What is Cellares?
Headquartered in South San Francisco, Cellares operates as an IDMO focused on the automated, large-scale manufacture of cell therapies. The company addresses the inherent limitations of conventional CDMO approaches through its Cell Shuttle and Cell Q platforms, which provide end-to-end manufacturing and automated quality control. By deploying these technologies within its network of Smart Factories, Cellares achieves significantly higher process reproducibility and throughput. This operational model is designed to meet the rigorous demands of global biopharmaceutical partners, ensuring that life-saving therapies can be produced with greater consistency and reduced cost, thereby accelerating the path from clinical development to commercialization.
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 Eclipse, Skyviews Life Science, Decheng Capital, and 8VC
Series C (2023): $255M supported by Bristol-Myers Squibb, 8VC, and KOCH Technology
Series D (2026): $257M featuring Gates Frontier, T. Rowe Price, BlackRock, Intuitive Growth Ventures, and Eclipse Capital Management
Series D (2026): $50M backed by Prime Radiant Partners
Key Investors in Cellares
Bristol-Myers Squibb
A global biopharmaceutical organization dedicated to discovering and manufacturing prescription medications, with deep expertise in oncology and immunoscience.
8VC
A leading technology investment firm managing billions in capital, focused on backing visionary teams and industry-transforming enterprise platforms.
T. Rowe Price
A global asset management firm providing comprehensive investment solutions through active management, fundamental research, and long-term strategic perspectives.
What's next for Cellares?
With the infusion of recent capital, Cellares is poised to accelerate the deployment of its Smart Factory network across key international markets, including Europe and Japan. The strategic focus will likely remain on scaling production capacity to meet the surging demand for cell-based treatments. As the company matures, its ability to integrate automated, high-throughput manufacturing into the broader biopharmaceutical supply chain will be a critical determinant of its long-term market dominance. Investors are closely watching the company's ability to maintain its technological edge while expanding its footprint, as it seeks to redefine the economics of cell therapy manufacturing on a global scale.
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