ViQi
ViQi is a cloud-based SaaS platform that uses proprietary AI and brightfield microscopy to automate image-based assays for pharmaceutical, biotech, CRO/CDMO, and academic customers in drug discovery and bioprocessing.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2019
- HeadquartersSanta Barbara, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What ViQi does
ViQi, Inc. is a Santa Barbara, California-based private company founded in 2017 that operates a cloud-based SaaS platform applying proprietary machine learning and computer vision to image-based assays in life sciences drug discovery and bioprocessing. The platform is built on a Phenotypically Targeted AI (PTA™) methodology and delivers three primary product lines: AVIA™ (Automated Viral Infectivity Assay) for AI-based detection of viral infection from brightfield microscopy images in 1-2 days versus traditional 14-day plaque assays; AutoHCS™, a patent-pending high-content screening toolkit that automates phenotypic scoring and mechanism-of-action prediction; and FibroNest™, a digital pathology solution co-developed with PharmaNest for quantitative fibrosis analysis. The platform is designated as an FDA Class 1 Medical Device Data System (MDDS) under 21 CFR Part 11 and is ISO27001 certified, addressing GxP compliance requirements of pharmaceutical and biotech customers.
ViQi firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- ViQi
- Legal name
- ViQi, Inc.
- Website
- https://viqiai.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2019
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- ViQi is a cloud-based SaaS platform that uses proprietary AI and brightfield microscopy to automate image-based assays for pharmaceutical, biotech, CRO/CDMO, and academic customers in drug discovery and bioprocessing.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
ViQi industry classification
Industry- Product category
- AI Image Analysis Software for Life Sciences
- NAICS
- Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing (334516), Software Publishers (5132), Software Publishers (513210)
- SIC
- Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826), Surgical & Medical Instruments & Apparatus (3841)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Medical Imaging AI (HDAAAEAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Digital & AI-Enabled Diagnostics (algorithmic interpretation, decision support tied to assays) (HLAAALAO), AI Orchestration & Imaging Analytics Platforms (Model Management/Triage) (HLACALAG), End-to-End Enterprise AI Platforms (MLOps & Model Lifecycle Management) (HDAEANAA)
Keywords
Where ViQi is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Santa Barbara
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
ViQi business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Operations
Revenue model
- SaaS Subscription Services: ViQi operates as a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) company. The assays and applications are accessed through the ViQi cloud-based platform. Subscriptions are required for ongoing access to applications, assays, and data input into and generated by the tools.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | SaaS subscription model with quote-based pricing |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels8 records
ViQi product offering
Product offeringCore offering
ViQi develops and sells a cloud-based SaaS platform that applies proprietary AI and machine learning to automated image analysis for life sciences customers. Its core offerings are AVIA™ for rapid viral infectivity assays, AutoHCS™ for high-content screening phenotypic analysis, and Histology/FibroNest™ solutions for tissue and digital pathology quantification, delivered alongside custom assay development services. Customers access the assays and applications through ViQi's cloud platform on an annual subscription basis.
Product overview
ViQi offers a unified cloud-based SaaS platform for AI-powered image analysis in life sciences drug discovery. The core portfolio includes AVIA™ for automated viral infectivity assays, AutoHCS™ for high-content screening analysis, and histology solutions for tissue-based research. These products are delivered through ViQi's proprietary SaaS platform built on Predictive AI (PTA™) technology, with custom assay development services and validation tools supporting the full product suite. The platform processes microscopy images using computer vision AI to detect phenotypic changes, automates bioassay workflows, and generates structured analytical outputs including phenotypic classifications and comparative reports.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- AVIA™ (Automated Viral Infectivity Assay): AI-based assay using machine learning and brightfield microscopy to detect phenotypic changes associated with viral infection. Replaces plaque assays, TCID-50s, fluorescent labeling, titration, inactivation, neutralization, and viral clearance testing.
- AutoHCS™ Tool Kit
- FibroNest™
Products and services
- AVIA™ Automated Viral Infectivity Assay AI-based assay using machine learning and brightfield microscopy to detect phenotypic changes associated with viral infection prior to human visibility. Replaces traditional plaque assays, TCID-50s, and fluorescent labeling for viral titer determination; designed for pharmaceutical, biotech, CRO/CDMO, and academic customers.
- AutoHCS™ Tool Kit AI-powered image analysis system for high-content screening assays that automates detection and scoring of phenotypic responses to drugs in cells or tissues. Generates actionable insights including drug clustering and pharmacological interpretation; targets drug discovery and HCS customers.
- Histology AI-powered tissue analysis solution including tissue segmentation, phenotypic scoring, fibrosis quantification, and spatial biology applications. Leverages ViQi's platform and partnerships with Akoya Biosciences and PharmaNest to deliver digital pathology and spatial phenotyping offerings.
- FibroNest™ AI solution for digital pathology developed in partnership with PharmaNest, providing multi-vendor compatible quantitative analysis of fibrosis and associated features including steatosis, inflammation, and ballooning for NASH and fibrotic disease research.
- Custom Assays Collaborative development of AI-powered assays tailored to specific research needs. ViQi's cross-disciplinary team designs, validates, and implements custom solutions aligned with research goals and regulatory requirements for pharmaceutical, biotech, CRO/CDMO, and academic customers.
- ViQi SaaS Platform Cloud-based centralized hub providing tools for developing, validating, and refining AI-driven assays with terabyte-scale data management and high-throughput image analysis capabilities. Accessed via standard web browser on an annual subscription basis.
Quantifiable outcome
- Viral infectivity confirmation in under 2 days (vs. traditional 14-day assays)
- +6 more outcomes
Companies that use ViQi
Customer profileNamed customers13 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
ViQi technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability7 records
Feature6 records
ViQi partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Araceli BiosciencescoreCollaboration for AI-driven phenotypic profiling in high throughput cell-based assays. Joint application note published with UF Scripps.
- AgilentcoreViQi and Agilent signed a co-marketing agreement to promote AI-based automated imaging assays. The partnership includes joint webinars and application notes for rapid vaccine production testing workflows.
- PharmaNestcorePartnership for FibroNest digital pathology solution. ViQi's FDA MDDS designation and ISO27001 certification reinforces PharmaNest's pursuit of regulatory approval for digital pathology biomarker.
- Akoya BiosciencescorePartnership for spatial biology platform leveraging Akoya's highly-multiplexed data. ViQi's platform provides visualization, metadata, annotation, and analysis capabilities while running Akoya's custom algorithms. Reduced pipeline processing time from weeks to days.
- Dewpoint TherapeuticscoreKey partner for commercialization of AutoHCS platform. Dewpoint is a leader in biomolecular condensate-driven drug discovery with collaborations with Bayer, Merck, and Pfizer.
- NIIMBLminorViQi became a member of the National Institute for Innovation in Manufacturing Biopharmaceuticals in 2024 to participate in biomanufacturing innovation initiatives.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
ViQi competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Strateos: Strateos operates cloud-based laboratory automation platforms integrating robotic instruments with cloud software for closed-loop experiments. Comparable to ViQi in applying cloud SaaS architecture to lab workflows, with overlap in high-content screening and drug discovery automation use cases.
- Recursion Pharmaceuticals: Recursion uses AI and high-content imaging for drug discovery at scale, generating large microscopy image datasets analyzed by proprietary computer vision models. Comparable to ViQi in applying computer vision/ML to cellular phenotyping, though Recursion operates a fully integrated drug pipeline while ViQi sells the image analysis layer as a SaaS platform.
- Aignos: Aignos (formerly 3D Medicines/Cytocypher) provides AI-driven image analysis for preclinical drug discovery and pathology. Emerging competitor with overlapping focus on AI image analysis for life sciences, though smaller scale and earlier-stage than ViQi.
Broad incumbents
- Sartorius: Sartorius provides bioprocessing and cell analysis instruments with image-based cell counting and analysis tools (e.g., Incucyte). Overlapping customer base in pharma/biotech and parallel moves into AI-enabled image analysis, though Sartorius is a much broader bioprocessing incumbent.
- Molecular Devices: Molecular Devices (a Danaher operating company) offers high-content screening instruments (ImageXpress, MetaXpress) with bundled image analysis software. Comparable to ViQi in serving the HCS workflow but as a broad incumbent instrument vendor; ViQi integrates with Molecular Devices hardware rather than competing head-to-head.
- Revvity (formerly PerkinElmer): Revvity offers the Operetta high-content imaging system and Columbus image analysis software for life sciences. Overlapping customer base and HCS use cases as ViQi, but as a much larger diversified life sciences tools incumbent with bundled hardware-software solutions.
Direct peers
- Akoya Biosciences: Akoya provides spatial biology and multiplexed tissue imaging platforms (PhenoCycler, PhenoImager). Strategic partner with ViQi - Akoya's pipeline processing time was reduced from weeks to days using ViQi's platform - though Akoya also develops its own analysis software (inForm), creating partial competitive overlap.
- Araceli Biosciences: Araceli provides AI-driven high-content phenotypic profiling and imaging platforms for drug discovery. Direct partnership/co-marketing relationship with ViQi and most overlapping customer base in pharma/biotech HCS workflows, though Araceli is hardware-centric while ViQi is software/SaaS.
- Yokogawa Life Science: Yokogawa's CQ1 high-content analysis system serves pharma HCS workflows. Direct partnership with ViQi (joint apoptosis/HCS collaboration), with overlapping target customers in pharma and academic HCS; ViQi integrates as an AI analysis layer atop Yokogawa instruments.
- PharmaNest: PharmaNest develops digital pathology AI for fibrosis and NASH quantification, integrated into ViQi's FibroNest solution. Most directly overlapping in phenotypic quantification of fibrotic tissue features; comparable to ViQi's histology offering but as a pathology-specialized peer.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
ViQi social profiles
Digital presenceViQi compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
ViQi financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
ViQi leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles19 records
ViQi funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds6 records
Investors2 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
ViQi 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 ViQi
What does ViQi do?
ViQi develops and sells a cloud-based SaaS platform that applies proprietary AI and machine learning to automated image analysis for life sciences customers. Its core offerings are AVIA™ for rapid viral infectivity assays, AutoHCS™ for high-content screening phenotypic analysis, and Histology/FibroNest™ solutions for tissue and digital pathology quantification, delivered alongside custom assay development services. Customers access the assays and applications through ViQi's cloud platform on an annual subscription basis.
Is ViQi a public or private company?
ViQi is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was ViQi founded?
ViQi was founded in 2019. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is ViQi based?
ViQi is headquartered in Santa Barbara, United States, in the North America region.
How does ViQi make money?
One revenue line is on record: saaS Subscription Services.
Who are ViQi's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are Strateos, Recursion Pharmaceuticals and Aignos. Broad incumbents are Sartorius, Molecular Devices and Revvity (formerly PerkinElmer). Direct peers are Akoya Biosciences, Araceli Biosciences, Yokogawa Life Science and PharmaNest.
Does ViQi have an API?
No public API is recorded for ViQi.
What industry is ViQi in?
ViQi's product category is AI Image Analysis Software for Life Sciences. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDAAAEAH, Medical Imaging AI, with a secondary code of HLAAALAO, Digital & AI-Enabled Diagnostics (algorithmic interpretation, decision support tied to assays). Its NAICS code is 334516 and its SIC code is 3826.