Reshape Biotech is a biotechnology company revolutionizing the way microbiology laboratories operate by integrating advanced robotics and AI-driven automation into routine workflows. With a strong focus on optimizing microbial R&D and fermentation processes, Reshape Biotech offers lab automation platforms tailored to handle tasks like colony picking, plating, incubation, and plate reading with precision and consistency.
The company aims to eliminate repetitive manual tasks and significantly reduce human error by automating routine microbiological processes. This enables scientists to focus on data analysis and discovery rather than the mechanics of lab operations. Reshape Biotech’s innovative devices are already used by global leaders in biotechnology, synthetic biology, and pharmaceutical industries.
Features
Reshape Biotech provides a suite of high-precision robotic lab devices designed to streamline microbiological research. Key features include:
Automated Plating: Ensures consistent and reproducible plating for microbial cultures using robotics.
Colony Picker: Uses image recognition to identify and pick colonies accurately without cross-contamination.
Incubation Monitoring: Tracks growth over time and integrates with robotic systems to reduce manual interventions.
High-Resolution Plate Imaging: Captures time-lapse images of microbial colonies for further analysis using computer vision.
Data Integration & Reporting: Seamlessly logs experimental data and generates reports accessible via the cloud.
Easy-to-Use Software Interface: User-friendly dashboard with customizable protocols and integration with lab management systems.
Remote Access & Control: Operate devices and monitor experiments from anywhere through a secure cloud platform.
How It Works
Reshape Biotech devices function by integrating robotics with intelligent software systems, creating an automated environment for microbiological research. Here’s how a typical workflow unfolds using Reshape Biotech products:
Sample Preparation: Users load samples into the devices.
Automation Initiation: Via the dashboard, users initiate protocols such as plating or colony picking.
Imaging and Monitoring: The system captures high-resolution images and monitors microbial growth over time.
AI-Powered Decisions: Algorithms analyze growth patterns and suggest next steps, such as which colonies to pick.
Data Syncing: All results are stored in a cloud-accessible format for review, sharing, and further analysis.
The hardware and software are designed to be plug-and-play, requiring minimal technical knowledge to operate, making it ideal for both small research teams and large industrial labs.
Use Cases
Reshape Biotech serves a wide array of industries and applications:
Synthetic Biology: High-throughput strain development and screening for engineered microorganisms.
Pharmaceutical Research: Automation in antibiotic discovery, resistance screening, and pathogen testing.
Food & Agriculture: Monitoring fermentation processes and quality control for microbial ingredients.
Academic Research: Automating repetitive microbiological experiments, freeing up time for data interpretation.
Environmental Microbiology: Large-scale analysis of soil and water samples for biodiversity studies.
These use cases are particularly relevant in fast-paced environments where data accuracy, reproducibility, and throughput are critical.
Pricing
As of the latest available information on Reshape Biotech’s website, detailed pricing is not publicly listed. The company follows a custom pricing model based on the laboratory’s size, specific workflow requirements, and desired device configurations.
Interested customers are encouraged to book a demo or request a quote directly through the website to receive tailored pricing and configuration options. Given the high-end nature of the devices, pricing will typically reflect enterprise-level lab automation solutions.
Strengths
End-to-End Automation: Covers every step from plating to analysis with minimal human intervention.
High Reproducibility: Eliminates human variability in microbiology experiments.
Time and Labor Efficiency: Frees researchers from repetitive tasks, accelerating R&D timelines.
Real-Time Monitoring: Continuous updates and remote monitoring improve oversight and decision-making.
Cloud Integration: Ensures secure data access and easy collaboration.
Customizable Protocols: Supports specific experimental setups across diverse microbiological fields.
Drawbacks
No Transparent Pricing Online: Users must request quotes to understand cost, which may hinder early-stage interest.
Initial Learning Curve: While interfaces are user-friendly, some labs may require onboarding or training.
Hardware Investment: Requires physical space and infrastructure to accommodate robotics hardware.
Not Suited for Small-Scale Labs: Smaller labs or academic institutions with limited budgets may find the cost prohibitive.
Comparison with Other Tools
| Feature | Reshape Biotech | Opentrons | Hamilton Robotics | Tecan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AI Automation | Yes | Limited | Limited | Moderate |
| Specialization | Microbiology | General | General | General |
| Cloud Integration | Yes | No | Varies | Varies |
| Custom Protocols | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Pricing Transparency | No | Yes | No | No |
| Target User | Biotech, Pharma, Research Labs | Academic, Research | Pharma, Diagnostics | Pharma, Research |
While Opentrons offers budget-friendly automation for molecular biology, Reshape Biotech specializes in microbial workflows, making it more suitable for fermentation labs and synthetic biology research. Hamilton and Tecan are competitors in high-end lab automation, but they often lack microbiology-specific design and AI-powered automation.
Customer Reviews and Testimonials
Reshape Biotech showcases several customer success stories from biotechnology leaders. While individual customer reviews aren’t aggregated on public platforms like Trustpilot or G2 as of now, the testimonials on their website reflect high satisfaction.
Unibio: Improved throughput and consistency in microbial fermentation experiments.
Novonesis (formerly part of Novozymes): Scaled up microbial strain development with minimal technician hours.
ADM: Streamlined fermentation workflows and reduced experimental error.
These testimonials highlight Reshape Biotech’s value in both speed and data quality, especially in high-throughput environments.
Conclusion
Reshape Biotech is transforming microbiology labs through AI-powered robotic automation, offering a specialized solution for microbial R&D, synthetic biology, and fermentation optimization. Its strength lies in combining purpose-built hardware with intelligent software for seamless, reproducible workflows.
While the platform may require a significant initial investment and direct consultation for pricing, the operational gains in speed, accuracy, and scalability make it a compelling option for laboratories focused on innovation and efficiency.
For labs looking to eliminate repetitive tasks and maximize productivity in microbial workflows, Reshape Biotech stands out as a next-generation solution worth serious consideration.
