Firefly BioWorks is a Cambridge, MA-based developer of next-generation multiplexed assays for biomarker detection. The company is introducing a high-performance, universal technology platform for multiplexed biomarker detection with applications in life sciences research and clinical diagnostics. Its assays can be performed on standard laboratory equipment such as flow cytometers, microarray scanners and fluorescence microscopes. FirePlex, the company’s first product, is designed to detect microRNAs. Led by co-founder and CEO Davide Marini and co-founder and CTO Daniel Pregibon, Firefly intends to use recent grant funding to expand the reach of its products to clinical scientists and research hospitals. The article notes a $500k award from the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center to support commercialization efforts. Firefly BioWorks develops an open platform that enables industrial, academic and clinical scientists to develop and use multiplexed biological assays on standard laboratory instrumentation. The company’s core technology, Optical Liquid Stamping, was developed in the Chemical Engineering Department at MIT by the co-founders. The Optical Liquid Stamping method enables rapid, scalable synthesis of encoded, multi-functional particles for quantifying biological function. Firefly intends to use the recent funding to execute its commercial strategy and to launch an early access program with leading academic and industrial partners. The company is led by co-founder and CEO Dr. Davide Marini and is based in Cambridge, MA. No operating metrics were disclosed in the article.

Total raised

$3M

Funding rounds

2

Latest round

Grant

Latest activity

May 2012