Investing in ArgenTAG: Pioneering Affordable Single Cell Long Read Sequencing

Advancements in sequencing technologies have had a profound impact on our understanding of biological systems. Single cell long read sequencing, in particular, holds immense potential to unlock breakthroughs in various fields such as oncology, immunology, metabology, and neuroscience. However, current short-read sequencing technologies are unable to accurately read gene isoforms, limiting our ability to fully grasp the intricacies of cellular processes. ArgenTAG aims to overcome this limitation by enabling affordable, noise-free, single cell long read sequencing through their proprietary barcoding technology and analysis software.

The Market Potential

The scientific community recognizes the transformative power of single cell sequencing, and there is a consensus that significant advancements can be achieved by accurately reading gene isoforms. ArgenTAG's technology addresses this need and has the potential to revolutionize research in various domains. The market for single cell analysis is projected to reach $6.3 billion by 2026, with substantial growth expected in areas such as oncology, neuroscience, and stem cell research.ArgenTAG's unique value proposition lies in its ability to provide long read sequencing that is both affordable and noise-free. The current hybrid approach, combining long read and short read sequencing platforms from companies like Illumina, Nanopore, and 10x Genomics, presents significant challenges and is cost-prohibitive for the majority of research facilities. ArgenTAG's technology fills a critical gap in the market, catering to the approximately 90,000 research labs that cannot afford existing solutions. This underserved segment alone has the potential to generate over $100 million in annual recurring revenue within the next four to five years, according to ArgenTAG's projections.

Once again, an outstanding team

ArgenTAG's potential is rooted in its exceptional team composition and technological expertise. Elizabeth Tapia Paredes and Pilar Bulacio, bring extensive experience in electrical engineering, telematic systems engineering, and bioinformatics. They have successfully combined their knowledge from the telecommunications industry with cutting-edge bioprocesses and long read sequencing techniques.Leandro Ciappina, an accomplished executive with an MIT Innovator Under 35 award and a US Department of State Young Leader of the Americas recognition, has further strengthened the business leadership and strategic direction of ArgenTAG. Interestingly, we met Elizabeth and Pilar back in 2017 when they were starting the process of “getting out of the lab” with the idea to start the company after more than 15 years of research.Around that same time we met Leando, a young entrepreneur that just finished the Draper University Hero program and was leading its alumni community in Argentina.For the past six years we collaborated with the three of them separately multiple times.When their path crossed at GridX’s company building program, for us it made total sense, a great match of talent and values.The extended team's interdisciplinary backgrounds, including electrical engineering, scientific research, biotechnology, and business, position them uniquely to tackle the challenges at the intersection of technology and life sciences.

Product and Business Strategy

ArgenTAG's product consists of a barcoding kit, a manual protocol, and software for data processing. The kit can be executed using common laboratory equipment, ensuring accessibility for research labs of various sizes. The company plans to adopt a two-tier revenue model, with revenue streams from both kit sales and software subscriptions. The kit is projected to have a starting price at a fraction of their competitors for the academic and research institute segment. The initial strategy involves providing services to small biotech companies and research labs, allowing ArgenTAG to refine its protocols and gain valuable insights. Subsequently, the company plans to commercialize the kit and software, targeting larger biotech companies, pharmaceutical companies, and government institutions.ArgenTAG's bottom-up analysis suggests that approximately 100,000 research institutes in the US alone could benefit from their products and services.Health, quality of life and longevity has been immensely improved in the last decade since there's a possibility to read the genome in a still very “imperfect” way… we can't be more excited to back ArgenTAG and discover together the unlimited possibilities that really cracking DNA sequencing can unlock! 🧬