Developing solutions that could transform medicine

The startup, which uses artificial intelligence to develop advanced CAR-T and CAR-NK therapies, has already filed applications for more than 20 patents and raised over €5 million in its latest funding round. One of the co-founders and CEO of Pioneera Biosciences, Dr. Alireza Daneshvar, has been included in the prestigious Forbes 30 Under 30 list in both Europe and the Middle East.

The company’s “Immune Orchestration Platform” and “Discovery 4.0 Engine” tools are designed for next-generation cell and gene therapies. They address some of the biggest challenges in precision medicine today, including tumor cell heterogeneity, resistance to immune response, and the individual variability of each patient’s response to treatment. These solutions may help make effective cancer and other disease treatments more accessible and widely adopted in clinical practice.

These efforts by Pioneera Biosciences are closely linked to Lithuania’s life sciences ecosystem, which the startup joined after participating in the Startup Lithuania and Plug and Play accelerator programs.

“I must admit—Lithuania was not my first choice. However, after getting to know the ecosystem more closely, meeting the talent here, and feeling the energy of the startup community, the decision became obvious. I truly believe Lithuania is quietly building a biotechnology sector that could lead to breakthroughs transforming global medicine. We want to be part of it—not when the train is already moving fast, but now. In biotech, being early on the right trajectory is crucial,” says Dr. A. Daneshvar.

Building its future in Lithuania

Pioneera Biosciences was supported in quickly establishing and developing its operations in Lithuania by the Startup Visa Lithuania program, run by the Innovation Agency’s Startup Lithuania division. According to Dr. Daneshvar, the program provided two invaluable things for any startup: clarity and speed.

“The infrastructure and relocation procedures for startups in Lithuania allow for a very fast and smooth ramp-up. It feels like institutions are genuinely invested in your success and understand the needs of early-stage companies. That is a huge value. Moreover, unlike in larger startup hubs, Lithuania has a collaborative and supportive atmosphere. The ecosystem is less fragmented and more open,” says Dr. Daneshvar.

The founder of Pioneera Biosciences says he sees Lithuania not as a temporary stop or one stage of growth, but as a long-term foundation for the company’s development.

“In Lithuania, we are building a strong foundation—assembling a team, developing operations, and planning to establish ourselves here for the long term. My goal is for Pioneera Biosciences to help Lithuania’s biotechnology sector gain even greater global recognition and pave broader paths for startups that will come after us,” he says.

Lithuania becoming increasingly attractive for startups

Karolina Urbonaitė, Head of the Startup Lithuania division at the Innovation Agency, says that high-growth startups like Pioneera Biosciences strengthen Lithuania’s innovation ecosystem. At the same time, the choice of internationally recognized scientists and founders to build their businesses in Lithuania is further proof that the country can effectively compete in the global innovation arena.

“Lithuania can indeed offer strong conditions for building and scaling innovation-driven businesses—we have a wide range of excellent talent, a strong research base in areas such as life sciences and laser physics, a vibrant ecosystem, institutional support, and a strong drive to create. This attracts international startups, and the Startup Visa Lithuania program helps turn that interest into real relocation steps to our country,” notes K. Urbonaitė.

Startup Visa Lithuania helps non-EU startups obtain EU company status more quickly, secure residence and work permits in Lithuania, gain easier access to banking services, start operations with lower capital requirements, and receive free consultations throughout the entire relocation process. Since its launch in 2017, 158 startups have relocated to Lithuania through the program.