Dapu Bio Announces Completion of Pre-A and A Financing Rounds to Advance Droplet-Based Digital PCR and Single-Cell Platforms

VCBeat (WeChat: vcbeat) has learned that ThunderBio Innovation Limited (“ThunderBio”), an innovative platform specializing in droplet microfluidics and molecular diagnostics, recently announced the completion of its Pre-A and Series A financing rounds. The investors include Xinzheng Capital, Jiufeite Capital, and Detong Capital, with HANYU CAPITAL serving as the financial advisor. The funds raised will be used to accelerate the company’s strategic layout in droplet-based digital PCR and single-cell analysis, including expanding the applications of droplet microfluidics platform technology in life sciences and medicine, advancing clinical trials and regulatory registration for molecular diagnostic reagents, and strengthening market promotion and sales team development.

ThunderBio Innovation Limited was incubated at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and co-founded in 2018 by a team of PhD holders who returned to China from overseas. The company has established R&D centers in Shenzhen, Jiaxing, and Hong Kong, and operates GMP-compliant facilities for the production of microfluidic chips, instruments, and reagents. Focused on applying droplet microfluidics technology to the field of precision medicine, ThunderBio is committed to becoming a comprehensive solution provider integrating the R&D and manufacturing of microfluidic chips, instruments, and reagents. The company has independently developed and produces two major technological platforms: digital PCR systems and single-cell omics systems. These technologies are applied in areas such as early cancer screening, targeted therapy, non-invasive prenatal diagnosis, quantitative viral detection, and high-throughput drug and antibody screening.

As the “third-generation PCR technology,” digital PCR offers high sensitivity, high specificity, and absolute quantification compared to conventional PCR. It is widely used in fields such as tumor liquid biopsy, reproductive genetics, and pathogenic microorganism detection. After years of development, it has been widely accepted as a common and effective tool for life science research and is now entering the clinical market, with major international players actively establishing their presence.

ThunderBio Innovation Limited launched the Nebula Digital PCR System and the Nebula Fully Automated Digital PCR System in 2020 and 2021, respectively. These systems serve major national key laboratories, hospitals, centers for disease control and prevention, and IVD enterprises, earning widespread recognition from customers. Its digital PCR-based COVID-19 detection products have obtained EU CE certification, and the company has also initiated the registration and certification process with the NMPA for its instruments and oncology assay kits.

Single-cell sequencing involves sequencing the genome or transcriptome of individual cells to obtain genomic, transcriptomic, or other multi-omics data, thereby revealing cellular heterogeneity and evolutionary relationships. This technology is instrumental in detecting intercellular heterogeneity, distinguishing rare cell populations, and constructing cell atlases, holding significant importance for biological research. It demonstrates substantial application potential in fields such as oncology, microbiology, neurology, reproductive biology, immunology, gastroenterology, and urology.

ThunderBio Innovation Limited has completed the full research and development of its single-cell product line. Its single-cell sequencing system and droplet sorting system are currently open for user testing, with plans to officially launch a high-throughput total solution for single-cell sequencing in October this year. Currently, both domestic and international single-cell companies are focusing their strategies on single-cell sequencing. However, building upon the basic transcriptome sequencing function of droplet-encapsulated single cells, ThunderBio Innovation integrates droplet sorting with multi-step reagent addition and fusion technologies. This approach adds more functionalities to the droplet-based single-cell library preparation workflow and expands the applications of single-cell technology in areas such as antibody screening and microbial evolution. This solution involves multiple key droplet microfluidics technologies, significantly broadening the scope of microfluidic applications in single-cell-related fields and achieving superiority at the application level.

ThunderBio Innovation Limited has dedicated three years to heavily investing in the development of its technology platform, establishing a precision medicine solution that integrates single-cell and single-molecule detection. It is currently the only company in China to offer such a dual-technology platform to the market. As a technology-driven enterprise, ThunderBio plans to further innovate in instrument throughput and automation to better align with clinical usage scenarios. Meanwhile, the company will increase its investment in applications to provide higher-value solutions for drug development and clinical testing.

Founder of ThunderBio Innovation LimitedExpressing Gratitude: Recognition of the Team by VCBeat, Joynfit, and Detong Capital. Moving forward, ThunderBio Innovation Limited plans to spend the next 2–3 years focusing on its digital PCR and single-cell technology platforms. Guided by the goal of addressing critical clinical needs and major challenges in life sciences, the company will drive continuous technological innovation and product renewal while building efficient marketing and commercialization capabilities. By delivering superior products to researchers, clinicians, and patients, ThunderBio aims to create greater value for human health.

Feng Haitao, General Manager of Xinzheng CapitalXinzheng Capital has long focused on investments in the healthcare sector. Precision medicine represents the future direction of medical development, and microfluidics technology offers extensive application scenarios within this field. On one hand, market demand for this technology is well-defined, with overseas companies already achieving valuations exceeding $10 billion. Meanwhile, China’s microfluidics industry is currently undergoing rapid technological iteration and intense competition, presenting a favorable window for venture capital investment. The team at ThunderBio Innovation Limited is a highly professional group with strong R&D capabilities. Through multiple rounds of communication and due diligence, the focus, perseverance, and passion demonstrated by the founding team underscore the company’s excellence as a startup. Xinzheng Capital remains optimistic about the application prospects of microfluidics technology and will continue to support the company’s growth.

Lin Hengcong, General Manager of Jiufei InvestmentIt was stated that ThunderBio Innovation Limited’s droplet microfluidics technology is currently at the industry-leading level, with two major technical platforms: digital PCR and single-cell omics systems. It has a wide range of application scenarios in precision medicine testing, and it is believed that the popularization of this technology will benefit more patients in the future.

Xu Qian, Partner at Detong CapitalIt is stated that the ThunderBio team possesses many years of R&D experience in droplet microfluidic chips, instruments, and reagents, featuring comprehensive R&D capabilities and leading-edge technology. Guided by its droplet microfluidic platform technology, the company applies its solutions to tumor screening and single-cell research. By entering the market with droplet digital PCR products, the company demonstrates strong product line extensibility and significant development potential, positioning itself to become a leader in the field of droplet microfluidics in the future.

Jin Binchao, Founder of HANYU CAPITALIt stated: “It is a great privilege to serve the company. The ThunderBio Innovation Limited team is one of the few in the microfluidics sector capable of establishing a closed-loop system encompassing the R&D and production of microfluidic chips, instruments, and reagents. The team demonstrates strong capabilities in R&D expansion, outstanding industrial design, and robust cost control. Furthermore, its portfolio includes digital PCR and single-cell omics systems—two currently popular products in the microfluidics sector—which further underscores the team’s and the company’s capabilities and value.”

Shenzhen Xinzheng Asset Management Co., Ltd. was established in 2014. It is a professional investment institution registered in Qianhai, Shenzhen, specializing in private equity investment, private placements for listed companies, industrial M&A funds, and government guidance funds. Its fund manager registration number is P1071179.

Shenzhen Jiufite Private Equity Investment Management Co., Ltd. was established in June 2015 and currently manages five RMB-denominated funds. The company focuses on equity investments in the pharmaceutical and healthcare, semiconductor, and major consumer sectors. To date, it has completed investments in nearly 20 projects, with multiple portfolio companies having successfully gone public or initiated their IPO filing processes.

Detong Capital is a leading professional private equity fund management firm in China, with assets under management nearing RMB 20 billion. In recent years, it has nurtured six listed companies and a cohort of early-stage enterprises with significant technological breakthroughs in the healthcare sector, including Chipscreen Biosciences, the first innovative drug company to list on the STAR Market. Detong Capital is also among the earliest investment institutions to establish strategic partnerships with multiple local governments and powerful industrial groups, providing comprehensive services and support to its portfolio companies.

HANYU CAPITAL, headquartered in Hangzhou, is a boutique investment bank rooted in the healthcare and technology sectors. It provides enterprises with one-stop financial services, including professional private placement advisory, strategic advisory, mergers and acquisitions (M&A) advisory, technology transfer, and industry research. The firm boasts extensive resources through active collaborations with venture capital (VC), private equity (PE), and strategic investors, while also offering differentiated direct investment services for ultra-high-net-worth families to establish a distinct funding advantage.