Celera
Celera (Celera Genomics), founded in 1998 by J. Craig Venter, pioneered whole-genome shotgun sequencing and assembled the first human genome draft in 2000. The company was acquired by Applied Biosystems in 2011; a related entity, CeleraBio, remains active in skincare biotech.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1998
- HeadquartersRockville, United States
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Celera does
Celera, legally known as Celera Genomics, was a private biotechnology company founded in 1998 by J. Craig Venter and headquartered in Rockville, Maryland. The company was established to compete with the publicly funded Human Genome Project by employing a whole-genome shotgun sequencing approach — a method that randomly fragments an entire genome into small pieces, sequences them in parallel, and reassembles them computationally. Celera successfully assembled the first human genome draft sequence and announced the result at the White House in 2000 alongside the NIH-led public consortium, validating the private-sector approach to large-scale genomics.
The company's core business centered on DNA sequencing services, genomic data generation, and synthetic biology applications, primarily serving research institutions and biomedical scientists who required faster, more cost-effective genome sequencing than the public mapping-based approach. Its horizontal segmentation strategy targeted scientific researchers needing genomic sequencing for their research programs. Beyond sequencing, the firm expanded through acquisitions of Axys Pharmaceuticals in June 2001 and Berkeley HealthLab in September 2007, broadening into adjacent life sciences and clinical laboratory capabilities.
Celera Genomics was acquired by Applied Biosystems in 2011, ending its independent operations. Source data also references a separate or successor entity branded "CeleraBio" that in March 2025 entered a strategic partnership with Shiseido to co-develop gene-targeted eye-area skincare ingredients, indicating continued use of the Celera brand in adjacent biotech applications. The firmographic data shows internal inconsistencies — the short description ("Genotyping for Infectious diseases") and 501-1000 employee count conflict with the 2011 acquisition and documented human genome focus, suggesting data conflation between the original Celera Genomics and a successor or related entity.
Celera firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Celera
- Legal name
- Celera Genomics
- Website
- https://celera.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1998
- Operating status
- Acquired
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Short description
- Celera (Celera Genomics), founded in 1998 by J. Craig Venter, pioneered whole-genome shotgun sequencing and assembled the first human genome draft in 2000. The company was acquired by Applied Biosystems in 2011; a related entity, CeleraBio, remains active in skincare biotech.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Celera industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Genomic Sequencing Services
- NAICS
- Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), Medical Laboratories (621511)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Genomic Profiling & Sequencing-Based Precision Medicine (HLAAANAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Genomics & Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) Services (HLAGANAA), Genetic & Genomic Testing (germline, somatic, carrier, pharmacogenomics) (HLAAALAD)
Keywords
Where Celera is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Rockville
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
Celera business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure
Celera product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Celera Genomics provided DNA sequencing services and genomic data generation for biomedical research, employing its proprietary whole-genome shotgun sequencing method to decode entire genomes faster than traditional mapping-based approaches. Its work centered on sequencing the human genome and supporting downstream scientific and synthetic biology applications for research customers.
Product overview
Celera (historically known as Celera Genomics) was a genomics company founded by J. Craig Venter in 1998 to compete with the publicly funded Human Genome Project. The company pioneered whole-genome shotgun sequencing and achieved the first draft sequence of the human genome in 2000, announced alongside the Human Genome Project at the White House. Celera published its genome findings in 2001. Celera's core business centered on DNA sequencing services, genomic data generation, and synthetic biology applications. Separate from the original Celera Genomics, CeleraBio operates as a biotech firm focused on gene-targeted skincare ingredient development, notably partnering with Shiseido in March 2025 for eye-area skincare ingredients.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Human genome sequencing services
- Genomic data generation and analysis
Companies that use Celera
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Celera technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Celera partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- ShiseidominorShiseido formed a strategic partnership with biotech firm CeleraBio in March 2025 to co-develop gene-targeted eye-area skincare ingredients. This partnership focuses on leveraging genomic research for cosmetic applications.
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights1 record
Celera competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Quest Diagnostics: One of the largest clinical laboratory services companies in the US, offering genetic, molecular, and infectious disease diagnostics to hospitals, physicians, and patients. Directly comparable to Celera as a reference laboratory serving similar end markets with overlapping test menus.
- Labcorp: Major clinical diagnostics laboratory with substantial infectious disease and molecular testing capabilities, including genotyping services. Comparable to Celera as a full-service reference lab competing for hospital and physician testing volume.
- Natera: Specialized genetic testing company offering cell-free DNA and molecular diagnostics across reproductive health, oncology, and infectious disease. Comparable to Celera as a genomics-driven diagnostics services company serving clinical customers.
- Myriad Genetics: Genetic testing company focused on hereditary cancer, pharmacogenomics, and other molecular diagnostics. Comparable to Celera in offering clinical-grade genomic testing services to physicians and patients through specialized lab workflows.
- Guardant Health: Precision oncology company using next-generation sequencing for liquid biopsy and tumor profiling. Comparable to Celera in operating a high-throughput clinical genomics laboratory with proprietary sequencing workflows.
- Invitae: Genetic information company offering medical-grade genetic testing across multiple specialties including infectious and rare diseases. Comparable to Celera as a clinical genomics services provider with a broad test menu and digital health infrastructure.
Emerging players
- Color Health: Population genomics and preventive health company offering genetic testing at scale to employers, health systems, and consumers. Comparable to Celera in translating genomic sequencing into clinical and consumer health applications.
- Helix: Population genomics and clinical genetic testing platform operating a next-generation sequencing lab-as-a-service. Comparable to Celera in providing high-throughput genomic sequencing infrastructure to clinical and research customers.
Broad incumbents
- Illumina: Dominant provider of next-generation sequencing instruments, reagents, and related services globally. Comparable to Celera as an enabling technology and services provider across the genomics value chain, though operating at much larger scale as an upstream platform.
- Thermo Fisher Scientific: Global life sciences tools and diagnostics company, owner of Applied Biosystems (which acquired Celera Genomics in 2011). Comparable as a broad incumbent in genomics instruments, clinical diagnostics, and laboratory services that overlaps heavily with Celera's technology base.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks4 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
Celera social profiles
Digital presenceCelera financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Celera leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Celera funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Celera M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A2 records
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Celera
What does Celera do?
Celera Genomics provided DNA sequencing services and genomic data generation for biomedical research, employing its proprietary whole-genome shotgun sequencing method to decode entire genomes faster than traditional mapping-based approaches. Its work centered on sequencing the human genome and supporting downstream scientific and synthetic biology applications for research customers.
Is Celera a public or private company?
Celera is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently acquired.
When was Celera founded?
Celera was founded in 1998. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is Celera based?
Celera is headquartered in Rockville, United States, in the North America region.
Who are Celera's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Quest Diagnostics, Labcorp, Natera, Myriad Genetics, Guardant Health and Invitae. Emerging players are Color Health and Helix. Broad incumbents are Illumina and Thermo Fisher Scientific.
Does Celera have an API?
No public API is recorded for Celera.
What industry is Celera in?
Celera's product category is Genomic Sequencing Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAAANAA, Genomic Profiling & Sequencing-Based Precision Medicine, with a secondary code of HLAGANAA, Genomics & Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) Services. Its NAICS code is 541714.