Rivia, a company developing AI-driven analytics and data infrastructure for clinical trials, has raised €13 million in a Series A round led by Earlybird, with participation from Defiant and existing investors Speedinvest, Amino Collective, and Nina Capital.
The funding will support product development, team growth, and international expansion, particularly targeting the US biotech market as demand for more efficient trial execution increases.
What The Company Does
Founded in 2022 by Erik Scalfaro and Tiago Kieliger, Rivia is building a data infrastructure layer designed to improve how clinical trials are managed and analyzed. The platform integrates large volumes of fragmented trial data into a unified system, enabling real-time processing and more structured workflows.
At its core, Rivia combines a foundational data engine with a layer of AI-driven agents that automate key operational processes. The system applies trial-specific scientific logic through a proprietary library of reusable configurations, allowing data from multiple sources to be harmonized and directly embedded into clinical workflows.
One of the platform’s key features is its ability to replace manual, repetitive tasks such as data validation, reconciliation, and monitoring with automated processes. Its first AI agent, Spark, converts natural language inputs into publication-ready clinical visualizations, while additional agents are being developed to monitor data quality, detect deviations early, and support decision-making through structured actions.
Advertisement
Market Context / Industry Background
The clinical trial landscape has become increasingly complex over the past decade. Data volumes have grown by more than 400 percent, while many organizations still rely on legacy systems and spreadsheet-based processes. This fragmentation leads to inefficiencies, delays, and increased operational risk.
At the same time, the economics of drug development are under pressure. Industry returns have declined significantly, from around 11 percent ten years ago to approximately 3 percent today, while the number of successful therapies remains limited.
Regulatory expectations are also evolving. Recent guidance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration emphasizes proactive risk management, compliance, and the adoption of innovative technologies in trial design and execution. These trends are driving demand for platforms that can improve both efficiency and data integrity across clinical operations.
Founder / Investor Commentary
CEO and co-founder Erik Scalfaro described the company’s development strategy as intentionally sequential, beginning with a strong data foundation before introducing AI agents. He explained that this approach has created a structural advantage, allowing Rivia to support complex global trials with measurable outcomes.
He noted that biotech companies using the platform have been able to prevent costly issues and gain earlier insights into patient response, while the system itself becomes more effective over time as its underlying data structures expand.
Scalfaro added that the company’s long-term goal is to enable clinical trials to scale through automated workflows and AI systems rather than incremental increases in human labor.
Christian Nagel, Partner and co-founder at Earlybird, highlighted the broader industry challenge, pointing out that clinical trials remain among the most complex and resource-intensive processes in healthcare. He stated that Rivia’s approach of embedding intelligence directly into operational workflows has the potential to improve execution, reduce costs, and enhance data quality, supporting faster and more reliable drug development.
Growth Plans / Use Of Funds
The newly raised capital will be used to expand Rivia’s team and accelerate the development of its agent-based product suite. A key focus will be scaling the platform’s capabilities to support a wider range of clinical trial use cases and increasing adoption among biotech companies.
The company also plans to strengthen its presence in international markets, with particular emphasis on the United States, where regulatory developments and market size create significant opportunities for advanced clinical trial technologies.
Further investment will be directed toward enhancing the platform’s automation capabilities, including the rollout of additional AI agents designed to improve monitoring, compliance, and operational efficiency across trial workflows.
About Rivia
Rivia is an AI-driven data infrastructure company focused on clinical trials. Founded in 2022 and headquartered in Zurich, the company develops platforms that integrate and analyze complex trial data while embedding AI agents into operational processes. Its mission is to improve the efficiency, scalability, and reliability of clinical trials, supporting faster and more cost-effective drug development.
