Stanford University professor James Zou is fundraising for Human Intelligence at a ~$1 billion valuation. The startup aims to use artificial intelligence to study human physiology.
Zou, a computer science professor at Stanford, is seeking approximately $100 million in funding for the venture, according to sources cited by Bloomberg.
Human Intelligence focuses on developing AI models designed to advance understanding of how the human body functions at a physiological level. The approach leverages machine learning to analyze biological systems and processes.
The $1 billion valuation places Human Intelligence among a growing cohort of AI-focused biotech startups gaining significant investor interest. The funding round reflects broader momentum in applying large language models and neural networks to healthcare and life sciences research.
Zou has established credentials in AI research and its applications to biology. His work at Stanford has centered on machine learning methods for understanding complex biological data.
The fundraising effort comes as venture capital continues flowing toward AI companies addressing specific scientific and medical challenges. Human Intelligence's focus on physiology positions it within the intersection of computational biology and generative AI.
Town, an enterprise personal AI assistant platform, is in talks to raise funding at a $1 billion valuation in a round led by Index Ventures, according to sources.
Product management platform Linear reached $100M in annual recurring revenue and conducted a $99M employee tender offer at a $2.5B valuation, doubling its valuation from $1.25B in 2025.
Flipboard is acquiring Bluesky feed-building startup Graze, integrating its ad technology and creator monetization tools into its open social web platform.
Artificial intelligence is fundamentally changing how startups operate, not just what they build. According to Floodgate co-founder Ann Miura-Ko, companies are deploying AI agents across engineering, sales, marketing, and strategy to accelerate learning and execution.