Fast, cheap gene-scanner BioNanomatrix gets $5M

Fast, cheap gene-scanner BioNanomatrix gets $5M

BioNanomatrix, a Philadelphia developer of genome-analysis systems, raised $5.1 million in a first funding round. Investors included Battelle Ventures, Innovation Valley Partners, KT Venture Group, Ben Franklin Technology Partners and21Ventures.

BioNanomatrix is developing a single-molecule imaging and analysis system that the startup says is ideal for reading DNA sequences. The startup still isn’t divulging many details about its system, although the Philadelphia Inquirer suggested that the company’s “nanofluidics” technology could potentially read all three billion bases from a single DNA molecule without chopping it… Continue Reading

Complete Genomics and BioNanomatrix rev up the fast, cheap and out-of-control genome race

Complete Genomics and BioNanomatrix rev up the fast, cheap and out-of-control genome race

Things are starting to get crowded in the race to sequence entire human genomes quickly and relatively cheaply — usually meaning somewhere in the territory of $1,000 per genome, compared to the $100,000+ it costs with current technology. At least four startups have taken on the $1,000 genome challenge, two of which have already been acquired by larger companies. (See details at the end of the first item here.)

Last week, two relatively new venture-backed startups… Continue Reading