Snapdragon Chemistry
Snapdragon Chemistry is a Waltham, MA-based subsidiary of Cambrex that develops practical manufacturing solutions for challenging chemical transformations, serving the pharmaceutical discovery and manufacturing sector through specialized synthetic chemistry expertise.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersWaltham, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Snapdragon Chemistry does
Snapdragon Chemistry is a Waltham, Massachusetts-based chemistry technology company founded in 2014, operating as a subsidiary of Cambrex. The company focuses on developing practical manufacturing solutions for challenging chemical transformations, positioning itself in the pharmaceutical process chemistry and contract development space. Its core capability centers on synthetic chemistry expertise applied to pharmaceutical discovery and manufacturing, with the company maintaining a 51–100 employee footprint and an executive team led by CEO Matthew Bio, alongside a CSO (Eric Fang) and COO (Rick Lifsitz), with co-founder Sera Hwang among the founding team.
The company's documented external-facing product is the annual Snapdragon Prize for Innovation in Chemistry Technology, established in 2024 with a $50,000 unrestricted research grant awarded to leading academic researchers in synthetic chemistry whose work has potential to impact pharmaceutical discovery and manufacturing. The 2025 prize was awarded to Dr. Song Lin of Cornell University for work in electrosynthetic chemistry. Beyond the prize, the company has secured non-dilutive funding from DARPA ($1.5M, 2021), the National Science Foundation (~$225K, 2016), and the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center ($200K, 2017), indicating participation in government and translational research programs.
Business model specifics — pricing, customer mix, contract structure, and revenue mechanics — are not disclosed in available sources. Given the Cambrex parent, the implied model is likely a B2B services model serving pharmaceutical clients through Cambrex's broader commercial infrastructure, with Snapdragon functioning as a specialized process chemistry and innovation unit. Customer logos, segment composition, technology stack, and pricing are not publicly disclosed, representing a material evidence gap for any investor diligence.
Snapdragon Chemistry firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Snapdragon Chemistry
- Website
- https://snapdragonchemistry.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Snapdragon Chemistry is a Waltham, MA-based subsidiary of Cambrex that develops practical manufacturing solutions for challenging chemical transformations, serving the pharmaceutical discovery and manufacturing sector through specialized synthetic chemistry expertise.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Snapdragon Chemistry industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Contract Pharmaceutical Chemistry Services
- NAICS
- Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing (32541), Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714)
- SIC
- Medicinal Chemicals & Botanical Products (2833)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Chiral / Asymmetric Synthesis & Complex Chemistry Services (HLAGAHAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- GMP Scale-Up, Tech Transfer & Process Validation (PPQ) (HLAGAHAL), CMC & Pharmaceutical Development (Formulation/Process/Analytical Development) (HLAIALAD)
Keywords
Where Snapdragon Chemistry is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Waltham
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
Snapdragon Chemistry business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Snapdragon Chemistry product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Snapdragon Chemistry develops practical manufacturing solutions for challenging chemical transformations, providing custom synthesis and process development services to pharmaceutical and biotech clients. The company focuses on solving difficult synthetic chemistry problems to enable scalable production of active pharmaceutical ingredients.
Product overview
Snapdragon Chemistry, a subsidiary of Cambrex, operates as a chemistry technology company. Based on the source data, the company appears to focus on pharmaceutical chemistry development and manufacturing, with its primary documented offering being the Snapdragon Prize for Innovation in Chemistry Technology—an annual award program established in 2024 that recognizes academic researchers in synthetic chemistry whose work advances pharmaceutical discovery and manufacturing.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Custom Synthesis Services
Companies that use Snapdragon Chemistry
Customer profileIdeal customer profiles1 record
Snapdragon Chemistry technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Snapdragon Chemistry partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- CambrexcoreSnapdragon Chemistry is a subsidiary of Cambrex. Cambrex announced the 2025 Snapdragon Prize for Innovation in Chemistry Technology awarded to Dr. Song Lin from Cornell University. The prize recognizes academic research in synthetic chemistry that impacts pharmaceutical discovery and manufacturing.
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights2 records
Snapdragon Chemistry competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Asymchem: China-headquartered CDMO with deep capabilities in complex small-molecule chemistry, chiral synthesis, and API manufacturing — directly comparable to Snapdragon's challenging-transformations focus, with a much larger operational footprint.
- Hovione: Privately-held specialist CDMO known for complex API development, particle engineering, and challenging chemistry — closely aligned with Snapdragon's positioning in difficult small-molecule manufacturing.
- Codexis: Publicly-traded enzyme engineering company that develops biocatalytic and synthetic routes for pharmaceutical manufacturing; comparable as a specialist in novel chemistry routes for API production.
- Alcami: US-headquartered CDMO providing API development, complex formulation, and analytical services — a similarly-sized specialist directly comparable to Snapdragon's chemistry services focus.
- Curia (formerly AMRI): Contract development and manufacturing organization with strong API and complex chemistry capabilities; directly comparable to Snapdragon in the small-molecule CDMO category.
Broad incumbents
- Cambrex: Snapdragon's parent company and a leading global small-molecule API CDMO — a broader incumbent whose full-service offering overlaps Snapdragon's niche while providing the platform within which Snapdragon operates.
- Lonza: One of the world's largest CDMOs, offering end-to-end API development and manufacturing including complex chemistry — a broad incumbent that competes for the same complex-API programs Snapdragon targets.
- Pharmaron: Global CRO/CDMO offering lab, CMC, and API manufacturing services; comparable to Snapdragon in chemistry services though with a much broader, integrated service portfolio.
- WuXi STA (WuXi AppTec): Large-scale Chinese CDMO covering API process R&D and GMP manufacturing for complex small molecules — a broad incumbent competing directly in Snapdragon's specialty.
- Thermo Fisher Scientific (Patheon CDMO): Diversified life-sciences giant whose Patheon CDMO business offers large-scale API and finished-dose services; competes broadly for complex chemistry programs that Snapdragon targets.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks4 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
Snapdragon Chemistry social profiles
Digital presenceSnapdragon Chemistry financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Snapdragon Chemistry leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Snapdragon Chemistry funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds3 records
Investors3 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Snapdragon Chemistry 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 Snapdragon Chemistry
What does Snapdragon Chemistry do?
Snapdragon Chemistry develops practical manufacturing solutions for challenging chemical transformations, providing custom synthesis and process development services to pharmaceutical and biotech clients. The company focuses on solving difficult synthetic chemistry problems to enable scalable production of active pharmaceutical ingredients.
Is Snapdragon Chemistry a public or private company?
Snapdragon Chemistry is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Snapdragon Chemistry founded?
Snapdragon Chemistry was founded in 2014. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Snapdragon Chemistry based?
Snapdragon Chemistry is headquartered in Waltham, United States, in the North America region.
Who are Snapdragon Chemistry's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Asymchem, Hovione, Codexis, Alcami and Curia (formerly AMRI). Broad incumbents are Cambrex, Lonza, Pharmaron, WuXi STA (WuXi AppTec) and Thermo Fisher Scientific (Patheon CDMO).
Does Snapdragon Chemistry have an API?
No public API is recorded for Snapdragon Chemistry.
What industry is Snapdragon Chemistry in?
Snapdragon Chemistry's product category is Contract Pharmaceutical Chemistry Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAGAHAE, Chiral / Asymmetric Synthesis & Complex Chemistry Services, with a secondary code of HLAGAHAL, GMP Scale-Up, Tech Transfer & Process Validation (PPQ). Its NAICS code is 32541 and its SIC code is 2833.