VectorBuilder
VectorBuilder is a privately held gene-delivery CRO and CDMO operating an integrated online design platform (Vector Design Studio, used in 300,000+ labs) and global manufacturing footprint spanning research-grade cloning and virus packaging through GMP plasmid, viral vector, IVT RNA, LNP, and engineered cell production for academic, biotech, and pharmaceutical customers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersChicago, United States
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What VectorBuilder does
VectorBuilder is a privately held gene-delivery contract research, development, and manufacturing organization (CRO/CDMO) that operates an integrated online platform and physical manufacturing footprint to serve academic researchers, biotech, and pharmaceutical customers from research through GMP clinical manufacturing. The company's core technology is the Vector Design Studio — a self-serve web platform used in over 300,000 laboratories globally — paired with the free VectorBee DNA design software, an extensive catalog of backbones and components, and instant quote/pricing functionality. Revenue is generated through five streams: fee-for-service custom gene delivery (cloning, virus packaging, plasmid preparation, library construction, stable cell line engineering, recombinant protein expression), product sales (premade viruses, AAV serotype testing panels, LentiBuilder packaging kits, popular vectors), full-service CDMO/GMP manufacturing (plasmid, viral vector, IVT RNA, LNP, and engineered cell products) plus the CliniVec clinical consultation service, a store-credit program offering up to 20% bonus credit for pre-payment, and licensing/royalty arrangements (inbound from TET Systems and Demeetra/PiggyBac, plus outbound from proprietary platforms such as MiniVec, MuteFree AAV, MegaAAV, and novel AAV capsids). Go-to-market combines product-led growth through the self-serve online store, inside sales via territory managers, enterprise field sales for CDMO and CliniVec engagements, and a multi-region distributor network across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia Pacific.
The company is structured around US parent VectorBuilder Inc. (headquartered in Chicago, Illinois), core operating entity VectorBuilder Biotechnology in Guangzhou, China, regional entities in Germany (VectorBuilder GmbH) and the United Kingdom (VectorBuilder Ltd.), and local presences in Japan and Korea. In October 2022 VectorBuilder Biotechnology closed a CNY 410 million Series C funding round co-led by Legend Capital and Suikai Investment (with Guangzhou Yuexiu Industrial Investment Fund, Guangzhou Industrial Investment Group, Wanlian Tianze, and Xiamen C&D) to fund technology upgrades, capacity expansion, and global business development. Subsequent strategic actions include a $50M Chicago Advanced Biomanufacturing and R&D Center (announced May 2026, operations expected 2027), an EU patent for the proprietary MiniVec plasmid system (May 2026), the launch of the MuteFree AAV backbone (April 2026), a strategic partnership with MaxCyte for ex vivo cell engineering (June 2026), and a collaboration with Ikarovec on the ophthalmology gene therapy IKAR-003 (January 2026, potential $1B+ deal value). The company won the BioIndustrial Innovation of the Year award in 2024 and is recognized as a key player in the viral capsid development market alongside PackGene Biotech, Sartorius AG, and Revvity.
VectorBuilder firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- VectorBuilder
- Legal name
- VectorBuilder Inc.
- Website
- https://vectorbuilder.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Short description
- VectorBuilder is a privately held gene-delivery CRO and CDMO operating an integrated online design platform (Vector Design Studio, used in 300,000+ labs) and global manufacturing footprint spanning research-grade cloning and virus packaging through GMP plasmid, viral vector, IVT RNA, LNP, and engineered cell production for academic, biotech, and pharmaceutical customers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
VectorBuilder industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Gene Delivery CDMO and Custom Vector Services
- akta.pro primary industry
- Gene Therapy Vector Manufacturing & CDMO Services (HLAAACAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- AAV Vector Gene Therapy Developers (HLAAACAA), Lentiviral Vector Gene Therapy Developers (HLAAACAB), Viral Vector Manufacturing Services (AAV, lentiviral, adenoviral) (HLAAAKAD), Gene Therapy CMC/Process Development Platforms (capsid engineering, producer cell lines, plasmids, upstream/downstream) (HLAAACAN)
Keywords
Where VectorBuilder is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Chicago
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices7 records
Markets served
VectorBuilder business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Custom Gene Delivery Services (Fee-for-Service): Contract manufacturing / fee-for-service revenue for custom vector cloning, virus packaging, plasmid preparation, library construction, stable cell line engineering, and recombinant protein expression. Default payment terms Net30.
- Product Sales (Premade Vectors, Viruses, Kits): Catalog sales of premade viruses, AAV serotype testing panels, LentiBuilder packaging kits, popular vectors, and consumables ordered directly through the online store.
- CDMO / GMP Manufacturing: Full-service CDMO providing GMP-grade plasmid manufacturing, viral vector manufacturing, IVT RNA and LNP manufacturing, plus CliniVec therapeutic consultation services to clinical-stage cell and gene therapy developers.
- Store Credit & Promotional Pre-Paid Credits: Non-refundable store credit program offering up to 20% bonus credit for future purchases, providing cash-flow positive pre-payment and lock-in.
- Licensing & Royalty Arrangements: Licensing revenue from outbound licenses (PiggyBac from Demeetra, Tet3G from TET Systems) and inbound IP licensing arrangements for proprietary vector systems such as MiniVec, MuteFree AAV, novel AAV capsids, codon-optimized gene sequences, and proprietary virus packaging plasmids.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Custom quote-based pricing for vector cloning, virus packaging, and CDMO services |
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Free first vector promotion (up to $500 off) |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | 12th Anniversary Welcome Offer (20% / 15% / 10% off tiers) |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Referral Program (20%-off for new referee, 30%-off reward for referrer) |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Store Credit purchase (up to 20% bonus) |
Go-to-market motion6 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels9 records
VectorBuilder product offering
Product offeringCore offering
VectorBuilder is an online platform and contract manufacturer that designs, engineers, and produces custom gene delivery tools including vectors, viruses, plasmids, recombinant proteins, stable cell lines, and GMP-grade cell-and-gene-therapy materials. Its integrated Vector Design Studio lets researchers design and order custom vectors online, while its CDMO arm delivers GMP plasmid, viral vector, IVT RNA, LNP, and engineered cell manufacturing supported by proprietary platforms such as MiniVec, MuteFree AAV, MegaAAV, and LentiBuilder.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- VectorBee: Free DNA editing and design software offered as a companion to the VectorBuilder platform (vectorbee.com).
- Vector Design Studio
- CliniVec™
- MiniVec™
- MuteFree™
- MegaAAV™
- LentiBuilder™
Products and services
- Online Vector Design (Vector Design Studio)
Companies that use VectorBuilder
Customer profileNamed customers14 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
VectorBuilder technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration7 records
Feature9 records
VectorBuilder partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core, regional and minor.
- MaxCyteflagshipStrategic partnership to co-develop a next-generation gene delivery solution combining VectorBuilder's MiniVec plasmid system with MaxCyte's Flow Electroporation technology for ex vivo cell engineering applications. Preliminary CAR-T manufacturing data demonstrated 2.4x increased cell viability and 1.4x higher gene expression compared to conventional systems, addressing critical challenges in safety and manufacturability for cell therapies.
- IkaroveccoreCollaborating on an eye disease gene therapy, IKAR-003, designed to be delivered in a doctor's office. The partnership is still in early stages but could be valued at over $1 billion once finalized.
- BiozolregionalAuthorized distributor covering Germany, Switzerland, and Austria markets, listed on the VectorBuilder distributors page.
- DBA Compare (dbacompare.it)regionalAuthorized distributor for the Italian market, listed on the VectorBuilder distributors page.
- AmplikonregionalAuthorized distributor covering the Hungarian market, listed on the VectorBuilder distributors page.
- BiotagregionalAuthorized distributor covering the Israeli market, listed on the VectorBuilder distributors page.
- Sci-Hub (sci-hub.com)regionalAuthorized distributor covering Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia, listed on the VectorBuilder distributors page.
- GBBioregionalAuthorized distributor covering the Korean market, listed on the VectorBuilder distributors page; VectorBuilder also maintains its own Korean-language website (vectorbuilder.kr) with additional distributors.
- TET SystemsminorLicensor of the patented Tet3G sequence component used in VectorBuilder's Tet-inducible vector products. VectorBuilder holds an inbound license and grants automatic research-use licenses to academic institutions with purchase; commercial users require a separate TET Systems license.
- Demeetra (PiggyBac)minorPiggyBac® is a licensed trademark of Demeetra. VectorBuilder holds a license to sell products and provide custom services incorporating piggyBac® hyPBase for research purposes. Academic and non-profit researchers using it for research purposes are not required to obtain a separate license; commercial customers need a separate license from Demeetra.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
VectorBuilder competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- PackGene Biotech: China-based AAV and lentiviral vector CDMO recognized alongside VectorBuilder as a key player in the global viral capsid development market. Directly comparable in service portfolio (vector cloning, virus packaging, GMP manufacturing) and customer mix (academic plus biotech).
- GenScript: Gene synthesis, plasmid preparation, viral vector, and cell therapy CRO/CDMO with overlapping capabilities in custom vector design and gene delivery services for academic and biotech customers globally.
- Cyagen Biosciences: China-rooted cell and gene therapy CRO offering custom vector construction, virus packaging, and animal model services. Comparable in serving academic and preclinical biotech customers with fee-for-service gene delivery.
- Twist Bioscience: DNA synthesis and gene services company with overlapping capabilities in synthetic genes, variant libraries, and antibody discovery, increasingly competing in gene delivery and gene therapy reagent workflows.
- Addgene: Non-profit plasmid repository and viral vector service provider widely used by academic researchers; overlaps with VectorBuilder's research-grade plasmid and viral vector distribution in the academic customer segment.
Broad incumbents
- Sartorius AG: Global bioprocessing incumbent identified alongside VectorBuilder as a key player in the viral capsid development market, offering cell and gene therapy manufacturing solutions as part of a broader bioprocessing portfolio.
- Revvity: Life sciences tools and services company also named alongside VectorBuilder as a key player in viral capsid development, with broader portfolio across reagents, software, and gene therapy manufacturing services.
- Charles River Laboratories: Large CDMO and preclinical CRO with cell and gene therapy manufacturing capabilities that compete with VectorBuilder's GMP viral vector and plasmid manufacturing services.
- Lonza Group: Global CDMO leader with one of the largest cell and gene therapy manufacturing footprints, competing head-to-head with VectorBuilder for GMP-grade viral vector and engineered cell therapy contracts.
- Thermo Fisher Scientific: Diversified life sciences platform with gene synthesis, viral vector production, and GMP cell therapy services through its Biosciences and Pharma Services segments, competing across multiple of VectorBuilder's service lines.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
VectorBuilder social profiles
Digital presenceVectorBuilder financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
VectorBuilder leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
VectorBuilder subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries5 records
VectorBuilder funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds3 records
Investors6 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
VectorBuilder 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 VectorBuilder
What does VectorBuilder do?
VectorBuilder is an online platform and contract manufacturer that designs, engineers, and produces custom gene delivery tools including vectors, viruses, plasmids, recombinant proteins, stable cell lines, and GMP-grade cell-and-gene-therapy materials. Its integrated Vector Design Studio lets researchers design and order custom vectors online, while its CDMO arm delivers GMP plasmid, viral vector, IVT RNA, LNP, and engineered cell manufacturing supported by proprietary platforms such as MiniVec, MuteFree AAV, MegaAAV, and LentiBuilder.
Is VectorBuilder a public or private company?
VectorBuilder is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was VectorBuilder founded?
VectorBuilder was founded in 2014. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is VectorBuilder based?
VectorBuilder is headquartered in Chicago, United States, in the North America region.
How does VectorBuilder make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Custom Gene Delivery Services (Fee-for-Service) is the primary driver. The others are product Sales (Premade Vectors, Viruses, Kits), CDMO / GMP Manufacturing, store Credit & Promotional Pre-Paid Credits and licensing & Royalty Arrangements.
Who are VectorBuilder's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are PackGene Biotech, GenScript, Cyagen Biosciences, Twist Bioscience and Addgene. Broad incumbents are Sartorius AG, Revvity, Charles River Laboratories, Lonza Group and Thermo Fisher Scientific.
Does VectorBuilder have an API?
No public API is recorded for VectorBuilder.
What industry is VectorBuilder in?
VectorBuilder's product category is Gene Delivery CDMO and Custom Vector Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAAACAJ, Gene Therapy Vector Manufacturing & CDMO Services, with a secondary code of HLAAACAA, AAV Vector Gene Therapy Developers.