Aclid
Aclid is a New York-based SaaS platform, founded in 2021, that automates biosecurity and biosafety compliance for gene and oligo synthesis providers, biotech companies, and government biodefense customers by screening DNA sequences, vetting customers against sanctions lists, and verifying researcher credentials in real time.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2021
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What Aclid does
Aclid is a biotechnology security and compliance automation SaaS platform founded in 2021 and headquartered in New York. The company sells a unified platform with five core modules—sanctions and watchlist screening, real-time DNA/RNA sequence screening, researcher verification and risk assessment, compliance and research management, and alerts/reporting—targeting gene and oligo synthesis providers, biotech companies, and research institutions that must comply with the OSTP Framework for Nucleic Acid Synthesis Screening, HHS screening guidance, DURC rules, and export controls.
The underlying technology combines proprietary sequence analysis algorithms capable of detecting obfuscated and AI-generated constructs in real-time (up to 40 million base pairs in under 30 minutes, 2x fewer false positives than competitors) with daily-updated sanctions databases and literature-backed functional annotations. Delivery is API-first, with native integrations into customer ordering platforms, CRM, ERP, MES, and LIMS systems, and a white-labeled researcher verification portal; integrations have been completed in as little as two weeks. The scientific founder is Columbia systems biology professor Harris H. Wang, and advisors include former CTO of Synthetic Genomics and former head of Battelle's synthetic biology biosecurity division.
Aclid operates a consultative, demo-driven enterprise sales motion with quote-based subscription pricing. Named customers include Agilent Technologies, Ansa Biotechnologies, Addgene, Berkeley Lab, Twist Bioscience, and Synplogen (Japan), and the company has expanded beyond commercial biosecurity into biosafety (automated EHS) and biodefense (early warning biological threat systems) for government customers including U.S. AFRL, DTRA, DHS, and UK DSTL. The company has raised $3.3 million in an oversubscribed October 2023 seed round co-led by 2048 Ventures and IA Ventures.
Aclid firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Aclid
- Legal name
- Aclid
- Website
- https://aclid.bio
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2021
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Aclid is a New York-based SaaS platform, founded in 2021, that automates biosecurity and biosafety compliance for gene and oligo synthesis providers, biotech companies, and government biodefense customers by screening DNA sequences, vetting customers against sanctions lists, and verifying researcher credentials in real time.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Aclid industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Biosecurity Compliance Software
- NAICS
- Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151)
- SIC
- Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Sample / Biorepository & Biobank Informatics (Chain-of-Custody) (HLAGAJAH)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Environmental Data Management Platforms (EHS/EMS, LIMS, ELN, Compliance Data Hubs) (EUAHAKAA)
Keywords
Where Aclid is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Aclid business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Operations
Revenue model
- Biosecurity and Compliance Platform Subscription: SaaS platform providing automated biosecurity screening and compliance management for gene and oligo synthesis providers. Customers pay subscription fees for access to the screening platform, researcher verification tools, and compliance management features.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels5 records
Aclid product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Aclid provides a unified SaaS platform for biosecurity and biosafety compliance automation, offering real-time DNA/RNA sequence screening for threat detection, automated customer sanctions and watchlist screening, researcher credential verification, and centralized compliance management. The platform serves gene and oligo synthesis providers, biotech companies, research institutions, federal contractors, and government agencies with API-first integrations into customer ordering platforms, CRM, ERP, MES, and LIMS systems.
Product overview
Aclid is a unified automation platform for biosecurity and biosafety compliance, founded in 2021. The platform consists of five integrated modules: Sanctions and Watchlist Screening (customer vetting against international sanctions), Sequence Screening (real-time DNA/RNA threat detection), Verification and Risk Assessments (researcher credential validation), Research and Compliance Management (centralized compliance data), and Alerts and Reporting (notifications and audit documentation). These products are organized under three solution areas: Biosecurity (end-to-end security compliance), Biosafety (automated EHS and biosafety), and Biodefense (early warning biological threat systems). The platform automates over 80% of compliance workflows and is designed for gene and oligo synthesis providers, pharmaceutical companies, and life sciences organizations.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Sanctions and Watchlist Screening Automated customer screening against international sanctions lists and watchlists including BIS, OFAC, export control, and biosecurity-specific databases. Provides enriched data validation and accurate assessments with daily-updated databases for gene synthesis providers, biotech companies, and research institutions.
- Sequence Screening Real-time DNA and RNA sequence analysis for biosecurity threat detection. Identifies complex, obfuscated, and AI-generated constructs with functional annotations backed by literature citations. Screens genes, libraries, pools, viral vectors, and plasmids against biosecurity and biosafety frameworks including BSAT and CCL-regulated agents.
- Verification and Risk Assessments White-labeled portal for automated researcher credential verification and legitimate use assessment. Collects biosafety approvals, institutional credentials, and research documentation through a secure branded interface that can be hosted on customer domains or embedded in customer platforms.
- Research and Compliance Management Centralized platform for tracking compliance requirements, team collaboration on complex compliance scenarios, and data synchronization across LIMS, CRM, ERP, and MES systems for gene synthesis providers and research institutions.
- Alerts and Reporting Customizable notifications and comprehensive reporting for audits and regulatory filings. Provides automated alerts for compliance deadlines and SLA tracking with system integration to LIMS, CRM, ERP, and MES for gene synthesis and biotech organizations.
Quantifiable outcome
- 273% ROI within one year for Aclid customers
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use Aclid
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Aclid technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration4 records
AI capability6 records
Feature9 records
Aclid partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core partner and government partner.
- International Gene Synthesis Consortium (IGSC)core partnerAclid works with IGSC, an organization of the world's leading gene synthesis companies. IGSC advocates for better evaluation and increased stress testing by DNA synthesis companies. Ansa Biotechnologies, an Aclid customer, is also an IGSC member.
- U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL)government partnerAclid's biodefense capabilities include secure research monitoring supported by U.S. AFRL for biosecurity and biosafety of research samples.
- U.S. Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA)government partnerAclid's biodefense platform includes rapid, portable sequencing systems for in-field biothreat detection supported by U.S. DTRA.
- U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS)government partnerAclid's biodefense capabilities include deployable sequencing systems for continuous monitoring of biothreats supported by U.S. DHS.
- UK Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL)government partnerAclid's biodefense platform includes microbial forensics capabilities for differentiation of samples between environmental and lab origin supported by UK DSTL.
Scale indicators13 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Aclid competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Concentric by Ginkgo: Concentric by Ginkgo provides biosecurity and pandemic preparedness services including environmental monitoring and threat detection for synthetic biology. Most directly comparable to Aclid's biodefense solution area, with overlapping target customers in government and biotech seeking biological threat detection capabilities.
Broad incumbents
- Battelle: Battelle operates a synthetic biology biosecurity division (previously led by Aclid advisor Neeraj Rao) covering biodefense, clinical metagenomics, wastewater surveillance, and DNA-based data storage. A large established research organization with overlapping customer base in defense and government biodefense, but broader portfolio beyond Aclid's software focus.
- Ginkgo Bioworks: Ginkgo Bioworks operates Concentric by Ginkgo, a biosecurity platform that overlaps with Aclid's biosurveillance and biodefense capabilities. A much larger, publicly listed synthetic biology platform that competes indirectly through its biosecurity subsidiary across government, defense, and biotech segments.
- Booz Allen Hamilton: Booz Allen Hamilton is a major defense and biodefense consulting contractor serving government agencies on biological threat detection and biosecurity strategy. Competes with Aclid's biodefense solution area for government/defense contracts, but as a large consulting firm with much broader portfolio beyond biological threats.
- Leidos: Leidos is a large defense and government services contractor with significant biodefense and biosurveillance capabilities serving federal agencies. Overlaps with Aclid's government partnerships (AFRL, DTRA, DHS) as both a potential partner and competitor for biodefense contracts, though at much larger scale and broader scope.
Others
- Twist Bioscience: Twist Bioscience is a major DNA synthesis customer of Aclid that has invested in internal biosecurity screening capabilities. As a leading gene synthesis provider with significant order volume, Twist represents both a current customer relationship and a potential competitor if internal capabilities displace third-party platforms.
- IDT (Danaher): IDT (Integrated DNA Technologies), a Danaher company, is one of the largest gene synthesis providers globally with internal biosecurity screening infrastructure. Comparable in target market (gene synthesis customers) and overlapping in biosecurity compliance needs, though serves as a potential customer/competitor rather than direct SaaS peer.
Emerging players
- Vanta: Vanta is a compliance automation SaaS platform focused on SOC 2, ISO 27001, and similar frameworks for technology companies. Shares the compliance automation business model and API-first architecture with Aclid, but targets SaaS/IT compliance rather than biotech biosecurity, representing an adjacent rather than directly competing offering.
- Drata: Drata provides automated compliance monitoring and evidence collection for SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA, and similar frameworks. Similar SaaS compliance automation business model to Aclid with API-first architecture, but focused on general SaaS/IT security compliance rather than the specialized biotech biosecurity vertical Aclid addresses.
- LogicGate: LogicGate offers a GRC (governance, risk, and compliance) automation platform with workflow and risk assessment capabilities. Shares the automated risk assessment and compliance workflow approach with Aclid's Verification and Risk Assessments module, but addresses enterprise GRC broadly rather than biotech biosecurity specifically.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Aclid social profiles
Digital presenceAclid compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Aclid financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Aclid leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
Aclid funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors2 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Aclid 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 Aclid
What does Aclid do?
Aclid provides a unified SaaS platform for biosecurity and biosafety compliance automation, offering real-time DNA/RNA sequence screening for threat detection, automated customer sanctions and watchlist screening, researcher credential verification, and centralized compliance management. The platform serves gene and oligo synthesis providers, biotech companies, research institutions, federal contractors, and government agencies with API-first integrations into customer ordering platforms, CRM, ERP, MES, and LIMS systems.
Is Aclid a public or private company?
Aclid is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Aclid founded?
Aclid was founded in 2021. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Aclid based?
Aclid is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does Aclid make money?
One revenue line is on record: biosecurity and Compliance Platform Subscription.
Who are Aclid's main competitors?
Concentric by Ginkgo is listed as a direct peer. Broad incumbents are Battelle, Ginkgo Bioworks, Booz Allen Hamilton and Leidos. Others are Twist Bioscience and IDT (Danaher). Emerging players are Vanta, Drata and LogicGate.
Does Aclid have an API?
Yes. Aclid offers API integration for connecting the platform with customers' ordering platforms and internal systems. The API enables automated screening workflows, including customer screening against sanctions/watchlists, sequence screening against biosecurity lists, researcher verification, and risk assessment. Case studies indicate API integration can be completed within two weeks.
What industry is Aclid in?
Aclid's product category is Biosecurity Compliance Software. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAGAJAH, Sample / Biorepository & Biobank Informatics (Chain-of-Custody), with a secondary code of EUAHAKAA, Environmental Data Management Platforms (EHS/EMS, LIMS, ELN, Compliance Data Hubs). Its NAICS code is 54151 and its SIC code is 7372.