Nuclera, a UK-based biotechnology company, was founded in 2013 by three PhD students studying at the University of Cambridge. Whilst working on their dissertations, they found that the long lead time and high costs associated with protein prototyping created a significant barrier for scientists when it came to their research.
Protein prototyping is critical as it allows researchers to modify existing proteins, or build entirely new ones, by altering the DNA sequence which encodes the proteins’ amino acid sequences. By precisely tailoring proteins, researchers can explore their potential in drug design and other areas of scientific enquiry.
From the outset, the company set a mission to provide high quality, soluble and active proteins that could be available to scientists at the benchtop.
To support their success and continued growth, in April 2023, Nuclera opened a new 30,000sq ft, state of the art, global headquarters, at Vision Park (visionparkcambridge.com) in Cambridge, UK. The new premises allow Nuclera to gain operational efficiencies through increased collaboration, plus critically, bolster their recruitment efforts by providing a modern space in which employees work.
As a growth company, Nuclera has always focused on optimising the resources required to launch the product. As a result, building up equipment is not our most urgent need. Utilising finance for vital capital expenditure, allows us to preserve cash so that it can be used for operations, product development and product launch."
Nuclera has recently had a positive experience of working with equipment financing partner, DLL, to successfully finance a centrifuge, and other analytical and precision equipment. This experience meant there was little hesitation when it came to opting for finance to fully equip their laboratory.
Jiahao Huang, Chief Financial Officer at Nuclera explained “As a growth company, Nuclera has always focused on optimising the resources required to launch the product. As a result, building up equipment is not our most urgent need. Utilising finance for vital capital expenditure, allows us to preserve cash so that it can be used for operations, product development and product launch.
Although there are other finance providers out there, DLL offered the most straight forward and flexible arrangements for a growth company like Nuclera”.
By financing their laboratory equipment, Nuclera was able to acquire the very latest technology that would support the accuracy and efficiency of their operation, without sacrificing the finite capital that could be allocated to other business areas to drive growth.
Interactions with DLL are nothing but smooth. DLL staff are transparent, flexible, and always quick to respond to any enquiries. The equipment financed is instrumental in helping Nuclera expand its research and development, production, and quality control capabilities."
The team at DLL has many years of experience when it comes to financing life science equipment and hold established relationships with many leading equipment manufacturers. This not only helped with the buying process, but also allowed Nuclera to simplify their budgeting by acquiring devices from multiple suppliers yet pay for them in just one regular invoice.
“Interactions with DLL are nothing but smooth. DLL staff are transparent, flexible, and always quick to respond to any enquiries. We have done more than ten transactions with DLL, and the equipment financed is instrumental in helping Nuclera expand its research and development, production, and quality control capabilities “.
Today, Nuclera’s eProtein Discovery™ System, has transformed a process that once took weeks, into a rapid 48-hour turnaround. This enables laboratories to significantly improve their quality and productivity when it comes to protein projects.
The company now employs over 100 people, including scientists, engineers, and software developers with premises in both the UK and the US.