Ark Bio

About Ark Bio

In 2018, the Singaporean medtech scene was electrified by the arrival of Ark Bio. Formed through a merger between the promising microRNA diagnostic startup Mirxes and the venture-builder firm Venturecraft, Ark Bio launched with a massive US$40 million Series A funding round. The company's stated goal was audacious: to develop blood tests for the early detection of cancers, starting with stomach cancer. The founders were a blend of science and business—Mirxes' scientific minds, Zhou Lihan and Zou Ruiyang, joined forces with Venturecraft's Isaac Ho. Together, they were set to commercialize a technology spun out of Singapore's A*STAR research agency. The creation of Ark Bio was a strategic play. Mirxes, founded in 2014 by Zhou Lihan, had the core scientific innovation in miRNA detection, a novel way to find cancer markers in blood. Venturecraft, which had invested in Mirxes two years prior, saw an opportunity to create a vertically integrated powerhouse by combining the R&D of Mirxes with its own commercialization and marketing muscle under a new, compelling brand. The plan worked, attracting significant capital from investors like Gaorong Capital. Ark Bio announced plans for huge clinical studies and an expansion into China and the US. However, the Ark Bio entity itself proved to be a temporary vessel. While the name garnered headlines and funding, the core engine remained Mirxes. After the splashy launch, the 'Ark Bio' brand quietly faded from public view, and the company that continued the mission was Mirxes. This strategic maneuver was not a failure but a calculated pivot. The scientific work continued under the original Mirxes name, which went on to raise further funding rounds, including a Series C and D. The final chapter of this journey wasn't an acquisition, but a major public offering. In May 2025, Mirxes, the company that had once been the R&D arm of Ark Bio, debuted on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange with an IPO that raised approximately US$181 million, becoming Southeast Asia's first biotech unicorn. The Ark Bio brand was gone, but the company it was built around had successfully navigated its way to the public markets, validating the initial vision of its founders.