What is Cellares?
Cellares operates as an Integrated Development and Manufacturing Organization (IDMO) dedicated to the automated, large-scale production of cell therapies. By replacing labor-intensive, manual production models with its proprietary Cell Shuttle and Cell Q platforms, the company provides biopharmaceutical partners with a scalable, cGMP-compliant solution for end-to-end manufacturing. This technological shift enables higher process reproducibility and significantly improved manufacturing success rates. Headquartered in South San Francisco, Cellares is actively expanding its footprint with commercial-scale Smart Factories in New Jersey, Europe, and Japan, effectively bridging the gap between clinical innovation and commercial-scale patient access.
How much funding has Cellares raised?
Cellares has raised a total of $662M across 5 funding rounds:
Series A
$18M
Series B
$82M
Series C
$255M
Series D
$257M
Series D
$50M
Series A (2020): $18M with participation from Eclipse Ventures
Series B (2021): $82M led by Skyviews Life Science, 8VC, Decheng Capital, and Eclipse
Series C (2023): $255M supported by Bristol-Myers Squibb, 8VC, and KOCH Technology
Series D (2026): $257M featuring T. Rowe Price, Intuitive Growth Ventures, Eclipse Capital Management, Gates Frontier, and BlackRock
Series D (2026): $50M backed by Prime Radiant Partners
Key Investors in Cellares
BlackRock
A global investment management firm providing institutional clients and individual investors with comprehensive asset management, risk management, and advisory services across diverse asset classes.
Bristol-Myers Squibb
A global biopharmaceutical organization focused on discovering and manufacturing innovative prescription medications for oncology, cardiovascular disease, and immunoscience.
8VC
A technology-focused investment firm that backs visionary teams and industry-transforming companies, with a strong emphasis on smart enterprise platforms and Bio-IT.
What's next for Cellares?
With the successful closure of its latest funding round, Cellares is poised to accelerate the global deployment of its IDMO Smart Factory network. The strategic focus will likely shift toward increasing throughput capacity to meet the surging demand for complex cell therapies. By leveraging its automated platforms, the company aims to reduce the cost of goods sold (COGS) for its partners, thereby facilitating broader market penetration. Future growth will likely involve deepening partnerships with major biopharmaceutical entities and optimizing its automated quality control systems to maintain its competitive edge in the rapidly evolving biotechnology sector.
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