AI X Bio Philly: Stop # 3 for BioInnovation Series

Artificial intelligence is a hot topic in nearly every sector, but in life sciences, its potential is truly game-changing—from accelerating drug discovery and improving diagnostics to streamlining manufacturing, optimizing processes, and automating documentation. Stop #3 of the BioInnovation Series was dedicated to exploring these possibilities and showcasing how Philadelphia’s innovators are at the forefront of shaping that future.

The sold out event was hosted by BioBuzz alongside co-hosts CIC Philadelphia, Atria Ventures, Zetta Venture Partners, and Bits in Bio, the event took place at CIC’s beautiful Philadelphia incubator, bringing together scientists, entrepreneurs, investors, and operators for engaging discussions on how AI is already making an impact and what’s next on the horizon.

Now in its first year, the BioInnovation Series is designed to spotlight breakthrough innovations in rising biotech markets across the country. And in Philadelphia—an iconic city with a deep-rooted legacy in medicine and a rapidly growing reputation as a hub for life sciences and startups—this stop made it clear: the region is not just participating in the AI revolution. 

Who’s Leading the AI Revolution in Philly?

The evening was filled with both insight and inspiration as local executives and founders took the stage to demonstrate how they are leveraging AI and machine learning to drive innovation in their companies. For them, AI isn’t just a passing trend; it’s a core technology that’s transforming biotech and healthcare to deliver better outcomes and, ultimately, help more patients. A standout moment of the event was a series of rapid-fire, ten-minute presentations from Philadelphia-based companies using AI to make real, impactful changes in human health. These companies are harnessing the power of AI in bold and practical ways to address critical challenges in healthcare and improve patient care.

Kicking things off was Irene Rombel, CEO of BioCurie, which is using AI to reduce human error and optimize processes in cell and gene therapy manufacturing—one of the most complex and costly areas of biotech. Their platform doesn’t aim to replace scientists; instead, it empowers them with better, faster decision-making and reduces variability in a field where precision is everything.

Next up was Dave Latshaw, CEO of BioPhy, a company focused on helping biotech firms stay ahead of constantly evolving regulatory environments. As documentation requirements grow more complex, BioPhy’s software ensures SOPs, processes, and quality systems remain current and compliant. In an industry where a single misstep can delay progress by months, that kind of operational agility is a major competitive edge.

Mittul Mehta, Chief Information Officer at Tevogen Bio and lead of Tevogen AI, followed with a look at how they’re applying AI to advance precision medicine. Through their ExacTcell platform, Tevogen is integrating automation and AI into the development of off-the-shelf CD8+ T cell therapies—helping make potentially curative immunotherapies more scalable and accessible to broader patient populations.

Closing out the lineup was Nathan Buchbinder, Co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer of Proscia, a company that’s redefining pathology with the power of AI. Proscia’s Concentriq® platform is helping pathologists diagnose cancer more accurately and efficiently by analyzing biopsy images, surfacing critical insights, and highlighting areas of concern—augmenting human expertise, not replacing it.

In March 2025, Proscia announced a $50M fundraise, bringing its total funding to $130M. This milestone follows a year of record-breaking growth in 2024. Today, 16 of the top 20 pharmaceutical companies use Proscia’s platform, and over 22,000 patients are expected to be diagnosed daily using Concentriq®.

A Conversation That Delivered

After the high-energy company presentations, the evening continued with a riveting panel discussion moderated by AJ Adejare, from the Philadelphia chapter of Bits in Bio, featuring a powerhouse group of speakers: Chris Leiter, Founder of Atria Ventures; Dylan Reid, Managing Partner at Zetta Venture Partners; Dave Apfel, Head of External R&D at Johnson & Johnson; and Dave Latshaw, CEO of BioPhy. The panel offered an engaging conversation about how AI is transforming the biotech sector, providing insights from various perspectives—investment, corporate partnerships, and leadership.

Dylan and Chris, both early-stage investors, shared valuable insights into their investment strategies. While they are active in top biotech hubs like Boston and San Francisco, they are also looking beyond these traditional ecosystems—investing in cities like Pittsburgh and, notably, Philadelphia. Both emphasized how Philadelphia, often overlooked, is a "hidden gem" that offers unique opportunities for growth. They highlighted the region's strong academic foundation, emerging startup culture, and growing sense of community among innovators and investors. For them, Philadelphia represents an untapped market where early-stage investments can have a significant impact.

Dave Apfel brought the big pharma perspective, sharing how Johnson & Johnson is approaching AI adoption. He provided insight into how large pharmaceutical companies are not just engaging with AI but actively seeking partnerships with AI-driven startups. Dave explained how J&J is integrating AI technologies into its R&D processes and how smaller companies can position themselves as key partners in that journey.

Finally, Dave Latshaw offered his perspective as a CEO of an AI-driven biotech company. He discussed the challenges and opportunities of raising capital, managing collaborations, and scaling AI technology within biotech. His experience illuminated the practical realities of building a company in the rapidly evolving AI healthcare space.

Together, the panel provided a comprehensive view of how AI is reshaping the biotech landscape and highlighted why Philadelphia is poised to play a central role in that transformation.

About BioBuzz’s Philadelphia BioInnovation Series

Officially launching at the end of 2024, BioBuzz is bringing its successful life sciences community-building approach to Philadelphia, following over a decade of cultivating a community of more than 10,000 professionals in Maryland. The core mission of the Philadelphia BioInnovation Series is to create a scientist-focused ecosystem where innovators can come together to share ideas, collaborate, and advance the life sciences industry. This event series kicked off in February 2025 and has already made a significant impact, with the AI X Bio Philly event serving as the third stop in the series.

The series aims to continue fostering connections across the life sciences community, with the next event scheduled to take place at CRB Philadelphia. Through these events, BioBuzz hopes to provide a platform for showcasing cutting-edge advancements, supporting early-stage startups, and connecting investors, scientists, and entrepreneurs.

The AI X Bio Philly event was an overwhelming success, thanks in large part to our incredible co-hosts: CIC Philadelphia, Zetta Venture Partners, Atria Ventures, and Bits in Bio. We’d also like to extend our heartfelt thanks to our generous BioInnovation Series sponsors—Qiagen, Biocair, Brandywine, B+Labs, Choice MedWaste, Workforce Genetics, CRB, Connor Strong & Buckelew, Kymanox, and Keen Gas—for their continued support in making these events possible. Without their partnership, the success of this series wouldn’t have been possible.