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§ Private Profile · Cambridge, MA, USA
Genomics technology company providing genetic testing for reproductive health and fertility, acquired by Invitae.
Good Start Genetics was a genomics technology company based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, specializing in genetic testing for reproductive health and fertility. It developed and offered comprehensive genetic analysis services, empowering prospective parents with crucial information to support informed reproductive decision-making and family planning. The company successfully raised a total of $32 million in venture capital funding across multiple rounds, including an $18 million Series A and a $14 million Series B, before its acquisition by publicly traded Invitae (NYSE: NVTA). Key figures associated with the company during its operation included former CEO Marc Beer and board member Carl Gordon. Good Start Genetics was founded in 2007 by a distinguished team comprising Eric C. Boutin, Paris Wallace, Gregory Porreca, and Uri Laserson.
Good Start Genetics has raised $60.0M across 3 funding rounds.
Good Start Genetics has raised $60.0M in total across 3 funding rounds.
Good Start Genetics has raised $60.0M in total across 3 funding rounds.
Good Start Genetics's investors include Charles Tate, OrbiMed, Safeguard Scientifics, SV Health Investors, Gary Kurtzman, MD, Lutz B Giebel.
Good Start Genetics has raised $60.0M across 3 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $28.0M Debt in May 2013.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 8, 2013 | $28M Debt Financing | Charles Tate | — | Announced |
| Apr 1, 2012 | $14M Series B | OrbiMed, Safeguard Scientifics, SV Health Investors | SV Health Investors | Announced |
| Sep 1, 2010 | $18M Series A | OrbiMed, Gary Kurtzman, MD, Lutz B Giebel | SV Health Investors | Announced |
Good Start Genetics is a biotechnology company that developed advanced DNA sequencing-based genetic tests for pre-pregnancy screening to detect carriers of heritable genetic disorders, serving physicians and prospective parents.[1][2][3] The company addressed limitations in existing methods like genotyping and SNP analysis by offering higher detection rates and clinically relevant information, aligned with guidelines from the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the American College of Medical Genetics (ACMG), with tests launched exclusively through board-certified U.S. physicians starting in 2011.[1][2] Founded in 2008 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it raised approximately $32 million across funding rounds, including an $18 million Series A, before being acquired by Invitae.[1][3][4]
Good Start Genetics was founded in 2008 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, by Paris Wallace, Uri Laserson, Eric Boutin, and Greg Porreca, experts in DNA sequencing and genomics.[3][4] Greg Porreca brought deep technical background, having co-developed early next-generation sequencing systems like the Polonator and SOLiD platform at Harvard, with multiple patents in nucleic acid analysis.[2] The idea emerged from advancing sequencing technology for clinical use, starting with seed financing from the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center's Accelerator Program.[1] Early momentum included appointing Don Hardison—former COO of LabCorp and CEO of Exact Sciences—as President and CEO, with Marc Beer (ex-CEO of ViaCell) as board chair, and planning a 2011 test launch amid strong investor backing from firms like OrbiMed Advisors and SV Life Sciences.[1]
Good Start Genetics rode the early 2010s boom in next-generation sequencing, making high-throughput genomic analysis affordable and clinically viable for reproductive health—a trend shifting diagnostics from broad population screening to precise, personalized medicine.[1][2][3] Timing was ideal post-Human Genome Project, as plummeting sequencing costs (enabled by innovations like Porreca's work) aligned with rising demand for preconception carrier screening amid ACOG/ACMG endorsements.[1][2] Market forces like growing IVF adoption and parental age favored it, influencing the ecosystem by pioneering sequencing-based tests that competitors later emulated, paving the way for Invitae's expanded reproductive genomics portfolio after acquisition.[3]
Post-acquisition by Invitae, Good Start Genetics' technology integrated into a broader genetic testing platform, amplifying its legacy in reproductive genomics amid ongoing advances in multi-omic screening and AI-driven variant interpretation.[3] Trends like expanded carrier panels, non-invasive prenatal testing, and global access to genomics will shape its influence, potentially evolving through Invitae's innovations in comprehensive hereditary risk assessment. This positions it as a foundational player in democratizing genetic insights for family planning, echoing its original mission to empower physicians with superior tools.[1][2][3]