Benchling is a cloud-based platform for biotech R&D that helps scientists to digitize their research workflows. The platform provides a single source of truth for data and experiments, and it allows scientists to collaborate more effectively. Benchling is used by scientists at over 1,000 organizations, including universities, pharmaceutical companies, and biotech startups.
Benchling was founded in 2012 by Sajith Wickramasekara, Ashu Singhal, and Cory Lewis. The company’s mission is to “make scientific research more productive and accessible.” Benchling has raised over $411 million in funding, and it is headquartered in San Francisco, California.
Benchling is a powerful tool that can help scientists to improve the efficiency and productivity of their research. The platform is used by scientists at leading organizations around the world, and it is helping to accelerate the pace of scientific discovery.
Here are some of the key features of Benchling:
Cloud-based: Benchling is a cloud-based platform, which means that it can be accessed from anywhere. This makes it easy for scientists to collaborate on projects, regardless of their location.
Extensible: Benchling is an extensible platform, which means that it can be customized to meet the specific needs of different organizations. This makes it a versatile tool that can be used by a wide range of scientists.
Secure: Benchling is a secure platform, which means that data is protected from unauthorized access. This is important for scientists who are working with sensitive data.
Innovative: Benchling is an innovative platform, which means that it is constantly being updated with new features. This ensures that Benchling remains a cutting-edge tool for scientific research.
Benchling is a powerful tool that is helping to revolutionize the way that scientific research is conducted. The platform is making it easier for scientists to collaborate, to share data, and to reproduce their experiments. This is leading to faster scientific discovery and improved patient care.
Founding History and Founders of Benchling
Benchling was founded in 2012 by a group of talented and ambitious individuals who shared a common vision to revolutionize scientific research through innovative software solutions. The founders—Sajith Wickramasekara, Ashu Singhal, and Cory Lewis—were inspired by their own experiences as scientists and recognized the immense potential to transform the way experiments were designed, executed, and analyzed.
The journey of Benchling began when Sajith Wickramasekara, then a student at MIT pursuing a degree in Biological Engineering, observed the frustrations and inefficiencies that researchers faced in managing their data and conducting experiments. He saw an opportunity to bridge the gap between scientific research and software technology, enabling scientists to focus more on their core work rather than being burdened by manual data entry, disorganized spreadsheets, and disparate tools.
Motivated by the desire to streamline and optimize scientific workflows, Sajith teamed up with Ashu Singhal, a computer science graduate from Stanford University, and Cory Lewis, a former Google engineer. Together, they set out to create a comprehensive and user-friendly platform that would empower scientists and researchers with cutting-edge software tools.
The founders believed that the key to successful scientific research lay in effective collaboration, data management, and experimental design. They envisioned a platform that would enable scientists to work seamlessly across teams, share data in real-time, and make informed decisions based on reliable and organized information.
With their vision in mind, the founders secured initial funding and assembled a team of talented engineers, designers, and scientists who shared their passion for transforming the scientific research landscape. They set up their headquarters in San Francisco, California, a vibrant hub for technology and innovation.
Over the years, Benchling has experienced remarkable growth and has become a trusted name in the scientific community. The company’s platform has gained widespread adoption across academic institutions, biotech companies, and pharmaceutical giants, with thousands of scientists relying on Benchling to accelerate their research and drive groundbreaking discoveries.
Benchling’s success can be attributed to its unwavering commitment to innovation, continuous improvement, and customer-centricity. The founders and their team actively engage with scientists to understand their challenges, gather feedback, and incorporate valuable insights into the ongoing development of the platform. This collaborative approach has fostered a strong sense of community and ensured that Benchling remains at the forefront of industry trends and user needs.
As Benchling continues to push the boundaries of what is possible in scientific research, the founding story serves as a testament to the power of innovation and the potential for technology to reshape the way we approach scientific discovery. With its visionary founders, talented team, and dedication to empowering scientists, Benchling is poised to redefine the future of life sciences and leave a lasting impact on the scientific community.
Product and Features of Benchling
Benchling offers a comprehensive and user-friendly cloud-based platform that empowers scientists and researchers in the life sciences field. The platform is designed to streamline scientific workflows, enhance collaboration, and facilitate data management and analysis. Here’s a detailed explanation of the product and its key features:
Experiment Design and Tracking: Benchling enables scientists to plan and track their experiments efficiently. Users can create experiment templates, define protocols, and set parameters, making it easy to standardize processes and ensure reproducibility. The platform allows researchers to track the progress of their experiments, record observations, and capture data in real-time, promoting transparency and accountability.
Electronic Laboratory Notebook (ELN): Benchling’s ELN functionality replaces traditional paper lab notebooks, providing a digital platform for researchers to document their experimental workflows, procedures, and observations. The ELN enables easy organization and retrieval of information, eliminating the need for manual data entry and paper-based record-keeping. Researchers can also collaborate within the ELN, sharing notes, protocols, and data with team members in real-time.
Molecular Biology Tools: Benchling offers a suite of molecular biology tools that simplify the design and analysis of DNA, RNA, and protein sequences. Users can design primers, optimize cloning strategies, perform sequence alignments, and analyze genetic constructs. The platform provides a comprehensive set of features for sequence annotation, searching public databases, and managing DNA libraries, facilitating molecular biology research and accelerating experimental design.
Inventory Management: Benchling’s inventory management feature allows scientists to efficiently track and manage their lab supplies, reagents, and samples. Users can create digital inventories, monitor stock levels, set expiration reminders, and track the usage of materials. The inventory management feature reduces wastage, ensures timely procurement, and enhances overall lab efficiency.
Data Analysis and Visualization: Benchling offers powerful data analysis and visualization tools to help researchers derive meaningful insights from their experimental results. Users can perform statistical analyses, create custom graphs and charts, and visualize data in various formats. The platform also supports integration with popular analysis software, enabling seamless data transfer and collaboration with external tools.
Collaboration and Project Management: Benchling enables seamless collaboration among researchers and teams. Users can share experiments, data, and findings with specific individuals or groups, facilitating real-time collaboration and knowledge sharing. The platform also offers project management features, allowing users to set milestones, assign tasks, track progress, and monitor project timelines, enhancing teamwork and project efficiency.
Compliance and Security: Benchling prioritizes data security and compliance with industry standards. The platform provides robust security measures to safeguard sensitive research data, ensuring that only authorized individuals have access. Benchling also offers features such as electronic signatures, version control, and audit trails, supporting regulatory compliance and data integrity.
Integrations and Customization: Benchling offers integrations with other laboratory software and instruments, allowing seamless data transfer and workflow integration. The platform supports integrations with electronic lab equipment, analysis software, and data management systems, enhancing data interoperability and streamlining research processes. Benchling also provides customization options, enabling users to tailor the platform to their specific research needs and preferences.
Overall, Benchling’s product combines a range of powerful features that streamline experimental workflows, enhance collaboration, and enable efficient data management and analysis. By addressing the unique challenges faced by scientists and researchers, Benchling empowers them to focus on their core work, accelerate scientific discovery, and drive breakthroughs in the life sciences industry.
Business Model of Benchling
Benchling operates on a software-as-a-service (SaaS) business model, offering its cloud-based platform as a subscription service to customers in the life sciences industry. The company’s business model is designed to provide scientists and researchers with a comprehensive and user-friendly software solution that enhances their productivity, streamlines workflows, and drives scientific innovation. Here’s a detailed explanation of Benchling’s business model:
Subscription-Based Revenue Model: Benchling generates revenue primarily through subscription fees paid by its customers. Users can choose from different subscription plans based on their specific needs, such as the number of users, features required, and data storage capacity. The subscription model ensures a steady and recurring stream of revenue for Benchling, providing financial stability and the ability to continually invest in product development and customer support.
Tiered Pricing Structure: Benchling employs a tiered pricing structure to cater to customers of varying sizes and requirements. The pricing tiers offer different levels of functionality and scalability, allowing users to select the plan that best aligns with their needs and budget. The tiered pricing structure ensures that Benchling’s platform remains accessible to both small research teams and large enterprises, fostering customer diversity and market reach.
Freemium Model: Benchling also offers a freemium model, providing a limited version of its platform for free. This allows researchers to explore the platform’s basic features and experience its value firsthand. The freemium model serves as an entry point to attract potential customers, build brand awareness, and demonstrate the capabilities of Benchling’s software. As users recognize the benefits and value of the platform, they can choose to upgrade to a paid subscription for more advanced features and additional storage capacity.
Continuous Innovation and Updates: Benchling’s business model is centered around continuous innovation and product development. The company invests a significant portion of its revenue in research and development to enhance its platform and introduce new features and capabilities. This commitment to innovation ensures that Benchling remains at the forefront of technological advancements in the life sciences industry, providing customers with the most up-to-date tools and functionalities to drive their research forward.
Customer Success and Support: Benchling places a strong emphasis on customer success and support. The company provides comprehensive onboarding assistance, training resources, and technical support to help customers maximize the value of the platform. By prioritizing customer satisfaction and success, Benchling aims to build long-term relationships, promote customer loyalty, and drive customer retention.
Enterprise Sales and Customer Expansion: Benchling focuses on enterprise sales, targeting large research organizations, biotech companies, and pharmaceutical giants. By catering to the needs of these larger customers, Benchling can secure long-term contracts and expand its customer base. The company also aims to drive customer expansion by encouraging existing customers to adopt additional features, upgrade their plans, or extend the platform to more users within their organization.
Overall, Benchling’s business model revolves around delivering a powerful and user-friendly software platform through a subscription-based model. By prioritizing customer success, continuous innovation, and strategic partnerships, Benchling aims to empower scientists and researchers, accelerate scientific discovery, and become a trusted and indispensable tool in the life sciences industry.
Investors, Funding and Valuation of Benchling
Here is an explanation of Benchling’s funding, investors, and valuation:
Funding: Benchling has raised over $412 million in funding from investors such as Lone Pine Capital, Franklin Templeton Investments, Lead Edge Capital, Altimeter Capital, Tiger Global Management and more.
Future plans
Benchling plans to use its funding to expand its platform and to reach new customers. The company also plans to invest in research and development to develop new features and capabilities. Benchling is well-positioned for growth and it is expected to play a significant role in the future of biotech research.
Also Read: FiveTran – Founders, Features, Business Model and Funding
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