ATAI LIFE SCIENCES

atai Life Sciences, founded in 2018 by Florian Brand, Dr. Srinivas Rao, and Lars Wilde, is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to transforming mental health treatment. Headquartered in Berlin, Germany, atai aims to accelerate the development of innovative therapies that address significant unmet medical needs, redefining mental health care on a global scale.

The company was born out of a shared frustration with the limitations of existing psychiatric treatments. Co-founder and Co-CEO Florian Brand, a serial entrepreneur, was personally motivated by his own experiences with anxiety and the lack of effective therapeutic options. Dr. Srinivas Rao, also Co-CEO, brings over two decades of experience in neuroscience and drug development, holding both an M.D. and Ph.D. in neurobiology from Yale University. Lars Wilde, a seasoned entrepreneur and investor, also played a key role in shaping atai’s vision of revolutionizing mental health care.

Recognizing the urgent need for better solutions, atai has built a diverse pipeline of novel compounds targeting conditions such as depression, anxiety, and addiction. The company’s approach focuses on compounds with prior human evidence to reduce development risk while leveraging platform technologies to enhance drug discovery and patient outcomes.

With a team of leading scientists, executives, and strategic partners, atai Life Sciences is at the forefront of mental health innovation. By advancing new treatment modalities and responsibly accelerating drug development, atai is working to bring effective, scalable solutions to millions struggling with mental health disorders worldwide.