Marama Labs Opens Irish Life Sciences Applications Lab at DCU Alpha, announces €2 Million in Funding
MaramaLabs, a rapidly growing deep-tech startup which develops advanced analytical instruments to solve critical challenges in life sciences, officially opened its Irish Life Sciences Applications Lab at DCU Alpha in Dublin on 17 December 2024.The event also marked the announcement of the company’s successful €2 million pre-Series A funding round closed this month, led by existing investors The Yield Lab Europe with co-investment from DeepIE Ventures, NZ Growth Capital Partners, Radar Ventures, Icehouse Ventures, Angel Investors Marlborough and other existing angel investors.
The funding round will support the expansion of Marama Labs’ flagship product, CloudSpec, in the messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) therapeutics market. CloudSpec can quantify quality information about new classes of therapeutics, called nanomedicines, in seconds, a process which can take existing technologies hours. Marama Labs has been working with some of the world’s leading life sciences companies in developing its technology to remove significant bottlenecks in nanomedicine development and is set to launch its product to the market in 2025.
Founded in New Zealand in 2019 by DCU Alumnus Dr Brendan Darby (CEO), Professor Eric Le Ru, and Dr Matthias Meyer, Marama Labs originated from Brendan’s PhD research on optical analysis of metallic nanoparticles. The company has grown to a team of 12 employees in New Zealand and is now expanding its presence in Ireland with the establishment of the new lab at DCU Alpha, which will enable Marama to further develop its applications in life sciences and work closely with its nanomedicine customers in the Northern Hemisphere.
The opening event at DCU Alpha brought together leaders from Ireland’s life sciences, enterprise, and investment communities. Attendees included:
● Professor Daire Keogh, President of Dublin City University
● Jennifer Melia, Executive Director of LifeSciences, Enterprise Ireland
● Cathy Bryce, Managing Director of Capital Markets, AIB
● David Bowles, Managing Partner, Yield Lab
● Paul Finnerty, Chairman, Yield Lab
● Brendan Darby, CEO, Marama Labs
● Darren Andrews, CCO, Marama Labs
● Kirsty Smith, Head of Applications, Marama Labs
Professor Daire Keogh, President of DCU, remarked:
"DCU Alpha is a vibrant hub for innovation, and it’s inspiring to see Brendan, one of our alumni, bring Marama Labs to this space. The company’s growth is a testament to the impact of research and innovation fostered here at DCU. We are thrilled to welcome Marama Labs to the DCU Alpha community, where it will undoubtedly contribute to advancing life sciences globally."
Driving Innovation in mRNA Development
Marama Labs’ flagship product, CloudSpec, is a state-of-the-art spectrophotometer that enables precise characterisation of lipid nanoparticles (LNPs)—critical components in mRNA therapeutics and vaccines. CloudSpec addresses a significant bottleneck in mRNA development with its ability to provide rapid and accurate quantification of therapeutic payloads in LNPs, a crucial quality measure for nanomedicine formulators and manufacturers.
CEO Brendan Darby stated:
"The opening of our lab at DCU Alpha is a pivotal moment for Marama Labs as we scale our operations internationally. Dublin provides the ideal environment to grow our team and work closely with life sciences innovators in the Northern Hemisphere. This funding will enable us to accelerate the impact of CloudSpec in mRNA development and other advanced therapeutic areas of nanomedicine."
David Bowles, Managing Partner at Yield Lab, added:
"Marama Labs is a shining example of how innovative startups can tackle critical challenges. Their CloudSpec technology is already making an impact, and this new lab in Ireland positions them for even greater success."
Cathy Bryce, Managing Director of Capital Markets, AIB said:
“AIB was a cornerstone investor in the Yield Lab Europe Fund I, along with Enterprise Ireland, which supports early stage companies that revolutionise agriculture and food systems. AIB is delighted to support Marama in the development and application of new technologies for the life sciences and agriculture sectors which make an important contribution to the Irish economy.”
Jennifer Melia, Executive Director of LifeSciences at Enterprise Ireland, remarked:
“Ireland is recognised as a global hub for the life sciences sector, and Marama Labs’ presence here adds to the ecosystem’s strength. Their innovative CloudSpec solution will play a vital role in advancing mRNA research and development, making a meaningful impact in healthcare. Supporting Irish companies with the ambition to scale globally is a key priority for Enterprise Ireland and we look forward to working closely with Marama Labs through its new Application Lab here in DCU Alpha to optimise their growth potential.”
About Marama Labs
Founded in Wellington, New Zealand, in 2019 by Brendan Darby, Eric Le Ru, and Matthias Meyer, Marama Labs develops advanced analytical instruments to solve critical challenges in the life sciences industry. With a team of 12 employees in New Zealand and a growing presence in Ireland, Marama Labs is empowering life sciences researchers and manufacturers to accelerate the development of next-generation nanomedicines through the use of its novel analytical technology.
