Aalto Helsinki

What Aalto Helsinki does

Aalto-Helsinki is a student-driven synthetic biology competition team jointly operated by students from Aalto University (Espoo) and the University of Helsinki (Helsinki, Finland), founded in 2014 as the first Finnish team to participate in the international iGEM (International Genetically Engineered Machine) competition. The team fields a multidisciplinary roster of approximately 9-14 students per annual cycle spanning biology, biotechnology, bioinformatics, mathematics, chemistry, programming, design, and engineering, and operates sub-teams covering wet-lab, dry-lab, fundraising, collaboration, programming, writing, human practices, graphic design, social media, and video.

The team's core technology stack is synthetic biology and genetic engineering using standardized BioBrick parts, with project-specific applications including protein engineering, ribosome display, DARPin design, quorum-sensing biosensors, antimicrobial peptide production in E. coli, and computational modeling. Notable historical and ongoing projects include: a 2014 remote-controlled bacterial gene expression system; 2015 propane production; 2016 cyanotoxin detection and degradation via engineered yeast; 2017 dermcidin-derived (DCD-1L) antimicrobial peptides for acne in E. coli; 2018 microbial natural dyes combined with spider silk proteins; the 2022 QBlock project using DARPins to bind AIP molecules and prevent biofilm formation in chronic wounds (which won a Gold Medal at the Grand Jamboree in Paris); 2023 PET upcycling into single-cell proteins; and the 2026 fusion protein-based histamine test-strip biosensor for home-use detection by histamine-intolerant individuals. The team operates under academic mentorship with laboratory access at Aalto University, the University of Helsinki, HiLife (Helsinki Institute of Life Science), and VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland.

Aalto-Helsinki does not operate a commercial business. There are no products or services sold, no pricing model, and no commercial revenue stream. The entity is funded through university institutional support, in-kind laboratory sponsorship (notably from Thermo Fisher Scientific, IDT, BioNordika, Geneious), and financial sponsorship (Kemianteollisuus, TEK, ERASynBio, Loimu). All projects are academic proof-of-concept research, not commercial products; the Gold Medal at the 2022 Grand Jamboree represents the team's primary measurable competitive credential. Outreach activities include a podcast on Spotify, blog, Instagram, LinkedIn, science workshops at Heureka, and public presentations at Science Basement.

Name

Aalto Helsinki

Legal name

Aalto-Helsinki

Website

https://aaltohelsinki.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Aalto-Helsinki is a student-driven synthetic biology research team from Aalto University and University of Helsinki, participating in the iGEM competition since 2014 as Finland's first entrant. The team develops annual proof-of-concept biotech projects addressing healthcare, environmental, and sustainability challenges through genetic engineering and molecular biology, with no commercial revenue.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Synthetic Biology Research

NAICS

Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing (334516), Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), In-Vitro Diagnostic Substance Manufacturing (325413)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Services-Testing Laboratories (8734), Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826)

akta.pro primary industry

“Free-From” & Allergen-Free Claim Substantiation (e.g., gluten-free, peanut-free) (AFALAHAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Labeling, Nutrition Facts & Allergen Verification Services (AFALAAAH), Food Testing Laboratories (Microbiological, Chemical, Allergen) (AFALAAAA), Method Development & Validation (ICH/USP) (HLAGADAB)

Keywords

• Synthetic biology research
• Biosensor development
• Protein engineering
• Biotechnology competition
• Genetic engineering

Headquarters

HQ city

Helsinki

HQ country

Finland

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Competition funding and sponsorships: Student team funded through university support, private sponsors, and competition grants. No commercial revenue generation.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Aalto Helsinki is a student-driven synthetic biology research team that produces annual proof-of-concept biotechnology projects for the international iGEM competition. The team combines biology, biotechnology, bioinformatics, chemistry, mathematics, programming, design, and engineering expertise to develop synthetic biology solutions addressing healthcare, environmental, and sustainability challenges. Their current 2026 offering is a fusion protein-based histamine test-strip biosensor for home-use detection of histamine in food by people with histamine intolerance.

Product overview

Aalto Helsinki is a student-driven research team participating in the iGEM (International Genetically Engineered Machine) synthetic biology competition. The team comprises students from Aalto University and University of Helsinki working on annual biotechnology research projects. Their 2026 project focuses on developing a fusion protein-based histamine test-strip biosensor for home-use by people with histamine intolerance. Historical projects have included PET upcycling (2023), QBlock for chronic wound treatment (2022), dermcidin-based acne treatment (2017), natural dye production with spider silk proteins (2018), cyanotoxin detection from blue-green algae (2016), propane production (2015), and remote-controlled bacterial gene expression (2014). These are academic research projects, not commercial products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Biosensor for Histamine Detection (iGEM 2026 project) A fusion protein-based home-use histamine test-strip biosensor targeting people with histamine intolerance (approximately 1% of the global population). The strip combines a diamine oxidase (DAO) domain for histamine degradation, a color-changing enzyme that responds to hydrogen peroxide, and a cellulose-binding protein to anchor the complex onto the test strip. Designed for everyday consumer use to detect histamine in foods such as cheese, wine, fermented foods, spinach, and seafood.

Quantifiable outcome

• Gold Medal achievement at 2022 Grand Jamboree
• +1 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered major, minor and core.

• Codex DNAmajorTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2022Collaboration to test BioXp DNA, mRNA, and protein synthesizing machine. Received opportunity to synthesize DARPin DNA fragments for the 2022 project.
• Immuno Diagnostics OymajorTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2022Finnish distributor for Codex DNA products, facilitated BioXp machine access and provided technical support.
• TU DresdenmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Main research collaborator on dry-lab side for computational modeling of DARPin passage through biofilm matrix. Both teams focus on chronic wound healing.
• Aboa (Turku) iGEM TeamminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Only other Finnish iGEM team collaboration for workshops at Heureka, Science Basement presentations, and bioethics discussions.
• HiLife (Helsinki Institute of Life Science)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHelsinki Institute of Life Science provides institutional support and laboratory facilities. Logo displayed on partner section of website.
• University of Helsinki DepartmentscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFaculty of Science, Department of Food Sciences, and other departments provide academic support and resources.
• Thermo Fisher ScientificmajorTechnology or IntegrationProvides laboratory equipment and reagents sponsorship. Logo displayed on partner section.
• HeurekamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFinnish Science Center collaborator for educational workshops and outreach programs, particularly for children.
• VTT Technical Research Centre of FinlandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch institution providing laboratory space and scientific expertise.
• Aalto UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHome university providing primary institutional support, laboratory space, and mentorship from professors and staff.
• University of HelsinkicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner university providing academic support and research facilities.
• AaltoESminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAalto University startup society providing entrepreneurial support and connections.
• IDT (Integrated DNA Technologies)majorTechnology or IntegrationDNA synthesis and reagents provider, long-term sponsor.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Codexis: Industrial synthetic biology company developing engineered enzymes for pharmaceutical manufacturing and sustainable chemistry. Comparable as a commercial-scale application of protein engineering and enzyme design concepts that iGEM teams like Aalto-Helsinki explore academically through DARPin and fusion protein work.
• Ginkgo Bioworks: Founded by former iGEM participants, Ginkgo is the largest publicly-traded synthetic biology platform company. Comparable as the commercial maturation of iGEM-style synthetic biology into industrial-scale cell engineering, though operating at vastly larger scale with full equity and revenue structure.
• Amyris: Synthetic biology company producing sustainable ingredients via engineered microbes. Comparable as a commercial-stage example of microbial strain engineering for sustainable consumer products, paralleling Aalto-Helsinki's natural dye production and PET upcycling projects at industrial scale.
• Twist Bioscience: Commercial DNA synthesis platform serving synthetic biology researchers globally. Comparable as commercial infrastructure for synthetic biology, with which Aalto-Helsinki's projects (DNA assembly, BioBrick parts, biosensor engineering) directly interact and depend upon.

Others

• Thermo Fisher Scientific: Major life sciences tools provider and equipment sponsor for Aalto-Helsinki. Comparable as the dominant infrastructure provider whose reagents, instruments, and laboratory equipment underpin synthetic biology research across academia and industry.
• Integrated DNA Technologies (IDT): DNA synthesis and reagents provider that is a long-term sponsor of Aalto-Helsinki. Comparable as a key enabling technology partner whose oligonucleotide products and DNA synthesis services directly underpin the team's synthetic biology research workflows.
• Codex DNA: Synthetic biology tools company providing the BioXp DNA/mRNA/protein synthesis machine used by Aalto-Helsinki for their 2022 DARPin project. Directly comparable as a technology partner enabling rapid DNA-to-protein workflows central to synthetic biology prototyping.
• VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland: Finnish research institution providing laboratory space, equipment, and scientific expertise to Aalto-Helsinki. Comparable as a domestic applied research partner bridging academic synthetic biology to industrial applications within the Finnish bioeconomy.

Direct peers

• Aboa (Turku) iGEM Team: The only other Finnish iGEM team, with whom Aalto-Helsinki collaborates on workshops at Heureka science center, joint bioethics discussions, and Science Basement presentations. Both are student-driven synthetic biology competition teams operating in the same Finnish geographic market with similar academic structures.
• MIT iGEM Team: Historically the most successful iGEM team globally, originating the competition itself and producing multiple gold medal winners and category winners. Directly comparable as a leading student-driven synthetic biology team with elite institutional backing, multidisciplinary structure, and consistent gold medal track record.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/AaltoHelsinki
• Facebookfacebook.com/AaltoHelsinki
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/aalto-helsinkiigemteam
• Instagraminstagram.com/aaltohelsinki_igem

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Aalto Helsinki