LifeTechnologies

The story of Life Technologies isn't one company, but a fusion of two industry giants: Invitrogen and Applied Biosystems. In 2008, these two companies merged in a $6.7 billion deal, creating a new entity named Life Technologies. This wasn't a startup story, but a strategic combination to create a powerhouse in the biotechnology tools market. Invitrogen, founded in 1987 by Lyle Turner, Joe Fernandez, and William McConnell, was known for its kits and reagents used in molecular biology research. Applied Biosystems, founded in 1981 by Sam Eletr and Andre Marion, was a leader in manufacturing instruments for genetic analysis and sequencing. The merger brought together Invitrogen's strength in consumables with Applied Biosystems' instrument platforms, aiming to provide scientists with more integrated solutions. The new company, Life Technologies, became a significant player, with combined sales of around $3.5 billion and a vast portfolio of over 3,600 patents and licenses. However, its journey as an independent company was relatively brief. In 2013, a larger fish came along. Thermo Fisher Scientific announced its intention to acquire Life Technologies for a massive $13.6 billion. The acquisition was completed in early 2014, marking the end of the Life Technologies name as a standalone corporation and absorbing its extensive product lines into Thermo Fisher's broader portfolio. This final deal cemented the company's legacy, not as a single entity, but as a critical consolidation of tools and technologies that accelerated life sciences research worldwide.