DropGenie Raises $5M in Seed+ Funding for Gene Editing

DropGenie, a Cambridge, MA-based functional biology company that generates decision-ready discovery data from patient-derived cells, has raised $5 million in a Seed+ funding round.

The round saw backers including BDC Thrive Venture Fund, Skeleton Key, Merck Global Health Innovation Fund, CQDM, Real Ventures, and Anges Quebec.

The company plans to use the funding to accelerate the commercialisation of its first product, expand customer engagement options, and grow its global presence.

What is DropGenie?

DropGenie develops technology that helps researchers conduct experiments using primary cells taken directly from patients. Its automated microfluidic platform miniaturises gene-editing workflows, allowing scientists to make genetic changes in these cells while using fewer cells and less reagent than conventional methods.

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The platform is designed for organisations working in cell therapy, functional genomics, and AI-driven drug development. By making experiments more efficient, DropGenie aims to help researchers generate useful biological data for studying diseases and developing treatments.

The company offers its technology through different models. Customers can run protocols in their own laboratories, work with DropGenie to conduct studies as a service, or enter data partnerships to develop standardised functional datasets from primary patient cells.

How Much Funding Has DropGenie Raised?

DropGenie has raised $5 million in its latest Seed+ funding round. The company did not disclose its total funding to date or details of previous rounds in the announcement.

Who Invested in DropGenie’s Seed+ Round?

The Seed+ round included participation from:

• BDC Thrive Venture Fund
• Skeleton Key
• Merck Global Health Innovation Fund
• CQDM
• Real Ventures
• Anges Quebec

The company did not identify a lead investor or specify which investors were new and which were existing backers.

Why the Funding Matters

DropGenie will use the funding to accelerate the commercialisation of its first product, expand customer engagement models, and strengthen its global presence.

The product is designed to make gene editing in primary patient cells more efficient. According to the company, its approach can use up to 100 times fewer cells than conventional workflows while requiring significantly less reagent.

Who founded DropGenie?

DropGenie was founded in 2018 by Alison Hirukawa, Hugo Sinha and Philippe Vo. The company operates from Montreal, Canada, and Boston, Massachusetts, with its funding announcement also identifying Cambridge, Massachusetts as its base.

"Primary human cells hold the answers drug developers need, but they've been too scarce to study at scale," said Alison Hirukawa, Co-founder and CEO of DropGenie. "We make those experiments practical and BDC Thrive Fund helps us bring that to more teams, faster."

"DropGenie is building critical infrastructure for the future of drug discovery by making high-quality, human-relevant biological data more accessible and scalable," said Mona Minhas, Managing Partner, BDC Thrive Venture Fund. "We see an opportunity to build a globally important company from Canada, and Alison has the scientific depth, ambition and vision to lead it.

Market and Business Growth

DropGenie is working with partners on primary-cell applications ahead of a broader product rollout planned for early next year.

Its platform supports research in cell therapy, functional genomics, and AI-driven drug development. The company is also expanding its business model beyond product access to include research services and strategic data partnerships.

DropGenie reports that its technology can use up to 100 times fewer cells than conventional methods. It says the product is already being integrated into workflows at major global pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and research organisations. The company has not disclosed revenue or customer numbers.

What Happens Next?

DropGenie plans to accelerate the commercialisation of its first product ahead of a broader rollout planned for early next year.

The company will also expand its customer engagement options, allowing organisations to use the technology in their own laboratories, commission studies through DropGenie's services, or collaborate on functional data partnerships.

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