Kent Kemmish
Kent Kemmish is the CEO and Founder of Molecular Reality Corporation, a pioneering biotech startup building nanopore-based molecular sensors marketed as gaming consoles. With over 15 years of experience in molecular biology and biotechnology, Kent has led groundbreaking initiatives in DNA sequencing, aging research, and now utility-scale molecular sensing.
Kent is leading the development of a platform that aims to revolutionize how scientists understand and interact with molecular structures, potentially accelerating the creation of new medicines. His company was part of the Y Combinator S18 batch, a testament to its innovative approach in the competitive biotech landscape. Read Kent Kemmish, Founder of Molecular Reality and Molecular Reality Corporation Profile.
He has supervised the development of the MR1 Molecular Streaming Device (formerly Demonpore 64), the world’s first scientific instrument control software that doubles as a gaming platform, democratizing access to advanced molecular sensing technology.
Kent’s early scientific work included drosophila research at the Arizona Cancer Center and developing enzymes to break down age-related aggregates as part of Aubrey de Grey’s LysoSENS project at the Biodesign Institute at Arizona State University. Read Medical Bioremediation: A Concept Moving Toward Reality and Molecular Threading: Mechanical Extraction, Stretching and Placement of DNA Molecules from a Liquid-Air Interface.
At Molecular Reality Corporation since 2018, Kent has been developing utility-scale molecular sensing through gamification, creating a global network of “Player Scientists” who collect molecular data while playing games. The company’s innovative approach uses solid-state nanopores with sliding occlusion technology to enable tunable, dynamic translocation control. This technology makes molecular sensing as accessible and universal as electricity or internet services. Read Molecular Reality Corporation and Kent Kemmish – CEO & Founder @ Molecular Reality.
Molecular Reality received acceptance into Y Combinator in 2018 and has raised close to $1.6 million in pre-seed funding. Read Kent Kemmish about Science Gamification and Podcast with Kent Kemmish on Molecular Programming.
Kent was a founding team member at Halcyon Molecular, a venture-backed startup developing electron microscopy-based DNA sequencing techniques. He later helped recruit the early team at Synthego Corporation, which became a biotech unicorn and premier supplier of CRISPR reagents.
Before his scientific career, Kent served as Technical Director at the Planet Earth Multicultural Theatre in Phoenix, Arizona, where he was involved as director, actor, writer, and stage manager in more than 50 critically-acclaimed theatrical performances. As a child, Kent’s passion for programming video games on the Commodore 64 laid the foundation for his current work designing “molecular games” that transform scientific data collection into engaging gameplay experiences. Read Science — Molecular Reality. Listen to Molpigs Podcast Kent Kemmish.
Kent earned his degree from the University of Arizona between 2003 and 2008, with studies focused on biochemistry and molecular sciences. His undergraduate research included work in drosophila genetics at the Arizona Cancer Center and enzyme development for the LysoSENS project, where he investigated methods to break down intracellular aggregates associated with aging.
During his time at the University of Arizona, Kent developed expertise in biochemistry, life sciences, electron microscopy, and biotechnology, skills that would prove foundational for his later work in developing advanced molecular sensing technologies.
Kent has presented at numerous conferences including appearing on the molpigs Podcast discussing molecular programming and the future of distributed scientific research. In 2023, he was featured in TechAcute Profiles where he discussed the gamification of science and Molecular Reality’s mission to solve utility-scale molecular sensing. His research contributions include 13 publications with 46 citations, focusing on molecular threading techniques and medical bioremediation approaches.
Watch KENT KEMMISH – International Conference Biotech Planet.
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