RealSeq Biosciences

What RealSeq Biosciences does

RealSeq Biosciences is a Santa Cruz, California-based private biotech founded in 2019 that develops proprietary RNA fragmentomics technology for small RNA and miRNA next-generation sequencing library preparation. Its core product, the RiboMarker platform, combines patented single-adapter and circularization library construction chemistry with next-generation sequencing on Illumina instruments and AI-powered bioinformatics to detect RNA fragments that conventional methods miss, claiming visibility into the approximately 90% of RNA not captured by traditional techniques. The company monetizes through direct e-commerce and purchase-order sales of three commercial kits (RealSeq-Biofluids for low-concentration samples, RealSeq-AC for tissue or cell samples, and RealSeq-Dual for combinatorial dual-index multiplexing), each priced between roughly $1,155 and $1,331, supplemented by sequencing services and customized bioinformatics offerings.

The company targets research institutions and academic labs, biotech and pharmaceutical companies, and diagnostics companies pursuing oncology, infectious disease, and liquid biopsy biomarker discovery. RealSeq has been primarily funded through non-dilutive NIH grants (including nearly $2M awarded in September 2025 and a Phase II NHGRI grant in November 2025), a $1.5M oversubscribed seed round in July 2023, and a March 2024 seed extension with Charleston Angel Partners, Santa Clara Ventures, and Santa Cruz Ventures. Leadership comprises CEO Sergio Barberan-Soler, founder and board member Brian H. Johnston, and COO Anne Scholz, with the company operating at 1-10 employees. RealSeq has stated an explicit strategic intent to prove clinical utility of its RNA biomarkers and pursue acquisition by a larger diagnostics firm, with active research collaborations including a partnership with the University of Gothenburg focused on oncology biomarker identification.

Name

RealSeq Biosciences

Legal name

RealSeq Biosciences

Website

https://realseqbiosciences.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

RealSeq Biosciences develops proprietary RNA fragmentomics library preparation kits and the RiboMarker AI-powered biomarker discovery platform, selling research-use reagents and sequencing services to academic labs, biotech firms, and diagnostics companies pursuing liquid biopsy and oncology applications.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

RNA Sequencing Reagents

NAICS

Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), Medical Laboratories (621511)

SIC

In Vitro & In Vivo Diagnostic Substances (2835), Services-Medical Laboratories (8071)

akta.pro primary industry

Molecular Biology & Genomics Instruments (PCR/qPCR, Sequencing, Microarrays) (HLAGAIAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Transcriptomics & Gene Expression Profiling Services (HLAGANAE), Genomics & Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) Services (HLAGANAA), Multiplex & High-Throughput Diagnostics Platforms (microarrays, digital PCR, lab automation-enabled assays) (HLAAALAL)

Keywords

• RNA library preparation
• Small RNA sequencing
• RNA biomarker discovery
• Liquid biopsy diagnostics
• NGS library kits

Headquarters

HQ city

Santa Cruz

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. RNA NGS Library Preparation Kits: Sale of proprietary small RNA library preparation kits (RealSeq-Biofluids, RealSeq-AC, RealSeq-Dual) for Illumina sequencing platforms. Kits are available in 12 or 48 reaction formats with barcoding capabilities.
2. Sequencing Services: RNA sequencing services provided from extracted RNA or ready-to-sequence pooled libraries, along with customized bioinformatics analysis services.
3. Technology Licensing: The company aims to prove clinical utility and seek acquisition by a larger diagnostics firm, indicating potential future licensing of their RNA biomarker technology.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

RealSeq Biosciences develops and sells small RNA next-generation sequencing (NGS) library preparation kits and the proprietary RiboMarker platform, which combines patented single-adapter and circularization library construction chemistry, NGS, and AI-powered bioinformatics to discover RNA biomarkers from biofluids, tissues, and cells for diagnostic and liquid biopsy applications.

Product overview

RealSeq Biosciences offers the RiboMarker platform for RNA biomarker discovery combined with a portfolio of RNA next-generation sequencing products. The RiboMarker platform is a proprietary technology that analyzes RNA fragments using library construction, NGS, and AI-powered bioinformatics to uncover novel biomarkers for liquid biopsy and diagnostic applications. This platform is complemented by commercial library preparation kits including the RealSeq-Biofluids kit for biofluid samples, the RealSeq-AC kit for tissue/cell samples, and the RealSeq-Dual kit with dual barcoding capability for enhanced multiplexing—all designed for Illumina sequencing platforms.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• RiboMarker®: Proprietary platform for RNA biomarker discovery that analyzes RNA fragments through library construction, NGS, and AI-powered bioinformatics tools for diagnostic applications
• RealSeq®-Biofluids
• RealSeq®-AC
• RealSeq® Dual

Products and services

• RiboMarker Platform A proprietary RNA biomarker discovery platform that uncovers novel biomarkers by analyzing RNA fragments that other approaches cannot detect through a combination of library construction, next-generation sequencing, and AI-powered bioinformatics tools for liquid biopsy and diagnostic applications.
• RealSeq-Biofluids Small RNA Library Preparation Kit Complete small RNA library preparation kit for Illumina for RNA samples from biofluids and other low concentration samples, featuring patented single-adapter and circularization technology to reduce detection bias. Each kit includes size selection reagent and barcoded PCR primers.
• RealSeq-AC Small RNA Library Preparation Kit Complete small RNA library preparation kit for Illumina for RNA samples from tissues or cells, supporting 1 ng to 1000 ng total RNA input with patented single-adapter and circularization technology. Each kit includes size selection reagent and barcoded PCR primers.
• RealSeq-Dual Small RNA Library Preparation Kit Complete small RNA library preparation kit for Illumina with dual barcoding capability using combinatorial dual indexing, supporting up to 384 unique combinations for advanced multiplexing for samples from tissues, cells, or biofluids.
• RNA Sequencing and Bioinformatics Services RNA sequencing services offered from extracted RNA or ready-to-sequence pooled libraries, along with customized bioinformatics analysis services for researchers requiring end-to-end small RNA profiling and biomarker discovery support.

Quantifiable outcome

• Platform can detect the other 90% of RNA that current techniques only see about 10% of

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

AI capability2 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• University of GothenburgcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2025Research collaboration with The University of Gothenburg to explore potential of RNA analysis technology for identifying disease biomarkers, particularly in oncology.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Element Biosciences: Element Biosciences (AVITI sequencer) is an emerging alternative NGS platform vendor challenging Illumina. It is not a direct library prep competitor but represents both a future re-validation opportunity and a competitive threat to Illumina-locked kits like RealSeq's.
• NanoString Technologies (now part of Bruker): NanoString's nCounter platform and GeoMx digital spatial profiling are used for RNA expression and biomarker discovery in translational labs. It overlaps with RealSeq's biomarker-discovery customer base but uses a fundamentally different detection chemistry.
• HTG Molecular Diagnostics: HTG Molecular offers RNA expression profiling technologies (HTG EdgeSeq) used for biomarker discovery and translational research. It targets the same translational research customer that RealSeq is pursuing with RiboMarker, making it a partial-overlap emerging peer.

Others

• Revvity (formerly PerkinElmer): Revvity's life sciences segment sells NGS library prep reagents and automation, and previously distributed small RNA kits via the Bioo Scientific line. It is a comparable NGS consumables vendor with scale advantages over RealSeq and a potential strategic acquirer.

Direct peers

• New England Biolabs (NEB): NEB's NEBNext line is the dominant NGS library prep franchise, including small RNA library prep kits. It competes with RealSeq on bench preference and is the entrenched incumbent RealSeq must displace or co-exist with on researcher shopping lists.
• Lexogen: Lexogen sells small RNA/miRNA library preparation kits (e.g., Small RNA-Seq Library Prep Kit) for Illumina and other platforms. It is the most direct head-to-head competitor to RealSeq's RealSeq-Biofluids and RealSeq-AC kits in the small RNA library prep market.
• Takara Bio: Takara Bio offers small RNA-seq library prep kits (SMARTer) and a broad NGS reagent portfolio. It competes directly with RealSeq for academic and translational researchers purchasing small RNA library preparation consumables.

Broad incumbents

• Illumina: Illumina sells TruSeq small RNA library prep kits and dominates the sequencing platform ecosystem on which RealSeq's kits run. Illumina is both a critical platform partner and a competing kit supplier, and represents both RealSeq's largest dependency and a likely acquisition candidate.
• Qiagen: Qiagen's QIAseq small RNA library prep kits and broader sample-prep portfolio compete with RealSeq at the bench. As a much larger life-science tools company with global reach, Qiagen is also a plausible acquirer for RealSeq's RNA fragmentomics IP.
• Thermo Fisher Scientific: Thermo Fisher sells Ion Torrent library prep kits and a wide range of molecular biology reagents. As the largest life-science tools company, it competes indirectly with RealSeq and represents the most likely large strategic acquirer for an emerging RNA fragmentomics platform.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds4 records

Investors12 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about RealSeq Biosciences