Celltrio

About Celltrio

Celltrio Inc. operates as a provider of robotic-based automation solutions tailored for the life sciences industry. The company was established in 2018 and is headquartered in Fremont, California. The founding team includes Charlie Duncheon, who serves as CEO, and Dr. Jin-Oh Kim, the company's CTO. Both founders are recognized figures in the robotics and factory automation sectors, each having received the Joseph Engelberger Award for Leadership. Duncheon's background includes an executive role at Adept Technology, where he contributed to its IPO, and leadership positions at startups like Artificial Muscle, Inc. Dr. Kim has over 30 years of experience as a scientist and entrepreneur, with past leadership roles at Samsung Electronics and as a professor at Kwangwoon University.

The company's business model is centered on designing, manufacturing, and integrating modular automation systems for biopharma companies, cell therapy labs, and regenerative medicine facilities. Revenue is generated through the sale of these systems and platforms. The core strategy involves leveraging intellectual property acquired through an exclusive global partnership with a Korean firm, Robots and Design Ltd., which has a substantial installation base in the Life Sciences and Semiconductor markets. This allows Celltrio to offer market-proven technology while expanding the product line with its U.S.-based engineering team. In June 2025, the company secured $15 million in a Series B funding round led by Premier Partners to support the global commercialization of its products.

Celltrio's flagship product is the RoboCell® automation platform, a modular and scalable system designed to fully automate cell culturing and cell line development processes from end-to-end. This platform can handle tasks such as cell maintenance, passaging, differentiation, biobanking, imaging, and screening. It supports various cell types and is designed for 24/7 operation. Key components of the ecosystem include the RoboStor®, an automated liquid nitrogen (LN2) freezer for cryogenic sample storage and retrieval, and various task modules for liquid handling, centrifugation, and incubation. The entire system is managed by the Bioflow® software, which provides a visual interface for workflow management, scheduling, and data traceability. This modular approach allows clients to start with automating specific tasks and scale up to a fully integrated system as their needs grow.