What Superlab does

Superlab Suisse AG is a Zurich-based Lab-as-a-Service operator founded in 2019 by Zhang Xi (also CEO and Chairman), specializing in turnkey BSL1 and BSL2 laboratory space for life-science and biotech tenants. The company's core product is a tiered membership subscription — Club Member, Private Bench (1–6 benches), Private Labs (3–36 benches), and Private Floor (40+ benches) — delivered through ready-to-move-in, IP-free, fully serviced laboratory facilities. Memberships bundle comprehensive operational services (waste handling, autoclaving, CRYO, glass wash, equipment maintenance, biosafety compliance, safety training, cleaning, concierge) and are priced on a quote-based monthly subscription that replaces the traditional $1M–$10M upfront lab build-out and 1+ year lead time with $0 upfront cost and 30-day occupancy. The company also operates a member digital platform (my.superlabsuisse.com) and a supplier-discount e-commerce channel.

The business model combines recurring subscription revenue from lab rentals with a multi-stakeholder growth engine built around the Innovator Club (free Founder Pass, Expert Pass, and Investor Pass programs that act as a top-of-funnel for paying tenants) and an Open Innovation Program that partners with pharmaceutical companies to scout innovative projects inside the tenant base. Distribution is enterprise field sales supported by direct phone lines per location and ecosystem referrals from partners including Swiss Prime Site AG (whose CFO sits on Superlab's board), Biopôle Lausanne, and the institutional partners of Campus Biotech (EPFL, UNIGE, Wyss Center, HUG). Superlab currently operates in Lausanne, Basel (4,770 sqm, the largest private lab in Switzerland), and Zurich, with Geneva scheduled for May 2026 and an international footprint extending to Shanghai; expansion into Europe, the US, and Asia has been publicly announced.

Revenue is generated primarily from monthly subscription fees paid by biotech, medtech, and pharmaceutical tenants (startups through scale-ups to corporates), supplemented by ancillary service revenue from supplier discounts, NGS sequencing services, and event/community programming. Customer segments span early-stage life-science startups (entered via Founder Pass), scale-ups needing flexible CapEx-light expansion, and larger corporates and institutions on Private Floor arrangements; named tenants include Cellestia, Tigen Pharma, and Skyhawk Therapeutics. With 11–50 employees and no disclosed funding rounds, the company appears to be primarily self- or founder-financed alongside the Swiss Prime Site strategic partnership.

Name

Superlab

Legal name

Superlab Suisse AG

Website

https://superlabsuisse.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Superlab Suisse AG is a Zurich-based Lab-as-a-Service operator providing ready-to-move-in BSL1/BSL2 serviced laboratory space, bundled operational services, and an Innovator Club ecosystem for biotech, medtech, and pharma startups and scale-ups across Switzerland and Shanghai.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Zürich

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Lab Membership / Rental Revenue: Superlab Suisse generates primary revenue through membership-based rental of private labs, shared benches, and office spaces. Membership tiers include Club Member (core facility access), Private Bench (1-6 benches with shared equipment), Private Labs (3-36 benches with IP-free serviced private labs), and Private Floor (more than 40 benches for scale-ups/corporates). All memberships include access to shared infrastructure, operational services, and community facilities. Move-in timelines are within 30 days, compared to conventional lab construction taking over a year with $1M–$10M upfront costs.
2. Operational Services Revenue: Bundled operational services including lab coordination, facility management, equipment maintenance, waste handling, biosafety compliance, safety training, autoclaving, CRYO service, glass wash, gas refill, laundry, meeting preparation, concierge, printing, and event support are included in membership fees, representing an additional recurring revenue component.
3. Technology Platform & Equipment Access: Revenue from facilitating access to technology platforms (animal facilities, research centers, hospitals) and preferential supplier rates on equipment, consumables, and logistics for members.
4. Innovator Club Memberships: The Innovator Club offers tiered passes: Founder Pass (free 3-month initial membership for early-stage startups with coworking and investor access), Expert Pass (free 6-month membership for industry experts providing mentorship), and Investor Pass (free 6-month membership for investors). These programs serve as top-of-funnel acquisition channels that convert members into paying lab tenants.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Superlab Suisse provides ready-to-move-in, BSL1/BSL2-compliant private and shared laboratory spaces for life science companies on a membership basis, bundling comprehensive operational services (waste handling, equipment maintenance, biosafety compliance, cleaning, autoclaving, CRYO, laundry, concierge) with coworking, meeting rooms, and access to its Innovator Club community of founders, experts, and investors across locations in Lausanne, Basel, Zurich, and Geneva.

Product overview

Superlab Suisse operates a 'Lab as a Service' platform offering fully equipped, operationally supported laboratory environments for biotech, pharma, and medtech companies. The portfolio consists of membership-based lab space solutions (Club Member, Private Bench, Private Labs, Private Floor) providing BSL1/2 compliant facilities with comprehensive operational services. The company also runs the Innovator Club with three membership passes (Founder Pass, Expert Pass, Investor Pass) to accelerate life science innovation through community building. Additional offerings include the Superlab Digital Environment online portal, Virtual Office services, and an Open Innovation Program. Superlab Suisse currently operates facilities in Lausanne, Basel, Zurich, and Geneva (opening 2026), with international expansion plans in Europe, US, and Asia.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Innovator Club: Premier life-science innovation ecosystem offering three membership passes: Founder Pass (3 months free coworking for early-stage biotech startups), Expert Pass (for experienced professionals sharing expertise with founders), and Investor Pass (for qualified investors seeking biotech dealflow).

Products and services

• Club Member Entry-level Superlab Suisse membership providing access to common areas and core facilities, allowing lab users to use shared infrastructure without dedicated private lab space.
• Private Bench All-inclusive Superlab Suisse membership with shared equipment access for small teams requiring 1–6 benches, providing private bench space plus access to shared lab facilities and equipment.
• Private Labs IP-free, serviced private labs at Superlab Suisse with access to shared facilities for teams of 3–36 benches, including full operational support (waste handling, cleaning, equipment maintenance).
• Private Floor Dedicated-floor Superlab Suisse lab solution for scale-ups, corporates, and institutions, providing space for more than 40 benches on an OpEx-instead-of-CapEx model.
• Founder Pass Free 3-month Innovator Club membership for early-stage biotech and life-science startup founders, offering coworking, investor and pharma access, expert advice, and media amplification (valued at ~CHF 12,000).
• Expert Pass Free 6-month Innovator Club membership for experienced life-sciences, biotech, and medtech professionals, offering coworking, meeting room access, and 1-on-1 founder mentorship sessions.
• Investor Pass Free 6-month Innovator Club membership for qualified biotech investors, providing coworking colocation with founders and structured access to startup dealflow and co-investors.
• Lab Services (Operational Services Bundle) Bundled operational services for Superlab Suisse members spanning lab coordination, facility management, equipment maintenance, cleaning, CRYO, autoclaving, safety training, waste handling, glass wash, gas refill, laundry, concierge, printing, and event support.
• Virtual Office Virtual office services included with Superlab Suisse membership, providing a business address and administrative support for life-science companies.
• Superlab Digital Environment Digital member portal (my.superlabsuisse.com) for Superlab Suisse members, providing access to statistics, upcoming events, and member resources.

Quantifiable outcome

• Move-in timeline reduced from 1+ year (conventional) to 30 days (Superlab Suisse)
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Campus BiotechcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Superlab Suisse's Geneva facility will be located within Campus Biotech, a world-class life sciences hub specializing in neuroscience, digital health, and global health. Key institutional partners of Campus Biotech include EPFL, Université de Genève (UNIGE), the Wyss Center, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Genève (HUG), FONGIT, Fondation Campus Biotech Geneva (FCBG), and Hepia. Superlab's presence at Campus Biotech provides access to this rich research and innovation ecosystem.
• Leading Pharmaceutical Companies (Open Innovation Program)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Superlab Suisse's Open Innovation Program partners with leading pharmaceutical companies to solicit and support innovative biotech projects. These pharma partners collaborate with Superlab's startup community, providing a pipeline of innovation and validation for the lab ecosystem. The program aims to create future healthcare solutions by connecting pharma R&D needs with early-stage biotech innovators housed at Superlab.
• Swiss Prime Site AGcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Swiss Prime Site AG is Superlab Suisse's strategic real estate partner and co-developer of lab facilities. Swiss Prime Site is the largest real estate company in Switzerland with a CHF 26 billion portfolio. Their CFO Marcel Kucher serves on Superlab Suisse's board as a board director. The partnership involves co-locating Superlab Suisse facilities within Swiss Prime Site properties, including the Basel facility at Stücki Park (a Swiss Prime Site asset).
• Biopôle LausannecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBiopôle Lausanne supported the establishment of Superlab Suisse's first location in Lausanne. Biopôle is a leading life sciences campus in Switzerland, and the partnership enabled Superlab Suisse to anchor its presence in a premier biotech hub.
• InnoVaudminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInnoVaud, the innovation promotion agency for the Canton of Vaud, supported the Lausanne location of Superlab Suisse, providing ecosystem backing and regional innovation support.
• FONGITcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerFONGIT (Fondation Geneva Biotech) supports Superlab Suisse's expansion to Campus Biotech and connects startups with Superlab's infrastructure. Igor Fisch, Chair of FONGIT and serial life sciences entrepreneur, publicly endorsed Superlab's expansion. FONGIT also co-hosts events like 'FONGIT-Life: what life sciences investors want' at Superlab.
• EPFL (École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEPFL is a founding institutional partner of Campus Biotech, where Superlab Suisse's Geneva facility will be located. As one of Switzerland's leading technical universities, EPFL provides research collaboration opportunities and startup pipeline for the Superlab community.
• Université de Genève (UNIGE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUNIGE is a key institutional partner of Campus Biotech, contributing to the research ecosystem that Superlab Suisse's Geneva facility will integrate with.
• Wyss CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Wyss Center for Bio and Neuro Engineering is a partner institution at Campus Biotech, collaborating with Superlab Suisse's Geneva ecosystem on neuroscience and bioengineering research initiatives.
• Hôpitaux Universitaires de Genève (HUG)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHUG is a key institutional partner at Campus Biotech, providing clinical research connections and hospital-based research opportunities for Superlab community members in Geneva.
• Novartis and RocheminorOthersNamed as anchor pharmaceutical companies based in Basel (home to over 700 life science companies). While not formal partners, their presence defines Basel's biotech ecosystem where Superlab operates. These companies are part of the pharma partner network that Superlab aims to connect with through its Open Innovation Program.
• Key Lab Equipment and Consumables SuppliersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSuperlab Suisse has negotiated preferential rates with key lab equipment and consumables suppliers, which are passed on to members through an integrated e-commerce platform. This provides cost benefits to members and creates a multi-sided supplier network around the Superlab ecosystem.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Workbench: New York-based co-working laboratory space provider for biotech and life-science startups. Directly comparable in offering fully serviced lab benches, private suites, and shared equipment to early-stage companies on a membership basis.
• LabCentral: Non-profit life-sciences incubator operating shared lab facilities in Cambridge, MA (Kendall Square and nearby). Directly comparable to Superlab Suisse in offering ready-to-use lab space, shared equipment, and a startup community to early-stage biotech tenants.
• MBC Biolabs: San Francisco Bay Area lab co-working operator for early-stage biotech startups. Comparable to Superlab Suisse in providing turnkey lab space, shared equipment, and a community of founders, investors, and pharma partners.
• JLABS (Johnson & Johnson Innovation): Johnson & Johnson's global network of life-sciences incubators offering no-strings-attached lab space, equipment, and entrepreneurship support. Comparable to Superlab Suisse in serving early-stage biotech startups with ready-to-use BSL labs and an innovation ecosystem, with explicit pharma (Open Innovation) links.
• BioLabs: BioLabs operates a global network of co-working laboratory facilities for early-stage life-science companies. Closest direct competitor to Superlab Suisse — same target customers (startups/scale-ups), same BSL-ready shared/private lab model, same membership pricing structure, and multi-city footprint (including Europe).
• SmartLabs: Boston-based provider of fully managed laboratory space and operational services to biotech companies. Directly comparable to Superlab Suisse's 'lab-as-a-service' model, including bundled facility management, equipment maintenance, and compliance support.

Broad incumbents

• Alexandria Real Estate Equities: Large US REIT focused on life-sciences office and laboratory real estate, serving pharma, biotech, and academic tenants. Comparable as a provider of mission-built lab infrastructure to life-sciences companies, though at much larger scale and as a landlord/REIT rather than a serviced lab operator.
• Cambridge Innovation Center (CIC): Operator of large-scale innovation campuses with co-working, lab, and office space across the US, Europe, and Asia. Comparable to Superlab Suisse in offering flexible, serviced innovation environments to life-sciences and other science-based startups, though broader than Superlab's life-sciences focus.

Emerging players

• Portal Innovations: Chicago-based life-sciences venture platform offering co-located lab space, capital, and programming to biotech startups. Comparable to Superlab Suisse in combining physical lab infrastructure with venture-creation support and investor/expert community access.
• Bakar Labs: UC Berkeley-affiliated incubator providing wet-lab space and programming to early-stage biotech startups. Comparable to Superlab Suisse in providing affordable, equipped lab space to founders emerging from an academic cluster, though smaller in scale and geographically anchored to Berkeley.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/superlab-suisse-ag
• Instagraminstagram.com/superlab.suisse

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Superlab