fieldfoundry.com

What It Is

Field Foundry is an analytical chemistry laboratory based at the Queen Mary Innovation Centre in Whitechapel, London. It provides liquid chromatography testing for external clients, including biotech startups, university research groups, food and beverage producers, and preclinical research teams. Strictly speaking, it is not a typical SaaS or enterprise software product, but a laboratory testing service that uses its website for communication, quotes, and repeat orders.

Core Capabilities and Deliverables

The service is built around what needs to be measured in R&D samples: concentration quantification, whether a specific compound is present, composition/peak-profile analysis, batch comparison, and identity confirmation. Current capabilities include HPLC/UPLC, chromatography for proteins and polymers, and RID detection for non-UV-absorbing substances such as sugars, polyols, and organic acids. Each order includes chromatograms and raw data files. Method Setup delivers documentation for the configured method, while Sample Analysis provides a results summary that directly answers the customer’s question.

Pricing and Payment

Pricing transparency is fairly good. New compounds, new sample matrices, or methods that have not yet been configured require Method Setup, starting at £800. If an extraction/cleanup workflow needs to be developed from scratch, this is usually quoted separately; quantitative methods start at around £1,200. Once a method is configured, pricing is based on a batch fee plus a per-sample fee. For example, Simple HPLC costs a £475 batch fee plus £15 per sample. The default payment method is card payment via Stripe, while approved customers may use purchase orders with 30-day payment terms.

Pros and Cons

The advantages are clear public pricing, work starting after a fixed quote is agreed, an emphasis on results within days, support for 96-well plates and high-throughput projects, and no requirement for customers to know the exact analytical method in advance. The limitations are also clear: it does not provide certification, regulatory testing, clinical diagnostics, forensic testing, or release testing; mass spectrometry confirmation must be arranged on a project basis; turnaround time depends on the queue and method; and the website does not disclose enterprise software features such as APIs, permissions, collaboration tools, or audit logs.

Best Fit and Access from China

Field Foundry is suitable for overseas research teams and biotech/food R&D groups that need fast R&D data, especially for small-batch to medium-throughput outsourced HPLC/UPLC testing. Chinese teams considering the service should account for cross-border sample shipping, customs and biological material restrictions, GBP/VAT costs, and Stripe or PO payment workflows. Website accessibility from China is unknown. Domestic alternatives may include local CROs, third-party testing laboratories, or university shared instrumentation platforms.