When you speak with Deepshikha Satish, the founder of Dr Omics Labs, one thing becomes clear almost instantly: she didn’t enter entrepreneurship for glamour. She entered because the science pushed her there.

A PhD in Translational Bioinformatics, years of work in cancer genomics, and hands-on experience with tools like RNA-seq gave her a deep understanding of how powerful molecular diagnostics could be in preventing disease. But what she didn’t see in India was speed, accessibility, and affordability in genetic testing. That gap is what shaped Dr Omics Labs.

Her realisation was simple: the science was ready, but the access wasn’t.

From Research Bench to Building a Lab

Deepshikha’s journey didn’t start with a business plan. It started with a question:

Why should advanced genetic insights be limited to a few hospitals or a few cities?

Her academic background gave her the clarity to build scientifically sound tests, but programs at IIT Delhi and Stanford Seed Spark helped her understand the business and operational side of her plans. She had the technical skills, but she needed the frameworks to build a company around them.

What Dr Omics Really Does

In simple terms, Dr Omics Labs translates your DNA into understandable, actionable information.

You give a sample.
The lab sequences and analyses it.
You receive insights you can use.

Their key focus areas include:

• Cancer predisposition panels

• Cardiovascular and metabolic risk tests

• Diabetes and lifestyle-related genomics

• Advanced RNA-based and bioinformatics services

Their reports combine scientific accuracy with clear explanations and both pre-test and post-test counselling to ensure people understand what their data means. Responsible communication is something Deepshikha deeply believes in.

Cracking India’s Biggest Barriers

When asked what stops India from adopting genetic testing widely, she lists four things:

1. Low awareness

2. Cost

3. Regulatory caution

4. Doctor acceptance

Dr Omics works around these issues by using evidence-based reports, ISO-certified processes, and local validation. She often uses ICMR and Indian cohort data to build trust among clinicians.

To her, science only matters if people can actually use it.

Who They Serve

Their customers include:

• Hospitals

• Clinicians

• Diagnostic chains

• Direct-to-customer health-conscious users

• Research organisations in India and abroad

Partnerships like AWS Research Sponsorship, Startup India and MSME recognition, and ISO certifications have helped strengthen their credibility.

Training the Next Generation

Deepshikha also runs bioinformatics training programs because she believes the skill gap in India is real. Students know theory, but real-world application is often missing.

She looks for two things while hiring: curiosity and the willingness to figure things out. Degrees matter less than mindset.

Failures, Feedback, and the Fundraising Reality Check

She smiles while recalling her first few months of fundraising.

October was full of no.
November was full of no.
December was the same story.

Things changed when she altered her pitch based on investor feedback. By February and March, the first yes came in. And that single yes changed everything.

According to her, fundraising is one of the quickest ways to stay grounded.

Competition and What Sets Dr Omics Apart

The Indian genetic testing landscape is still evolving, but Deepshikha doesn’t position Dr Omics around sheer scale. She focuses on:

• Strong internal scientific pipelines

• High accuracy

• Ethical counselling

• Customised panels

• Fast turnaround times

Predictive genomics comes with risks such as misinterpretation, unnecessary fear, and false positives. Dr Omics tackles this with both scientific precision and human guidance.

What Keeps Her Up at Night?

Not technology.
Not competition.

Execution.

Scaling genomics in a way that is responsible, affordable, and scientifically sound is the hardest part. And that is what motivates her every single day.

The Future of Dr Omics

Her vision for the next 3 to 5 years includes:

• Wider clinical adoption

• Presence in more Indian cities

• A broader test portfolio

• Stronger genetic counselling

• A meaningful societal impact through early detection and prevention

Her Advice to Young Researchers and Women Entrepreneurs

To researchers:
Do not stay confined to the lab. Translate your science into something people can use.

To women entering genomics:
Do not underestimate yourself. The industry needs your perspective more than ever.

Deepshikha Satish’s journey is not the usual startup story. It is not about chasing trends. It is about connecting what exists in science with what is missing in society. One test at a time, she is building that bridge.