Slingshot Biosciences
Slingshot Biosciences develops and sells precision-engineered synthetic cell mimics — polymer-based particles replicating biological cell properties — for flow cytometry QC, compensation, immunophenotyping, and CAR-T manufacturing controls, serving biopharma, biotech, clinical labs, academia, CROs, and instrument OEMs globally.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2012
- HeadquartersEmeryville, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Slingshot Biosciences does
Slingshot Biosciences is a private biotechnology company headquartered in Emeryville, California that develops and commercializes synthetic cell mimics — polymer-based, precision-engineered particles that replicate the size, granularity, surface biomarkers, and fluorescence of biological cells. The core technology platform is built on proprietary microsystems and semiconductor-precision manufacturing, enabling tunable control over optical and biochemical properties that is not achievable with conventional polystyrene beads or donor-derived controls. The company's product portfolio spans ten branded lines (FlowCytes, SpectraComp, ViaComp/ViaComp Ultra, TruCytes, PhenoCytes, QuantCytes, StimCytes, ScatterBridge, NanoCytes, FluoroCytes) plus a custom TruCytes development service, targeting flow cytometry QC, compensation and unmixing, immunophenotyping, quantitative antigen density measurement, and CAR-T functional benchmarking.
The company serves five primary customer segments: biopharmaceutical companies, biotechnology firms, clinical diagnostics laboratories, academic research institutions, and CROs, with instrument and OEM manufacturers as a secondary channel. Named enterprise customers include most of the top-20 global pharmaceutical and life sciences tools companies (Pfizer, Novartis, Roche, Bristol Myers Squibb, Amgen, Gilead, Regeneron, Takeda, Bayer, Johnson & Johnson, Merck, BD, Beckman Coulter, Thermo Fisher, Bio-Techne, Agilent), CDMOs (Lonza, Patheon, Resilience), diagnostics labs (NeoGenomics), and research institutions (Fred Hutch). The company reports adoption by hundreds of life sciences organizations globally.
Slingshot operates a hybrid go-to-market combining direct field sales led by a newly appointed SVP Global Sales, inside sales, a self-serve e-commerce storefront, and a worldwide distributor network that was extended into the UK and EU in February 2026. Revenue is generated primarily through one-time catalog product sales (e.g., ViaComp Ultra Amine at $495 per 100 tests) and custom development projects structured as multi-phase engagements. The company has raised approximately $64 million in disclosed funding across a 2021 Series A led by Northpond Ventures, a 2023 round co-led by ARCH Venture Partners and Northpond Ventures, and a 2024 round led by Anterra Capital. It maintains ISO 9001:2015 certification and employs 51–100 people.
Slingshot Biosciences firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Slingshot Biosciences
- Legal name
- Slingshot Biosciences, Inc.
- Website
- https://slingshotbio.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2012
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Slingshot Biosciences develops and sells precision-engineered synthetic cell mimics — polymer-based particles replicating biological cell properties — for flow cytometry QC, compensation, immunophenotyping, and CAR-T manufacturing controls, serving biopharma, biotech, clinical labs, academia, CROs, and instrument OEMs globally.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Slingshot Biosciences industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Flow Cytometry Controls
- NAICS
- In-Vitro Diagnostic Substance Manufacturing (325413)
- SIC
- In Vitro & In Vivo Diagnostic Substances (2835)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Reagents, Chemicals & Assay Kits (Buffers, Antibodies, ELISA, Enzymes) (HLAGAIAI)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Cell Processing & Ancillary Materials (media, cytokines, beads, vectors, disposables) (HLAAABAH), Raw Materials & Critical Reagents Supply (Media/Resins/Cytokines) (HLAGAGAI)
Keywords
Where Slingshot Biosciences is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Emeryville
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Slingshot Biosciences business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Synthetic Cell Mimic Products: Direct product sales of proprietary synthetic cell mimic controls (TruCytes, SpectraComp, ViaComp, FlowCytes, StimCytes, PhenoCytes, QuantCytes, and others) for flow cytometry QC, instrument standardization, cell therapy manufacturing, and clinical research applications. Products are sold as ready-to-use reagents with per-test or per-kit pricing. Both catalog products and custom-built TruCytes biomarker controls are offered.
- Custom TruCytes Biomarker Controls: Bespoke, precision-engineered cell mimics built to customer specifications for rare indications, novel targets, and complex multi-biomarker panels. Sold as custom development projects with evaluation, feasibility, scale-up, and production phases under a structured project management framework. Includes ongoing supply agreements for custom product production.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | ViaComp Ultra Amine compensation control — 100 tests |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Standard catalog products (FlowCytes, SpectraComp, ViaComp, TruCytes, etc.) |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Custom TruCytes Biomarker Controls |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
Slingshot Biosciences product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Slingshot Biosciences manufactures and sells precision-engineered synthetic cell mimic reagents used as flow cytometry controls for biopharma, biotechnology, clinical diagnostics, academic research, and cell therapy manufacturing. The product portfolio includes catalog controls (TruCytes, SpectraComp, ViaComp, FlowCytes, PhenoCytes, QuantCytes, StimCytes, ScatterBridge, NanoCytes, FluoroCytes) and bespoke Custom TruCytes biomarker controls engineered to customer specifications, replacing variable donor cells and polystyrene beads with non-biohazardous, shelf-stable reference materials.
Product overview
Slingshot Biosciences offers a comprehensive portfolio of synthetic cell mimic products for standardizing flow cytometry workflows. The core offering includes FlowCytes® (shelf-stable WBC mimics), SpectraComp® (spectral unmixing controls), ViaComp®/ViaComp® Ultra™ (viability compensation controls), TruCytes™ (immunophenotyping controls), PhenoCytes™, QuantCytes™ (quantitative antigen density), StimCytes™ (CAR-T benchmarking), ScatterBridge® (scatter standardization), NanoCytes, and FluoroCytes. These products replace variable donor cells, polystyrene beads, and UltraComp beads as consistent, non-biohazardous reference standards with lot-to-lot CVs as low as 0.1%. The company also offers Custom TruCytes® Biomarker Controls for specialized applications. Products serve biopharma, academia, instrument manufacturers, CROs, and clinical diagnostics laboratories.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- ViaComp®: Cell-like compensation controls for amine-reactive viability dyes and antibody-based panels.
- ViaComp® Ultra™
- FlowCytes®
- TruCytes™
- SpectraComp®
- ScatterBridge®
- PhenoCytes™
- QuantCytes™
- StimCytes™
- NanoCytes
- FluoroCytes
Products and services
- FlowCytes® Shelf-stable, non-biohazardous synthetic white blood cell mimics providing the optical properties of human blood populations (lymphocytes, monocytes, granulocytes) for threshold, forward scatter, and side scatter instrument standardization. Available in fixed or unfixed formats with no special handling required.
- SpectraComp® Cell mimics designed for spectral unmixing and compensation in high-parameter flow cytometry, with tunable scatter and tunable autofluorescence. Available in fluorescent protein variants (eGFP and mCherry) with multi-level intensity controls, providing a direct replacement for cells in spectral and conventional compensation workflows.
- ViaComp® Ultra™ Amine Precision-engineered cell mimic for spectral unmixing and compensation in multiparameter flow cytometry. Binds amine-reactive viability dyes and captures fluorophore-conjugated antibodies from multiple host species. Liquid, non-biohazardous format, 100 tests, ships 2–8°C storage, priced at $495.00.
- ViaComp® Ultra™ DNA Cell mimic control variant for DNA intercalating viability dyes (7AAD, DAPI, PI) used in flow cytometry compensation workflows, with improved positive/negative separation compared to legacy ViaComp.
- ViaComp® 2-in-1 bead-based viability controls that bind DNA intercalating dyes and amine-reactive viability dyes to simulate necrotic and apoptotic cell staining. Compatible with both conventional and spectral flow cytometry and most viability dyes on the market.
- TruCytes™ Ready-to-use precision synthetic cell mimics representing specific cell populations (T, B, NK cells, etc.) with configurable surface biomarkers and tailored fluorescence, for immunophenotyping, QC, and process control in cell therapy workflows. Non-biohazardous with closed vial stability up to 12–18 months.
- PhenoCytes™ Cell mimics designed for immunophenotyping applications, supporting phenotyping controls in flow cytometry workflows.
- QuantCytes™ Quantitative antigen density controls for measuring antigen expression levels with high precision and reproducibility in flow cytometry assays.
- StimCytes™ Functional CAR-T benchmarking controls used to stimulate and measure T cell responses, supporting validation and standardization of cell therapy manufacturing and quality control workflows.
- ScatterBridge® Forward and side scatter controls for standardizing instrument scatter parameters across multiple flow cytometers, providing traceability for scatter standardization.
- NanoCytes Nanoparticle-based cell mimics for specialized flow cytometry applications requiring small particle controls.
- FluoroCytes Fluorescent cell mimics for positive control applications in flow cytometry, including fluorescent protein controls such as eGFP and mCherry variants.
- Custom TruCytes Biomarker Controls Bespoke, precision-engineered cell mimics built to customer specifications for rare indications, novel targets, and complex multi-biomarker panels. Includes single or multiple surface proteins, distinct populations, variable expression levels (high/low/intermediate), surface and intracellular markers, and customizable size/morphology. Delivered through a structured evaluation, feasibility, scale-up, and production project framework with complimentary initial evaluation kit.
Quantifiable outcome
- 87–98% reduction in control development time and 56–74% cost reduction compared to traditional biological controls (donor-derived materials or in-house cell lines)
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Slingshot Biosciences
Customer profileNamed customers21 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles6 records
Slingshot Biosciences technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature7 records
Slingshot Biosciences partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- CellarescoreSlingshot Biosciences and Cellares integrated TruCytes biomarker controls with the Cell Q automated QC platform for cell therapy manufacturing. The collaboration combines Slingshot's synthetic biomarker controls (TruCytes) with Cellares' automated quality control platform, aiming to improve data integrity, reduce failure rates, and enable faster, more predictable production scaling in regenerative medicine manufacturing.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Slingshot Biosciences competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Cytek Biosciences: Spectral flow cytometry instrument maker whose adoption of spectral cytometry directly drives demand for the kinds of unmixing and compensation controls Slingshot's SpectraComp is designed to serve.
- Miltenyi Biotec: Cell therapy analytics and reagent supplier with proprietary flow cytometry controls and QC kits used in CAR-T manufacturing workflows, comparable to Slingshot's StimCytes and TruCytes offerings.
- BioLegend (acquired by Cytek/Sale to Bruker): Specialty flow cytometry antibody and reagent supplier; provides cell-based controls and assay reagents that compete in flow cytometry QC and standardization, especially for high-parameter panels.
Broad incumbents
- Bio-Techne (R&D Systems): Life sciences tools incumbent with flow cytometry antibodies, proteins, and QC offerings across its Protein Sciences business unit, competing broadly with Slingshot's reagent categories. Also listed as a Slingshot customer.
- Bio-Rad Laboratories: Supplier of StarBright, calibration, and flow cytometry reagents, with a competing offering in compensation and standardization controls that overlaps with Slingshot's catalog.
- Thermo Fisher Scientific (Invitrogen / Thermo Fisher): Broad life sciences tools incumbent with a sizable flow cytometry reagents and calibration controls portfolio (e.g., Invitrogen ArC Amine Reactive Compensation Beads). Overlaps with Slingshot but as part of a much wider product portfolio.
Others
- Agilent Technologies: Cell analysis instrument provider (acquired ACEA and BioCel) operating in flow cytometry, overlapping with Slingshot's installed-base standardization opportunities; listed as a Slingshot customer.
- Cell Signaling Technology: Supplies flow cytometry antibodies and validated controls for immunophenotyping; an adjacent competitor for cell-based reference reagents rather than a direct synthetic mimic competitor.
Direct peers
- BD Biosciences: Seller of BD CompBeads and a comprehensive flow cytometry controls portfolio. Competes directly with Slingshot's compensation and viability products and is itself a Slingshot customer, illustrating the dual customer/competitor dynamic.
- Beckman Coulter Life Sciences: Manufacturer of UltraComp eBeads and a broad portfolio of flow cytometry compensation and instrument calibration controls, directly competing with Slingshot's ViaComp and SpectraComp product lines for the same flow cytometry QC workflows.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Slingshot Biosciences social profiles
Digital presenceSlingshot Biosciences compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Slingshot Biosciences financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Slingshot Biosciences leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
Slingshot Biosciences funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds3 records
Investors5 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Slingshot Biosciences M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Slingshot Biosciences
What does Slingshot Biosciences do?
Slingshot Biosciences manufactures and sells precision-engineered synthetic cell mimic reagents used as flow cytometry controls for biopharma, biotechnology, clinical diagnostics, academic research, and cell therapy manufacturing. The product portfolio includes catalog controls (TruCytes, SpectraComp, ViaComp, FlowCytes, PhenoCytes, QuantCytes, StimCytes, ScatterBridge, NanoCytes, FluoroCytes) and bespoke Custom TruCytes biomarker controls engineered to customer specifications, replacing variable donor cells and polystyrene beads with non-biohazardous, shelf-stable reference materials.
Is Slingshot Biosciences a public or private company?
Slingshot Biosciences is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Slingshot Biosciences founded?
Slingshot Biosciences was founded in 2012. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Slingshot Biosciences based?
Slingshot Biosciences is headquartered in Emeryville, United States, in the North America region.
How does Slingshot Biosciences make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Synthetic Cell Mimic Products are the primary driver. The others are custom TruCytes Biomarker Controls.
Who are Slingshot Biosciences's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are Cytek Biosciences, Miltenyi Biotec and BioLegend (acquired by Cytek/Sale to Bruker). Broad incumbents are Bio-Techne (R&D Systems), Bio-Rad Laboratories and Thermo Fisher Scientific (Invitrogen / Thermo Fisher). Others are Agilent Technologies and Cell Signaling Technology. Direct peers are BD Biosciences and Beckman Coulter Life Sciences.
Does Slingshot Biosciences have an API?
No public API is recorded for Slingshot Biosciences.
What industry is Slingshot Biosciences in?
Slingshot Biosciences's product category is Flow Cytometry Controls. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAGAIAI, Reagents, Chemicals & Assay Kits (Buffers, Antibodies, ELISA, Enzymes), with a secondary code of HLAAABAH, Cell Processing & Ancillary Materials (media, cytokines, beads, vectors, disposables). Its NAICS code is 325413 and its SIC code is 2835.