3D Biomatrix's business model started to gain traction in 2012, allowing the Ann Arbor-based start-up to expand its staff and its product line.
The firm hired one person, a PhD stem cell biologist, expanding its staff to four employees and a couple of independent contractors. 3D Biomatrix also won an innovation award from The Wall Street Journal and closed on a Series A round of funding this year.
"We had a really great year," says
Laura Schrader, CEO of
3D Biomatrix.
The University of Michigan spin-off develops and makes 3D cell matrices for cell growth in testing in the university's Venture Accelerator. These small scaffoldings provide small dips for the cells to develop. Most of the current products on the market offer flat surfaces, such as slide or Petri dishes.
It's also developing a second product called a hanging drop plate, which allows cells to generate a matrices like they naturally do in the human body.
3D Biomatrix has watched the orders for this and its original product quintuple this year, selling them to the likes of research universities, life sciences firms and pharmaceutical companies.
"We see that trend continuing to go forward," Schrader says.
Source: Laura Schrader, CEO of 3D Biomatrix
Writer: Jon Zemke
Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.
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