The Italian startup targets the non-human market first before expanding into clinical applications — a bold, strategic bet on where genomics goes next
GenoGra, the B2B startup redefining the standards of genomic analysis, has announced the closing of a €1 million pre-seed investment round. The deal brings together a consortium of high-profile investors and marks a decisive step forward for one of the most ambitious genomics ventures to emerge from Italy in recent years.
The investment round was led by Maia Ventures (Praesidium SA) through its Maia I fund, in which the European Investment Fund (EIF) participates via the InvestEU Fund programme. Additional investors include a sector-specialist business angel, PM Holding, and Terra Next — the acceleration programme dedicated to innovative startups and SMEs in the bioeconomy sector, born from an initiative by CDP Venture Capital with the participation of Intesa Sanpaolo Innovation Center and Cariplo Factory.
Maia Ventures (Praesidium SA) through Maia I, backed by the European Investment Fund via the InvestEU Fund.
PM Holding, a sector business angel, and Terra Next (CDP Venture Capital, Intesa Sanpaolo Innovation Center, Cariplo Factory).
"This round represents a strategic milestone for GenoGra. With the support of investors who share our vision, we are ready to accelerate the development of the platform and demonstrate how pangenomics can radically improve the way we analyse and interpret genomic data. A necessary revolution to fully understand the mechanisms underlying DNA and move closer to an ever more complete reading of the genetic code."
— Guido Walter Di Donato, CEO & Founder, GenoGra
GenoGra was born from the NECSTlab at Politecnico di Milano, one of Italy's most respected engineering research centres, and was subsequently accelerated by Bocconi 4 Innovation. This academic pedigree underpins the startup's core technological proposition: a proprietary platform built on pangenomic graphs that optimises and simplifies population genomics workflows.
The platform delivers results that are faster, more accurate, and immediately actionable — dramatically reducing analysis times compared to existing solutions on the market.
Proprietary graph-based technology enabling richer, more complete genomic representation across entire populations.
Proprietary tools engineered for speed and accuracy, drastically cutting the time needed to process large-scale genomic datasets.
Advanced visual tools that make complex genomic data immediately interpretable for researchers and analysts.
GenoGra's go-to-market strategy is deliberately phased. The startup's initial focus is on the non-human segment — a vast and underserved landscape spanning agrifood, livestock, energy, and industrial microorganisms. These sectors have historically had limited access to advanced genomic analysis tools, making them prime ground for a scalable, accessible platform like GenoGra's.
The non-human genomics market offers faster regulatory pathways, high commercial demand, and a direct proving ground for the platform's core capabilities. By establishing product-market fit here, GenoGra builds the credibility and data foundation required for its future expansion into human clinical applications.
In parallel, the team is already working on the certification and validation of its technology for human applications, positioning itself for a seamless transition into clinical genomics.
The technological core of GenoGra's platform lies in a top-down approach to population genomics. Rather than analysing individual genomes in isolation, the platform enables researchers to process large volumes of genetic data and compare multiple samples simultaneously.
This comparative approach makes it significantly easier to identify genetic variants shared across a population and understand how those variants relate to observable traits — such as disease predisposition, productivity markers, or stress resilience.
The implications for biomarker discovery and precision medicine are profound: GenoGra's platform opens new horizons for understanding the genetic basis of complex traits and accelerating research that was previously constrained by the limitations of reference-genome-based approaches.
Traditional genomic analysis relies on a single reference genome, inevitably missing genetic diversity present across populations. Pangenomics captures this full spectrum, representing the genetic variation of an entire species or group — not just one individual.
GenoGra's interactive visualisation tools transform raw genomic data into interpretable insights, reducing the expertise barrier and enabling faster, more confident decision-making for researchers and industry professionals alike.
The funds raised will be deployed across two parallel tracks: launching the product for non-human applications and achieving product-market fit, while simultaneously advancing the certification and validation process for human clinical use.
GenoGra also plans to significantly expand its team throughout 2026, building the talent base needed to support both commercial scale-up and continued R&D.
The startup is already conducting pilot projects and proof-of-concept studies with a diverse set of stakeholders:
GenoGra is among the startups that the bioERGOtech Foundation had the pleasure of supporting and showcasing at the Taranto Biotech Days. Watching the team evolve from competition participants to pre-seed-funded company with a clear go-to-market trajectory is exactly the kind of journey our ecosystem is built to enable.
GenoGra's progress is a testament to what becomes possible when deep scientific expertise, strategic vision, and the right institutional support converge. We look forward to following — and supporting — their continued growth.
GenoGra's launch marks a new chapter in population genomics — one where pangenomic analysis becomes accessible, scalable, and immediately actionable for industries that have long needed it. From agrifood to precision medicine, the ripple effects of this technology are only beginning to be felt.