For the past 4+ years, Volta has been reimagining. Reimagining what is possible for the future of sample prep through complex sample manipulation technology, foundational apps and a top-tier team. And now, Callisto sits in labs worldwide. 

From shipping Callisto in North America and beyond, to the commercial launch of new “genomics apps,” partnerships, and publications, 2024 was a year of driving real impact across genomics. Every step forward reflects the hard work, dedication, and vision of our team. Together, we’ve navigated challenges with resilience, and celebrated wins—big and small—that set the foundation for what’s next. Cheers to 2024 and we’re excited to continue revolutionizing genomics in 2025!

• 1st commercial instrument launched (Callisto)
• 4 apps released
• 5 partnerships announced
• 13 publications
• 6 conferences attended
• 12 company-wide events
• 336 coffee dates

📦 Ready, set, ship

• 1st commercial instrument launched (Callisto)

February was a big month for Volta Labs. We officially announced the commercial launch of Callisto! After 4+ years in development, Callisto is transforming the way core labs, biotech companies, and clinical testing labs are able to effectively go from sample to sequencer. Our customers are now processing samples that range from microbes, to fish, plants and humans. Amongst many other things, Callisto is reducing cost for core labs and shrinking the number of labor hours by 3 days for each run. Our platform is enabling clinical labs to impact newborns and patients through clinical testing. And this is only the beginning. 

When we shipped our first customer instrument, we all got to wave goodbye as it left our loading dock and sent our well wishes. We then followed with a champagne toast and cake to celebrate!

🧪 We built sample prep from the ground up

• 4 apps released

Callisto arrives at our customers' labs with pre-loaded applications that work out-of-the-box, enabling their teams to do more with less preparation. Our customers have been so impressed by what our applications enable for them. At one deployment this year, a customer said, “You guys were ridiculous today, starting a PacBio run in the morning and then walking out with your backpacks on the very first run shows this is a true walk-away instrument!” If you haven’t seen the Volta Apps menu, here’s a snapshot of what our team delivered in 2024:

• Volta's DNA Library Prep for Illumina offers scalable library prep solutions for projects and genomes of all sizes. Fully automated library prep on Callisto delivers high-quality Illumina libraries that match or exceed standard primary sequencing and variant calling metrics.
• Hyb Capture app for IDT xGen™ NGS offers efficient hybridization capture for both small and large panels, significantly reducing run failures and ensuring consistent sequencing quality. 
• Library Prep app for PacBio™ SMRTbell 3.0  delivers efficient library prep with up to 5.5 hours of walk-away time, supporting flexible batch sizes up to 24 reactions and achieving HiFi libraries with comparable sequencing metrics. ‍
• Our DNA Extraction app simplifies extraction with rapid turnaround and no complex programming, offering consistent yields and fragment sizes across various sample types. Two apps; one suitable for long-read and one suitable for short-read.

🤝 We partnered with industry leaders

• 5 partnerships announced

Partnering with industry leaders like Watchmaker Genomics, PacBio, IDT, Element Biosciences, and Qiagen allows us to collaboratively bring the best chemistries and sequencing quality to the sequencing ecosystem. We couldn’t do it without them, and they couldn’t do it without us. 

This year has been especially exciting for us—we’re thrilled to share that we’ve partnered with PacBio to support those who are beginning with PacBio sequencing or expanding their current capabilities. Catch us on their website!

📣 We shared Volta with the world

• 13 publications

Seeing how Callisto is able to transform the way that our customers’ labs operate is raising the bar across genomics. But don’t take it from us, listen to the experts themselves. In a webinar featuring guest speakers from Mount Sinai and PacBio, Mount Sinai noted the quality of the samples and training time (or lack thereof!) for users. Additionally, we’re thrilled to see organizations like Broad Clinical Labs and Hartwig Medical Foundation sharing their experiences with Callisto. Seeing customers, researchers, and partners champion what we’ve created serves as a testament to the dedication and talent of our team.

✈️ We traveled with Callisto, coast to coast

• 6 conferences attended

Callisto has been on quite a coast-to-coast journey this year. We brought the team and the technology to Florida (for AGBT), to Colorado (for ASHG) right back to Boston for the Festival of Genomics conference here in our own backyard. (Fun fact: the Festival of Genomics was held at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center—just steps away from Volta HQ in the Seaport!). The opportunity to connect with different communities and share new tools across various forums is what continues to inspire our team. 

Not to mention, swag is something we take seriously here at Volta. This year our giveaways at AGBT kept participants warm amidst a Florida cold spell.

🥳 We had FUN!

• 12 company-wide events

When you work hard, you’ve got to play hard – and we absolutely did! Each month, our team comes together for a fun-filled activity with great food, drinks, and plenty of laughs. We kicked off the year with a Paint & Sip event, where we tried our hand at recreating Van Gogh’s A Starry Night—with a Volta twist. Fun fact: Many of Volta’s engineers and scientists are also talented artists!

But we didn’t stop there. Throughout the year, we held two exciting ping pong tournaments, hit the mini-golf course, built epic Lego creations, and dove into board games galore. Our snack spreads were just as impressive, featuring sushi, ice cream bars, build-your-own acai bowls, fried chicken, sliders, bubble tea, and more.

One of the highlights of the year was our Spooky event in October—the first event hosted by Volta Vibes, our newly-formed group of Voltarians dedicated to spreading good vibes and great times. At this inaugural event, we enjoyed trick-or-treating, fondue, and mini-pumpkin painting. Once again, our team’s hidden talents were on full display!

☕ We are caffeinated and connected

• 336 coffee dates

At Volta, one thing we pride ourselves on is how tight-knit our team is — we truly enjoy spending time together. One of the ways we nurture these connections is through our popular ‘coffee dates’ program, which is one of the team’s favorite initiatives! This employee-led program pairs folks from different parts of the company into both a small group (up to three) and a larger group (up to five) and gives them the chance to meet for Volta-sponsored coffee, drinks, or food. With two opportunities to connect every month, it’s the perfect chance to make meaningful connections across teams.

There’s no set agenda – just a relaxed, fun environment where people can get to know each other outside of work. Whether it’s a quick chat over coffee or a more extended hangout, these moments help us strengthen the bonds that make Volta feel like a true community. It’s all about fostering those personal connections that keep our team close-knit and collaborative, all while having a great time!

That’s a wrap!

To everyone who has been part of this journey—whether you’ve been with us from the start or have joined us along the way—thank you. Your trust, collaboration, and shared vision are what fuel our drive to push the boundaries of what is possible for genomics. As we look ahead to 2025, we’re more excited than ever to continue leading the way in walk-away sample prep, and accelerating what’s possible with NGS applications.

The journey is just beginning, and we can’t wait to continue building on this momentum. Stay tuned—big things are coming, and the best is yet to come!