Gencove

About Gencove

Gencove, founded in 2016 by Joseph Pickrell and Tomaz Berisa, is a genomics software company positioned to address the market's need for high-volume, cost-effective genome sequencing. The company's genesis stems from the founders' academic and research backgrounds. Pickrell, the CEO, holds a Ph.D. in human genetics from the University of Chicago and was previously a Principal Investigator at the New York Genome Center, where his lab focused on using large-scale genomic data to understand human biology. Berisa, the CTO, was a data scientist at the New York Genome Center and holds a Ph.D. from the University of Zagreb. Together, they aimed to solve the dual challenges of making genome sequencing accessible and the resulting data interpretable.

The core of Gencove's business is its software-as-a-service (SaaS) platform centered on low-pass whole genome sequencing (lpWGS). This technique involves sequencing a genome at a lower coverage (less than 1x) than traditional whole-genome sequencing, which reduces costs and increases throughput. Gencove's proprietary imputation software then analyzes this low-coverage data, using statistical methods and reference panels to accurately infer the complete genomic sequence. The platform delivers variant calls with over 99% accuracy, providing a more comprehensive dataset than genotyping arrays at a comparable price point. The business model generates revenue through this SaaS platform, offering both sequencing services via partner labs and standalone analytics software for clients who have their own sequencing data.

Gencove serves a diverse client base across academia, agriculture, biotechnology, and pharmaceutical industries. Its platform is hardware-agnostic, allowing integration with various sequencing technologies, as evidenced by partnerships with companies like Complete Genomics. For agricultural clients, the technology aids in genomic selection and improving traits in plants and animals. In human genetics, applications include genome-wide association studies, polygenic risk score calculations, and ancestry analysis. The company has secured $16.2 million in total funding over five rounds, with its latest Series A round in October 2021 raising $10 million, led by Lewis & Clark AgriFood. This capital is being used for product development and commercial expansion to meet the growing demand for industrial-scale genomics.