UpTrials
UpTrials is an AI-enabled staffing and operations platform for clinical research teams, offering algorithmic hiring and an AI Trial Assistant for protocol simplification. It serves research sites, CROs, sponsors, and clinical research job seekers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2023
- HeadquartersChicago, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What UpTrials does
UpTrials is a Chicago-based, private company building an AI-enabled staffing and operations platform aimed at the clinical research workforce. The company was founded in 2023 and operates with a small team of 1-10 employees. It markets two core products under a single platform: Smart Staffing, which algorithmically matches clinical research employers with pre-screened professionals based on research criteria, clinical research skills, and therapeutic area experience; and the UpTrials AI Trial Assistant, a secure and compliant alternative to open LLMs that simplifies clinical trial protocols and automates workflows. Together, the products address documented understaffing in clinical research, where 80% of site leadership report being understaffed, 25% of sites cannot take on new trials, and delayed trials cost sponsors more than $600,000 per day in potential product revenue.
UpTrials targets four primary segments: clinical research sites, contract research organizations (CROs), pharmaceutical sponsors, and clinical research professionals as job seekers. Revenue mechanics combine a quote-based employer subscription for hiring platform access and candidate matching services with freemium self-serve access for job seekers via app.uptrials.com. Go-to-market is hybrid: sales-led for enterprise buyers via demos and direct outreach ([email protected], Calendly), product-led growth on the job-seeker side, and channel partnerships with ecosystem players including ClinEssentials (educational outreach) and Innovo Research (flagship enterprise customer operating across seven states).
The company has raised approximately $785,000 in disclosed funding across three rounds, with investors including Jumpstart Foundry, Techstars, Right Side Capital Management, Polsky Center at the University of Chicago, and ULTRA.VC. Strategic positioning emphasizes vertical specialization (the company describes itself as the first software solution dedicated to clinical research hiring) and a dual value proposition of operational efficiency plus improved diversity in clinical research hiring through culturally aware algorithms. No certifications, patents, regulatory actions, or M&A activity are disclosed, and revenue or ARR figures are not publicly available.
UpTrials firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- UpTrials
- Legal name
- UpTrials
- Website
- https://uptrials.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2023
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- UpTrials is an AI-enabled staffing and operations platform for clinical research teams, offering algorithmic hiring and an AI Trial Assistant for protocol simplification. It serves research sites, CROs, sponsors, and clinical research job seekers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
UpTrials industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Clinical Trial Operations Software
- NAICS
- Employment Placement Agencies (561311), Employment Placement Agencies and Executive Search Services (56131)
- SIC
- Services-Employment Agencies (7361), Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Life Sciences & Biotech (R&D/Clinical) Staffing (BPACADAL)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Talent Acquisition (Recruiting) & Applicant Tracking (ATS) (BPACAPAD), Clinical Trial Site Operations & Study Coordination (HLAGACAE)
Keywords
Where UpTrials is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Chicago
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
UpTrials business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations
Revenue model
- Employer Hiring Platform Subscription: UpTrials enables clinical research employers (sites, CROs, sponsors) to access pre-screened talent through their proprietary hiring platform. The company generates revenue from employers paying for access to the platform, candidate matching services, and hiring data.
- Job Seeker Platform Access: Clinical research professionals use the platform to discover roles that fit their profiles, with UpTrials matching them to relevant positions. The platform may offer freemium access for job seekers while monetizing through employer subscriptions.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Platform access for clinical research hiring |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels5 records
UpTrials product offering
Product offeringCore offering
UpTrials operates an AI-powered hiring and operations platform for clinical research teams. Its Smart Staffing product algorithmically matches clinical research employers (sites, CROs, sponsors) with pre-screened clinical research professionals based on skills and therapeutic area experience, while its AI Trial Assistant simplifies protocols and automates trial workflows as a secure, compliant alternative to open LLMs.
Product overview
UpTrials is a clinical research hiring and operations platform consisting of two core products: the UpTrials AI Trial Assistant and Smart Staffing. The AI Trial Assistant provides protocol simplification and workflow automation capabilities as a secure alternative to open LLMs, while Smart Staffing is an algorithmic matching platform that connects clinical research employers (sites, CROs, and sponsors) with pre-screened clinical research professionals based on skills and therapeutic area experience. Together, these products address clinical research understaffing by improving trial efficiency, reducing time-to-fill positions, and enabling teams to focus on patient care.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- UpTrials AI Trial Assistant: AI-powered secure, compliant alternative to open LLMs for simplifying protocols and automating workflows in clinical trial operations.
- Smart Staffing
Products and services
- UpTrials AI Trial Assistant AI-powered assistant that simplifies clinical trial protocols and automates workflows, providing a secure, compliant, and more accurate alternative to open LLMs for clinical trial operations teams.
- Smart Staffing Platform Algorithmic hiring platform that matches clinical research employers (sites, CROs, and sponsors) with pre-screened clinical research job seekers based on research criteria, clinical research skills, and therapeutic area experience.
Quantifiable outcome
- Reduces time to fill clinical research positions through algorithmic matching with pre-screened talent
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use UpTrials
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
UpTrials technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability5 records
Feature3 records
UpTrials partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.
- ClinEssentialsflagshipUpTrials partnered with ClinEssentials, a business providing courses, products, and services to support clinical research professionals. CEO Renuka Agarwal served as a guest speaker at ClinEssentials' CTM (Clinical Trial Manager) training course, discussing how students can use UpTrials to find their next job. This partnership provides educational outreach and brand visibility among aspiring clinical research professionals.
- Innovo ResearchcoreUpTrials entered into a partnership with Innovo Research, a provider-sponsored, provider-led network of high-performing Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) that utilize clinical research as part of their population health strategy. Innovo Research uses UpTrials to accelerate and optimize clinical research hiring across their multiple clinical research locations in Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Kansas, North Carolina, Texas, and Washington. Innovo Research provides early feedback to UpTrials for product development and represents a flagship customer reference.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
UpTrials competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- HireLifeScience: Specialized life sciences and clinical research recruitment and staffing platform. Most directly comparable to UpTrials as a vertical hiring platform targeting clinical research professionals and employers.
- Real Staffing: Global recruitment firm specializing in life sciences, pharmaceuticals, and clinical research placements. Directly comparable in the clinical research staffing vertical with broader geographic reach.
- Clinical Professionals: Specialist clinical research staffing agency placing CRCs, CRAs, and clinical research professionals. Comparable vertical focus on clinical research hiring and temp/perm placements.
Broad incumbents
- Medix: Larger healthcare and life sciences staffing firm with dedicated clinical research and pharmaceutical divisions. Comparable in clinical research placements but offers broader healthcare staffing across many verticals.
- Eightfold.ai: AI-powered talent intelligence platform used by large enterprises for talent acquisition, management, and matching. Comparable in the AI-driven hiring/matching proposition but operates as broad HR tech rather than clinical-research-specific.
- LinkedIn (Talent Solutions): Dominant horizontal hiring platform with extensive recruiter tools used by clinical research employers. Represents the incumbent alternative UpTrials must displace or differentiate against.
- ZipRecruiter: Major AI-enabled horizontal job marketplace widely used by employers across industries including clinical research. Comparable in the AI matching concept but lacks clinical research vertical depth.
Emerging players
- HireVue: AI-driven hiring platform specializing in video interviewing, assessments, and candidate matching. Comparable in the AI-augmented hiring proposition but addresses screening/interviewing rather than staffing marketplaces.
- WorkInHealth: European-based talent platform focused on healthcare and life sciences hiring. Comparable in the healthcare vertical hiring niche with an emerging AI matching capability.
Others
- ClinEssentials: Clinical research training, products, and services provider for CRCs and CTMs. Existing UpTrials partner and adjacent ecosystem player that funnels aspiring clinical research professionals into the talent pipeline.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
UpTrials financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
UpTrials leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
UpTrials funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds3 records
Investors5 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
UpTrials M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about UpTrials
What does UpTrials do?
UpTrials operates an AI-powered hiring and operations platform for clinical research teams. Its Smart Staffing product algorithmically matches clinical research employers (sites, CROs, sponsors) with pre-screened clinical research professionals based on skills and therapeutic area experience, while its AI Trial Assistant simplifies protocols and automates trial workflows as a secure, compliant alternative to open LLMs.
Is UpTrials a public or private company?
UpTrials is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was UpTrials founded?
UpTrials was founded in 2023. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is UpTrials based?
UpTrials is headquartered in Chicago, United States, in the North America region.
How does UpTrials make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Employer Hiring Platform Subscription is the primary driver. The others are job Seeker Platform Access.
Who are UpTrials's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are HireLifeScience, Real Staffing and Clinical Professionals. Broad incumbents are Medix, Eightfold.ai, LinkedIn (Talent Solutions) and ZipRecruiter. Emerging players are HireVue and WorkInHealth. ClinEssentials is listed as an others.
Does UpTrials have an API?
No public API is recorded for UpTrials.
What industry is UpTrials in?
UpTrials's product category is Clinical Trial Operations Software. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPACADAL, Life Sciences & Biotech (R&D/Clinical) Staffing, with a secondary code of BPACAPAD, Talent Acquisition (Recruiting) & Applicant Tracking (ATS). Its NAICS code is 561311 and its SIC code is 7361.