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§ Private Profile · Cambridge, MA, USA
Kytopen is a technology company.
Kytopen provides the Flowfect platform, a non-viral gene delivery system that uses a continuous flow process with electricity in microfluidic devices. This technology efficiently delivers molecules, including genetic material, into hard-to-transfect immune cells. It streamlines cell therapy development and manufacturing, addressing industry bottlenecks with a scalable, gentle solution for cell modification.
Kytopen was co-founded on June 12, 2017, by Cullen Buie, an MIT Professor of Mechanical Engineering, and Dr. Paulo Garcia, a former MIT Research Scientist. Their insight, emerging from MIT, focused on overcoming traditional gene delivery inefficiencies by applying microfluidic systems and electrical fields to rapidly and effectively engineer sensitive immune cells.
The company primarily serves researchers and developers in the cell and gene therapy field. Kytopen’s vision is to accelerate engineered cell therapies by delivering accessible, efficient, and scalable gene delivery solutions. This foundational technology aims to empower therapeutic breakthroughs, ultimately making transformative treatments available to patients.
Kytopen has raised $34.0M across 2 funding rounds.
Kytopen has raised $34.0M in total across 2 funding rounds.
Kytopen has raised $34.0M across 2 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $30.0M Series A in September 2021.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 1, 2021 | $30M Series A | Northpond Ventures | David R. Walt, John Ballantyne, Michael Chambers, Alexandria Venture Investments, Horizon Ventures, MassVentures, Theresa Tribble | Announced |
| May 1, 2019 | $4M Seed | — | Summit Partners, The Engine, Horizons Ventures | Announced |
Kytopen has raised $34.0M in total across 2 funding rounds.
Kytopen's investors include Northpond Ventures, David R. Walt, John Ballantyne, Michael Chambers, Alexandria Venture Investments, Horizon Ventures, MassVentures, Theresa Tribble, Summit Partners, The Engine, Horizons Ventures.
Kytopen is a biotechnology company developing non-viral gene delivery platforms to accelerate the discovery, development, and manufacturing of gene-modified cell therapies.[1][2][3] Its core product, the Flowfect® technology, uses continuous fluid flow combined with electric fields to deliver payloads like mRNA, DNA, and CRISPR Cas9 RNP into billions of cells efficiently, solving manufacturing scalability issues from the discovery stage.[1][2][6] The company serves researchers, drug developers, and biomanufacturers in cell therapy, enabling high-throughput optimization in minutes while preserving cell functionality, with platforms like Flowfect Discover™ for automated screening of up to 96 conditions.[1][2]
Kytopen targets challenges in immuno-oncology, gene editing, and living medicines, such as iPSCs and primary T cells, reducing costs and timelines by using a single translatable technology across phases.[1][4] Growth momentum includes recent launches like Flowfect Discover™, strategic partnerships with CDMOs and biotech firms, and collaborations like with Mirus Bio for enhanced genome engineering.[2][7]
Kytopen was founded in 2017 as an MIT spin-out by Dr. Cullen Buie, an Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering at MIT, and Dr. Paulo Garcia, now CEO & Co-Founder.[2][3][4] The duo co-invented the proprietary Flowfect® technology in Buie's MIT lab, initially targeting faster genetic engineering of bacterial cells via microfluidic electroporation—up to 10,000 times quicker than manual methods—to produce high-value chemicals and biomaterials sustainably.[5]
The idea pivoted after market feedback revealed stronger demand for accelerating human cell therapies, shifting focus to non-viral delivery for therapeutic cells.[5] Early traction came from joining MIT's The Engine ecosystem for "tough tech," partnerships like with Cambridge Consultants for alpha device development, and recognition as an innovator in scalable cell engineering.[4][5]
Kytopen rides the cell and gene therapy boom, where manufacturing bottlenecks—like low yields, high costs, and scalability—hinder commercialization of living medicines amid rising demand for immuno-oncology and personalized therapies.[1][2][4] Timing aligns with CRISPR advancements and regulatory pushes for faster drug development, as non-viral methods avoid integration risks of viral vectors.[3][6]
Market forces favoring Kytopen include explosive growth in CDMOs, academic-medical center collaborations, and investor interest in "tough tech" via hubs like MIT's The Engine.[4][5] It influences the ecosystem by enabling earlier manufacturing-aware discovery, partnering with leaders (e.g., Mirus Bio), and competing with firms like Mekonos or Senti Bio on precision and speed, potentially democratizing access to therapies.[3][7]
Kytopen is poised to expand its Flowfect® ecosystem with more automated tools and partnerships, targeting clinical translation and broader adoption in CAR-T, NK cells, and regenerative meds.[2][3] Trends like AI-optimized gene circuits, allogeneic therapies, and global biomanufacturing capacity will amplify its edge in cost-effective scaling.[1][6] Influence may evolve from discovery enabler to manufacturing standard, as tunable, non-viral platforms address the "valley of death" between lab and clinic—ultimately accelerating patient access to next-gen cell therapies that Kytopen set out to unlock from its MIT roots.[2][4][5]