Rivia, a Zurich-based startup specializing in AI-driven analytics and clinical trial data infrastructure, has closed a €13 million ($15 million) Series A to accelerate team growth, scale agentic product development, and expand its international presence, particularly in the United States. The round was led by Earlybird, with participation from Defiant and existing investors Speedinvest, Amino Collective, and Nina Capital.
Founded in 2022 by Erik Scalfaro and Tiago Kieliger, Rivia was created on the belief that new drugs can reach the market more successfully with a fraction of today’s capital. The company aims to transform clinical trial operations, which remain heavily reliant on fragmented data, spreadsheets, and manual workflows, despite a 400% growth in data volumes over the past decade.
Rivia has developed the first reusable intelligence layer for clinical trials. Its data engine integrates thousands of heterogeneous files in real time, applies trial-specific scientific logic using its proprietary library of reusable configurations, and feeds harmonized data directly into operational review workflows, supporting proactive decision-making.
Building on this foundation, Rivia is launching a new suite of embedded AI agents. Its first agent, Spark, instantly converts natural language into publication-quality clinical visualizations. Next-generation agents will focus on proactive data quality monitoring and oversight workflows, enabling earlier detection of deviations, intelligent prioritization, and structured, auditable actions.
According to Erik Scalfaro, CEO and co-founder of Rivia: "Two years ago, we made a deliberate decision. We started with the scaffolding, building the foundational data engine before turning to agents. Today, that vertical sequence gives us a structural advantage. We’ve seen BioTechs run global trials on Rivia and deliver measurable results, from preventing issues that would have cost millions to gaining earlier clarity on which patients benefit most. With every new trial, our ontology library compounds, making our system more powerful over time. Our goal is now to help clinical trials scale through workflows and AI rather than incremental human effort."
Rivia reports a fourfold ARR growth in 2025, currently supporting 40 clinical trials across the US and Europe. Over the past two years, biotech companies using its platform have delivered measurable impact, from earlier insights into therapeutic potential to more efficient trial completion.
Christian Nagel, Partner and co-founder at Earlybird, commented: "Clinical trials are among the most complex and costly workflows in healthcare, yet much of the infrastructure remains fragmented and manual. Rivia has built a true intelligence layer for clinical operations, unifying data and embedding agents directly into high-impact workflows. We believe this approach can fundamentally improve trial execution, reducing costs while increasing speed and data integrity."
Rivia aims to reduce clinical trial costs by up to 50% by replacing manual operator tasks with scalable, agentic systems and will continue expanding its platform and embedded intelligence to accelerate the launch of innovative therapies
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