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Liran Belenzon on the TechTO stage

Liran Belenzon

Co-Founder & CEO, BenchSci

AI for drug discoveryTorontoOn TechTO stages since 2023

Liran Belenzon is co-founder and CEO of BenchSci, the Toronto-born company that taught a computer to understand science like a PhD scientist. Its knowledge-graph platform serves 14 of the top 20 global pharma companies. He has raised over $130M across seven rounds — and tells founders to pick 20 investors and pitch them all in one week.

On the TechTO stage ×1

First seen on a TechTO stage in 2023. Every TechTO talk is searchable — ask the archive about Liran

In their words

The reality is that investors don't need more than three weeks to make a decision. That is true for a million-dollar check and that's also true for a $100 million check.

TechTO, Apr 2023 · watch at 4:21

Your goal is to get people to a yes or no — not a very slow maybe that's just going to suck all of your resources as a company.

TechTO, Apr 2023 · watch at 4:49

We basically taught a computer how to understand science like a PhD scientist would.

TechTO, Apr 2023 · watch at 0:50
A few quotes can’t cover everything Liran said on the TechTO stage. 1,570 talks are searchable.Ask about Liran

Around the web ×6

Quick answers

What does BenchSci do?

BenchSci taught a computer to understand science like a PhD scientist and built a platform on top of a knowledge graph. The Toronto-based company has over 400 people and serves 14 of the top 20 global pharmaceutical companies.

How does Liran Belenzon recommend founders raise money?

Pick 20 investors max that fit your company, don't build relationships before you're ready to fundraise, and pitch everyone within one week to create urgency and competition. Investors need no more than three weeks to decide — no decision after three weeks means no.

How did he raise over $130M in Canada with no network?

He moved to Canada knowing almost no one; an early meeting came through CDL after persistent emailing. His process came from trial and error across seven rounds in seven years — he says he did it wrong the first time and right the other six.

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Maintained by TechTO · facts sourced and dated · last reviewed Jul 13, 2026