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54gene's Overview

Total employees128
HeadquartersLagos
Founded2019

54gene was a health technology company founded in 2019 with the mission to advance precision medicine for Africans and the global population by bridging the significant gap in the global genomics market. The company aimed to build the world's largest pan-African biobank, conduct cutting-edge research, and foster drug discovery by leveraging unique genetic data from diverse African populations. It raised significant funding and established partnerships to pursue these goals. However, 54gene reportedly ceased its core operations and shut down around September 2023.

Where is 54gene's Headquarters?

HQ Function

The Lagos headquarters served as the central hub for African operations, including biobank management, state-of-the-art laboratory research, data science, and local partnership development.

Notable Features:

The Nigerian facilities likely housed advanced genomics laboratories, biorepository infrastructure, and collaborative workspaces tailored for high-throughput sequencing and molecular biology research.

Work Culture:

54gene fostered a mission-driven work culture focused on innovation, scientific excellence, and addressing health disparities in Africa. It aimed to attract top talent passionate about genomics and its potential to transform healthcare on the continent.

HQ Significance:

The headquarters in Lagos was significant as it represented a major investment in building biotech infrastructure and capacity in Africa, aiming to put African genetic data at the forefront of global health research.

Values Reflected in HQ: The headquarters aimed to embody values of scientific integrity, innovation, collaboration, and a deep commitment to improving health outcomes for African populations through genomic insights.

Location:

Prior to ceasing operations, 54gene was building a global presence centered on its African research and biobanking activities. This involved establishing labs and collection sites in Nigeria and other African countries, a strategic corporate presence in the USA to engage with global partners (pharmaceutical companies, research institutions), and collaborations that spanned multiple continents. Its aim was to integrate African genomic data into global drug discovery and development pipelines.

Street Address:

Eko Centre, Plot 1415 Adetokunbo Ademola Street, Victoria Island (This was a commonly listed corporate address; specific lab locations may have varied)

City:

Lagos

State/Province:

Lagos State

Country:

Nigeria

54gene's Global Presence

Washington D.C. Metro Area, USA

Address: A corporate office, specific address not widely publicized (e.g., previously listed addresses in Tysons, VA).

To facilitate access to global capital markets, engage with international regulatory bodies, and drive collaborations to support 54gene's mission on a global scale.

Various sites in Africa (e.g., Ghana, Uganda, Kenya)

Address: Specific lab/collection site addresses were generally not publicly detailed.

To ensure the inclusivity and representativeness of the genomic data by establishing a presence in multiple African countries and regions.

Buying Intent Signals for 54gene

Highperformr Signals uncover buying intent and give you clear insights to target the right accounts at the right time — helping your sales, marketing, and GTM teams close more deals, faster.

Notable news
Hiring actively
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
*Example signal, not calculated in real time

Executive Team of 54gene

As of April 2025, 54gene' leadership includes:

Dr. Abasi Ene-Obong - Founder & Former CEO (until October 2022)
Ron Chiarello - Former CEO (October 2022 - March 2023)
Teresia Bost - Former Interim CEO (March 2023 - September 2023)
Jude Uzonwanne - Former Chief Business Officer
Delali Attipoe - Former Chief Operating Officer
Aminu Yakubu - Former SVP, Research & Development

Investors of 54gene

54gene has been backed by several prominent investors over the years, including:

Y Combinator
Adjuvant Capital
Cathay AfricInvest Innovation Fund (CAIF)
HarbourVest Partners
Illumina Ventures
Amgen Ventures
Merck Global Health Innovation Fund
Population Capital
Fifty Years
Better Ventures
Raba Capital
LAUNCH Africa Ventures
Pioneer Fund
Ingressive Capital

Executive New Hires/Exits in the Last 12 Months

Hire0
Exits3

54gene ceased operations around September 2023. The period leading up to this involved significant leadership transitions aimed at navigating financial and operational challenges. This included the departure of the founder CEO in late 2022, followed by two subsequent CEO appointments before the eventual wind-down of the company.

Departures

Teresia Bost, Departed as Interim CEO concurrent with the company's decision to cease operations.
Ron Chiarello, Stepped down as CEO, succeeded by Teresia Bost as Interim CEO.
Dr. Abasi Ene-Obong, Stepped down as CEO, transitioning out of the company he founded.

New Appointments:

Teresia Bost, Appointed Interim CEO to lead the company during a critical restructuring phase.

Technology (Tech Stack) used by 54gene

Discover the tools 54gene uses. Highperformr reveals the technologies powering your target accounts — helping your sales, marketing, and GTM teams prioritize smarter and close faster.

54gene Email Formats and Examples

During its operational period, 54gene likely used common corporate email formats. Given the company has ceased operations, these email addresses are no longer active.

[first_initial][last]@54gene.com or [first].[last]@54gene.com

Format

jdoe@54gene.com or john.doe@54gene.com

Example

0%

Success rate

News and media

TechCrunchSeptember 7, 2023

54gene news title: African genomics startup 54gene shuts down

54gene, the African genomics startup that set out to build the world’s largest pan-African biobank, has shut down its operations. The company faced challenges including leadership changes and significant layoffs prior to ceasing activities....more

Semafor AfricaSeptember 29, 2023

54gene news title: How African genomics star 54gene lost its way

An in-depth look at the factors contributing to the shutdown of 54gene, including market challenges, operational complexities, and the difficulties in scaling its ambitious vision for African genomics....more

Company Press Release / Various MediaApril 28, 2022

54gene news title: 54gene launches new sequencing lab in Nigeria

54gene announced the launch of a new high-throughput genomics sequencing lab in Lagos, Nigeria, significantly expanding its capacity to process samples and generate genomic data from African populations....more

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