Synthace

Synthetic biology and numerical methods for biologics engineering.

Synthace

Life-science research generates complex experiments and large volumes of data, but disconnected tools and manual laboratory processes can slow learning and make results harder to reproduce. Synthace developed a digital experiment platform that lets scientists design, simulate and run automated experiments without coding, while capturing structured data and metadata that can support faster, more reliable R&D.

Synthace's journey so far

  • 2015: recorded in the workbook as the UCL spinout founding year.
  • 2021: raised a $35m Series C to expand its digital experiment platform for life-science R&D.
  • 2022–2023: deployed across eight of the world’s top 12 life-science companies and won major digital-transformation and biotech-solution awards.
  • Since then: continued developing browser-based experiment design, automation and structured laboratory data tools.

Marina Santilli

Interim Director of Physical Sciences & Engineering

Marina has specialised in the commercialisation of computer science and AI-based inventions and deep tech venture building since joining UCL Ventures in 2007. She headed straight into industry after graduating in Physics from Imperial College, enjoying a successful career in datacomms engineering and becoming Director of new product development at Verizon.

In 2010 she designed and developed E-lucid, a platform to enable online licensing of UCL’s intellectual property. E-lucid is now used by over 30 research institutions around the world and was spun out as a commercial business in 2023.

Marina was involved in the formation of many successful UCL spinouts including Satalia, Re:infer, 3DRepo, MatrixMill, Humanloop, Stanhope AI.