Biomega Technologies Inc. was a biotechnology company founded in 2005 by Matt Artz while an undergraduate at Marywood University in Scranton, Pennsylvania. The idea originated in the spring of 2004, when time constraints in biotechnology lab classes prompted him to design a faster approach to gel electrophoresis, a standard laboratory procedure for separating DNA fragments. The company developed a shoebox-sized gel electrophoresis system that used actively chilled and circulated buffer solution to allow the system to run at higher voltage without overheating the gel or degrading samples. Standard gel electrophoresis procedures took one to two hours in a classroom setting; Biomega’s system reduced that time by an estimated 43%. The target market was the educational biotechnology sector, including universities, colleges, technical schools, and secondary schools across the United States.
Artz received a Marywood University research grant to build and test a prototype, and demonstrated proof of concept in early 2005. He then entered the company’s business plan in the Great Valley Technology Alliance business plan competition, where it won second place, earning $10,000 in prize money and services.
In January 2007, Biomega filed US Patent Application 11/650,010 for its Rapid Gel Electrophoresis System. The patent described a device using thermal sensors, a circulating ionic solution cooling system, and coordinated power management to maintain optimal conditions during high-voltage DNA separation.
Following his work with Biomega, Matt joined BlackOut Design in 2007 as a Project Manager, moving into digital marketing and client services.