What BioSurplus does

BioSurplus is a San Diego-based private company founded in 2002 that operates an online two-sided marketplace for pre-owned laboratory and life sciences equipment. The platform connects buyers (life sciences research institutions, biotechnology companies, pharmaceutical manufacturers, and general laboratories) with sellers seeking to liquidate or recover value from surplus or decommissioned equipment. Its offering is organized around three core products: Direct Purchase Listings for fixed-price transactions, Curated Auction Events for time-bound competitive bidding, and Equipment Selling Solutions designed to help sellers maximize asset recovery value.

BioSurplus generates revenue primarily through marketplace commissions and auction fees on transactions facilitated across its platform, with pricing handled on a per-listing basis rather than through publicly disclosed tiers. Its go-to-market is digital-first, relying on its website as the primary distribution channel and a minimal external marketing footprint (LinkedIn presence for B2B validation), with the bulk of demand generation driven by marketplace network effects rather than outbound campaigns. The company employs between 11 and 50 people and serves a domestic U.S. market. Public messaging on its website emphasizes a renewed focus under a 'BioSurplus is Back!' banner, indicating a relaunch posture following a period of reduced activity.

The company's leadership consists of Chairman Cinco Plumb and CTO Arlen Greer. It has raised approximately $3.9 million in disclosed funding (across 2012 rounds from KI Investment Holdings and SJF Ventures), holds no disclosed patents or formal partnerships, and operates without a mobile app, public API, or documented AI/ML capabilities. The competitive position rests on vertical specialization in life sciences equipment, brand trust built over two decades, and the liquidity dynamics inherent to a niche two-sided marketplace.

Name

BioSurplus

Website

https://biosurplus.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

BioSurplus is a San Diego-based online marketplace connecting buyers and sellers of pre-owned laboratory and life sciences equipment through direct listings, curated auctions, and asset-recovery services for biotech, pharma, and research institutions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Pre-owned Laboratory Equipment Marketplace

NAICS

Medical, Dental, and Hospital Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers (423450)

SIC

Laboratory Apparatus & Furniture (3821)

akta.pro primary industry

Cell Culture & Bioprocess Lab Equipment (Bioreactors, Single-Use Systems, Controllers) (HLAGAIAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Bulk Liquidation, Returns & Overstock Recommerce Marketplaces (CRAFAGAO)

Keywords

• Pre-owned lab equipment
• Life sciences marketplace
• Used laboratory instruments
• Lab equipment auctions
• Equipment selling solutions

Headquarters

HQ city

San Diego

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Marketplace and Auction Fees: BioSurplus generates revenue by facilitating transactions between buyers and sellers of pre-owned life sciences laboratory equipment through their marketplace platform and curated auction events. The platform charges transaction-based fees for listings, sales, and auction participation.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

BioSurplus operates an online two-sided marketplace that connects buyers and sellers of pre-owned laboratory and life sciences equipment. The platform supports direct purchase listings at set prices, time-bound curated auction events for competitive bidding, and equipment selling solutions designed to help sellers liquidate surplus assets and maximize recovery value.

Product overview

BioSurplus operates as a single unified marketplace platform for the life sciences equipment sector. The offering combines three core services: Direct Purchase Listings (for straightforward buying at set prices), Curated Auction Events (time-bound competitive bidding events), and Equipment Selling Solutions (services designed to help sellers maximize returns on their pre-owned equipment). Together, these services form an integrated marketplace connecting buyers and sellers of laboratory and life sciences assets.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Direct Purchase Listings

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• SE Laboratory Equipment: Independent dealer of used laboratory equipment offering buy, sell, and trade-in services. Directly comparable to BioSurplus's marketplace and asset recovery offerings for life sciences customers.
• Cambridge Scientific Products: Reseller of new and refurbished laboratory equipment serving research and clinical customers. Comparable to BioSurplus in the pre-owned life sciences equipment category with overlapping buyer profiles in biotech and pharma.
• EquipNet: Online marketplace and auction platform for used industrial and laboratory equipment across multiple verticals. Comparable to BioSurplus in operating a managed marketplace and auction model for pre-owned equipment, though it spans broader categories beyond life sciences.
• Conquer Scientific: Specializes in buying, refurbishing, and reselling used analytical and laboratory instruments. Directly comparable to BioSurplus as a competitor in the secondary lab equipment market with similar equipment categories and customer base.
• American Laboratory Trading: One of the largest independent resellers of pre-owned laboratory and life sciences equipment in the U.S. Directly comparable to BioSurplus as a buyer and seller of used lab instruments, serving biotech, pharma, and academic customers with similar refurbishment and sales services.
• IBI Scientific: Buys and sells pre-owned laboratory equipment with services for biotech, pharma, and academic customers. Comparable business model to BioSurplus with similar equipment categories and customer segments.
• Boston Industries: Reseller of used and refurbished pharmaceutical, biotech, and laboratory equipment. Overlaps with BioSurplus in serving manufacturers and research institutions seeking cost-effective equipment sourcing.

Broad incumbents

• Bio-Rad Laboratories: Major life science research and clinical diagnostics equipment manufacturer. Comparable as a broad incumbent whose installed instruments create the secondary-market supply pool that BioSurplus monetizes through its marketplace.
• Sartorius: Leading bioprocessing and laboratory equipment manufacturer for biotech and pharma. Comparable as a broad incumbent serving the same customer base that supplies surplus equipment to and sources equipment from BioSurplus.
• Thermo Fisher Scientific: Global life sciences equipment manufacturer and services provider with an enormous installed base, much of which eventually flows into the secondary market BioSurplus serves. Comparable as the dominant incumbent whose trade-in and remarketing activity shapes the supply of pre-owned equipment BioSurplus depends on.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/BioSurplus

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 BioSurplus