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Rothberg is something of a character. His two DNA sequencing companies (454 and Ion torrent) have both had what I would consider successful exits (solid to Roc

by new299 12y ago

Rothberg is something of a character. His two DNA sequencing companies (454 and Ion torrent) have both had what I would consider successful exits (solid to Roche and Life technologies respectively). But more importantly both products made their way into the hands of consumers (which is actually rare for DNA sequencing startups). However after acquisition both products failed to gain significant traction (Roche has just shelved 454). He also engages in a certain amount of showmanship [1], which has as gained him some ridicule. I think he has to be respected to successfully executing in a market where most startups fizzle out though. I hope this pans out though, it sounds awesome. I really hope this (and other research/medical device) technology makes its way into the hands of normal consumers (not just research labs/medical institutes). [1] Oh and he has a scale model of Stonehenge in his back yard. http://clonehenge.com/2009/01/17/circle-of-life-connecticuts-stonehenge/ http://clonehenge.com/2009/01/17/circle-of-life-connecticuts...

sitkack 12y ago
My only experience with Roche is that they buy promising new technologies and shutter them. First they purchase the product, then they invest, then they purchase the company then they shut it down.
- new299 12y ago
  This is really interesting. They certainly have a reputation for killing 454. What other companies have they done this with?
  - refurb 12y ago
    I wouldn't say Roche "killed" 454. Illumina is absolutely dominating the sequencing market. I would say killing something that isn't profitable is a good business decision.
    - new299 12y ago
      You might not, I might not. But they do have somewhat of a reputation for not executing well on the 454 technology. It has been said that they failed to scale out what was a fundamentally sound platform. That they didn't really push on density to the increase device throughput as much as they could have. The truth maybe that the technology just has fundamental limitations. But I'd would say that's not objectively clear. The Illumina (Solexa) platform also had significant limitations, it took a lot of platform development to get it where it is today. In contrast Illumina have executed quite well, providing systematic improvements to the Solexa platform.
  - sitkack 12y ago
    This what it felt like with Combimatrix http://www.evaluategroup.com/Universal/View.aspx?type=Story&id=13315 http://www.evaluategroup.com/Universal/View.aspx?type=Story&... who are still around but had a pivot and change of leadership.
legomylibrum 12y ago
While 454 may not have much traction anymore, Ion Torrent is coming out with a new series of devices (the Proton iirc?) and they're competing pretty well with Illumina in the cheap sequencing market. It's something, anyways. I was thinking of trying to make a smartphone-powered ultrasound awhile back and looked into it, and these devices don't look too complicated. You put a piezo in a little box, and cycle it to send/receive vibration in the form of sound. The software to decode the signal into an image is the hard part. But if it's Rothberg behind this...well, I'll take his word for it being a hard thing to make low-cost.
foobarqux 12y ago
A sale is not always a successful (i.e. profitable) exit.
- new299 12y ago
  No, but I think in Rothbergs case they were ok. Not by any means stunning. Ion Torrent raised around 60MUSD according to angel.co. They sold for 375MUSD, with milestone payments making it up to 725MUSD. I've no idea if they hit their milestones or not. 454 was a lot less... I think a few hundred million. But they also raised less IIRC.
chuckcode 12y ago
I've worked with Rothberg and he is certainly a different than most people you meet in a day. Incredibly gifted with technological vision, business savvy and marketing skills. He also has the ability to put together an incredibly talented team and keep them focused. Ion Torrent didn't put Illumina out of business or anything but it did define a new market segment in high throughput DNA sequencing for small to mid size labs. Ion Torrent's PGM is like the PC of DNA sequencing to Illumina's mainframe HiSeq and forced Illumina to respond with their MiSeq machine. I for one am very excited to see the democratization of DNA sequencing as it gets more available to smaller labs and individuals. Can't wait to see what he and the team pull off on this one as we certainly need a few more breakthroughs in the clinic both in price and ease of use!

by new299 12y ago

sitkack 12y ago

My only experience with Roche is that they buy promising new technologies and shutter them. First they purchase the product, then they invest, then they purchase the company then they shut it down.

new299 12y ago
This is really interesting. They certainly have a reputation for killing 454. What other companies have they done this with?
- refurb 12y ago
  I wouldn't say Roche "killed" 454. Illumina is absolutely dominating the sequencing market. I would say killing something that isn't profitable is a good business decision.
  - new299 12y ago
    You might not, I might not. But they do have somewhat of a reputation for not executing well on the 454 technology. It has been said that they failed to scale out what was a fundamentally sound platform. That they didn't really push on density to the increase device throughput as much as they could have. The truth maybe that the technology just has fundamental limitations. But I'd would say that's not objectively clear. The Illumina (Solexa) platform also had significant limitations, it took a lot of platform development to get it where it is today. In contrast Illumina have executed quite well, providing systematic improvements to the Solexa platform.
- sitkack 12y ago
  This what it felt like with Combimatrix http://www.evaluategroup.com/Universal/View.aspx?type=Story&id=13315 http://www.evaluategroup.com/Universal/View.aspx?type=Story&... who are still around but had a pivot and change of leadership.

legomylibrum 12y ago

While 454 may not have much traction anymore, Ion Torrent is coming out with a new series of devices (the Proton iirc?) and they're competing pretty well with Illumina in the cheap sequencing market. It's something, anyways. I was thinking of trying to make a smartphone-powered ultrasound awhile back and looked into it, and these devices don't look too complicated. You put a piezo in a little box, and cycle it to send/receive vibration in the form of sound. The software to decode the signal into an image is the hard part. But if it's Rothberg behind this...well, I'll take his word for it being a hard thing to make low-cost.

foobarqux 12y ago

A sale is not always a successful (i.e. profitable) exit.

new299 12y ago
No, but I think in Rothbergs case they were ok. Not by any means stunning. Ion Torrent raised around 60MUSD according to angel.co. They sold for 375MUSD, with milestone payments making it up to 725MUSD. I've no idea if they hit their milestones or not. 454 was a lot less... I think a few hundred million. But they also raised less IIRC.

chuckcode 12y ago

I've worked with Rothberg and he is certainly a different than most people you meet in a day. Incredibly gifted with technological vision, business savvy and marketing skills. He also has the ability to put together an incredibly talented team and keep them focused. Ion Torrent didn't put Illumina out of business or anything but it did define a new market segment in high throughput DNA sequencing for small to mid size labs. Ion Torrent's PGM is like the PC of DNA sequencing to Illumina's mainframe HiSeq and forced Illumina to respond with their MiSeq machine. I for one am very excited to see the democratization of DNA sequencing as it gets more available to smaller labs and individuals. Can't wait to see what he and the team pull off on this one as we certainly need a few more breakthroughs in the clinic both in price and ease of use!