Magnitude Biosciences Raises £1.3M Seed Led by Northstar Ventures

Magnitude Biosciences Closes £1.3M Seed Round

Magnitude Biosciences, a contract research organisation and Durham University spinout based in Durham, UK, has raised £1.3 million in Seed funding. The round was led by Northstar Ventures and included participation from Maven Capital Partners. The funding was announced on September 15, 2026.

Company Background

Founded in 2018, Magnitude Biosciences helps biotech, pharma, and nutrition clients evaluate potential treatments using whole-organism C. elegans models. Its VivoScan platform combines automated imaging, robotics, and AI to screen large compound libraries in living organisms.

The company supports programmes in healthy ageing, neurodegeneration, toxicity, gut health, and metabolism. Its customer base spans drug-discovery and consumer-health organisations, ranging from pharmaceutical companies to nutraceutical and microbiome developers.

What the Funding Supports

The Seed round provides Magnitude Biosciences with capital to further develop its VivoScan platform and expand its contract research services. The platform's ability to screen compounds in whole organisms offers an alternative to traditional in vitro methods, potentially providing more relevant data for early-stage drug discovery and consumer health product development.

Funding Details

• Round type: Seed
• Amount: £1,300,000 GBP
• Announced: September 15, 2026
• Lead investor: Northstar Ventures
• Additional investors: Maven Capital Partners

Market Context

As a Durham University spinout, Magnitude Biosciences operates at the intersection of academic research and commercial drug discovery. The C. elegans model organism is widely used in ageing and neurodegeneration research, and the company's automated platform aims to make large-scale screening more efficient. With backing from Northstar Ventures and Maven Capital Partners, the company is positioned to grow its client base across pharma, biotech, and nutrition sectors.

For those tracking life-science tools and contract research organisations, Magnitude Biosciences represents a specialised player in whole-organism screening with a focus on healthy ageing and metabolic health.