Prolific Machines
Prolific Machines develops light-controlled bioprocessing technology for protein production, targeting biotech and pharmaceutical companies. The company has raised $97M, including a Series B in June 2024, and employs 67 people.
The growth story
Prolific Machines grew from 5 to 67 employees between 2021 and 2026, raising $97M along the way, most recently a Series B in June 2024.
About
Prolific Machines sells hardware and software that uses light to control protein expression in bioprocessing, aiming to improve yields and quality for complex biologics. Their system integrates with existing manufacturing infrastructure and is sold to biotechs, pharma companies, and contract manufacturers through services and licensing.
The company has raised $97M, most recently in a Series B round in June 2024, backed by investors including Breakthrough Energy Ventures and Breyer Capital. With 67 employees, Prolific Machines is scaling its operations in Emeryville, California.
Founders and leadership
Research is Prolific Machines' largest function, with 23 employees focused on developing its light-controlled bioprocessing technology. The company operates with a median tenure of 2 years, suggesting a relatively young and dynamic team.
The Prolific Machines org chart
Deniz Kent, Ph.D. (CEO & Co-Founder) leads 26 mapped leaders with 5 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 26 (+18% YoY), Engineering 10 (+43% YoY), Business Development 8 (+33% YoY), Operations 6 (+20% YoY), Product Management 3 (0% YoY).
Talent flow
Prolific Machines recruits heavily from biotech leaders like Genentech and food tech companies like Mission Barns and UPSIDE Foods. Employees also come from academic institutions including UC Berkeley, Harvard, and Delft University of Technology. Alumni have moved to roles in venture capital and biotech startups.
Most common previous employers of Prolific Machines staff: Genentech (4), Mission Barns (3), Delft University of Technology (3), Apple (3), UPSIDE Foods (3), UMass Chan Medical School (2). Former Prolific Machines employees most often moved to Evergreen Select (1), The Northbound Company (1), Koala (1), Good Novacene (1), QB3 (1), The O.H.I.O. Fund (1).
Alumni worth knowing
Web traffic
Traffic mix: 0% direct, 0% search, 0% social, 0% paid.
What this company is made of
Most common skills at Prolific Machines: Microsoft Office (27), Research Skills (25), Data Analysis (21), Molecular Biology (20), Project Management (20), Mammalian Cell Culture (19), Biotechnology (18), Cell Culture (18).
Where the team actually sits
Prolific Machines people are concentrated in California, United States (35), San Francisco Bay Area (13), United States (3), France (1).
Search footprint
Prolific Machines attracts about 12 organic search visits a month, traffic worth roughly $0K a month if bought through ads. It gained 1 ranking keywords and lost 7 in the last period.
What employees say
- Compensation
- 4.50 / 5
- Career opportunities
- 4.70 / 5
- Senior management
- 5.00 / 5
- Work-life balance
- 4.80 / 5
Frequently asked
Prolific Machines has 67 employees as of September 2026.
Prolific Machines has raised $97M in total, most recently a Series B round in June 2024.
Prolific Machines was founded in 2020 by Deniz Kent, Ph.D., Max Huisman, Declan Jones.
Deniz Kent, Ph.D. (CEO & Co-Founder) sits at the top of Prolific Machines's reporting structure, with 5 direct reports.
The most common previous employers of current Prolific Machines staff are Genentech (4 people), Mission Barns (3 people), Delft University of Technology (3 people).
Former Prolific Machines employees most often move to Evergreen Select (1), The Northbound Company (1), Koala (1).
Prolific Machines attracts about 12 organic search visits a month, worth roughly $0K a month in equivalent ad spend.
The most common skills among Prolific Machines staff are Microsoft Office, Research Skills, Data Analysis, Molecular Biology, Project Management.
Prolific Machines staff are concentrated in California, United States (35), San Francisco Bay Area (13), United States (3).
Prolific Machines has about 26 people in Research, up 18% over the past year, as of September 2026.
Prolific Machines has about 10 people in Engineering, up 43% over the past year, as of September 2026.
Computed from 55 current and 32 former Prolific Machines profiles, as of September 2026. Source: Crustdata.
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