Embark Veterinary
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Biotechnology, Canine genomics |
| Founded | January 1, 2015 in Austin, Texas, United States |
| Founder | Adam Boyko, Ryan Boyko, Matt Salzberg, Spencer Wells |
| Headquarters | Boston , United States |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | Ryan Boyko (CEO), Adam Boyko (Associate Professor at Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine) |
| Products | Dog DNA testing services |
| Website | embarkvet |
Embark is a biotechnology and canine genomics firm headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, providing dog DNA testing solutions to pet owners, breeders, and veterinary professionals.
History
Established in 2015 in Austin, Texas, Embark was created by siblings Adam Boyko and Ryan Boyko, along with Matt Salzberg and Spencer Wells. The Boyko brothers had dedicated nearly ten years to gathering canine DNA samples for studies on dog ancestry and health, which ultimately inspired the launch of Embark. The company offers DNA testing services targeting dog owners, breeders, and veterinarians with the objective of improving knowledge about hereditary health risks and supporting genetic research.
Adam Boyko serves as an associate professor at Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. Ryan Boyko, who acts as Embark’s CEO, previously conducted independent research at Cornell and holds degrees in computer science and biology from Harvard University. Spencer Wells formerly led the Genographic Project at the National Geographic Society, while Matt Salzberg co-founded the meal kit service Blue Apron.
Embark made its public debut at South by Southwest in March 2016 and began offering its DNA testing products within that year. In 2016, the company raised $1.6 million in seed capital led by Slow Ventures and Aspiration Growth Fund. This was followed by a $4.5 million funding round in 2017 led by Founder Collective, including investment from 23andMe founder Anne Wojcicki.
In 2017, Embark relocated its main office from Austin to Boston while retaining its primary scientific team in Ithaca, New York. That same year, it joined Cornell’s McGovern Center incubator for life sciences startups and established a research collaboration with Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine.
Criticism
Embark collects genetic data submitted by customers for research purposes unless users explicitly opt out, which has raised privacy concerns. Some veterinary professionals express skepticism regarding the absence of standardized protocols in canine DNA testing and difficulties interpreting test outcomes, despite acknowledging genetics’ potential role in disease management. In 2018, NPR reported on inaccuracies in dog DNA tests that could result in unnecessary medical interventions or questionable clinical judgments. Additionally, Nature published an expert appeal urging caution to avoid misinterpretation of pet genetic information.
Research
In July 2017, Embark collaborated with Cornell University to analyze more than 6,000 dogs from various breeds to identify the genetic mutation responsible for blue eye coloration—a groundbreaking non-human genetic investigation. Dog owners submitted their Embark DNA test results along with survey responses; researchers identified a genetic variant associated with blue eyes found predominantly in Siberian Huskies.
Adam Boyko contributed to a 2015 study that traced the domestication of dogs back approximately 15,000 years to Central Asia. In 2016, he led the largest genome-wide association study on canine genetics ever conducted at Cornell Veterinary Medicine, examining DNA samples from over 10,000 dogs worldwide; the findings were published in Nature Communications.
See also
- Articles with short description
- Genetic genealogy companies
- Applied genetics
- Animal genetics
- American companies established in 2015
- Biotechnology companies established in 2015
- Biotechnology companies of the United States
- Companies based in Boston
- Privately held companies based in Massachusetts
- Veterinary companies of the United States