One-Chip Biotech Secures Tens of Millions in Series B Funding Led by Matrix Partners China to Advance Semiconductor Biosensor Industrialization

On January 4, VCBeat (WeChat ID: vcbeat) learned that OneChip Biotechnology Co., Ltd. (“OneChip”) announced the completion of its Series B financing, raising tens of millions of yuan. This round was exclusively invested by Matrix Partners China. The funds raised will be used for the development, mass production, regulatory approval, and sales and operations of POCT molecular diagnostic equipment and reagents.

Zhangjiagang One-Chip Bio-Technology Co., Ltd. is a high-tech enterprise dedicated to the industrialization of semiconductor biosensors, contributing to healthy human living by focusing on environmental protection and disease detection. The company’s mainstream products currently include compact gene sequencers, portable nucleic acid testing devices with配套 reagent cartridges, and water quality health monitoring systems. Its gene testing products are currently in the prototype testing phase, while its water quality monitoring products are being introduced to the market in small batches.

Regarding the details of this round of financing, VCBeat conducted an exclusive interview with Dr. Hu Wenchuang, founder of Zhangjiagang One-Chip Bio-technology Co., Ltd., to analyze from multiple perspectives why the company continues to attract strong investor interest.

According to data from the international market research firm BBC Research, the global precision medicine market is projected to grow at an annual rate of 15% from 2016 to 2020, reaching a market size of $105 billion by 2020.

Although the entire gene sequencing industry has achieved rapid development in the field of precision medicine, there is still significant room for improvement in efficiency. Addressing this pain point, Zhangjiagang one-chip Bio-technology Co.,Ltd. utilizes semiconductor biochips to miniaturize gene sequencers and substantially reduce instrument costs.

In terms of specific products, Zhangjiagang one-chip Bio-technology Co.,Ltd. has developed a digital PCR instrument based on semiconductor CMOS chips and the ATGC MICRO semiconductor gene sequencer. In detail, the digital PCR instrument enables rapid sample library preparation. Unlike instruments that employ fluorescence-based sequencing, the ATGC MICRO semiconductor gene sequencer can accommodate dozens of samples per run, eliminating the need to wait for large batches to be assembled. It completes the entire sequencing workflow in just five hours, and its low-cost consumables lower the barrier to operating the sequencer, significantly improving work efficiency.

Furthermore, the ATGC MICRO gene sequencer from Zhangjiagang one-chip Bio-technology Co.,Ltd. is compatible with a variety of third-party diagnostic kits for diseases such as lung cancer and cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disorders, thereby enhancing medication efficiency.

In addition, Zhangjiagang one-chip Bio-technology Co.,Ltd.’s POCT nucleic acid testing products and water quality testing products also leverage electronic biosensors and microfluidics as their core technologies, aiming to bring professional-grade precision testing to consumer-level community and home applications.

In terms of commercialization, Dr. Hu Wenchuang stated that all devices from Zhangjiagang One-Chip Bio-technology Co., Ltd. have been automated to optimize the user experience. “The sequencing process can be completed easily by simply operating the app, which lowers the barrier to entry. After brief training, staff members are qualified to operate the equipment, thereby saving medical institutions costs associated with training and recruitment.”

Looking ahead, Zhangjiagang One-Chip Bio-technology Co., Ltd. will focus on the regulatory registration and filing, scaled mass production, clinical application, and market promotion of POCT gene chips and instruments, as well as the large-scale promotion of intelligent water quality monitoring products, gradually enabling precise detection technologies to be effectively implemented in primary healthcare institutions, communities, and households.

Currently, Zhangjiagang one-chip Bio-technology Co.,Ltd. has more than 50 employees, led by a tenured professor from the United States and bringing together senior technical experts from multiple fields. R&D personnel account for over 70% of the workforce, and the company has obtained more than 100 intellectual property rights.

Dr. Hu Wenchuang, the company’s founder, has accumulated nearly two decades of R&D experience in interdisciplinary fields spanning semiconductor technology, nanotechnology, and molecular biology. He leads the company’s team in advancing the integration of medicine and engineering, with a commitment to bringing precision medical diagnostic technologies into households everywhere.

Driven by a combination of factors including technology, products, and team strength, Zhangjiagang one-chip Bio-technology Co.,Ltd. has consistently attracted investor interest. Prior to this current round, the company had completed three previous financing rounds: a seed round of several million RMB invested by Zhichu Capital; a Series A round of tens of millions of RMB led by New Tontine Capital and Zhenyun Venture Capital, among others; and a Series A+ round of tens of millions of RMB with follow-on investment from Youxuan Capital.

“Leveraging advanced semiconductor technology to disrupt traditional medical devices is a trend we are bullish on. The OneChip team, led by Dr. Hu, has integrated expertise in semiconductors, surface chemistry, and biology to completely eliminate optical pathways, making genetic testing equipment more accurate, smaller, and more affordable. We look forward to the company’s products advancing precision detection technology into scientific research, clinical practice, and households worldwide.” said Dr. Yu Zhiyun, Managing Director at Matrix Partners China, an investor in this round.

Matrix Partners China is one of the most active venture capital firms in the early-stage market. For over a decade since its establishment, it has remained deeply rooted in the local market, steadfastly investing in Chinese entrepreneurs. Matrix Partners China has invested in more than 670 companies, including recently listed firms such as Li Auto, XPeng Motors, RemeGen, Peijia Medical, and Kymab Diagnostics, as well as leading internet companies like Didi Chuxing, Ele.me, Guazi Used Cars, Futu Holdings, LexinFintech, Momo, Liepin, Yuanfudao, and VIPKID. Additionally, it has backed a large number of high-quality healthcare enterprises, including Kymab Diagnostics, Taimei Medical Technology, Zhiyun Health, Genetron Health, Drug Clinical Trial Organization (DCTO), InnoCare Pharma, and D3 Bio.