Amino Labs
Amino Labs is a privately held Canadian biotechnology education company founded in 2015 that designs and sells hands-on genetic engineering kits, proprietary lab equipment, and curriculum-aligned learning materials for K-12 educators, home learners, and CTE programs worldwide.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2015
- HeadquartersLethbridge, Canada
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Amino Labs does
Amino Labs is a privately held biotechnology education company headquartered in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada, founded in 2015. It designs and sells hands-on genetic engineering and microbiology experiment kits, proprietary lab equipment, and curriculum-aligned educational materials aimed at beginners aged roughly 10 and older with no prior scientific training. The product portfolio spans beginner DNA extraction kits priced around $12, mid-tier genetic engineering kits (Engineer-it, Smell-it, Blue-it, Heat-it, Induce-it, Extract-it) priced $48-$490, advanced modules including PCR-it, gel electrophoresis, yeast engineering, bioplastics, and a DNA Biomanufacturing Lab, plus the DNA Playground all-in-one minilab ($538) that consolidates water bath, incubator, timer, and thermometer functions. All kits use non-pathogenic BSL-1 / Risk Group 1 organisms (K12 E. coli and yeast) to enable home and classroom use without specialized containment in North America. The company also publishes the "Zero to Genetic Engineering Hero" book, free Virtual Bioengineer browser-based simulators co-developed with Biobuilder Educational Foundation, and curriculum-aligned lesson guides developed with Mindfuel.ca.
The business operates a direct-to-consumer Shopify storefront with worldwide shipping and multi-currency support, supplemented by a B2B education procurement channel (Request a Quote, P.O. acceptance, district vendor onboarding) and paid professional development services ($249 teacher workshops, $75 online tutoring). Customer segments include home learners, K-12 and college educators, iGEM competition teams, bio-artists/designers, and CTE biotechnology programs. Go-to-market combines product-led growth (kit quiz, free simulators), content marketing (blog, Wiki, YouTube), community engagement (DIY bio, iGEM, Biobuilder, Mindfuel), and event-driven teacher training. Funding is limited to an early 2015 SOSV/IndieBio $250,000 round and MIT Media Lab / E14 Fund involvement; the company has operated since with a 1-10 person headcount and no disclosed institutional rounds since founding.
The company's strategic positioning is that of a niche specialist in consumer and educational synthetic biology, where regulatory complexity and safety requirements create meaningful barriers to entry. Its competitive differentiation rests on integrated curriculum alignment (NGSS and Alberta standards), proprietary hardware miniaturization, and a freemium content ecosystem that lowers adoption friction for educators. Constraints include fragmented international regulation (notably in Europe), dependence on school-year purchasing cycles, hardware gross margin exposure, and absence of recent capital raises or disclosed growth metrics.
Amino Labs firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Amino Labs
- Legal name
- Amino Labs
- Website
- https://amino.bio
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2015
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Amino Labs is a privately held Canadian biotechnology education company founded in 2015 that designs and sells hands-on genetic engineering kits, proprietary lab equipment, and curriculum-aligned learning materials for K-12 educators, home learners, and CTE programs worldwide.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Amino Labs industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Biotechnology Education Kits
- NAICS
- Exam Preparation and Tutoring (611691)
- SIC
- Laboratory Apparatus & Furniture (3821)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Biology & Life Science Enrichment (Biotech, Genetics, Anatomy) (EDAMABAF)
Keywords
Where Amino Labs is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Lethbridge
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Amino Labs business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Experiment Kits Sales: Direct-to-consumer and direct-to-educator sales of biotechnology experiment kits ranging from beginner DNA extraction ($12) to advanced classroom packs ($1,338). Individual and group/classroom size options available.
- Lab Equipment Sales: Sale of specialized lab equipment including DNA Playground minilab ($538), classroom incubator ($149), and accessories. Equipment complements kit offerings.
- Educational Materials: Sales of books (Zero to Genetic Engineering Hero book at $41) and supplementary materials including safety supplies and replacement components.
- Professional Development Services: Paid Teacher Training & Professional Development Sessions ($249) and Online Biology Tutoring/Mentoring Sessions ($75) for educators and students.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Beginner Experiment Kits |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Genetic Engineering Kits |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Lab Equipment |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Starter Packs |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Professional Development |
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Free Educational Resources |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Amino Labs product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Amino Labs designs, manufactures, and ships beginner-friendly biotechnology experiment kits, lab equipment, and accompanying curriculum for home learners, K-12 classrooms, and makerspaces. Its flagship offerings include the Engineer-it Kit for bacterial transformation, the DNA Playground all-in-one minilab, the Zero to Genetic Engineering Hero book, and free Virtual Bioengineer simulators, all built around safe BSL-1/RG1 organisms. The portfolio spans DNA extraction, agar art, gene expression control, PCR, gel electrophoresis, bioplastics, and yeast engineering, with educator-focused lesson guides and paid professional development.
Product overview
Amino Labs offers a comprehensive portfolio of beginner-friendly biotechnology education kits designed for home, classroom, and makerspace use. The core offering consists of hands-on experiment kits that teach genetic engineering, microbiology, and sustainable biology through practical activities. Key products include the Engineer-it Kit™ for bacterial transformation, the Canvas Kit™ for agar art with living bacteria, the DNA Extraction Kit™ for basic DNA isolation, and the Zero to Genetic Engineering Hero™ Book as the foundational educational guide. The DNA Playground™ serves as the all-in-one lab equipment that integrates with these kits. The product line extends to specialized kits for controlling gene expression (Heat-it, Induce-it, Light-it), enzyme engineering (Smell-it, Blue-it), bioplastic creation, and yeast genetics. Supporting products include lab equipment (incubators, thermometers, microcentrifuges), safety supplies, preservation kits, and digital learning tools including free virtual simulators and educational games. The company targets beginners aged 10+ with no prior knowledge required, and provides extensive educator resources including lesson guides, professional development, and curriculum alignment with NGSS and Alberta standards.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Engineer-it Kit
Quantifiable outcome
- Kits can be used at home or school in North America without special containment requirements
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Amino Labs
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Amino Labs technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Amino Labs partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Biobuilder Educational FoundationcoreVirtual Bioengineer™ simulations developed in collaboration with educators at the Biobuilder Educational Foundation. These free browser-based simulations virtually replicate hands-on genetic engineering procedures and complement Amino Labs kits as an important learning ecosystem addition.
- Mindfuel.ca (Alberta Science Foundation)coreLesson guides developed with Mindfuel.ca for classroom implementation. Guides cover Discovering DNA, Genetic Engineering & Lab Safety, Growing E. Coli cells, and Genetic Engineering E. Coli cells with DNA Plasmids. Curriculum aligned with NGSS and Alberta standards.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves4 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Amino Labs competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Bio-Rad Laboratories: Global life science tools company with a long-standing education division (Bio-Rad Explorer) selling genetic engineering, PCR, and electrophoresis kits to classrooms. Overlaps Amino Labs directly in K-12 biotech curriculum kits but operates as a much broader analytical and clinical tools incumbent.
- Carolina Biological Supply Company: One of the largest U.S. K-12 science education suppliers, offering biology kits, living materials, and lab equipment to schools. Direct competitor in classroom biology kit distribution with much broader catalog and longer-established school relationships.
- Sphero: STEM education company (formerly littleBits) selling programmable robots and STEAM kits widely adopted in K-12. Overlaps Amino Labs in the K-12 STEM kit and educator sales motion but operates in robotics rather than biotechnology.
Direct peers
- Edvotek: Specialist in biotechnology education kits for K-12 and undergraduate classrooms, including bacterial transformation, DNA extraction, electrophoresis, and immunology kits. Closest direct competitor in curriculum-aligned biotech kits sold to schools and educators.
- miniPCR: Sells low-cost benchtop PCR instruments and DNA amplification kits targeted at classrooms and DIY biology users. Direct peer in democratizing molecular biology equipment for educational use cases, complementing Amino Labs' DNA Playground.
- The ODIN: DIY biology kit company offering home CRISPR, genetic engineering, and biohacker starter kits. Direct peer in the consumer/DIY-bio genetic engineering kit segment, with similar concerns about biosecurity framing and home-use legality.
- Thames & Kosmos: STEM kit publisher with biology kits including genetics, DNA extraction, and microscope sets sold globally through retail and education channels. Direct peer in beginner-friendly biotech kits, with much broader retail distribution.
- MEL Science: Subscription-based STEM kit company covering chemistry and biology experiments for kids and classrooms, with VR lessons and curriculum integration. Direct peer in hands-on science kits sold to families and educators with an experiential learning model.
- Nature's Workshop Plus: Homeschool-focused science curriculum and kit supplier including biology, genetics, and microscope kits. Adjacent peer in the home-learner channel Amino Labs explicitly targets (ages 10+, no prior knowledge).
Emerging players
- BioBuilder Educational Foundation: Non-profit that develops synthetic biology curricula, kits, and the BioBuilder Lab Notebook used in high schools and iGEM teams. Already an Amino Labs partner on the Virtual Bioengineer simulator; overlapping audience of students, teachers, and iGEM clubs.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Amino Labs social profiles
Digital presenceAmino Labs compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Amino Labs financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Amino Labs leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Amino Labs funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors3 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Amino Labs 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 Amino Labs
What does Amino Labs do?
Amino Labs designs, manufactures, and ships beginner-friendly biotechnology experiment kits, lab equipment, and accompanying curriculum for home learners, K-12 classrooms, and makerspaces. Its flagship offerings include the Engineer-it Kit for bacterial transformation, the DNA Playground all-in-one minilab, the Zero to Genetic Engineering Hero book, and free Virtual Bioengineer simulators, all built around safe BSL-1/RG1 organisms. The portfolio spans DNA extraction, agar art, gene expression control, PCR, gel electrophoresis, bioplastics, and yeast engineering, with educator-focused lesson guides and paid professional development.
Is Amino Labs a public or private company?
Amino Labs is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Amino Labs founded?
Amino Labs was founded in 2015. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Amino Labs based?
Amino Labs is headquartered in Lethbridge, Canada, in the North America region.
How does Amino Labs make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Experiment Kits Sales are the primary driver. The others are lab Equipment Sales, educational Materials and professional Development Services.
Who are Amino Labs's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Bio-Rad Laboratories, Carolina Biological Supply Company and Sphero. Direct peers are Edvotek, miniPCR, The ODIN, Thames & Kosmos, MEL Science and Nature's Workshop Plus. BioBuilder Educational Foundation is listed as an emerging player.
Does Amino Labs have an API?
No public API is recorded for Amino Labs.
What industry is Amino Labs in?
Amino Labs's product category is Biotechnology Education Kits. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAMABAF, Biology & Life Science Enrichment (Biotech, Genetics, Anatomy). Its NAICS code is 611691 and its SIC code is 3821.