What eDNAtec does

eDNAtec Inc. is a private Canadian environmental genomics company founded in 2015 and headquartered in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador. The company operates CEGA (Centre for Environmental Genomics Applications), a dedicated R&D facility equipped with Illumina MiSeq and NovaSeq 6000 high-throughput sequencing platforms, a customized LIMS, and reference DNA and tissue databases. Its core offering is the EnviroSeq® Genomics Workflow — a proprietary seven-step standardized end-to-end procedure (Program Design, Calibration, Sample, Isolate, Sequence, Analyze, Interpret) designed to deliver repeatable, reproducible, and accurate biodiversity assessments from environmental DNA samples.

The company monetizes primarily through professional services engagements, delivering B2B environmental monitoring, biodiversity assessment, invasive and endangered species detection, commercial species tracking, industrial site remediation monitoring, and nature impact reporting to enterprise and government clients in offshore oil and gas, fisheries, mining, natural resources, and regulatory sectors. Additional revenue streams include CEGA Contract Research Services (genome sequencing, RNAseq, transcriptomics, capture arrays) and a recurring managed service for ultra-cold (-80°C) sample banking and long-term storage. eDNAtec sells via enterprise field sales with quote-based pricing tied to project scope, supported by a webinar-based thought leadership and demand generation program, and holds ISO 9001:2015 and Biosafety Level 2 certifications.

The business has delivered hundreds of genomics projects globally since 2015 and is expanding its footprint into U.S. markets (via a Senior Director of U.S. Operations) and into adjacent verticals such as mining and regulatory biodiversity compliance. A forthcoming software platform, EnviroLynX™, is intended to layer interpretation and visualization on top of the underlying eDNA workflow. The firm is privately held, founder-led (Dr. Mehrdad Hajibabaei, Founder and CSO), with Steve Barrett as COO and Dr. Greg Singer as CTO, and has received $1.1M in disclosed funding from Canada's Ocean Supercluster in April 2023.

Name

eDNAtec

Legal name

eDNAtec Inc.

Website

https://ednatec.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

eDNAtec is a private Canadian environmental genomics company that operates the proprietary EnviroSeq® workflow and CEGA sequencing facility to deliver eDNA-based biodiversity assessment, invasive and endangered species detection, and environmental monitoring services to offshore oil and gas, fisheries, mining, and government clients globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Genomics Services

NAICS

Environmental Consulting Services (541620)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Sample / Biorepository & Biobank Informatics (Chain-of-Custody) (HLAGAJAH), Bioinformatics, Multi-Omics Data Analysis & Interpretation Services (HLAGANAI), Bioinformatics & Multi-omics Analysis Software (HLAGAJAD)

Keywords

• Environmental genomics services
• EDNA metabarcoding
• Biodiversity assessment
• Marine environmental monitoring
• Fisheries stock analysis

Headquarters

HQ city

St. John's

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Environmental Genomics Services: Comprehensive biodiversity assessment services including sampling design, field technician training, DNA analysis, and report generation. Services encompass biodiversity and ecosystem health analysis, invasive species detection, endangered species identification, commercial species tracking, industrial site remediation monitoring, and nature impact reporting.
2. CEGA Contract Research: Research support and scientific expertise in environmental genomics delivered to regulatory and industry partnerships worldwide, including genome sequencing, genome skimming, RNAseq, transcriptomics, and customized capture arrays.
3. CEGA Sample Bank Storage: Fee-based secure preservation and long-term storage of environmental genomics material in ultra-cold -80C storage units.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

eDNAtec delivers environmental DNA (eDNA) genomics services through its proprietary EnviroSeq® Genomics Workflow, a seven-step end-to-end procedure spanning program design, calibration, sampling, isolation, sequencing, analysis, and interpretation of biodiversity data. Service offerings cover biodiversity and ecosystem health analysis, detection of invasive and endangered species, tracking of commercially important species, monitoring of industrial site remediation, and nature impact reporting, all delivered via the company's dedicated CEGA R&D facility using Illumina MiSeq and NovaSeq 6000 sequencing platforms.

Product overview

eDNAtec offers a unified environmental genomics platform centered on the EnviroSeq® Genomics Workflow, a seven-step end-to-end standard operating procedure for eDNA analysis. The company operates CEGA (Centre for Environmental Genomics Applications) as its dedicated R&D facility equipped with Illumina MiSeq and NovaSeq 6000 sequencing platforms. The product portfolio comprises services organized by capability (Biodiversity & Ecosystem Health Analysis, Detection of Invasive Species, Detection of Endangered Species, Tracking Commercially Important Species, Monitoring Remediation of Industrial Sites, Nature Impact Reporting) and industry verticals (Fisheries Solutions, Energy Solutions), all delivered through CEGA Services including the CEGA Sampling System and CEGA Sample Bank for ultra-cold sample storage.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CEGA (Centre for Environmental Genomics Applications): A one-of-a-kind R&D centre with high throughput sequencing platforms and specialized data analysis tools completely dedicated to environmental genomics applications.
• EnviroSeq® Genomics Workflow

Products and services

• EnviroSeq® Genomics Workflow Seven-step end-to-end standard operating procedure for environmental DNA analysis (Program Design, Calibration, Sample, Isolate, Sequence, Analyze, Interpret) producing repeatable, reproducible, and accurate biodiversity data and underpinning all of eDNAtec's service offerings.
• CEGA Contract Research Services R&D-led environmental genomics contract research delivered through the CEGA facility using Illumina MiSeq and NovaSeq 6000 sequencing platforms, staffed by PhD- and MSc-level scientists, and offering genome sequencing, genome skimming, RNAseq, transcriptomics, and customized capture arrays.
• CEGA Sampling System Standardized water sampling kit containing all required consumables, including pre-labelled tubes and cooling packages for sample transport, enabling researchers to collect aquatic eDNA samples with minimal contamination risk and without disturbing organisms.
• CEGA Sample Bank Fee-based secure preservation and long-term storage service for environmental genomics material using ultra-cold -80°C units, ensuring optimal sample quality and viability for future re-analyses.
• Biodiversity and Ecosystem Health Analysis Comprehensive biodiversity assessment service encompassing sampling design, field technician training, eDNA metabarcoding with ribosomal and mitochondrial markers, DNA analysis, and report generation, covering organisms from microbial groups to complex taxa.
• Detection of Invasive Species Specialized detection service for invasive species using high-efficiency PCR primers developed and optimized by eDNAtec, supported by advanced statistical analyses including occupancy modeling to minimize false positives and false negatives.
• Detection of Endangered Species Non-invasive identification service for endangered species that uses small volumes of environmental samples such as seawater, paired with high-efficiency primers and probes for target species or assemblages of endangered taxa and advanced statistical analyses.
• Tracking Commercially Important Species Targeted monitoring service for commercially important seafood species that uses targeted sampling methods to gather data on species distribution and dynamics, supporting fisheries and resource management decisions.
• Monitoring Remediation of Industrial Sites Comprehensive solution that assesses and tracks the effectiveness of environmental restoration efforts at industrial sites through adaptive monitoring strategies, sampling, genomics, and statistical inference.
• Nature Impact Reporting Biodiversity data reporting service that supports nature-related assessment and disclosure approaches by quantifying the impact of activities and providing sustainability metrics for transparent environmental performance reporting.

Quantifiable outcome

• eDNA methodology enables comprehensive biodiversity assessment compared to traditional catch-and-look methods that yield incomplete pictures
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered moderate and minor.

• International Research NetworkmoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerCEGA is linked to a large network of international researchers and environmental managers from academia, industry and regulators, enabling collaboration on environmental genomics advancement and knowledge sharing.
• United Nations Sustainable Development Goals PartnersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnereDNAtec is committed to advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as part of its sustainability mission, working to ensure the environment is in a better state for future generations.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• NatureMetrics: UK-based eDNA biomonitoring services company serving oil & gas, mining, infrastructure, and conservation clients globally. Closest direct competitor to eDNAtec — both offer standardized eDNA workflows, reference databases, and nature-impact reporting for enterprise ESG and regulatory use cases.
• Jonah Ventures: US-based eDNA services company spun out of nature-monitoring research, providing metabarcoding services for aquatic and terrestrial biodiversity. Comparable in service model and target customer profile (fisheries, conservation, industry monitoring), competing with eDNAtec in North American accounts.
• Enviro-DNA: Australia-based eDNA services firm specializing in aquatic and terrestrial biodiversity assessments for government, mining, and infrastructure clients. Directly comparable offering to eDNAtec's biodiversity and ecosystem health analysis, with overlapping protocol-driven service model.
• SpyGen: France-based specialist in environmental DNA analysis with proprietary primers and reference databases for aquatic biodiversity monitoring. Directly comparable in technology stack (high-throughput sequencing + bioinformatics) and target applications (species detection, ecosystem assessment).

Broad incumbents

• SGS: Global testing, inspection, and certification giant with a substantial environmental services portfolio. SGS has begun offering eDNA-related services alongside traditional environmental monitoring, representing a broad incumbent that could compete with eDNAtec on enterprise contracts and pricing.
• Bureau Veritas: Global TIC (testing, inspection, certification) company with established environmental and marine monitoring services. As eDNA becomes mainstream, Bureau Veritas is positioned to integrate it into its broader portfolio, putting pricing pressure on specialty providers like eDNAtec.
• Eurofins: International life sciences testing group with deep genomics, environmental, and food testing capabilities. Eurofins has the sequencing infrastructure and commercial reach to scale eDNA service offerings rapidly, posing a competitive threat to eDNAtec's enterprise wins.

Emerging players

• Centre for Biodiversity Genomics (University of Guelph): Academic center of excellence for DNA barcoding and biodiversity genomics, founded by eDNAtec's scientific lineage. While primarily research-focused, it competes for large research grants and develops reference databases that underpin the broader eDNA industry, including eDNAtec's own offerings.

Others

• Smith-Root: Supplier of environmental DNA sampling equipment (e.g., backpack electrofishers, eDNA filtration kits). Functions as an enabling vendor rather than direct competitor, but its field equipment competes with elements of eDNAtec's CEGA Sampling System.
• Norgen Biotek: Canadian biotechnology company providing sample collection, preservation, and DNA/RNA extraction kits, including eDNA-specific kits. Functions as an ecosystem supplier that could either partner with or compete against eDNAtec's sampling and sample bank offerings.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/embed/yYP3eSNmwv8
• Xx.com/ednatecinc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ednatec

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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 eDNAtec