Element Biosciences
Element Biosciences develops biological assay systems for life science research. The San Diego-based biotech company has raised $678M and employs 448 people.
The growth story
Element Biosciences grew from 181 to 448 employees between 2021 and 2026, raising $678M along the way, most recently a Series E in June 2026.
About
Element Biosciences makes tools for biological research that aim to be more affordable and user-friendly than existing options. Its systems are used by scientists to accelerate discoveries in life sciences.
The company has raised $678M, including a Series E round in 2026. Its workforce of 448 draws heavily from other biotech firms, particularly Illumina and 10x Genomics.
Founders and leadership
Research is the largest function at Element Biosciences, accounting for 48 employees. The company has a median tenure of 2 years across its workforce.
The Element Biosciences org chart
Molly He (CEO) leads 60 mapped leaders with 23 direct reports. Click +N to expand a team; names link to the person’s public profile.
Departments, and which ones grew
Headcount by function: Research 97 (+8% YoY), Engineering 80 (+7% YoY), Operations 55 (0% YoY), Sales 46 (+5% YoY), Information Technology 45 (+10% YoY), Customer Success and Support 17 (+42% YoY).
Talent flow
Element Biosciences hires extensively from Illumina, which accounts for 64 of its 247 analyzed hires. Other top sources include 10x Genomics and Thermo Fisher Scientific. Alumni have moved to companies like 10x Genomics and Twist Bioscience.
Most common previous employers of Element Biosciences staff: Illumina (64), 10x Genomics (30), Thermo Fisher Scientific (23), Life Technologies (13), PacBio (12), Twist Bioscience (7). Former Element Biosciences employees most often moved to 10x Genomics (4), Twist Bioscience (3), Vertex Pharmaceuticals (3), PacBio (2), Deloitte (2), Alcon (2).
Alumni worth knowing
Hiring now
Web traffic
Traffic mix: 33% direct, 57% search, 3% social, 0% paid.
What this company is made of
Most common skills at Element Biosciences: Microsoft Office (149), Research Skills (126), Microsoft Excel (119), Molecular Biology (116), Data Analysis (111), Communication (97), Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) (96), Biotechnology (96).
Where the team actually sits
Element Biosciences people are concentrated in California, United States (154), San Diego Metropolitan Area (9), San Francisco Bay Area (7), United States (7).
Search footprint
Element Biosciences attracts about 1,905 organic search visits a month, traffic worth roughly $5K a month if bought through ads. It gained 236 ranking keywords and lost 132 in the last period.
What employees say
- Compensation
- 3.30 / 5
- Career opportunities
- 3.00 / 5
- Senior management
- 2.90 / 5
- Work-life balance
- 3.20 / 5
Frequently asked
Element Biosciences has 448 employees as of September 2026.
Element Biosciences has raised $678M in total, most recently a Series E round in June 2026.
Element Biosciences was founded in 2017 by Michael Previte.
Molly He (CEO) sits at the top of Element Biosciences's reporting structure, with 23 direct reports.
The most common previous employers of current Element Biosciences staff are Illumina (64 people), 10x Genomics (30 people), Thermo Fisher Scientific (23 people).
Former Element Biosciences employees most often move to 10x Genomics (4), Twist Bioscience (3), Vertex Pharmaceuticals (3).
Element Biosciences attracts about 1,905 organic search visits a month, worth roughly $5K a month in equivalent ad spend.
The most common skills among Element Biosciences staff are Microsoft Office, Research Skills, Microsoft Excel, Molecular Biology, Data Analysis.
Element Biosciences staff are concentrated in California, United States (154), San Diego Metropolitan Area (9), San Francisco Bay Area (7).
Element Biosciences has about 97 people in Research, up 8% over the past year, as of September 2026.
Element Biosciences has about 80 people in Engineering, up 7% over the past year, as of September 2026.
Computed from 247 current and 208 former Element Biosciences profiles, as of September 2026. Source: Crustdata.
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