Semiconductor circuits were once laid out manually, with scalpels and stencils being the primary tools to pattern silicon with photolithography.
The future will be
genetically engineered
Engineered biology will be the most important technology of the 21st century. We empower the genetic designers who are building the future.
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/631b859f947c1b7ed923e161/631f869133bcc49940346d94_Hero-bg_mobile.webp)
Computer-aided design has transformed our world
Every engineering discipline has been revolutionized by computer-aided design in the past 50 years.
We’re building the first CAD platform for biology
By applying abstraction, standardization, characterization, and modeling to biology, we aim to transition genetic engineering into a fully-fledged engineering discipline.
Our story so far
As genetic designers, we started Asimov to build the tools we always wanted.
![Chris Voigt at his MIT laboratory](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/631b859f947c1b7ed923e161/636bdb592ccdc54ae3341a0e_image3.png)
![Chris Voigt at his MIT laboratory](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/631b859f947c1b7ed923e161/636bdb63cfaef2cca5077d75_image11.png)
01
Roots in the Voigt and Densmore labs
Our company's story begins in the labs of our co-founders, Chris Voigt (MIT) and Doug Densmore (Boston University). Over the course of a multi-year collaboration, Chris and Doug worked to build the foundations of genetic logic circuit design to program living cells. Alec Nielsen, Asimov's co-founder and CEO, joined the Voigt lab as a PhD student during this time.
![Chris Voigt at his MIT laboratory](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/631b859f947c1b7ed923e161/633f091e54a2be54198877b0_roadmap_02.jpg)
![Chris Voigt at his MIT laboratory](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/631b859f947c1b7ed923e161/6392069816c34d4822f162cf_image%20(42).png)
02
Cello for genetic circuit design
In 2016, Chris, Doug, Alec, and collaborators at NIST released Cello, a platform for automated genetic circuit design. Cello was made possible through extensively-engineered modular genetic logic gates, standardized host cells, and software for algorithmic design and simulation.
![Raja Srinivas, Chris Voigt, Alec Nielsen, and Doug Densmore, founders of Asimov](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/631b859f947c1b7ed923e161/639206987eceffde29d5d3d7_Frame%20117518.png)
03
Asimov founded to tackle genetic design
In 2017, Chris, Doug, Alec, and Raja Srinivas founded Asimov, receiving early backing from Andreessen Horowitz and DARPA. Our approach stems from the same philosophy used for Cello – integrate state-of-the-art synthetic biology in the lab with computational tools.
Ours is a culture of recombination
Recombination
Mission first
Continuous learning
Thoughtful communication
Evolution
Urgency
Meet our people
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63332e4a398b6546c833b488/6365207c61b3700fc031815e_alexaguilar.jpeg)
Alex Aguilar
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63332e4a398b6546c833b488/640f8d62bdf679cf87e18e36_kwasi-amoako.jpg)
Kwasi Amoako
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63332e4a398b6546c833b488/6510ac208b5cc47a39eb3c70_charlie-andrews.jpg)
Charlie Andrews
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63332e4a398b6546c833b488/6365206de07c0c8ea7c692d9_julieandriolo.png)
Julie Andriolo
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63332e4a398b6546c833b488/6365205cc6b3ec84adda7ebb_LauraAvram.jpeg)
Laura Avram
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63332e4a398b6546c833b488/655e914d019834cf8992dc04_Xander_Balwit.png)
Xander Balwit
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63332e4a398b6546c833b488/6385062bb497a164cd0a7e43_KamiBoers.png)
Kami Boers
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63332e4a398b6546c833b488/65b69971fbaf0948a1d5ee7d_Nathaniel-Braffman.png)
Nathaniel Braffman
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63332e4a398b6546c833b488/642b609be085cc0a2bdc7923_jenny-breselow.jpg)
Jenny Breselow
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63332e4a398b6546c833b488/636522ca2b758e7c39c31bd6_AdamCarcella.jpeg)
Adam Carcella
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63332e4a398b6546c833b488/63850304891b89a52d316298_Arturo-min.png)
Arturo Casini
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63332e4a398b6546c833b488/638504ca73fdc64753d937c5_Michelle-min.png)
Michelle Chang
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63332e4a398b6546c833b488/653ad8c5efaafd0a2faeca51_gong-cheng.jpg)
Gong Cheng
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63332e4a398b6546c833b488/6510acd659919401359c7ae6_dylan-chitwood.jpg)
Dylan Chitwood
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63332e4a398b6546c833b488/63652339fd05f600d058259e_haewonchung.jpeg)
HaeWon Chung
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63332e4a398b6546c833b488/6626a994bf706b55068d49b7_evan_cofer_headshot_photo.jpeg)
Evan Cofer
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63332e4a398b6546c833b488/6385041d73208e35ec2e58fc_joe-min.png)
Joe Collins
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63332e4a398b6546c833b488/636527d5d1b6f41b0ddc2ac5_jorgeconde.png)
Jorge Conde
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63332e4a398b6546c833b488/636523152b758e96fac3797a_LucasCorley.png)
Lucas Corley
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63332e4a398b6546c833b488/65f98b83843752b33fd953fa_LI%20photo.jpeg)
Marin Cross
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63332e4a398b6546c833b488/64556e16a96267693d5de2bd_martin-carcamo.jpg)
Martín Cárcamo
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63332e4a398b6546c833b488/63e2d6f7994a20d5da7a613e_max-dalla-porta.png)
Max Dalla Porta
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63332e4a398b6546c833b488/63652307a166562475a948ae_nickdelatorre.png)
Nick De La Torre
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63332e4a398b6546c833b488/655e910263ba2af782272b3a_Connor_Denman.jpg)
Connor Denman
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63332e4a398b6546c833b488/6365239761b370efee344c77_DougDensmore.jpeg)
Douglas Densmore
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63332e4a398b6546c833b488/63d01a85a9fda1644f1f3266_Manali-Desai.jpg)
Manali Desai
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63332e4a398b6546c833b488/63b6170e77e55449d4da1583_Kate-Dray.jpg)
Kate Dray
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63332e4a398b6546c833b488/64519089223b27d41dfbaea5_brendan-eder.jpg)
Brendan Eder
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63332e4a398b6546c833b488/6365236fd1b6f4e0f8d705a4_OmarElGhouch.png)
Omar El-Ghouch
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63332e4a398b6546c833b488/6365238bfd05f65e635846d3_amandaembree.jpeg)
Amanda Embree
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63332e4a398b6546c833b488/6365237d795d214722811c2b_NickEmery.jpeg)
Nick Emery
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63332e4a398b6546c833b488/64430078558204043f050d1e_scott-estes.jpg)
Scott Estes
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63332e4a398b6546c833b488/638503361447e881d28a6480_Alina-min.png)
Alina Ferdman
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63332e4a398b6546c833b488/6385040e83eff865c7fb88c2_JamieF-min.png)
Jamie Freeman
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63332e4a398b6546c833b488/66572b0e4a7553c289ebd340_6F0150DD-1E2A-47D1-BA90-EF92EEBF5115.jpeg)
Prarthana Gadekar
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63332e4a398b6546c833b488/636523babc092345bec8f76a_JeremyGam.jpeg)
Jeremy Gam
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63332e4a398b6546c833b488/6365242087ab360dfe484f58_ImrozGhangas.jpeg)
Imroz Ghangas
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63332e4a398b6546c833b488/6365241026299d65794747c7_LuisGonzalez.jpeg)
Luis Gonzalez
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63332e4a398b6546c833b488/636523fd30da893583256bf5_AkashGopaluni.jpeg)
Akash Gopaluni
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63332e4a398b6546c833b488/636523effba7af22f991db6e_bengordon.jpeg)
Ben Gordon
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63332e4a398b6546c833b488/638a41285c2013d949ec39ad_ZachGottlieb%20(1)-min.jpeg)
Zach Gottlieb
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63332e4a398b6546c833b488/6365246c5b0d3a77dbeef701_JulieHachey.jpeg)
Julie Hachey
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63332e4a398b6546c833b488/6365245e0b7da64a46fdc24a_TraciHaddock.jpeg)
Traci Haddock
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63332e4a398b6546c833b488/6365244bb8b3fa2b1e229ebb_EdHall.jpeg)
Ed Hall
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63332e4a398b6546c833b488/63850395af424f4c86c4a61a_Emily-min.png)
Emily Hickman
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63332e4a398b6546c833b488/6385052c83eff834c1fb9d36_Ian-min.png)
Ian Hill
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63332e4a398b6546c833b488/6385036783eff8149efb7d23_Bri-min.png)
Brianna Jayanthi
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63332e4a398b6546c833b488/636524c787ab362ba648dbeb_willjohnson.jpeg)
Will Johnson
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63332e4a398b6546c833b488/63e17586e1e8361b6f9d761c_aida-kalantari.jpg)
Aida Kalantari
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63332e4a398b6546c833b488/6365252c26299d3ba947f829_rachelkelemen.jpeg)
Rachel Kelemen
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63332e4a398b6546c833b488/6365251685737958cd97f46c_szilviakiriakov.png)
Szilvia Kiriakov
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63332e4a398b6546c833b488/653ad88d60411dda1f5b7b07_ravi-kommajosyula.png)
Ravi Kommajosyula
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63332e4a398b6546c833b488/6510aca2bcef3469f35f3b9b_Ally-Kotopoulos.jpg)
Ally Kotopoulos
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63332e4a398b6546c833b488/636524eb6e97c44aa5dcb82d_ThibaultLaurent.jpeg)
Thibault Laurent
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63332e4a398b6546c833b488/6385046c8a540549be1bb474_kevin-leshane-headshot-oct2022-min.png)
Kevin LeShane
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63332e4a398b6546c833b488/6365257dd1b6f45fc5d98c90_davidlei.jpeg)
David Lei
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63332e4a398b6546c833b488/638504de6234a83279f9c846_Mike-min.png)
Michael Leonard
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63332e4a398b6546c833b488/6365254ef900b53c8b71140f_paulenalieske.jpeg)
Paulena Lieske
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63332e4a398b6546c833b488/65b6998628ace4732a6dba08_ao-liu.jpg)
Ao Liu
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63332e4a398b6546c833b488/655e918cb7a0fd4d79c9460c_Devon_Mars.jpg)
Devon Mars
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63332e4a398b6546c833b488/64243bd65e2000412ddbb919_niko-mccarty.jpeg)
Niko McCarty
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63332e4a398b6546c833b488/636527edd1b6f41520dc4469_paulmccracken.jpeg)
Paul McCracken
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63332e4a398b6546c833b488/636525b4752197bf135571f2_jeffmcmahan.jpeg)
Jeff McMahan
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63332e4a398b6546c833b488/65b6991a28ace4732a6d665a_han-mei.jpg)
Han Mei
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63332e4a398b6546c833b488/638502f5b371c87c9d503094_Anais-min.png)
Anaïs Moisy
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63332e4a398b6546c833b488/65b69935259933e3861c78c1_Kevin-Muszynski.jpg)
Kevin Muszynski
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63332e4a398b6546c833b488/653ad9ce25e68066591124b8_wendy-ni.jpg)
Wendy Ni
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63332e4a398b6546c833b488/636525cef7b26008e4a674a3_AlecNielsen%20(1).png)
Alec Nielsen
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63332e4a398b6546c833b488/6365261c014ed856461f9f2d_CaseyOConnor.jpeg)
Casey O'Connor
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63332e4a398b6546c833b488/654ce62fb374a6108d276c74_Jaclyn_Ostrowski.jpg)
Jaclyn Ostrowski
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63332e4a398b6546c833b488/6385048da25275075f7dcb49_Lei-min.png)
Lei Pan
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63332e4a398b6546c833b488/636525f7f7b260dba1a6acf5_DanPhelps.jpeg)
Dan Phelps
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63332e4a398b6546c833b488/6385043883eff8dd40fb8c95_Katelin-min.png)
Katelin Pratt
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63332e4a398b6546c833b488/645190aec0dcfec1e4b845b6_anna-prendeville.jpg)
Anna Prendeville
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63332e4a398b6546c833b488/657e2462f5a59ce0aa8db8fd_ashwin-rajput.jpeg)
Ashwin Rajput
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63332e4a398b6546c833b488/6510ac6f9f0c4abe80a3a6e7_Stephany-Ramos.jpg)
Stephany Ramos
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63332e4a398b6546c833b488/63652658f0f899da2640a325_jessrock.jpeg)
Jessica Rock
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63332e4a398b6546c833b488/638503b6b5de51c83e85876b_Felicity-min.png)
Felicity Rudge
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63332e4a398b6546c833b488/638503815c3f6709d392883a_Dylan-min.png)
Dylan Samperi
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63332e4a398b6546c833b488/636526b90b7da6aa97ff2ccc_ViniciusSchettino.png)
Vinicius Schettino
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63332e4a398b6546c833b488/653ad8e21e3c1053943a4998_deepak-sela.jpg)
Deepak Sela
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63332e4a398b6546c833b488/6385060173fdc6f392d95229_GaelleSevere.png)
Gaelle Severe
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63332e4a398b6546c833b488/65f34b5030852045cb164115_T66M1FTHP-U05MN2T6477-74a42ce9be71-512.jpg)
Yash Shah
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63332e4a398b6546c833b488/653ad908868eac37b9e821c6_alexis-sloane.png)
Alexis Sloane
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63332e4a398b6546c833b488/636526a54f77452d57f45f28_kevinsmith.jpeg)
Kevin Smith
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63332e4a398b6546c833b488/6365271bf3307b6e42a552c5_samuelsmith.jpeg)
Samuel Smith
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63332e4a398b6546c833b488/655e9131fae9f653977ded3e_Jordan_Sorensen.jpg)
Jordan Sorensen
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63332e4a398b6546c833b488/636526f25b3e7534f0aea04c_RajaSrinivas.jpeg)
Raja Srinivas
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63332e4a398b6546c833b488/636526fd0507f90e02d04869_ChrisStach.jpeg)
Christopher Stach
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63332e4a398b6546c833b488/6385049f1447e81e138a9b3e_Mark-min.png)
Mark Stockdale
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63332e4a398b6546c833b488/6510acfe0ec5b8fd2ef59f78_jackie-thompson.jpg)
Jackie Thompson
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63332e4a398b6546c833b488/64ef24291d2114a58f78b2b2_Thorne%20Headshot.jpg)
Chris Thorne
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63332e4a398b6546c833b488/638503d98a540589381baab7_Georgian-min.png)
Georgian Tutuianu
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63332e4a398b6546c833b488/63850349b5de515758857884_Becca-min.png)
Becca Van Nederynen
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63332e4a398b6546c833b488/636527bec93a6a2bdcb5052d_ChrisVoigt.jpeg)
Christopher Voigt
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63332e4a398b6546c833b488/6398e37075382d7b49096211_headshot-steve.jpg)
Steve Von Stetina
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63332e4a398b6546c833b488/63ff8e20722358659437ce59_Kai-Wang.png)
Kai Wang
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63332e4a398b6546c833b488/636527a4a2050202727a5b05_laytonwedgeworth.jpeg)
Layton Wedgeworth
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63332e4a398b6546c833b488/63652795c93a6a6cf1b4d583_BronsonWeston.png)
Bronson Weston
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63332e4a398b6546c833b488/657e249a63bfef0a068b785b_jenny-won.jpeg)