The heartbreaking loss of a child to cancer brought these three founders closer together. Now their startup has raised $60 million to fight and treat the disease using cutting-edge technology.

This week’s episode Founder CEOI had the honor of talking to Cyriak Roeding, co-founder of the company Earlia company dedicated to cutting-edge cancer research. Together with his good co-founders – Dr. David Suhy, an expert in synthetic biology, and the late Dr. Sanjiv Sam Gambhir, a Stanford cancer research pioneer – Cyriac is on a mission to make cancer detectable and treatable sooner than ever before.

Their story is a testament to the power of combining science, technology and entrepreneurship to solve the hardest challenges facing humanity.

Meet the Founders

• Cyriaca Roedinga: : Cyriac, a serial entrepreneur and Silicon Valley veteran, is best known for his founding Shopkeeperthe app that revolutionized retail engagement. After selling Shopkick for $250 million, Cyriac was looking for a latest challenge – one that will impact lives on a deeper level. He brought business acumen, startup experience and unrelenting vision to Earli.

• Dr. David Suhy: : With a long time of experience in synthetic biology and gene therapy, David serves as Earli’s Chief Science Officer. Known for his groundbreaking work in developing novel genetic platforms, David brought the technical expertise needed to make Earlie’s daring idea a reality.

• Dr. Sanjeev Sam Gambhir: : Sam, a world-renowned cancer researcher and visionary at Stanford University, has dedicated his life to the early detection and treatment of cancer. His groundbreaking contributions to molecular imaging inspired Earli’s core technology. Sam’s personal loss – the loss of his teenage son to cancer – made the mission very personal to him.

Earlie is born

In 2016, Cyriac read a magazine article about the work of Sam Gambhir and his heartbreaking story of losing his son to cancer. Deeply moved, he contacted Sam, which led to a series of conversations about the state of cancer detection and the way it may very well be improved. The two soon joined forces with David Suhy, whose expertise in synthetic biology added the final piece to the puzzle.

The trio’s shared vision? Stop chasing natural cancer mutations and as a substitute develop synthetic biomarkers that can make cancer easier to detect and treat.

Rewriting the rules of cancer

Earli technology is a game changer. Instead of relying on naturally occurring biomarkers – an approach that deals with constant tumor mutations – Earli is developing synthetic biomarkers directly in cancer cells. This revolutionary platform can detect cancer earlier and more accurately, while also turning tumors into therapeutic targets.

“It’s like flipping a switch in cancer,” Cyriac explained. “We tell the tumor what to do – whether to manifest itself for imaging purposes or to produce proteins that will trigger the immune system to attack.”

This dual use in each diagnosis and therapy makes Earli a unique innovation in cancer treatment.

Overcoming challenges

The road to building the Earli platform was tough. It took six years of rigorous research, testing and collaboration to perfect the synthetic biomarker system.

The team analyzed over 20,000 tumor samples, performed 1000’s of experiments, and dealt with countless failures. Their breakthrough got here when they shifted focus from specific genetic mutations to the downstream effects of cancer, comparable to rapid cell proliferation. With this approach, they achieved 98% accuracy in detecting lung cancer and distinguishing it from benign growths.

But this journey was about greater than just learning. After Sam’s death from cancer in 2020, the mission became much more personal. “Sam’s legacy is at the heart of what we do,” Cyriac said. “We’re not just building a company — we’re realizing his vision.”

What’s next for Earlie?

With $60 million in funding and groundbreaking technology, Earli is preparing for human clinical trials, starting with lung cancer, the deadliest form of cancer in the world. The team also plans to expand their platform to other types of cancer and explore its therapeutic applications.

David Suhy is leading efforts to optimize the genetics platform, while Cyriac is focused on scaling the company and securing partnerships. “It’s not just about one disease,” Cyriac said. “The idea is to prove a new way to fight cancer and open the door to solutions for other diseases as well.”

Lessons in leadership and perseverance

For Cyriac, leading Earli was as much a personal journey because it was a skilled one. “I’ve learned that the best leaders aren’t the ones who have all the answers — they’re the ones who ask the right questions,” he said.

His advice for entrepreneurs? “Work on what is most important. It’s easy to follow trends, but the real impact comes from solving problems that seem impossible. And always surround yourself with people smarter than you.”

Earli is greater than a company; it’s a promise. A promise to Sam, David and every patient and family affected by cancer. “If Earli wins, everyone wins,” Cyriac said. “Because cancer doesn’t just affect patients – it affects all of us.”

The power of cooperation

The story of Cyriac Roeding, David Suha and Sanjiv Gambhir is proof that collaboration, innovation and unrelenting determination can change the world. Earli is poised to make one of the most important advances in cancer treatment in a long time, and their journey reminds us that no challenge is too great when you have the right team and the right mission.

Their work is a perfect reminder that science and perseverance, combined with a human approach, can truly change lives.