en
SnapCyte automates cell culture analysis, offering labs affordable, AI-powered tools for accurate, efficient research
Negin Farivar, the co-founder of SnapCyte, is on a mission to modernize and democratize cell culture analysis. Based in Vancouver, Canada, Negin’s journey into entrepreneurship was born out of frustration with outdated lab processes and a desire to make advanced technology accessible to researchers worldwide. With a strong background in biomedical engineering and a passion for innovation, she is transforming how researchers conduct cell analysis.
Negin’s inspiration for SnapCyte came from her personal experiences during her PhD. Despite having access to state-of-the-art equipment in her lab, she noticed that many processes in biology were inefficient and outdated. While some labs were fortunate enough to have advanced tools, many others — especially those with limited funding — struggled with manual, error-prone methods.
"At conferences, I saw firsthand how many labs, particularly those with less funding, were unable to access the tools they needed to produce high-quality research," Negin recalls. "It was frustrating to see that, despite technological advancements, researchers were still stuck using outdated methods."
This realization led her to develop SnapCyte, a platform designed to standardize and automate cell analysis, making it more efficient, accessible, and affordable for researchers across the globe.
The journey from idea to launch began with a simple thought: what if there was an app that could instantly analyze cell images? Negin started by manually annotating cell images herself and collaborated with a senior programmer to train a basic convolutional neural network (CNN) model. The results were promising, and it became clear that the idea had real potential.
After discussing the concept with her supervisor and colleagues, they decided to move forward. Despite limited funding, they began refining the initial model and expanding its capabilities. As they shared their progress with others in the research community, they received overwhelmingly positive feedback.
"Seeing the enthusiasm from other researchers made us realize that we were onto something that could truly transform the way cell analysis is done," Negin says.
SnapCyte addresses a significant problem in cell culture analysis: inefficiency, inconsistency, and inaccessibility. Many labs still rely on manual techniques that are time-consuming, prone to human error, and lack standardization. This can lead to unreliable data and wasted resources.
Additionally, the high cost of advanced cell analysis tools makes them inaccessible to many labs, particularly those with limited funding. SnapCyte solves these issues by providing an affordable, AI-driven platform that automates tasks like cell counting, viability assessments, and confluency measurements — all with just a photo.
"Our goal is to ensure that any lab, no matter its size or budget, can produce reliable, high-quality data," Negin explains. "SnapCyte™ makes advanced cell analysis accessible to all, leveling the playing field for researchers everywhere."
Before officially launching SnapCyte, Negin and her team validated their concept through an iterative, hands-on approach. After collecting and annotating cell images, they tested the model and shared it with fellow researchers. The feedback they received was overwhelmingly positive, confirming that there was a strong demand for an automated, affordable solution.
"The validation process was crucial," Negin says. "By continuously gathering feedback from researchers and refining our platform based on their needs, we were able to create a tool that truly addresses the challenges they face in the lab."
Negin’s vision for SnapCyte goes far beyond its current capabilities. She envisions the platform as a tool that will revolutionize cell culture analysis worldwide, allowing even small labs in developing countries to achieve the same level of precision and consistency as top-tier institutions.
"Our long-term goal is to democratize access to advanced cell analysis tools, making high-quality science accessible to all researchers, regardless of their location or resources," Negin says. "We want SnapCyte to be the go-to platform for researchers everywhere."
SnapCyte is like having a smart camera for your microscope. Researchers can simply take a picture of their cells, and within seconds, the app provides important details like cell density, viability, and count. Traditionally, these tasks are done manually, taking up valuable time and often leading to errors. SnapCyte streamlines this process, allowing scientists to focus on their research rather than tedious, error-prone tasks.
SnapCyte distinguishes itself from competitors through its affordability, speed, and ease of use. Unlike other solutions that require expensive equipment, SnapCyte works with existing microscopes, making advanced cell analysis accessible to any lab. It provides results in under 30 seconds, significantly faster than traditional methods and other automated technologies.
"We offer a solution that’s not only more efficient but also more affordable," Negin explains. "Researchers can now get high-quality results without needing to invest in costly hardware."
Since its inception, SnapCyte has undergone significant refinements based on user feedback. The team has added multiple assay functionalities, including cell proliferation, doubling time, and cytotoxicity, making the platform versatile enough to meet diverse research needs. They have also continuously improved the AI models to handle the many variations in cell types, cultures, and imaging conditions.
"Our goal is to create a platform that’s not only powerful but also easy to use," Negin says. "We’ve worked hard to make sure that SnapCyte™ meets the needs of researchers in all types of labs."
The market for cell culture analysis is growing rapidly, with a total addressable market (TAM) of approximately $3.8 billion CAD. SnapCyte is well-positioned to capture a significant share of this market by offering a more accessible and affordable solution than competitors like IncuCyte and Cellometer, which often require expensive equipment and complex setups.
"By offering a solution that works with existing microscopes, we’re able to reach labs of all sizes and budgets," Negin explains. "Our focus on affordability and ease of use allows us to outpace competitors and bring advanced cell analysis to more researchers."
Looking ahead, Negin and her team have ambitious plans for SnapCyte. They are working on expanding the platform’s capabilities to include new assays, such as scratch wound assays and clonogenic assays, and exploring partnerships with microscope manufacturers to further integrate SnapCyte into lab workflows.
"Our goal is to continue expanding our user base and building strategic partnerships that enhance our platform’s capabilities," Negin says. "We’re excited about the future and the impact SnapCyte™ will have on the scientific community."
As with any startup, Negin has faced her share of challenges. From managing limited resources to navigating the shift from academia to startup leadership, the journey has been filled with learning experiences.
"One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is the importance of customer discovery," Negin reflects. "Early on, we made the mistake of developing the first version of SnapCyte™ without conducting enough market research. This taught me that constantly talking to users and getting feedback is essential to building a successful product."
For Negin, the most rewarding part of the journey has been seeing the positive impact SnapCyte has had on researchers’ workflows.
"There’s no greater validation than hearing how happy researchers are with the results they’re getting from SnapCyte," she says. "It’s incredibly fulfilling to know that we’re helping labs achieve more reliable data and streamline their processes."
Negin’s advice for other entrepreneurs is simple: "Do extensive customer research — never skip this step. Engage with your target users early and often, and listen closely to their pain points. The more you connect with your customers, the better you can tailor your solution to meet their needs."
Looking ahead, Negin envisions SnapCyte as a key player in standardizing data collection and analysis processes in labs worldwide. She hopes that SnapCyte will lead the way in making high-quality, reproducible results attainable for all researchers, regardless of their resources.
"We’re committed to advancing science by making advanced cell analysis tools accessible to everyone," Negin says. "Our vision is to create a global research community where every lab can achieve the same level of precision and efficiency."
SnapCyte: Democratizing Cell Culture Analysis for Researchers Everywhere
