Who founded Opentrons?

Opentrons was founded by Nicholas Wagner, Will Canine, Chiu Chau in 2014.

Who are Opentrons's investors?

Opentrons's investors include Khosla Ventures, Lerer Hippeau, EQUIAM, Fifty Years, Future Ventures, Jacket River Capital Partners, Metaplanet, Millennium New Horizons and 13 more.

How much funding has Opentrons raised?

Opentrons has disclosed $303.4M raised across 8 of its 10 known rounds.

Where is Opentrons headquartered?

Opentrons is headquartered in New York City, US.

Opentrons

YC W16

New York City, US · Founded 2014 · Delaware corporation · 300 employees · 22 known investors

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Opentrons develops laboratory robots that automate scientific research tasks for scientists and research institutions. The company aims to democratize access to laboratory automation and increase the availability of robotic systems to accelerate discovery in life sciences.

Also known as OpenTrons Labworks Inc · Opentrons Labworks Inc.

AI & Machine Learning Biotech Hardware Healthtech Medical Devices Robotics Synthetic BiologyUnited States of AmericaAmerica / CanadaPartly Remote

Founders & leadership· Y Combinator alumni (W16)

Opentrons was founded in 2014 by Nicholas Wagner, Will Canine, and Chiu Chau.

Nicholas Wagner Opentrons Co-Founder - Software / Software Engineer2014–2016Nicholas Wagner holds degrees in mathematics and analytical finance from Lehigh University and an MBA in finance from University of Wisconsin-Madison. He co-founded Opentrons Labware and previously worked on software development, and currently focuses on applications of generative AI to quantitative research.

Will CanineCo-Founder, Chief Product Officer2014–2021

Chiu Chau Co-founder, CEO2014–2018Venture Partner at TSVC

Leslie MitchellChief Scientific Officer

James Atwood Chief Executive OfficerHe has founded and scaled multiple startups and led large business portfolios at Fortune 500 companies.

Jonathon BadalFounder

Nick WagnerFounder

Samuel Chaudir Op

James Steinberg headformerFounder at Shotput

Board

Alex Morgan Board directorInvestor at Khosla Ventures

Juan Franck Board directorManaging Partner at SoftBank Vision Fund

Myrtle PotterBoard director

Investors · 22

Khosla Ventures✓ confirmed by OpentronsMenlo Park · $100K – $20M

How we know: Khosla Ventures's portfolio page · the company's own site · businessinsider.com · the VCSheet dataset · open dataset · 5k.vc investor directory · Y Combinator's founder network · Not right? Tell us

Lerer Hippeau✓ confirmed by OpentronsNew York · $500K – $2M

How we know: Lerer Hippeau's portfolio page · the company's own site · businessinsider.com · Y Combinator's founder network · Not right? Tell us

EQUIAMlisted by EQUIAMSan Francisco · $1M – $10M

How we know: EQUIAM's portfolio page · Not right? Tell us

Fifty Yearslisted by Fifty YearsSan Francisco · $250K – $2M

How we know: Fifty Years's portfolio page · the VCSheet dataset · Y Combinator's founder network · Not right? Tell us

Future Ventureslisted by Future VenturesLos Altos · $1M – $10M

How we know: Future Ventures's portfolio page · the VCSheet dataset · Not right? Tell us

Jacket River Capital Partnerslisted by Jacket River Capital PartnersBoston

Metaplanetlisted by MetaplanetTallinn · $500K – $10M

How we know: Metaplanet's portfolio page · the VCSheet dataset · Not right? Tell us

Millennium New Horizonslisted by Millennium New HorizonsSilicon Valley

Millennium Technology Value Partnerslisted by Millennium Technology Value PartnersBelgrade

NYU Innovation Venture Fundlisted by NYU Innovation Venture FundNew York City · $100K – $500K

How we know: NYU Innovation Venture Fund's portfolio page · Not right? Tell us

SoftBank Vision Fundlisted by SoftBank Vision FundLondon

How we know: Y Combinator's founder network · Not right? Tell us

TSVClisted by TSVCSilicon Valley · $1M

How we know: the VCSheet dataset · Y Combinator's founder network · Not right? Tell us

Vectors Angellisted by Vectors Angelvia Jing (Jane) Ge · inferred

How we know: Vectors Angel's portfolio page · Not right? Tell us

Y Combinatorlisted by Y CombinatorSan Francisco · $500K

How we know: the Y Combinator directory · open dataset · 5k.vc investor directory · Not right? Tell us

MBX CapitalreportedClaymont · $250K – $2.5M

How we know: Y Combinator's founder network · open dataset · 5k.vc investor directory · Not right? Tell us

Mount Pleasant VenturesreportedWashington

How we know: Y Combinator's founder network · Not right? Tell us

Reactionreported

How we know: Y Combinator's founder network · Not right? Tell us

Sands Capital VenturesreportedArlington · $10M – $30M

How we know: Y Combinator's founder network · Not right? Tell us

SoftBank GroupreportedTokyo

How we know: funding news · offering press articles · press coverage · Not right? Tell us

SOSVreportedNew York · $30K – $550K

How we know: a partner's Signal profile · Y Combinator's founder network · open dataset · 5k.vc investor directory · Not right? Tell us

SP Investment Fundreported

How we know: Y Combinator's founder network · Not right? Tell us

Also in the syndicate · 1

Y Combinator Continuity Fund

Funding

SEC filings, press & company announcements

$303.4M disclosed across 8 of 10 rounds · 2017–2025

Undisclosed amountseed-funding roundMar 2018
Khosla Ventures (lead), Lerer Hippeau Ventures, Y Combinator Continuity Fund
Source ↗

▶$20.1MraisedDec 2025 · 2 investors · Other

Rule 506(b)

Officers, directors & promoters on the filing

Juan FranckDirector
Leslie MitchellDirector
Myrtle PotterDirector
Alex MorganDirector
James AtwoodExecutive Officer, Director

Offering amount: $56.6M
Amount sold: $20.1M
First sale: Nov 2025
Incorporated: Corporation, Delaware
Federal exemptions: 06b

Full filing on SEC EDGAR ↗

▶$209MraisedSep 2021 · 24 investors · Other

Rule 506(b)

SoftBank Invests in Robotics Company Behind NYC Covid Testingbloomberg.com · Sep 2021

Officers, directors & promoters on the filing

Greg GreeleyExecutive Officer
Eric HippeauDirector
Jonathan Brennan-BadalExecutive Officer, Director
Sven StrohbandDirector
Chiu ChauExecutive Officer, Director
Myrtle PotterDirector

Offering amount: $234M
Amount sold: $209M
First sale: Sep 2021
Incorporated: Corporation, Delaware
Federal exemptions: 06b

Full filing on SEC EDGAR ↗

▶$25MraisedFeb 2021 · 17 investors · Other

Rule 506(b)

Officers, directors & promoters on the filing

Chiu ChauDirector
Julian MoncadaDirector
Jonathan Brennan-BadalExecutive Officer, Director
Sven StrohbandDirector

Offering amount: $25M
Amount sold: $25M
First sale: Jan 2021
Incorporated: Corporation, Delaware, 2016
Federal exemptions: 06b

Full filing on SEC EDGAR ↗

▶$8.7MraisedNov 2020 · 9 investors · Other

Rule 506(b)

Officers, directors & promoters on the filing

Chiu ChauDirector
Jonathan BadalExecutive Officer, Director
Julian MoncadaDirector
Sven StrohbandDirector

Offering amount: $9M
Amount sold: $8.7M
First sale: Oct 2020
Incorporated: Corporation, Delaware, 2016
Federal exemptions: 06b

Full filing on SEC EDGAR ↗

▶$20.6MraisedAug 2020 · 32 investors · Other

Rule 506(b)

Officers, directors & promoters on the filing

Jonathan BadalExecutive Officer, Director
Julian MoncadaDirector
Sven StrohbandDirector
Chiu ChauExecutive Officer, Director

Offering amount: $20.6M
Amount sold: $20.6M
First sale: Aug 2020
Incorporated: Corporation, Delaware
Federal exemptions: 06b

Full filing on SEC EDGAR ↗

▶$2.3MraisedNov 2019 · 17 investors · Other

Rule 506(b)

Officers, directors & promoters on the filing

Sven StrohbandDirector
Julian MoncadaDirector
Jonathan BadalExecutive Officer, Director
Chiu ChauExecutive Officer, Director

Offering amount: $2.3M
Amount sold: $2.3M
First sale: Oct 2019
Incorporated: Corporation, Delaware
Federal exemptions: 06b

Full filing on SEC EDGAR ↗

▶$10.5MraisedSep 2018 · 23 investors · Other

Rule 506(b)

Officers, directors & promoters on the filing

Jonathan BadalExecutive Officer, Director
Chiu ChauExecutive Officer, Director

Offering amount: $10.5M
Amount sold: $10.5M
First sale: Aug 2018
Incorporated: Corporation, Delaware, 2016
Federal exemptions: 06b

Full filing on SEC EDGAR ↗

▶$7.2MraisedMar 2017 · 34 investors · Other

Rule 506(b)

Officers, directors & promoters on the filing

Chiu ChauExecutive Officer, Director
Will CanineExecutive Officer, Director

Offering amount: $7.2M
Amount sold: $7.2M
First sale: Mar 2017
Incorporated: Corporation, Delaware, 2016
Federal exemptions: 06b

Full filing on SEC EDGAR ↗

Source: SEC EDGAR Form D. Amounts as filed; amended filings shown once at their latest values.

Images

Founder mafia

3 people who came through Opentrons went on to found or lead other companies.

James SteinbergheadFounded OpenShelf +2 Greg GreeleyInvestor, Board Member, President & COOFounded Thrasio Chiu ChauFounderFounded OpenShelf

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ACXACX develops bioengineered solutions for pest control in agriculture, replacing synthetic chemicals with precision biocides. The company serves crop producers and aims to enhance food security while reducing chemical dependence and promoting biodiversity.

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Companies working in the same space as Opentrons.

Legal entities · 2

corporate structure

OpenTrons Labworks Inc

Opentrons Labworks Inc.

In the news

Opentrons Raises $200M Series C Led By SoftBankopentrons.com · Sep 2021

SoftBank Invests in Robotics Company Behind NYC Covid Testingbloomberg.com · Sep 2021

Frequently asked questions

What does Opentrons do?: Opentrons develops laboratory robots that automate scientific research tasks for scientists and research institutions. The company aims to democratize access to laboratory automation and increase the availability of robotic systems to accelerate discovery in life sciences.
Who founded Opentrons?: Opentrons was founded by Nicholas Wagner, Will Canine, Chiu Chau in 2014.
Who are Opentrons's investors?: Opentrons's investors include Khosla Ventures, Lerer Hippeau, EQUIAM, Fifty Years, Future Ventures, Jacket River Capital Partners, Metaplanet, Millennium New Horizons and 13 more.
How much funding has Opentrons raised?: Opentrons has disclosed $303.4M raised across 8 of its 10 known rounds.
Where is Opentrons headquartered?: Opentrons is headquartered in New York City, US.