What Soundbio Lab does

SoundBio Lab is a Seattle-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit (EIN 81-3164860) operating the city's only community biology makerspace, located at 1100 NE 47th Street #103 in the University District. Founded in 2016, it provides a BSL-1 co-working laboratory — equipped with shared resources for molecular biology and microbiology work and a Thermo Scientific 1300 Series A2 Biosafety Cabinet donated by GHLabs (Gates Foundation) — to amateur science enthusiasts, students, youth, independent researchers, and educators. Core offerings span tiered monthly memberships (Tinkerer $25, Researcher $55, Lead $135), hands-on workshops and multi-week courses in topics such as PCR, genetic engineering, biomanufacturing, and liquid biopsy, private STEM event bookings (~$500 per engagement), youth programs (Life Science Explorers for middle schoolers and the NYL Internship for ages 16–20 with Stemtac Foundation), and citizen-science community projects (notably a Biosensors initiative funded by the Washington State Department of Ecology).

The organization's go-to-market is community- and event-led: marketing runs primarily through Instagram, a monthly email newsletter, its Squarespace-hosted website, and word-of-mouth, while distribution is delivered through on-site workshops, traveling school outreach, and online ticketing. SoundBio's revenue mechanics blend earned income (memberships, workshops, courses, private events) with philanthropic income (grants, donations, fee-waiver sponsorships from 4Culture and Society for Science, and in-kind equipment contributions), reflecting a hybrid nonprofit model rather than a commercial SaaS or product business. Strategic programming in 2025–2026 is broadening into environmental science and biomanufacturing workforce development via the Ecology grant and a partnership with Shoreline Community College.

Name

Soundbio Lab

Legal name

SoundBio Lab

Website

https://sound.bio

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

SoundBio Lab is a Seattle-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating a community BSL-1 biology makerspace offering memberships, workshops, youth programs, and citizen-science projects for amateur scientists, students, educators, and independent researchers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Biology Laboratory & STEM Education Services

akta.pro primary industry

Science Camps & Field Programs (Nature, Space, Marine, Geology) (EDAMABAB)

Keywords

• Community biology lab
• DIY biology workshops
• Citizen science programs
• STEM education makerspace
• Life science training

Headquarters

HQ city

Seattle

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Monthly subscription memberships at three tiers (Tinkerer $25/mo, Researcher $55/mo, Lead $135/mo) providing graduated lab access, workshop discounts, and research project participation.
2. Workshop and Course Fees: Revenue from individual workshops ($30) and multi-week courses (e.g., $300 for biomanufacturing course). Members receive 50% discount on workshops.
3. Private Event Bookings: Revenue from private events booked for STEM fairs and workshops, typically around $500 depending on length and complexity.
4. Donations and Grants: Nonprofit relies on grants, donations, and volunteer contributions. Received major grant from Washington State Department of Ecology for environmental science programs. EIN: 81-3164860 for tax-deductible donations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

SoundBio Lab is a Seattle-based nonprofit community biology makerspace that provides tiered BSL-1 laboratory access memberships ($25, $55, and $135 per month), hands-on workshops and multi-week courses in molecular biology and biotechnology, youth programs (Life Science Explorers, NYL Internship), community-led citizen science projects (including a biosensor project), and private event hosting for schools and organizations.

Product overview

SoundBio Lab is a nonprofit community biology laboratory and makerspace providing physical lab access, educational programs, and citizen science opportunities. Its offerings include tiered memberships (Tinkerer, Researcher, Lead) providing varying levels of lab access and research project participation; workshops and courses covering molecular biology techniques such as PCR, biomanufacturing, synthetic biology, genetic engineering, and DNA extraction; youth programs including Life Science Explorers and the National Youth Laboratory Internship; and community research projects such as the Biosensors initiative. The organization also offers private event hosting for schools and organizations, and corporate sponsorship programs. Core offerings are physical access to a BSL-1 co-working laboratory space and hands-on science education programming, not a software product.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Life Science Explorers: A hands-on research experience program for middle school students over the age of 12. Throughout 10 sessions, students complete an original research workflow, using DNA as a tool to identify moss species.
• National Youth Laboratory (NYL) Internship

Products and services

• SoundBio Lab Memberships (Tinkerer, Researcher, Lead) Tiered monthly memberships at $25 (Tinkerer), $55 (Researcher), and $135 (Lead) that provide graduated BSL-1 co-working lab access, equipment use, and participation in community research projects. Targeted at amateur scientists, students, independent researchers, and biotech entrepreneurs.
• Workshops & Courses Hands-on single workshops (~$30) and multi-week courses (e.g., $300 biomanufacturing) covering molecular biology techniques such as PCR, restriction enzymes, DNA extraction, biomanufacturing, and genetic engineering. Open to beginners aged 12+; members receive a 50% discount.
• Life Science Explorers A 10-session hands-on research program for middle school students aged 12+ that uses DNA barcoding to identify moss species while exposing participants to molecular biology, ecology, and life science careers.
• National Youth Laboratory (NYL) Internship An 8-week hybrid virtual/in-person summer internship for youth ages 16–20 offering hands-on biotechnology, engineering, and design learning with mentorship from STEM professionals.
• Community Projects (incl. Biosensors Project) Citizen science research projects, including the Biosensors initiative exploring bioluminescent organisms for environmental monitoring of soil and water health, open to community members and participants at various experience levels.
• Private Event Booking Private STEM fair appearances and workshop hosting at schools or at the lab, featuring activities such as Strawberry DNA Extraction, Foldscope Exploration, and molecular biology skills training for groups; priced around $500 per event depending on length and complexity.
• Biomanufacturing For Our Future (5-Week Course) A 5-week introductory biomanufacturing course developed with Shoreline Community College that covers bacterial factory culture, DNA verification via PCR, and protein purification, including an industry facility tour and career panel.

Quantifiable outcome

• Washington will face shortfall of 600,000 skilled workers over next decade per WA Roundtable
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Shoreline Community CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 June 2026Partnership to deliver 5-week biomanufacturing course (July 7 - August 4, 2026) teaching students skills for emerging biomanufacturing job market. Includes facility tour at SCC's biomanufacturing facilities and career panel with alumni.
• Seattle Children's Research InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 February 2026Joint event for International Day of Women and Girls in Science featuring tour of Fred Hutch campus and Kaushansky Lab (malaria research). Also partnered for June 4th private lab tour.
• Seattle Practical Philosophy ClubminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2026Community discussion club partnership for joint philosophy/science events. Board President Nafisa Shazia leads both organizations.
• Stemtac FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for National Youth Laboratory (NYL) Internship program providing 8-week hybrid virtual/in-person summer internship for youth ages 16-20 in biotechnology, engineering, and design.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• BioCurious: Sunnyvale, CA-based nonprofit community biology lab offering shared lab space, equipment, and educational programs to citizen scientists and entrepreneurs. Directly comparable to SoundBio in mission, membership model, and BSL-1 community lab operating model.
• Genspace: Brooklyn-based nonprofit community biology lab providing BSL-1 lab access, classes, and community science programs. Closely mirrors SoundBio's combination of membership access, hands-on workshops, and educational outreach.
• Counter Culture Labs: Oakland, CA DIY bio community lab operating as a volunteer-run nonprofit with member access, classes, and community research projects. Same nonprofit, community-driven, BSL-1 model as SoundBio.
• BUGSS (Baltimore Underground Science Space): Baltimore community biology lab offering shared lab space, workshops, and synthetic biology programming for amateurs and students. Directly comparable peer in mission, scale, and DIY-bio educational focus.
• Biotech Without Borders: Brooklyn-based nonprofit community lab providing shared biotech equipment and educational programming, including humanitarian projects. Comparable volunteer-driven, nonprofit, BSL-1 community biology lab model.

Emerging players

• Open Insulin Foundation: Community lab project developing open-source insulin production protocols. Shares SoundBio's citizen-science / community-research ethos and reliance on volunteer lab work, though focused on a single translational project.
• BioBuilder Educational Foundation: Nonprofit focused on synthetic biology education through curricula and hands-on programming for students and teachers. Overlaps with SoundBio's Life Science Explorers and NYL Internship youth programming but is curriculum-centric rather than a community lab.

Broad incumbents

• Pacific Science Center: Established Seattle-based science education nonprofit operating permanent exhibits and public programming. Represents a much larger incumbent in the same Seattle STEM-engagement arena that competes for the same school partnerships, donors, and family audiences.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SoundBioLab
• Facebookfacebook.com/SoundBioLab
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/soundbio
• Instagraminstagram.com/soundbiolab

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Soundbio Lab