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Startups14,448Programs29

14,448 startups · 29 programs

Kernal Biologics

Active · Kernal is creating mRNA 2.0 therapies that work in specific cells

WebsiteYC profile

Why it ranks

How the rank works
11signal of 100 · rising 2
  • team of 20Team size · YC's directory+6.9
  • went through YCProgram · this site+4

A sum of public facts, not a judgement and not investment advice.

Competitors

OtherEntelexo BiotherapeuticsShared: autoimmune disease, biotech, creatingYC W21IrvineStartup →AIAltay TherapeuticsShared: approved therapy, fda approved, biotechYC W20San FranciscoStartup →AISFA TherapeuticsShared: autoimmune disease, biotech, creatingYC S21PhiladelphiaStartup →OtherParcelBioShared: autoimmune disease, biotech, mrnaYC W24San FranciscoStartup →OtherAsher BioShared: biotech, cell, targetedYC S19San FranciscoStartup →
Companies closest to Kernal Biologics
Company
Entelexo BiotherapeuticsShared: autoimmune disease, biotech, creatingYC W21ActiveOther
Altay TherapeuticsShared: approved therapy, fda approved, biotechYC W20ActiveAI
SFA TherapeuticsShared: autoimmune disease, biotech, creatingYC S21ActiveAI
ParcelBioShared: autoimmune disease, biotech, mrnaYC W24ActiveOther
Asher BioShared: biotech, cell, targetedYC S19ActiveOther

Adjacent

OtherEpana BioShared: autoimmune disease, therapy, precisionSPC 2025San FranciscoStartup →AINanograbShared: specific cell, biotech, therapyYC S23LondonStartup →OtherMytosShared: specific cell, biotech, treatYC S18LondonStartup →OtherTorpedo TherapeuticsShared: approved therapy, fda approved, biotechYC W22BostonStartup →OtherSigma GeneticsShared: genomics, biotech, cellYC W17SeattleStartup →
Companies next to Kernal Biologics
Company
Epana BioShared: autoimmune disease, therapy, precisionSPC 2025Not statedOther
NanograbShared: specific cell, biotech, therapyYC S23ActiveAI
MytosShared: specific cell, biotech, treatYC S18ActiveOther
Torpedo TherapeuticsShared: approved therapy, fda approved, biotechYC W22ActiveOther
Sigma GeneticsShared: genomics, biotech, cellYC W17ActiveOther

Also from S20 in AI

All of S20
AINephrogenCurative genetic medicines for kidney diseasesYC S20New York CityStartup →AIadynThe first test designed to prevent birth control side effectsYC S20SeattleStartup →AIInactiveAI.FashionAI.Fashion is the AI creative suite for the fashion industry.YC S20Los AngelesStartup →AIAkiflowAll your tasks and calendars into an AI-powered productivity appYC S20CTStartup →AIAcquiredAquarium LearningWe help ML teams improve their models by improving their datasetsYC S20San FranciscoStartup →AIAtomicAPI that lets companies embed investment accounts into their servicesYC S20San FranciscoStartup →
Company
NephrogenCurative genetic medicines for kidney diseasesteam of 5ActiveAI
adynThe first test designed to prevent birth control side effectsteam of 7hiringActiveAI
AI.FashionAI.Fashion is the AI creative suite for the fashion industry.team of 11InactiveAI
AkiflowAll your tasks and calendars into an AI-powered productivity appteam of 18hiringActiveAI
Aquarium LearningWe help ML teams improve their models by improving their datasetsteam of 12acquiredAcquiredAI, Devtools
AtomicAPI that lets companies embed investment accounts into their servicesteam of 25hiringActiveAI

About Kernal Biologics

Kernal Bio is a biotech company pioneering mRNA 2.0 immunotherapies. We leverage selective mRNA-LNP technology to treat cancer and autoimmune diseases with precision, ensuring targeted cell delivery and minimal off-target effects. Our KR-402 program achieves over 90% delivery efficiency with T-cell-targeted LNPs, enabling direct CAR-T programming within the body and resulting in B-cell depletion within a week. Kernal Bio is led by a team with experience from MIT, Harvard, Merck, and BMS, boasting three FDA-approved therapies and over 120 patents. Based in Cambridge, MA, we are backed by Hummingbird Ventures, Amgen Ventures, HBM, and even NASA. With roots at MIT, Harvard and Biopharma, Kernal’s management team has deep expertise in mRNA therapeutics space. CEO Yusuf Erkul, M.D., M.B.A. is a successful drug hunter whose research at Merck enabled an FDA-approved drug for ovarian cancer. President Burak Yilmaz, M.S., previously founded Sentegen, a thriving synthetic biology company which commercializes synthetic DNA, RNA, and diagnostic kits for genetic and infectious diseases. Sr. VP of R&D Manfred Kraus is a leader in immuno-oncology, who was most recently Scientific Sr. Director at Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS).

YC batch
S20 · Summer 2020
Status, per YC
Active
Category
AI
Team size
20
Location
Boston, MA, USA
Checked
7h ago

YC tags: Biotech, Genomics, AI

Changes seen

TagsOct 19, 2026

Newly tagged AI; no longer tagged Artificial Intelligence.

Source ↗

Kernal Biologics in S20: 209 companies, 28% AI

Kernal Biologics: questions

Which YC batch was Kernal Biologics in?

Kernal Biologics was in Y Combinator's Summer 2020 batch (S20).

Is Kernal Biologics still active?

Y Combinator lists Kernal Biologics as active.

Where is Kernal Biologics based?

Kernal Biologics lists Boston, MA, USA as its location on YC's directory.