UniteLabs, a startup revolutionizing lab automation in biotechnology, secured €2.77 million in a pre-seed funding round led by NAP (formerly Cavalry Ventures), with participation from PUSH, Acurio Ventures, OMA Business Angels, and LANA Ventures. By facilitating seamless communication between laboratory instruments, the company accelerates biotech research through standardized and cloud-compatible interfaces, simplifying device control and ensuring real-time data accessibility. This breakthrough represents a significant step toward full lab automation and AI-driven innovation in drug discovery and biotechnology.
Laboratory instruments often operate in isolation due to a lack of standardized interfaces, creating significant challenges for researchers aiming to integrate AI into lab workflows. With 90% of lab equipment originating from different manufacturers, developing custom integrations consumes valuable time and resources. Connectivity issues require months of effort, diverting attention from scientific discovery while causing critical data loss. "Many biotech companies want to leverage AI in their labs," says Robert Zechlin, co-founder and CEO of UniteLabs. "But the biggest challenge is that lab instruments can't communicate with each other. With UniteLabs, we are building the foundation for a shared technical language in the lab."
To address these challenges, an advanced operating system for biotech research has been developed, enabling seamless data collection, control, and monitoring across all laboratory instruments, regardless of manufacturer. The platform includes 40 pre-built connectors, allowing various lab devices to communicate effortlessly while providing automation capabilities and workflow optimization. "Biotech research is inevitably moving toward automation, and the rapid integration of AI into the research process is accelerating this shift," Zechlin explains. "We are establishing the long-overdue industry standards needed to support this transformation."
A primary focus has been placed on liquid handlers, which serve as crucial tools for biological and chemical experiments, including COVID-19 testing and DNA sequencing. Manual liquid handling often leads to inefficiencies, slowing down research and increasing errors. "This is just the beginning. Liquid handlers serve as a gateway to lab automation, providing an ideal starting point for expanding to other applications with satisfied customers," says Zechlin. "Our long-term vision is to support a broad range of analytical instruments, including chromatography systems, plate readers, robotic arms, and bioreactors. The value we create for customers grows exponentially as more instruments are integrated."
Future plans include connecting 650 laboratory instruments to the cloud, enhancing efficiency and data integration across biotech research facilities. Collaboration with pilot customers will refine the product, while expansion efforts focus on developing 50 additional connectors, particularly for widely used liquid-handling workstations. By the end of the year, plans include integrating 90 instruments, significantly advancing automation and connectivity across biotech labs worldwide.