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Labcyte is a technology company.
Labcyte designs and manufactures liquid handling systems utilizing acoustic droplet ejection technology. These instruments enable precise, non-contact transfer of minute liquid volumes, crucial for high-throughput applications across life sciences. The core approach uses focused acoustic energy to dispense picoliter-scale droplets, offering an efficient solution for handling precious reagents and biological samples.
Co-founded in 2000 by Richard Ellson, Chief Technology Officer, Labcyte initially operated as Picoliter Inc. Ellson's insight was employing acoustic waves for precise, contact-free liquid movement, addressing limitations in conventional handling. Mark Fischer-Colbrie later joined as CEO, guiding the company's strategic growth.
Labcyte's technology serves pharmaceutical companies, academic research institutions, and biotechnology firms. Their products facilitate advancements in drug discovery, genomic analysis, and cell-based assays through efficient, precise experimental workflows. The company aims to accelerate scientific discovery and enhance human health outcomes via innovating laboratory automation solutions.
Labcyte has raised $69.2M across 6 funding rounds.
Labcyte has raised $69.2M in total across 6 funding rounds.
Labcyte has raised $69.2M in total across 6 funding rounds.
Labcyte's investors include Oxford Finance, Silicon Valley Bank, Rafael Torres, Abingworth, Advanced Technology Ventures, GE Ventures, Lightspeed Venture Partners, Longwood Fund, Polaris Partners, Alloy Ventures, Cross Atlantic Partners, Delphi Ventures.
Labcyte is a biotechnology tools company that developed the Echo acoustic liquid handling technology, using sound waves to transfer precise nanoliter volumes of liquids without physical contact or pipettes, revolutionizing lab workflows in drug discovery, genomics, proteomics, diagnostics, and personalized medicine.[1][2][6] Its instruments serve pharmaceutical companies, biotech firms, contract research organizations, hospitals, and academic institutions worldwide, enabling faster, more cost-effective, and accurate high-throughput experimentation while reducing reagent costs and waste.[1][3][4] Founded in 2003 and headquartered in San Jose, California, Labcyte raised $81.57M before being acquired by Beckman Coulter Life Sciences (part of Danaher), integrating its technology into broader laboratory automation solutions.[2][4][6]
Labcyte originated in 2003 as Picoliter, Inc., founded by innovators including Richard Ellson, its CTO and key inventor who developed acoustic droplet ejection (ADE) technology, starting from garage experiments to precise fluid dispensing for life sciences.[3][6][8] Ellson, with a background in mechanical engineering from San Jose State University and prior roles at Spectra-Physics in precision laser applications, holds multiple U.S. patents in acoustics and fluid dynamics.[3] The idea emerged from addressing limitations in traditional pipetting, focusing on non-contact ultrasonic energy to eject droplets from open wells, enabling low-volume assays.[3][5] Early traction came through venture backing from firms like DBL Partners, Alloy Ventures, Abingworth, New Leaf Venture Partners, and Cross Atlantic Partners, leading to global expansion with offices in Dublin and sales in Europe and Japan, culminating in its acquisition by Beckman Coulter to accelerate innovation.[2][5][6]
Labcyte rides the wave of high-throughput automation and precision microfluidics in biotech, where demand for faster drug discovery, genomics sequencing, and personalized medicine surges amid rising R&D costs and data volumes.[1][2][4] Its timing aligns with post-2000s advances in synthetic biology and proteomics, where traditional pipetting bottlenecks slowed progress; non-contact handling favors market forces like cost pressures and scalability needs in CROs and pharma.[1][6] By integrating into Beckman Coulter's Danaher platform ($6.5B revenue), Labcyte influences the ecosystem through enhanced lab workflows, patent-protected innovations, and global adoption, accelerating life sciences from research to diagnostics.[4][6][8]
Post-acquisition, Labcyte's Echo technology will likely expand within Beckman Coulter's automation portfolio, driving integrations for AI-enhanced screening and next-gen genomics.[4][6] Trends like microfluidics growth (12.22% CAGR through 2030) and automated workflows will propel it, evolving its role from standalone tool to ecosystem enabler in precision medicine.[2] As biotech R&D intensifies, its non-contact precision could redefine high-throughput standards, amplifying impact under Danaher's scale while honoring its garage-to-global origins in liquid handling innovation.[6][8]
Labcyte has raised $69.2M across 6 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $17.0M Debt in May 2015.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 13, 2015 | $17.0M Debt | Oxford Finance, Silicon Valley Bank | |
| Jan 1, 2013 | $5.0M Series D | Rafael Torres | Abingworth, Advanced Technology Ventures, GE Ventures, Lightspeed Venture Partners, Longwood Fund, Polaris Partners, Alloy Ventures, Cross Atlantic Partners, Delphi Ventures, H&Q Healthcare Investors, H&Q Life Sciences Investors |
| Nov 8, 2011 | $200K Grant | National Cancer Institute | |
| Mar 1, 2008 | $4.0M Series C | Abingworth, Advanced Technology Ventures, Lightspeed Venture Partners, Longwood Fund, Polaris Partners | |
| Jul 1, 2005 | $21.0M Series C | Abingworth, Advanced Technology Ventures, Lightspeed Venture Partners, Longwood Fund, Polaris Partners | |
| Jul 1, 2002 | $22.0M Series B | Abingworth, Advanced Technology Ventures, Lightspeed Venture Partners, Longwood Fund, Polaris Partners |