Seek Labs Inc. Company Profile

Background

Mission and Vision

Seek Labs is dedicated to revolutionizing global health by developing innovative solutions that accelerate the detection and treatment of infectious diseases. Their mission is to bridge the gap between outbreak and intervention by creating technologies that respond at the speed of disease, ensuring precision and scalability in health innovation.

Primary Area of Focus

The company specializes in two main areas:

1. Programmable CRISPR-Based Therapeutics (PTAP™): Developing precision medicines engineered to irreversibly disable diseases at the genomic level.

2. Point-of-Care Molecular Diagnostics (SeekIt™): Creating fully self-contained diagnostic platforms that deliver lab-grade molecular testing directly to patients without the need for instruments or infrastructure.

Industry Significance

Seek Labs stands at the forefront of biotechnology, integrating artificial intelligence with molecular diagnostics and CRISPR-based therapeutics. Their innovations address critical challenges in global health, particularly in rapidly responding to emerging infectious diseases and providing accessible diagnostics in resource-limited settings.

Key Strategic Focus

Core Objectives

Accelerate Disease Response: Develop technologies that enable rapid detection and treatment of infectious diseases.

Enhance Accessibility: Create diagnostic tools that can be deployed anywhere, ensuring timely and accurate results.

Innovate Therapeutics: Utilize CRISPR technology to develop targeted treatments that can be quickly adapted to new pathogens.

Specific Areas of Specialization

AI-Powered Discovery Engine (BioSeeker™): A platform that decodes high-impact genetic targets, driving faster timelines and smarter decisions in diagnostics and therapeutics.

Programmable CRISPR-Based Therapeutics (PTAP™): A new class of precision medicines designed to target and ablate specific sequences pathogens need to replicate and spread.

Point-of-Care Diagnostics (SeekIt™): A fully self-contained diagnostic platform that brings lab-grade molecular testing directly to patients without the need for instruments or infrastructure.

Key Technologies Utilized

Artificial Intelligence: Employed in BioSeeker™ to rapidly identify and optimize genetic targets.

CRISPR Technology: Utilized in PTAP™ therapeutics for precise gene editing.

Molecular Diagnostics: Integrated into SeekIt™ to provide accurate, on-site testing.

Primary Markets Targeted

Global Health Organizations: For rapid deployment in outbreak zones.

Veterinary Health and Agriculture: To protect livestock and food systems.

Philanthropic Foundations and NGOs: For scalable health solutions in underserved regions.

Biotech and Diagnostics Companies: Seeking field-ready platforms for rapid test development.

Financials and Funding

Funding History

Total Funds Raised: Approximately $16.37 million.

Recent Funding Rounds: The latest funding round raised $2.73 million.

Notable Investors: The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has been a significant investor, providing a $2 million grant for CRISPR Avian Flu Therapeutic development.

Intended Utilization of Capital

Research and Development: Advancing the BioSeeker™ engine and expanding the SeekIt™ diagnostic platform.

Clinical Trials: Conducting trials for PTAP™ therapeutics.

Global Deployment: Scaling production and distribution of diagnostic tools to meet global health needs.

Pipeline Development

Key Pipeline Candidates

SeekIt™ Diagnostics:

Stage: Investigational prototype.

Target Conditions: Tuberculosis (MTB).

Timeline: Functional prototype developed in under three months; seeking partners for clinical validation and deployment.

PTAP™ Therapeutics:

Stage: Preclinical.

Target Conditions: Avian Flu (H5N1).

Timeline: $2 million USDA grant awarded in February 2026; preclinical studies underway.

Technological Platform and Innovation

Proprietary Technologies

BioSeeker™: An AI-powered discovery engine that rapidly identifies and optimizes genetic targets for diagnostics and therapeutics.

SeekIt™: A fully self-contained, equipment-free molecular diagnostic platform designed for point-of-care testing.

Significant Scientific Methods

Nucleic Acid Extraction: Integrated into SeekIt™ for seamless sample preparation.

Isothermal Amplification: Enables rapid DNA amplification at room temperature without specialized equipment.

Analog and Digital Detection: Provides clear visual results with optional digital integration via the SeekIt Mobile App.

Leadership Team

Jared Bauer, MBA – Co-Founder and CEO

Jared earned his B.S. in Economics from the University of Utah and an MBA from Boise State University. He has a background in medtech and healthcare innovation, having previously expanded BurnFree Products to 58 countries.

Brad Bauer – Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer

Brad studied Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at the University of Utah. With over 36 years in executive management, he has co-founded six startups and holds 13 U.S. patents.

Kim Wirthlin – Chief Strategy & Policy Officer

Kim holds an M.P.A. and B.A. from the University of Utah. She has extensive experience in healthcare and university executive leadership, including roles as CEO and board member for several healthcare startups.

Anindita 'Annie' Roy, PhD – Vice President of Research

Annie earned her B.E. in Biotechnology from Birla Institute of Technology and a PhD in Medicinal Chemistry from the University of Utah. Her research focuses on glycobiochemistry and oligosaccharide drug candidates.

Douglas Gladue, PhD – Vice President of Veterinary Therapeutic Development

Douglas holds a B.S. in Microbiology from the University of Rhode Island and a PhD in Molecular Genetics and Microbiology from Stony Brook University. He is an internationally recognized virologist and expert in vaccine development.

Deric Holden, PhD – Vice President of Operations

Deric earned his B.S. in Chemistry from Utah State University and a PhD in Analytical Chemistry from the University of Utah. He specializes in electrochemistry and has experience in product development and sales.

Randy Rasmussen, PhD – Board Member

Randy co-founded BioFire Diagnostics in 1991 and served as President, COO, and CEO. He holds a BSc in Biochemistry from Utah State University and a PhD in Molecular Biology from the University of Utah. Appointed to Seek Labs' Board of Directors on March 27, 2024, he brings over three decades of experience in molecular diagnostic development and management.

Competitor Profile

Market Insights and Dynamics

The global point-of-care diagnostics market is projected to exceed $75.6 billion by 2032, driven by the demand for faster, decentralized, infrastructure-free testing.

Competitor Analysis

Inflammatix: Focuses on host response diagnostics to guide antibiotic therapy.

MeMed: Develops immunoassays for infectious disease diagnostics.

GenMark Diagnostics: Provides multiplex molecular diagnostic testing systems.

Sunbird Bio: Specializes in rapid, point-of-care diagnostics for infectious diseases.

T2 Biosystems: Develops diagnostic products for critical infections.

Strategic Collaborations and Partnerships

Seek Labs is actively engaging with partners across diagnostics, therapeutics, global health, and pandemic preparedness to scale their technologies globally.

Operational Insights

Seek Labs differentiates itself through its full-stack approach, uniting discovery, design, and deployment to deliver programmable therapeutics and decentralized diagnostics.

Strategic Opportunities and Future Directions

The company aims to expand its global footprint by partnering with health agencies, veterinary health stakeholders, philanthropic foundations, global health organizations, biotech companies, academic institutions, and innovation-driven collaborators to democratize access to molecular testing.