Labs | https://www.sciencecreates.co.uk/companies/native-labs