Project

IdentMe

The startup IdentMe specializes in using molecular biology methods to search for the tiniest traces of DNA in environmental samples. The goal is to be able to quickly and reliably detect certain protected and endangered species, as well as harmful species and pathogens. Detecting specific species is important, for example, for environmental agencies and for complying with legal requirements for biodiversity conservation. But checking for the presence of animal and plant species relevant to planning also plays a major role in the preparation of construction projects.

Traditional methods of species surveying are often laborious and, in addition to good expert knowledge, frequently require a bit of luck to be in the right place at the right time. If the species being sought are very elusive and are not found until it is too late, this can lead to long-term consequences, such as costly construction delays or halts. This is where eDNA (environmental DNA) analysis comes in, providing reliable results on the presence or absence of the target species’ DNA.

The roots of this idea go back about eight years to a student project at Anhalt University of Applied Sciences. It was there that the future founding team—Anne Findeisen, Patricia Holm, and Richard Pabst—first met. Their mentor, Prof. Dr. Christiana Cordes, brought the three natural scientists together and encouraged them to undertake a two-year project as part of the ego. startup transfer program. This enabled the team to refine the molecular biological processes and develop tests they designed themselves to market readiness.

With the ego.-START startup grant in hand, IdentMe GmbH was officially founded in March 2021. The startup is now based at the “heart of scientific innovation” in Halle (Saale)—the Weinberg Campus—and supports government agencies, planning and engineering firms, and nature conservation organizations throughout Germany with species surveys.

Learn more at: https://ident-me.com/