Outer Biosciences Launches AI Platform Using Living Human Skin for Cosmetic Discovery

Outer Biosciences, a biotechnology startup cofounded by entrepreneur Michael Polansky, has emerged from stealth mode with a platform that keeps donated human skin alive for up to 30 days to train artificial intelligence models for discovering new cosmetic ingredients. The company, which has raised approximately $23 million, announced its technology and business model publicly this week after operating quietly since its founding in 2022.

Polansky, the 42-year-old CEO and fiancé of singer Lady Gaga, established the company alongside chief scientist KyungJin Jang, CTO Chris Hinojosa, and chief business officer Stanley King. Lady Gaga, born Stefani Germanotta, sits on the company's board of directors. The startup is headquartered in Malden, Massachusetts, and employs 19 people.

The core of Outer Biosciences' technology is its proprietary platform, named Yuna, which sustains full-thickness human skin tissue far longer than standard laboratory methods. Typically, excised human skin degrades within days, limiting research to acute reactions. Outer Biosciences' system continuously supplies nutrients and removes metabolic waste, preserving the tissue's biological architecture for a month...