Bluebee

BlueBee originated as a spin-off from Delft University of Technology, where Belgian computer science professor Koen Bertels discovered a way to make supercomputers work dramatically more efficiently. Together with entrepreneur Hans Cobben, they decided to focus on software for DNA analysis. This requires a lot of computer power to process the massive amount of data. The users of the BlueBee platform – mainly hospitals and research institutions – can use the insights from DNA sequencing and analysis for medical diagnoses. Along with PMV, Buysse & Partners, Korys, Quest for Growth, Capricorn Partners, Heran Partners and Delft Enterprises have also invested in BlueBee.

With its cloud platform, BlueBee quickly grew into a major international player in rapid DNA analysis. The young biotech company attracted the attention of the American company Illumina, global leader in DNA sequencing and array-based technologies. Illumina – which accounts for 90 per cent of the DNA that is read worldwide – made a takeover bid for BlueBee. The Belgian-Dutch start-up was then integrated into Illumina. Together, the two companies hope to boost clinical research into genetic diseases and therapies. The staff of Bluebee joined Illumina.