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Berkeley Lights has raised $152.0M across 2 funding rounds.
Key people at Berkeley Lights.
Berkeley Lights has raised $152.0M in total across 2 funding rounds.
Based in Emeryville, California, Berkeley Lights develops advanced optofluidic technology and laboratory platforms that enable scientists to rapidly manipulate and analyze live single cells for antibody discovery and synthetic biology. The company generates revenue through the B2B sale of its proprietary Beacon laboratory systems, single-use microfluidic consumables, and ongoing software subscriptions, reaching 283 employees and generating $78.6 million in revenue in 2022. The biotechnology firm raised $205 million during its 2020 initial public offering, achieving a $1.8 billion valuation with early backing from notable investors including Sequoia, Nikon, and Varian Medical Systems. After acquiring single-cell proteomics company IsoPlexis to form PhenomeX, the combined entity was subsequently acquired by scientific instruments manufacturer Bruker Corporation for approximately $108 million in late 2023. Berkeley Lights was originally founded in 2011 by co-founders Igor Khandros and Ming Wu.
Key people at Berkeley Lights.
Berkeley Lights is a life sciences tools company specializing in digital cell biology platforms that enable rapid functional characterization of single live cells at scale, accelerating the development and commercialization of biotherapeutics and cell-based products.[1][2][3] Its Berkeley Lights Platform, including OptoSelect™ chips, automation systems, reagent kits, and software like Beacon® and Lightning™, captures phenotypic, functional, and genotypic data from thousands of cells in parallel, delivering optimal live cells to pharmaceutical researchers and bioengineers.[1][3][4] The company serves biotech and pharma firms by solving inefficiencies in cell screening—reducing time and costs compared to traditional methods—while showing growth through a 2020 IPO (NASDAQ: BLI) and 2022 acquisition of IsoPlexis, rebranding to PhenomeX (NASDAQ: CELL).[2][5]
Founded in 2011 in Emeryville, California, by Bill Davidow, Igor Khandros, and Ming C. Wu, Berkeley Lights emerged from advancements in micro-droplet technology and optical manipulation to revolutionize biological R&D processes.[2][1] The idea stemmed from harnessing cells' natural scalability for manufacturing therapeutics, biofuels, and proteins, addressing why legacy methods lagged in efficiency.[4] Early traction built through proprietary platforms that enabled high-throughput single-cell analysis, culminating in a successful 2020 IPO and market leadership in digital cell biology, with strong Q3 results pre-announced that year.[5][2]
Berkeley Lights rides the cell therapy and biomanufacturing boom, fueled by demand for faster biotherapeutic development amid rising chronic diseases and personalized medicine trends.[1][3] Timing aligns with advances in CRISPR, synthetic biology, and AI-driven drug discovery, where single-cell resolution is critical; market forces like pharma's $1T+ R&D spend favor tools slashing discovery timelines.[2][4] It influences the ecosystem by enabling scalable cell-based manufacturing—shifting from bulk to precision biology—and earning accolades like Fast Company's 2019 Most Innovative Companies list, democratizing access for startups and big pharma.[6]
PhenomeX (post-rebrand) is positioned to dominate single-cell analysis as AI integrates with functional phenotyping for next-gen therapies, potentially expanding into synbio and agrotech.[2][1] Trends like automated workflows and multi-omics will amplify growth, with influence evolving through platform-as-a-service models and partnerships. Berkeley Lights' legacy of "finding the best cells first" ties back to its founding vision, powering a cell-driven biotech revolution.[4]
Berkeley Lights has raised $152.0M in total across 2 funding rounds.
Berkeley Lights's investors include Sequoia Capital Israel, State of Mind Ventures, Michael Moritz.
Berkeley Lights has raised $152.0M across 2 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $95.0M Series E in October 2018.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1, 2018 | $95M Series E | — | Sequoia Capital Israel, State OF Mind Ventures, Michael Moritz | Announced |
| Sep 1, 2015 | $57M Series C | — | Sequoia Capital Israel, State OF Mind Ventures | Announced |
