Startups
Aktana
San Francisco, California, United States (historical headquarters)
Aktana develops AI decision-support and customer-engagement software for life sciences commercial and medical teams. Its Contextual Intelligence Engine combines machine learning, brand strategy and real-world engagement signals to recommend next actions for pharmaceutical field representatives and coordinate digital and personal channels through CRM workflows. Originally incorporated in Delaware as IncentAlign in 2008, it focused on life sciences under the Aktana brand by 2011. Its historical headquarters was San Francisco. Aktana acquired Ople.AI machine-learning automation technology in 2021 and Tact.ai field engagement and conversational AI technology in 2023. PharmaForceIQ announced the acquisition of Aktana assets on January 7, 2026, integrating Aktana’s field Next-Best-Action platform and Knowledge Nexus dataset with its digital orchestration platform; the former Aktana website now redirects to PharmaForceIQ. This is a documented asset acquisition, not evidence of a legal-entity merger, rename or disclosed purchase price. Cofounder Derek Choy became PharmaForceIQ Head of Product; historical Aktana team roles are explicitly qualified. Verified financing includes 2016 Series B, 2018 Series C, 2019 Series C-1 and debt, and 2020 Series D; 1315 Capital’s separate 2019 portfolio investment is disclosed without a specific financing stage or check size.
Founded 2008
Team
David LogueChief Commercial Officer (pre-acquisition public history) |
 Derek ChoyCo-Founder; Chief Product Officer (historical) |
 Dmitri DaveynisChief Technology Officer; Senior Vice President of Engineering (historical) |
Emanuele TriggianoSenior Vice President of Professional Services (historical) |
Jeremy FlaxVice President of Product Strategy (pre-acquisition public history) |
 John VitalieChief Executive Officer (pre-acquisition public history) |
 Kris HinckleyVice President, People (pre-acquisition public history) |
Mark DesrosiersChief Revenue Officer (pre-acquisition public history) |
 Pini Ben-OrChief Science Officer (pre-acquisition public history) |
Ramon GarciaVice President of Global Customer Success (pre-acquisition public history) |
Investments
| $—2026-01-07 | Aktana | PharmaForceIQ |
| $—2023-11-01 |  Tact Ai | Aktana |
| $30M2020-09-04 | Aktana | Safeguard Scientifics |
| $14M2019-09-26 | Aktana | 0 participations |
| $20M2019-09-25 | Aktana | CIBC Innovation Banking |
| $21M2018-09-26 | Aktana | Transformation Capital, Safeguard Scientifics |
| $17M2016-06-08 | Aktana | Safeguard Scientifics, Starfish Ventures |
| $2M2013-06-24 | Aktana | 0 participations |
| $2M2011-08-23 | Aktana | 0 participations |
| $—Unknown date | Aktana | dRx Capital |
| $—Unknown date | Aktana | HLM Investment Partners |
| $—Unknown date | Aktana | Norwest Venture Partners |
| $—Unknown date | Aktana | 1315 Capital |
| $—Unknown date | Aktana | 0 participations |
| $—Unknown date | Aktana | 0 participations |
| $—Unknown date | Aktana | 0 participations |