SafeTraces
SafeTraces is a Pleasanton-based biotech company that provides DNA-tracer and biosensor-based indoor-air analytics for predicting, detecting, and preventing pathogen exposure in commercial buildings, federal facilities, and food/pharma environments.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2013
- HeadquartersPleasanton, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What SafeTraces does
SafeTraces is a private biotech and indoor-air analytics company founded in 2013 and headquartered in Pleasanton, California. It provides a Predict-Detect-Prevent platform for pathogen exposure management, anchored by three product lines: veriDART (DNA-tagged aerosol tracers that simulate airborne pathogen transport for ventilation verification), PathogenSentinel (qPCR-based biosensors for detecting pathogens in air and surfaces), and an Analytics Platform that turns assay outputs into facility-level risk insights. Sub-products miniDART (small-environment) and saniDART (food and pharmaceutical surface verification) extend the core tracer chemistry into adjacent verticals. The company monetizes through per-square-foot subscriptions (veriDART Standard at $0.05/sq ft annually), per-assessment fees (veriDART Custom at $5,000 per building), and quote-based pricing for detect and analytics modules, supplemented by federal program funding under the ARPA-H BREATHE contract.
The customer base spans Fortune 100 enterprises (Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Samsung, Goldman Sachs), federal and state agencies (Federal Reserve, U.S. Air Force, VA Hospitals, State of California), and large institutional operators (DFW Airport, Port Authority NY NJ, Planet Fitness, Novo Nordisk, ProAssurance, Virginia State University). Distribution runs through a Certified Professional and Service Partner network, anchored by flagship partnerships with UL (UL Verified Ventilation & Filtration launched 2022, LEED Pilot Credit qualification 2022) and ARPA-H (BREATHE Prime Performer selection with up to $39M contract ceiling in 2025). Additional go-to-market partners include RHP Risk Management, Booz Allen, Eurofins, Tetra Tech, and Terracon. Capital history comprises an NSF grant (2015), a $1.5M Seed (2016), a $6.5M Series A led by Omidyar Network (2017), a $10M Series B led by Bunge and S2G Investments (2018), an undisclosed round (2021), and an Agility Capital debt facility (2023). Headcount is 11–50, described by the company as rapidly growing, with active engineering and lab hiring underway in 2025–2026.
SafeTraces firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- SafeTraces
- Legal name
- SafeTraces, Inc.
- Website
- https://safetraces.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2013
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- SafeTraces is a Pleasanton-based biotech company that provides DNA-tracer and biosensor-based indoor-air analytics for predicting, detecting, and preventing pathogen exposure in commercial buildings, federal facilities, and food/pharma environments.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
SafeTraces industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Indoor Air Quality & Pathogen Detection
- NAICS
- Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing (334516), In-Vitro Diagnostic Substance Manufacturing (325413)
- SIC
- Services-Testing Laboratories (8734), In Vitro & In Vivo Diagnostic Substances (2835)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Environmental Monitoring (VOC/CO2/PM2.5) (HSAHAGAG)
Keywords
Where SafeTraces is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Pleasanton
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
SafeTraces business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- veriDART Standard subscription: Recurring annual subscription priced at $0.05/sq ft for veriDART Standard, which includes High Density room Equivalent Air Change Rate (ACHe) testing, annual cadence, veriDART Cloud-Based Analytics portal, and the UL Verification Mark. Price varies by facility type & configuration.
- veriDART Custom project-based assessment: Customized, project-based engagement priced at $5,000/building for commissioning, IEQ programs, and environmental goals; includes High Density Zones up to 25k sq ft, Air Handling Units, Equivalent Air Change Rate, Airflow & Exposure Heatmap, and Filtration Efficiency. Project-dependent frequency, UL Verification Mark not included. Price varies by scope of work.
- Hardware / consumable kits (veriDART, miniDART, saniDART): Sale of test kits, on-site PCR readers, miniDART dispensers and injectors, and saniDART saniTracers / swab kits to customers and Certified Professionals. Documentation notes 'the quote does not include the price of the test kit or the hourly charges for on-site services delivery.'
- Certification Program and partner enablement: Revenue from veriDART Certification Program delivered through training partner RHP Risk Management, plus ecosystem revenue from Service Partners and Certified Professionals who resell and deliver SafeTraces solutions to end customers.
- Subscription auto-renewal billing: Per the Terms and Conditions, monthly, quarterly, or annual Services 'will automatically renew … at the then-current rates, unless the Services are canceled or terminated,' and payments are billed in U.S. dollars via credit/debit card or approved payment method.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Annual | Standard: $0.05/sq ft, annual testing of High Density rooms with ACHe, cloud portal, and UL Verification Mark included. |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Custom: $5,000/building per assessment, project-based scope up to 25k sq ft with airflow heatmaps and filtration efficiency; UL Verification Mark not included. |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | veriDART inquiry (pathogen-risk verification) — quote-based. |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | saniDART inquiry (rapid sanitation verification) — quote-based. |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | miniDART inquiry (on-product traceability) — quote-based. |
| Subscription | Annual | veriDART Certified Professional program — quote-based training and certification. |
Go-to-market motion4 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels9 records
SafeTraces product offering
Product offeringCore offering
SafeTraces sells a biotech-powered indoor air quality (IAQ) verification and pathogen-detection platform built on patented DNA-tagged aerosol tracer technology. Its flagship veriDART product uses FDA-GRAS DNA-tagged aerosols to simulate respiratory emissions and measure how HVAC, filtration, and UV-C systems actually control pathogen exposure, with results delivered through a cloud analytics portal and the UL Verified Ventilation and Filtration mark. Adjacent products include PathogenSentinel (automated qPCR airborne pathogen biosensor), miniDART (on-product DNA traceability tags for food and pharma), and saniDART (AOAC-certified rapid sanitation verification).
Product overview
SafeTraces operates a single integrated biotech-powered data analytics platform with a Predict–Detect–Prevent architecture rather than a collection of unrelated tools. The Predict layer is anchored by veriDART, the patented DNA-tagged aerosol tracer solution for verifying ventilation and filtration performance that also powers the UL Verified Ventilation and Filtration mark. The Detect layer is delivered through PathogenSentinel, an automated qPCR-based biosensor platform for rapid airborne pathogen detection and mitigation, and the Prevent layer is delivered through the cloud-based Analytics Platform for optimizing IAQ and energy efficiency across enterprise real estate portfolios. Alongside this IAQ platform, SafeTraces offers two adjacent sub-products in other verticals: miniDART, an FDA-GRAS DNA-tag-based on-product traceability and authentication solution for pharmaceuticals and food, and saniDART, an AOAC-certified rapid sanitation verification solution for food processing facilities. The veriDART Certification Program extends the Predict layer through trained external practitioners.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- veriDART®: SafeTraces' flagship indoor air quality verification platform using patented DNA-tagged aerosol tracers to test HVAC, filtration, and UV-C systems; also the basis of the UL Verified Ventilation and Filtration program.
- miniDART®
- saniDART®
- PathogenSentinel™
Products and services
- veriDART Indoor air quality verification platform that uses patented DNA-tagged aerosol tracer technology to predict and verify the performance of HVAC systems, air cleaners, and UV-C fixtures. Combines field verification services by certified professionals with a cloud-based analytics portal and powers the UL Verified Ventilation and Filtration mark.
- PathogenSentinel Automated qPCR-based biosensor platform for rapid detection and mitigation of airborne pathogens. Delivers the Detect layer of SafeTraces' integrated Predict-Detect-Prevent platform, serving biodefense, healthcare, and building biosurveillance applications including the ARPA-H BREATHE program.
- Analytics Platform
Quantifiable outcome
- >10% reduction in cost, energy, and carbon emissions per facility (per Fortune 100 client analysis)
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use SafeTraces
Customer profileNamed customers33 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
SafeTraces technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
Feature7 records
SafeTraces partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
19 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.
- ARPA-H (U.S. Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health)flagshipSafeTraces selected as a Prime Performer on the ARPA-H BREATHE (Building Resilient Environments for Air and Total Health) Program on an Other Transaction Agreement up to $39 million. The program is investing $150M federally to create 'an immune system for every building,' with real-world testing planned in hospitals and day care centers in California, Michigan, North Carolina, and Walter Reed by 2028.
- UL (Underwriters Laboratories)flagshipUL and SafeTraces co-developed the 'UL Verified Ventilation and Filtration' program — the first performance-based building verification mark for real-world ventilation and filtration performance for aerosol removal in the built environment. The program is 'powered by SafeTraces' and integrates SafeTraces' veriDART methodology with UL's safety science brand, channel, and LEED-recognized performance standard.
- RHP Risk ManagementcoreThrough training partner RHP Risk Management, SafeTraces offers the veriDART Certification Program for qualified indoor air quality professionals. RHP delivers the actual training (Jacob Persky, Principal/Co-Founder, is featured on Healthy Air Episode #14). Certified Professionals who complete the program are authorized to deliver veriDART solutions.
- Booz AllenminorBooz Allen listed as a SafeTraces Service Partner / Partner on the homepage and Partners page. As a major federal systems integrator, Booz Allen supports SafeTraces' federal and defense go-to-market.
- PlanledminorPlanled listed as a SafeTraces Service Partner on the homepage Partners section.
- Tetra TechminorTetra Tech listed as a SafeTraces Service Partner on the homepage Partners section.
- TerraconminorTerracon listed as a SafeTraces Service Partner on the homepage Partners section.
- EurofinsminorEurofins listed as a SafeTraces Service Partner on the homepage Partners section. Eurofins is a global laboratory testing partner likely supporting sample analysis for veriDART testing.
- U.S. Air ForcecoreU.S. Air Force listed as both a Trusted by Market Leaders customer/logo and as an R&D Partner on the About page, indicating a deeper research and field-validation relationship.
- Lawrence Livermore National LaboratoryminorLawrence Livermore National Laboratory listed as an R&D Partner on the About page.
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)minorFDA listed as an R&D Partner on the About page, consistent with SafeTraces' use of FDA GRAS materials in veriDART and miniDART.
- National Institutes of Health (NIH)minorNIH listed as an R&D Partner on the About page.
- U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF)minorNSF listed as an R&D Partner on the About page.
- National Council on School FacilitiesminorListed as an Industry Association SafeTraces belongs to, supporting K-12 and higher education market engagement.
- IFMA (International Facility Management Association)minorListed as an Industry Association SafeTraces belongs to.
- AIHA (American Industrial Hygiene Association)minorListed as an Industry Association SafeTraces belongs to.
- Aspire (Alliance for Sustainable and Practical IAQ and Real Estate)minorListed as an Industry Association SafeTraces belongs to.
- GBI (Green Building Initiative)minorListed as an Industry Association SafeTraces belongs to, complementary to its LEED/USGBC alignment.
- GS1minorListed as an Industry Association SafeTraces belongs to, supporting miniDART supply chain traceability and food/pharma customers.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
SafeTraces competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- TSI Incorporated: TSI is an established manufacturer of aerosol, particle, and IAQ measurement instruments used in HVAC and cleanroom applications — a broad incumbent in the same measurement category as veriDART.
- Eurofins Scientific: Eurofins is a global laboratory testing services incumbent and is also listed as a SafeTraces Service Partner, indicating comparable analytical and verification capabilities at much larger scale.
- UL Solutions (Underwriters Laboratories): UL is the safety-science incumbent that co-brands the 'UL Verified Ventilation and Filtration, powered by SafeTraces' program and competes broadly in building verification and certification services.
- Carrier Global: Carrier is a global HVAC manufacturer whose installed equipment SafeTraces verifies; it represents a potential platform-internal competitor if Carrier bundles its own IAQ verification or biosensing capabilities.
Direct peers
- Aclima: Aclima operates a hyperlocal air quality sensing and analytics platform for buildings and cities, directly overlapping SafeTraces' veriDART analytics and ESG/LEED IAQ use cases.
- Aerobiotix: Aerobiotix sells airborne infection control and air decontamination systems to hospitals, overlapping SafeTraces' healthcare PathogenSentinel and veriDART hospital-acquired-infection value proposition.
Emerging players
- Aura Air: Aura Air markets connected indoor air quality monitors and purifiers for commercial real estate, partially overlapping SafeTraces' corporate real estate IAQ and ESG use cases.
- AquiSense Technologies: AquiSense manufactures UV-C disinfection systems for air and water, adjacent to SafeTraces' veriDART evaluation of UV-C fixtures and indoor pathogen mitigation thesis.
- Airthings: Airthings offers consumer and commercial indoor air quality sensors with analytics, addressing the same building-portfolio IAQ benchmarking demand as SafeTraces' Analytics platform.
Others
- Booz Allen Hamilton: Booz Allen is a listed SafeTraces Service Partner and federal systems integrator that overlaps in delivering biosecurity and biodefense technical services to U.S. government and defense customers.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
SafeTraces social profiles
Digital presenceSafeTraces compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance7 records
SafeTraces financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
SafeTraces leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
SafeTraces funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds6 records
Investors11 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
SafeTraces 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 SafeTraces
What does SafeTraces do?
SafeTraces sells a biotech-powered indoor air quality (IAQ) verification and pathogen-detection platform built on patented DNA-tagged aerosol tracer technology. Its flagship veriDART product uses FDA-GRAS DNA-tagged aerosols to simulate respiratory emissions and measure how HVAC, filtration, and UV-C systems actually control pathogen exposure, with results delivered through a cloud analytics portal and the UL Verified Ventilation and Filtration mark. Adjacent products include PathogenSentinel (automated qPCR airborne pathogen biosensor), miniDART (on-product DNA traceability tags for food and pharma), and saniDART (AOAC-certified rapid sanitation verification).
Is SafeTraces a public or private company?
SafeTraces is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was SafeTraces founded?
SafeTraces was founded in 2013. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is SafeTraces based?
SafeTraces is headquartered in Pleasanton, United States, in the North America region.
How does SafeTraces make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. veriDART Standard subscription is the primary driver. The others are veriDART Custom project-based assessment, hardware / consumable kits (veriDART, miniDART, saniDART), certification Program and partner enablement and subscription auto-renewal billing.
Who are SafeTraces's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are TSI Incorporated, Eurofins Scientific, UL Solutions (Underwriters Laboratories) and Carrier Global. Direct peers are Aclima and Aerobiotix. Emerging players are Aura Air, AquiSense Technologies and Airthings. Booz Allen Hamilton is listed as an others.
Does SafeTraces have an API?
Yes. SafeTraces references an Application Programing Interface (API) within its Terms and Conditions, indicating that API access may be granted under a separate Dedicated Agreement (e.g., Master Services Agreement or click-through portal agreement). No public API documentation, SDK, endpoint URLs, authentication method, rate limits, or versioning information is published. Access is gated by a separate written/electronic agreement rather than being openly available. Developer documentation is at www.safetraces.com/documentation/welcome.
What industry is SafeTraces in?
SafeTraces's product category is Indoor Air Quality & Pathogen Detection. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HSAHAGAG, Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Environmental Monitoring (VOC/CO2/PM2.5). Its NAICS code is 334516 and its SIC code is 8734.