Creating machines that can truly make sense of the world
At Apoha, we’re pioneering the deployment of sensory intelligence to fully understand and predict molecular behaviour.
We believe this will unlock breakthroughs in drug discovery, material design, and sustainable food production.
Our mission: exposing the hidden biophysical behaviours that limit our ability to build safe medicines and grow resilient food systems
Our origins:
looking for hidden patterns in nature
Could nature compute in ways we don’t yet understand?
Our founder, Shamit, was captivated by how biological systems—membranes, cells, even fats—seemed to process large amounts of biological information with elegance. These simple systems knew better than to use brute force. Instead of crunching through numbers like a machine, biology feels its way through information—adapting, sensing and evolving with the process at hand.
That idea sparked the birth of something new: a different kind of intelligence: something sensory, not simply analytical. It also suggested the possibility of a new paradigm of machine: one that could perform a more natural, liquid form of computation.
After years as a researcher at the University of Oxford, Shamit took the leap into founding a technology company that could harness this sensory intelligences. He joined forces with Anshika who had recently successfully launched Marcus, Goldman Sachs’ first-ever customer-facing bank in the UK. As the former COO of Marcus Technology UK, she had led and scaled engineering teams and products that served hundreds of thousands of users. These were platforms that combined trust, usability, and speed—qualities she could now bring to a whole new paradigm of computing.
For Anshika, Apoha isn’t just a company, it’s a chance to rewrite the rules of scientific innovation—to make advanced tools truly accessible and intuitive for the people who use them. She’s especially passionate about bridging the gap between world-class scientific research and the practical needs of innovators everywhere.
Where Shamit brings scientific intuition, Anshika brings clarity and execution. Their collaboration is grounded in trust, curiosity, and a shared belief that the next wave of computation won’t come from silicon—but from life itself.
Who we are: a team at the intersection of discovery and impact
Akshay is our in-house operator, optimizer, and occasional overthinker, who runs on growth loops, spreadsheets, and stubborn optimism. Leading Commercialisation and Operations, he orchestrates everything from GTM to PMF (and other acronyms we pretend to understand). When he’s not building businesses, he’s either devouring a book, planning his next escape, or emotionally recovering from last night's game. Approach with curiosity (or coffee).
Alec is our biomaterials maestro and application whisperer, translating complex needs into Liquid Brain workflows that work. With a PhD in Biomedical Engineering and deep experience in protein and lipid systems, he’s been shaping Apoha’s technical backbone since 2021. Outside the lab, he experiments with spice ratios instead of lipid ratios—and both usually turn out well.
Alex is our molecular modeller and code-slinger, bringing atoms, algorithms, and insight into tight formation. With a PhD in Computational Biology and a background spanning drug design, molecular dynamics, and machine learning, he makes in-silico science feel almost tangible. He’s also a lifelong Liverpool fan—so yes, he believes in data and miracles.
Alex is our physicist with a background in spectroscopy. She brings her understanding of wave phenomena and optics and experience analysing novel data to physics-informed discovery of features in the rich data produced by Apoha's Liquid Brain technology. She has a PhD in physics from the University of Cambridge, but grew up around Cambridge, MA, USA. Outside of work, you can find her on a football/soccer pitch/field.
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Ali is our resident problem-solver, blending microfluidics, modelling, and data science into one obsessively precise package. With a Master’s in Biochemical Engineering and a PhD in Fluid Dynamics, he’s navigated everything from analytical biochemistry to complex systems thinking. He’s the kind of scientist who doesn’t let go of a question—until the question gives up.
Anshika is our co-founder, COO, and unofficial chief energy officer—relentlessly building Apoha into the gold standard of scientific innovation. Previously an executive director at Goldman Sachs, she now channels that high-stakes hustle into scaling Liquid Brain with rigour, ambition, and just the right amount of caffeine. Her fun fact? She dances Kathak with the same intensity she brings to board meetings—and yes, both involve footwork.
Carolina is our resident strategist, storycrafter, and chaos-calmer—shaping Apoha’s growth from boardroom to conferences. She leads operations, investor relations, and all things company-building with a blend of consulting precision (thanks, BCG), business acumen (Imperial College Business School), and an eye trained in art history (Courtauld Institute). Outside of work, she’s either spending time with family & loved ones or clocking miles in marathon training.
Elizabeth is our scientist-storyteller, bridging rigorous research with intuitive user experience. With a PhD in Chemistry and a Master’s in Science Communication, she brings both precision and clarity to Apoha’s scientific development and application workflows. Whether she’s in the lab or refining how results are delivered, she’s always thinking two steps ahead—for science and for the people using it.
Joe is our hardware herder and experimental physicist, building the bones of the Liquid Brain one photon, droplet, and sensor at a time. With a PhD in Applied Physics and a background spanning biosensors, microfluidics, and quantum tech, he’s all about turning complex systems into precise machines. Outside the lab, he scales mountains, cycles trails, and—when the remote isn't taken—watches cartoons with his daughter.
Natesh is our machine-learning physicist and thermodynamic trailblazer, turning first principles into future tech. With a PhD in Electrical & Computer Engineering, he's helped pioneer thermodynamic computing and built systems from lab bench to silicon at both national labs and scrappy startups. When he’s not bending hardware to his will, he’s in the kitchen—or fine-tuning tactics for his inevitable second career as a football manager.
Pratik is our engineering anchor, steering everything from software to infrastructure with curiosity, confidence, and 15+ years of building things that actually work. Before Apoha, he helped shape mobile and smart home tech at Apple and Qualcomm—earning patents and a reputation for making the complex look easy. These days, he’s doing the same for Liquid Brain—unless football’s on, in which case, good luck getting his attention.
Dr. Hermans is our resident physicist-inventor, turning biophysical principles into sensory machines. As Principal Investigator, he leads the development of Liquid Brain technology—merging bio-nano-tech, instrumentation, and a touch of creative rigour. When not refining models or improving signals, he’s likely sketching out new experiments, explaining sensitivity curves (again), or discussing ethics and epistemic responsibility.
Samir Aoudjane is our research scientist and developmental engineer. He holds a BSc in Genetics, an MSc in Experimental Medicine and a PhD in Biophysics. His main experience is in the engineering of prototype apparatus for Biophysical characterization. Off the clock, he enjoys building and ridings bicycles.
Sejeong is our molecular matchmaker, decoding how proteins talk, touch, and occasionally misbehave. With a PhD in Biomolecules and a background spanning chemistry, molecular medicine, and membrane translocation, she brings deep experimental insight to Apoha’s applications. When she’s not engineering interactions, she’s composing them—through music, or in the kitchen.
Shamit is our CEO, co-founder, and the mind behind the Liquid Brain—equal parts physicist, founder, and field-starter. He’s spent his life chasing the hidden physics behind intelligence, and now he’s building a company to scale it (no big deal). When he’s not decoding nature’s playbook, he’s deep in a classic science text—or on the dance floor proving that waveforms aren’t just theoretical.
Swati is our expert connector, shaping collaborations with scientists and building the academic community around the Liquid Brain. With over a decade of experience shaping AI-driven products like Amazon Alexa—plus an MBA from Harvard and a Master’s in Biochemical Engineering & Biotechnology from IIT Delhi—she moves effortlessly between molecules and metrics. Her secret superpower? Like Groot, she knows how to leave old things behind and grow into entirely new ideas.
Vivek is our applications scientist developing new material capabilities at Apoha. He trained as a chemist, and has spent time in academia, heavy industry, and tech startups. In the Lab and in Leisure, his motto is ‘Live, Laugh, Love, Lipids’.
Zhen is our Visiting Analyst at Apoha, working across operations, community engagement, and whatever else needs getting done. She holds an MSc in Dementia from UCL and grew up in Seattle, a city as rainy and caffeinated as London.
Life at Apoha: where academic rigor meets startup energy
Our name, Apoha, comes from Sanskrit, meaning ‘to distinguish by what something is not.’ It reflects our approach to building a company: removing what’s unnecessary to focus on what truly matters.
We’re a fast-evolving startup, balancing deep scientific inquiry with the urgency to deliver real-world impact. Here, our scientists, engineers, and commercial strategists work side by side, translating breakthrough insights into tangible solutions.
Whether it’s a journal club discussion over coffee, a scientific discussion unravelling a complex problem, or a full company Quarter Demo Day sparking new ideas, what truly motivates us is our shared commitment to pushing boundaries together—to challenging assumptions, asking bold questions, and building something extraordinary.
From our base in Queen’s Park, London, our diverse team of scientists, engineers, and technologists is rethinking the very foundation of computation to tackle some of the world’s most pressing challenges.
Join a team working at the frontier of physics, computing and material design
Whether you’re a scientist uncovering new principles, an engineer designing breakthrough systems, or a strategist shaping our partnerships, you’ll find an environment where your contributions truly matter.
If this resonates with you, let’s talk!
What if a machine could help you feel the true texture of a material, the taste of an ingredient, the efficacy of a new drug?