Imaging technology provider Nikon led a $95m funding round for Berkeley Lights, a US-based digital cell technology developer  based on research at University of California (UC) Berkeley, on Monday.
Scientific instrument producer Varian contributed to the round, as did VC firms Sequoia Capital, Walden-Riverwood Ventures, Black Diamond Ventures, Atinum Investment, Shangbay Capital and KTB Network, did family office Paxion Capital, investment firm Cota Capital and AJS BioTree Healthcare Fund.
Founded in 2011, Berkeley Lights has created a digital cell biology platform known as Beacon, which is being used by biopharmaceutical companies to develop, and scale the production of, cell-based therapies.
The platform exploits research conducted by Ming Wu, the Nortel distinguished professor of electrical engineering and computer sciences and co-director of the Berkeley Sensor & Actuator Center at UC Berkeley. He is also the faculty director of the UC Berkeley Marvell Nanolab.
The latest funding will be used for research and development, as the company looks to accelerate its Car T and endogenous T-cell-focused cell development technology, as well as the growth of the company’s commercial activities.
Yasuyuki Okamoto, director of Nikon’s healthcare business unit, said: “Our continued support of Berkeley Lights speaks to growing evidence that the company’s technology is poised to revolutionise drug discovery and development.
“We look forward to seeing continued adoption of their digital cell biology platform by the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry throughout the globe, as well as development of additional capabilities that will speed discovery and development for life-saving therapeutics.”
Berkeley Lights reached a $44m first close of the round, which at that point had a $75m target for its close, in April this year. The funding comes after it raised $29.7m in November 2016, according to a regulatory filing.
The company had previously secured $90m in funding across three rounds prior to emerging from stealth in 2015, when it named Sequoia and Walden Riverwood as investors.
– A version of this article first appeared on our sister site, Global Corporate Venturing.

Imaging technology provider Nikon led a $95m financing round for US-based digital cell technology developer Berkeley Lights on Monday that included scientific instrument producer Varian.

Venture capital firms Sequoia Capital, Walden-Riverwood Ventures, Black Diamond Ventures, Atinum Investment, Shangbay Capital and KTB Network also invested, as did family office Paxion Capital, investment firm Cota Capital and AJS BioTree Healthcare Fund.

Founded in 2011, Berkeley Lights has created a digital cell biology platform known as Beacon, which is being used by biopharmaceutical companies to develop, and scale the production of, cell-based therapies.

The latest funding will be used for research and development, as the company looks to accelerate its CAR T and endogenous T-cell-focused cell development technology, as well as the growth of the company’s commercial activities.

Yasuyuki Okamoto, director of Nikon’s healthcare business unit, said: “Our continued support of Berkeley Lights speaks to growing evidence that the company’s technology is poised to revolutionise drug discovery and development.

“We look forward to seeing continued adoption of their digital cell biology platform by the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry throughout the globe, as well as development of additional capabilities that will speed discovery and development for life-saving therapeutics.”

Berkeley Lights reached a $44m first close of the round, which at that point had a $75m target for its close, in April this year. The funding comes after it raised $29.7m in November 2016, according to a regulatory filing.

The company had previously secured $90m in funding across three rounds prior to emerging from stealth in 2015, when it named Sequoia and Walden Riverwood as investors.