Knome

What Knome does

Knome, founded in 2007 and headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, provides human genome interpretation software and services built around its knoSYS platform. The core of the offering is the proprietary kGAP (Genome Analysis Platform) informatics engine, which transforms next-generation sequencing data from multiple sequencer platforms (Illumina, Life Technologies, Complete Genomics) into standardized, annotated, comparable datasets using a curated knowledge base drawn from more than a dozen third-party reference sources (HGMD, ClinVar, COSMIC, 1000 Genomes, Ensembl, HPO, Exome Sequencing Project). The platform is delivered in two hardware configurations — the high-throughput knoSYS k100 (starting at $125,000) and the entry-level knoSYS k25 — plus software-only and hosted options, with knoSOFT providing analytical and workflow tools, in silico panels for variant prioritization, multi-sample comparison, and an interactive variant explorer. A separate end-to-end research service, knomeDISCOVERY, performs whole-genome and exome interpretation on a per-sample basis starting at approximately $12,000 per sample.

Knome sells and supports its platform primarily through a direct enterprise field-sales force targeting pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, academic and research institutions, clinical and translational medicine laboratories, and hospitals/medical centers adopting NGS. Distribution is supplemented by channel partners (Personal Genomics s.r.l. as exclusive Italian reseller and other international distributors) and by initiatives such as a LabCentral sponsorship that provides access to early-stage biotech startups. Since 2008, Knome has completed more than 130 interpretation projects for biopharma and academia across two dozen countries, with named customers including Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, the University of British Columbia, Mayo Clinic, MD Anderson Cancer Center, the University of Verona, Ottawa Heart, and Androcyte. Pricing models include one-time/perpetual licenses (k100, k25), hybrid software-only or hosted subscriptions, and pay-as-you-go per-sample billing introduced in 2014.

The company is privately held, has raised approximately $28.8M across four funding rounds through 2014 (the largest being a $13M round in January 2014), and operates with 11-50 employees. It holds CLIA-deployment capability for in silico panels, joins the Global Alliance for Genomics and Health, and has established strategic technology integration partnerships with GENALICE (preprocessing) and Omixon (HLA typing). The current CEO is Wolfgang Daum, succeeding Martin Tolar; co-founder George Church (Harvard Medical School) serves as Chief Scientific Advisor.

Name

Knome

Legal name

Knome Inc.

Website

https://knome.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Knome provides human genome interpretation software and services, including the knoSYS platform and knomeDISCOVERY research services, to pharmaceutical, biotech, academic, and clinical laboratory customers seeking to industrialize NGS-based genomic analysis and clinical reporting.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Bioinformatics & Genomics Software

NAICS

Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826)

akta.pro primary industry

Bioinformatics, Multi-Omics Data Analysis & Interpretation Services (HLAGANAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Genomics & Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) Services (HLAGANAA), Molecular Biology & Genomics Instruments (PCR/qPCR, Sequencing, Microarrays) (HLAGAIAF), Genomic Profiling & Sequencing-Based Precision Medicine (HLAAANAA)

Keywords

• Genome interpretation software
• Next-generation sequencing analysis
• Clinical bioinformatics platform
• Pharmacogenomics data services
• Human variant annotation

Headquarters

HQ city

Cambridge

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. knoSYS Hardware and Software Sales: Knome sells or leases the knoSYS platform (hardware and/or software) to clinical and research labs. The knoSYS k100 starts at $125,000. Software-only, hosted, and bundled hardware+software options are available. This is the primary product revenue stream.
2. knomeDISCOVERY Research Services: End-to-end genome interpretation services for pharmaceutical and academic researchers studying large numbers of exomes and whole genomes. Covers project design, sample selection, data mining, and interpretation. knomeDiscovery pricing starts at approximately $12,000 per sample.
3. Pay-as-you-go / Per-sample Pricing: Introduced with Version 3 of the knoSYS platform (2014) to reduce barriers for lower throughput labs or those piloting NGS testing. Allows labs to pay per sample rather than purchasing full systems.
4. Technology Partnerships and Licensing: Integration partnerships (e.g., with GENALICE, Omixon) that extend the knoSYS platform capabilities and create additional licensing/service revenue opportunities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Knome delivers the knoSYS turnkey bioinformatics infrastructure for human genome interpretation, combining proprietary software (knoSOFT) and kGAP informatics engine with dedicated hardware appliances (k100 high-performance cluster and k25 entry-level system) to convert next-generation sequencing data into annotated, comparable datasets. The company also operates knomeDISCOVERY, a research services arm that conducts disease-gene and pharmacogenomics analyses for external sponsors, and licenses data assets such as knomeVARIANTS and knomePATHWAYS to qualified researchers.

Product overview

Knome offers a unified product portfolio centered on the knoSYS platform, a comprehensive genomic interpretation system. The platform integrates the kGAP informatics engine (the core analytical engine) with knoSOFT software (analytical and workflow tools) and is available in two hardware configurations: the high-throughput k100 for large-scale genome processing and the entry-level k25 for targeted panels and moderate sequencing volumes. The platform supports in silico panels that encapsulate lab expertise for automated variant prioritization. For research services, Knome provides knomeDISCOVERY, an end-to-end service for large-scale exome and genome studies. The company also offers specialized software tools like knomeVARIANTS and knomePATHWAYS for variant and pathway analysis.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• knoSYS: Human genome interpretation system platform that provides informatics infrastructure for analysis, annotation, and interpretation of next-gen sequence data. Available in k100 (high-performance) and k25 (entry-level) models.
• kGAP
• knomeDISCOVERY

Products and services

• knoSYS Platform
• knoSYS k100
• knoSYS k25
• knomeDISCOVERY

Quantifiable outcome

• Average throughput of one genome per day with knoSYS k100, matching the speed of fastest sequencers
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

AI capability3 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• GENALICEcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 January 2015Strategic partnership to offer combined products as a turn-key solution for next-generation sequencing data interpretation. GENALICE MAP (ultra-fast NGS preprocessing) connects seamlessly to Knome's knoSYS platform. Both products continue to be offered separately while enabling a combined system reducing NGS data bottlenecks, improving genome annotation and interpretation, and providing end-to-end data control.
• Swiss Foundation for People with Rare DiseasesminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2014The Swiss Foundation for People with Rare Diseases uses combined GENALICE and Knome solutions to improve processing and analysis of NGS data. GENALICE MAP handles preprocessing while knoSYS handles annotation and interpretation, creating a unique end-to-end solution for rare disease genomics research.
• Global Alliance for Genomics and HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 September 2014Knome joined the Global Alliance for Genomics and Health, an international alliance working to accelerate worldwide efforts to responsibly share and analyze large amounts of genomic and clinical data. The Alliance, with over 200 partners, creates common frameworks for ethics and technical models to enable responsible data sharing. Knome contributes expertise in genomic sequencing data interpretation for clinical and translational use.
• LabCentralminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 9 September 2014Knome entered a sponsorship agreement with LabCentral to provide the knoSYS Informatics and Genomic Interpretation System to startups operating in LabCentral's Kendall Square facility. LabCentral startups can log into a knoSYS system at Knome's secure Cambridge facility, analyze samples, and export results, with access to Knome's expert team for training and support. This initiative makes NGS interpretation accessible to early-stage companies that traditionally lacked the resources for such capabilities.
• Personal Genomics s.r.l.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 11 April 2014Exclusive sales alliance for Knome's knoSYS platform in Italy combined with a scientific partnership for continued development of the platform's tools, content, and applications. Personal Genomics, led by Marco Dotto, serves as Knome's first international distributor. Prof. Massimo Delledonne of University of Verona was an early customer who helped validate this distribution partnership.
• Illumina Genome NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 April 2012Knome was selected as a genome interpretation partner for the Illumina Genome Network (IGN). IGN customers receive preferential pricing for Knome's genome interpretation tools and services. Companies further integrated their data pipelines to provide end users with accelerated turnaround times. Knome's knomeBASE and knomeDISCOVERY services are positioned to address Illumina customer needs, from fully processed genome summaries to comprehensive annotation and interactive analyses.
• Johns Hopkins University School of MedicinecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 January 2012Knome was awarded a contract by Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine to supply informatics services and software tools for a landmark study to uncover genetic variants contributing to asthma in African American and African Caribbean populations. Knome will annotate 1,000 genomes using knomeVARIANTS and knomePATHWAYS tools. This was Knome's largest project to date, validating the quality of its whole genome informatics platform.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• DNAnexus: DNAnexus provides a cloud-based platform for NGS data management, analysis, and clinical interpretation. It competes head-to-head with Knome in offering enterprise genomics informatics infrastructure, with a comparable focus on pharma, clinical labs, and academic customers.
• Velsera (formerly Seven Bridges): Seven Bridges (now Velsera) delivers a cloud-based bioinformatics platform and clinical interpretation services for NGS data. It directly competes with Knome's knoSYS and knomeDISCOVERY offerings across pharma, academic, and clinical segments.
• Congenica: Congenica provides clinical genomics interpretation software (Congenica Platform) focused on rare disease and cancer diagnostics for hospital labs. It overlaps directly with Knome's clinical lab and rare disease interpretation positioning.
• Sophia Genetics: Sophia Genetics offers an AI-driven genomics interpretation platform (SOPHiA DDM) for clinical and translational customers across multiple disease areas. It competes directly with Knome's clinical and translational lab business.
• PierianDx: PierianDx provides clinical genomics interpretation software and services for hospital and reference labs, with a strong focus on oncology and hereditary disease. It is a direct competitor to Knome's clinical interpretation product line.
• Golden Helix: Golden Helix provides genomic data analysis and interpretation software (VarSeq, SVS) for clinical and research labs. Knome's VP of Sales previously led commercial efforts at Golden Helix, indicating direct product overlap with Knome's variant interpretation workflow.
• WuXi NextCODE (now Genuity Science): WuXi NextCODE operated a global genomics platform combining sequencing, interpretation software, and bioinformatic services for pharma and clinical customers. It competed directly with Knome's full-stack software and services model.
• Fabric Genomics (acquired by Velsera): Fabric Genomics provides AI-based clinical genome interpretation software for rare disease and hereditary cancer. It was a direct Knome competitor prior to integration into the Velsera platform.

Emerging players

• Genoox: Genoox offers a cloud-based genomic data analysis platform with AI-driven variant interpretation for clinical labs. It addresses a similar customer base as Knome's clinical lab segment with a more modern, cloud-native architecture.

Regional players

• BC Platforms: BC Platforms delivers genomics data management and interpretation infrastructure primarily across European healthcare systems and pharma. It is comparable to Knome's European operations and Personal Genomics (Italy) partnership scope.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/91072594478
• Xx.com/Knome
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/1104199

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds4 records

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 Knome