Sema4’s data analysis health intelligence platform

Sema4 is a Stamford, Connecticut-based healthcare intelligence company, using data analysis to help improve the diagnosis and treatment of disease.

The company says its mission is to use the models it produces to transform healthcare. Its platform, Centrellis, analyses healthcare data to optimise care, initially in reproductive health. The company recently launched a family of products known as Sema4 Signal, with a new focus on oncology.

Sema4 also said it was participating in the response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic by providing a “holistic” testing platform, making use of the expertise it has acquired.

Since being founded in 2017, the company has raised $241mn across two funding rounds. Its latest Series C round, announced yesterday, raised the company $121mn from lead investor BlackRock, alongside Section 32, Oak HC/FT, Moore Strategic Ventures, Deerfield, Decheng Capital, Connecticut Innovations and Blackstone Group.

In a press release, Eric Schadt, PhD, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Sema4, said: “This investment is exciting for the significant financial resources it provides Sema4 for our continued rapid growth and accelerated investment, and also for the world-renowned partners it brings to our team. I look forward to working with our new and existing investors — who collectively have deep expertise in the life and data sciences — as we create cutting-edge precision medicine solutions for providers and patients to dramatically improve health outcomes.”

The investment has boosted the company into becoming the latest medtech unicorn (a startup valued at over $1bn).

William Abecassis, Head of Innovation Capital at BlackRock, said: “Sema4 is a leader at the forefront of one of the most exciting intersections in healthcare – the application of technology, AI and machine learning to help improve patient outcomes. We are excited to support this talented management team as Sema4 begins its next phase of growth.”