A startup named Trilobio has successfully secured an impressive $8 million in seed funding to enhance its automated robotic laboratory system tailored for biologists. This investment round, led by Initialized Capital with contributions from Argon Ventures and Lowercarbon Capital, aims to bolster the company's groundbreaking platform that addresses critical challenges in data quality and reproducibility within biological research. Founded in 2021, Trilobio seeks to redefine the relationship between scientists and their tools, offering a scalable solution to streamline genetic engineering and synthetic biology processes.
The journey of Trilobio began in response to a significant issue plaguing the field of biology—reproducibility. An alarming statistic reveals that nearly 77% of biologists struggle to replicate their own or others' findings, despite advancements in lab automation technologies. To combat this, co-founders Roya Amini-Naieni and Maximilian Schommer have developed an innovative platform known as Trilobio OS. This intelligent software facilitates the design of protocols without requiring complex coding, thus transforming the way experiments are planned and executed.
Central to Trilobio’s offerings is the Trilobot, a fully programmable robot that operates through Trilobio OS. The Trilobot is equipped with up to eight interchangeable lab device tools, creating a compact, self-contained laboratory within a single unit. These tools include grippers, pipette instruments, and tube cap/de-cappers, among others. Moreover, the robots possess the ability to self-calibrate and collaborate seamlessly, enabling researchers to adjust fleet configurations according to specific needs while instantly scaling capacity.
Trilobio OS plays a pivotal role in simplifying the research process. Users can input their experimental protocols akin to writing entries in a lab notebook, initiating a software engine that meticulously plans and executes every detail autonomously. This eliminates the need for extensive coding and reduces research design time significantly, from days or weeks to mere minutes. Furthermore, the technology ensures that each step of the workflow remains consistent across different laboratories using Trilobio systems, promoting standardization and reliability.
Andrew Sather, a partner at Initialized Capital, expressed his admiration for the founding team's interdisciplinary expertise in both biology and robotics. He emphasized that Trilobio serves as a catalyst for the Bio Age, empowering scientists to enhance human life and drive species evolution forward. With this new influx of capital, Trilobio is poised to expand its robotic capabilities and refine its no-code software features, thereby integrating a broader array of specialized lab devices and protocols into its unified, fully automated platform.
As the scientific community continues to evolve, embracing collaborative and innovative methodologies, the integration of affordable, reliable technologies becomes paramount. Trilobio stands at the forefront of this transformation, providing scientists with the tools needed to overcome existing barriers and achieve unprecedented heights in their research endeavors. Through its commitment to advancing genetic engineering and synthetic biology, Trilobio ushers in a new era of efficiency and accuracy in life science research.