AI Discovery Awards
AI Discovery by Nebius is an annual awards for startups that are leveraging AI to revolutionize drug discovery, biotechnology, genomics and HealthTech.
Our mission is to spotlight new technologies, foster collaboration between startups and potential investors, and propel the next generation of breakthroughs in healthcare.
How it was last year
How it was last year
In 2025 we received 257 submissions, and 103 have advanced to the semifinal.
Our panel of 19 distinguished judges — including leaders from top industry organizations — selected the top three nominees in each of four categories.
Award categories
BioPharma
Accelerating drug discovery with computational biology, molecular modeling, and AI-driven compound design.
Genomics
Advancing sequencing analysis with scalable workflows for variant detection and genomic insights.
Digital Health
Transforming clinical workflows with AI-powered patient interaction and real-world data intelligence.
Medical Devices
Enabling real-time AI for connected medical equipment and intelligent bedside systems.
Medical Imaging
Enhancing radiology and pathology with AI-driven image analysis and multimodal diagnostics.
Preliminary timeline
April 30, 2026
Applications submission deadline
May 15, 2026
Announcement of the semifinalists
June, 2026
Final consideration
June-July, 2026
Official award ceremony
Winners receive
Who can apply
Each participant should have a legal entity, a functioning website, product MVP and GTM strategy.
Startups developing AI products in fields such as biopharma, genomics, medical devices, medical imaging.
Bootstrapped, self-funded and funded startups at any stage from pre-seed up to and including Series D.
Qualification criteria
AI-powered
The product leverages advanced AI/ML models that require scalable GPU infrastructure for training, fine-tuning or inference, effectively utilizing high-performance computing environments.
Technological innovation
The product or service advances the industry by introducing new capabilities or significant improvements.
Functionality and advantages
The product offers superior or unique functionality, providing a competitive edge and enhancing business processes.
Performance and efficiency
The product delivers measurable results with clear metrics or case studies, improving customer performance effectively.
Global impact
The product addresses unique needs and solves specific problems, creating meaningful value on a global scale.
Market potential and business sustainability
The product demonstrates strong market demand and long-term potential, ensuring growth opportunities and a sustainable competitive advantage.
Apply now
Judging committee
To join the judging committee, please reach out to dpol@nebius.com.
Dr. Ilya Burkov
Nebius
Global Head of Life Sciences and Healthcare Growth, with 15+ years of experience across clinical medicine, biotech and cloud. Previously at Cambridge University, Addenbrooke’s and AWS, he brings a unique blend of expertise to healthcare innovation. He is passionate about using AI and cloud technologies to drive scientific progress and improve patient outcomes.
Lev Kogon, PhD
Nykode Therapeutics
PhD in Health Economics. Biotech and pharma leader with 15+ years of global experience in strategy, business development, and licensing. VP at Nykode Therapeutics. Worked for Bayer, Daiichi Sankyo and GSK.
Anna Kostikova, PhD
Monte Rosa Therapeutics
PhD in computational biology and bioinformatics. Biotech and pharma leader with 15+ years of experience in AI-driven drug discovery and development. Senior Director at Monte Rosa Therapeutics. Co-founder and CSO at Asylia Diagnostics and InsideDNA. Worked for Novartis.
Kelly Kung
Accel
Investor at Accel, focused on enterprise software and AI infrastructure. Previously at General Atlantic and J.P. Morgan, Kelly also worked in AI research at Harvard and held commercial roles at early-stage startups in the US and UK.
Javier Nunez-Vicandi
Sofinnova Partners
Principal at Sofinnova Partners, focused on digital medicine and investments at the intersection of healthcare and technology. Former VC at Heal Capital and M Ventures, and former clinical doctor at Oxford University Hospitals.
Pavel Sinitcyn, PhD
Utrecht University
Assistant Professor in AI Technology for Life, and Biomolecular Mass Spectrometry groups at Utrecht University.
Cedric Steenbeke
NVIDIA
A healthcare tech expert with 15+ years of experience, leads NVIDIA’s Healthcare & Life Sciences startup ecosystem in EMEA. Previously at Microsoft, he shaped healthcare data platforms and AI adoption, driving digital health innovation.
Nick Venanzi
NVIDIA
Senior Solutions Architect at NVIDIA, designing AI and high performance computing solutions for computational biology and drug discovery. Previously a founding AI/ML engineer at a biotech startup, seasoned in building machine learning pipelines for therapeutics and shaping companies’ AI strategies.
How Healthcare & Life Sciences leaders use Nebius solutions
See how HCLS leaders are overcoming compute challenges. These stories reveal the strategies shaping the future of the Healthcare & Lifesciences sector.
Nebius partners for Healthcare & Life Sciences
Our solutions for the Healthcare & Life Sciences industry go beyond products. Our partners are here to assist your organization at every level to build and execute transformative AI strategies, products and services.
FAQ
The application deadline is on April 30, 2026.