eDNA Explorer

What eDNA Explorer does

eDNA Explorer is a private SaaS bioinformatics and analytics platform founded in 2023 and operated as a project under CALeDNA, the University of California's institutional home for environmental DNA research. The platform enables researchers, conservation organizations, government agencies, and environmental consultancies to identify thousands of organisms from eDNA samples (water, sediment, soil) by combining multi-marker metabarcoding (ITS2_Plants, 16S_Bacteria, 18S_Euk, CO1_Metazoa, vert12S, ITS1_Fungi, 16Smamm) with Illumina sequencing workflows (MiSeq, NextSeq 2000), the proprietary Tronko phylogenetic bioinformatics pipeline for organism assignment, and Google Earth Engine–powered geospatial and environmental variable analysis. The integrated stack supports organism exploration, species detail mapping, temporal trend analytics, and publication-ready reporting, all with user-owned data and controlled sharing.

The company operates a hybrid revenue model combining a subscription-style software platform (pricing not publicly disclosed, quote-based) with a full-service professional services offering that covers end-to-end eDNA project execution from sampling design and lab processing through bioinformatics, geospatial integration, predictive modeling, and compliance reporting. Go-to-market is dual-track: a community-led motion through a Slack community, workshop programming, and collaborative project sharing, alongside a sales-led enterprise motion via "Book a Demo" CTAs targeting organizations such as the California Department of Fish & Wildlife, the National Park Service, Dudek, Clean Water Services, and River Partners. A vetted global lab network enables in-country sample processing and supports data sovereignty.

The platform reports 77 published projects, 355 contributors, 401,759 organisms detected, and activity in 13 countries, indicating meaningful but early commercial traction. Capital raised to date totals $500,000 from AiiM Partners (March 2024) plus a non-dilutive Google for Startups grant (May 2025); the team is 1–10 employees led by CEO Julie Stanford, CSO Rachel Meyer (UC Santa Cruz), and CTO Jim Jeffers. Founded with grant support from conservation foundation Oceankind and embedded in the UC system, eDNA Explorer sits at the intersection of academic credibility, community-led growth, and emerging commercial demand for biodiversity data across restoration, regulatory compliance, species monitoring, and forest carbon credit applications.

Name

eDNA Explorer

Legal name

eDNA Explorer

Website

https://ednaexplorer.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2023

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

eDNA Explorer is a SaaS bioinformatics platform that uses environmental DNA metabarcoding, the proprietary Tronko pipeline, and Google Earth Engine geospatial AI to identify organisms for researchers, conservation organizations, government agencies, and environmental consultancies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Bioinformatics Software

NAICS

Web Search Portals and All Other Information Services (519290), Web Search Portals, Libraries, Archives, and Other Information Services (519)

SIC

Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370), Agricultural Services (700)

akta.pro primary industry

Environmental DNA (eDNA) & Advanced Biodiversity Methods (Bioacoustics, Camera Traps) (EUAHAHAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Bioinformatics & Multi-omics Analysis Software (HLAGAJAD), Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), Vector Databases & Knowledge Grounding (HDAAACAE)

Keywords

• Environmental DNA analysis
• EDNA metabarcoding
• Biodiversity monitoring
• Bioinformatics SaaS
• Genomics analytics platform

Headquarters

HQ city

Mountain View

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Software Platform Subscription: Analysis software with intuitive UX for ecologists, managers, land owners and researchers to visualize complex genetic and geospatial data. Platform supports project management, organism exploration, and report generation.
2. Full-Service Project Support: End-to-end eDNA project support including project planning, sampling supplies, lab processing (metabarcoding, qPCR, ddPCR), bioinformatics, data analysis, geospatial integration, prediction and modeling, and comprehensive reporting.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

eDNA Explorer is a SaaS platform that combines genomics, AI, and geospatial data to identify thousands of organisms from environmental DNA samples. The platform offers multi-marker eDNA metabarcoding analysis using the proprietary Tronko phylogenetic bioinformatics pipeline, interactive maps integrated with Google Earth Engine, and tools for biodiversity monitoring across terrestrial and aquatic systems. It is sold alongside full-service end-to-end project support including planning, sampling, lab processing, bioinformatics, and reporting.

Product overview

eDNA Explorer is an all-in-one eDNA species monitoring platform combining genomics and AI technologies. The core product is the eDNA Explorer Platform, which integrates several modules: Organism Explorer for browsing detected species across kingdoms, Species Details for deep-diving into individual organisms with interactive maps, Interactive Maps for geospatial analysis using Google Earth Engine data, and Analytics & Reports for tracking biodiversity trends and generating publication-ready visualizations. The platform is offered alongside Full Service Project Support—a professional services package covering end-to-end project execution from planning through lab analysis and reporting—and a Global Lab Network that partners with vetted local labs internationally for sample processing. Users can also upload their existing metabarcoding data for analysis. The platform supports diverse applications including restoration, compliance and risk assessment, forest carbon credits, and species monitoring.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• eDNA Explorer Platform A genomics and AI-powered eDNA species monitoring platform that enables users to identify thousands of organisms from environmental DNA samples using geospatial data and AI analysis tools. Targets ecologists, researchers, conservation managers, and land owners.
• Full Service Project Support End-to-end eDNA project support covering project planning, sampling protocols, professional-grade sampling kits, metabarcoding/qPCR/ddPCR lab analysis, bioinformatics, data analysis, geospatial integration, prediction and modeling, and comprehensive reporting. Targets organizations requiring full-service eDNA project execution.
• Global Lab Network A partnership network of vetted local labs internationally for sample processing, ensuring samples are kept safe in country. Supports data sovereignty requirements for international eDNA projects.

Quantifiable outcome

• 401,759+ organisms detected across platform
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

AI capability3 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• CALeDNAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCALeDNA is eDNA Explorer's parent organization and serves as the University of California home for the project. CALeDNA conducts eDNA research and training, providing scientific leadership and academic infrastructure.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Wilderlab: New Zealand-based eDNA services provider focused on biodiversity and biosecurity monitoring using environmental DNA. Comparable offering targeting conservation, government, and research customers.
• Jonah Ventures: eDNA services company specializing in metabarcoding for biodiversity and environmental DNA research. Comparable business model combining lab processing with bioinformatics and reporting for academic and government clients.
• NatureMetrics: Commercial eDNA biodiversity monitoring platform serving government, conservation, and corporate customers globally. Direct competitor in eDNA metabarcoding services and biodiversity analytics with similar full-service and software offerings.
• Spiny Norman (Nature Squared / eDNA Scientific): eDNA service provider offering environmental DNA analysis for biodiversity monitoring, invasive species detection, and aquatic ecosystem assessments, overlapping with eDNA Explorer's conservation and water-quality use cases.

Broad incumbents

• DNAnexus: Cloud-based bioinformatics platform serving genomics and clinical sequencing customers. Comparable as a data-processing and analysis backbone for genomic workloads, though broader in scope than eDNA-specific biodiversity analysis.
• Benchling: Cloud platform for life sciences R&D, including sample tracking, experiment records, and bioinformatics workflows. Comparable as a scientific informatics platform, though focused on biotech R&D rather than biodiversity monitoring.
• Illumina: Dominant sequencing platform provider whose MiSeq and NextSeq instruments underpin eDNA metabarcoding workflows. eDNA Explorer depends on Illumina instruments for its lab processing pipeline.
• Oxford Nanopore Technologies: Long-read sequencing platform increasingly used for environmental and biodiversity genomics. A potential alternative or complementary sequencing backbone to Illumina for eDNA workflows.
• Qiagen: Sample preparation and bioinformatics provider for molecular biology, including environmental and pathogen detection. Overlaps with eDNA Explorer on sample processing and downstream bioinformatics.
• Esri: Market-leading geospatial information system provider. Comparable in providing geospatial visualization and analytics for environmental monitoring, complementing or competing with eDNA Explorer's Google Earth Engine-integrated mapping.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/MsDomestication
• Facebookfacebook.com/RachelSMeyer
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/in

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors2 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 eDNA Explorer