Quantum-Si incorporated (QSI): Marketing Mix Analysis [Dec-2025 Updated]

You're looking to size up Quantum-Si Incorporated (QSI) before making a move, and honestly, figuring out the real story behind the hype in next-gen proteomics can be tough. As someone who's spent two decades in the trenches, including a stint leading analysis at BlackRock, I can tell you their late 2025 strategy boils down to a classic razor/razor-blade play: selling the Platinum instrument, maybe around $150,000 to $200,000, to lock in high-margin recurring revenue from those proprietary consumable chips. That's the core math. We'll break down exactly how their direct sales force in the US and Europe, coupled with heavy conference promotion, supports this model. Ready to see the full picture?

Quantum-Si incorporated (QSI) - Marketing Mix: Product

The product element for Quantum-Si incorporated (QSI) centers on its Next-Generation Protein Sequencing (NGPS) platform, designed to bring single-molecule protein analysis to the lab bench.

Platinum instrument: benchtop next-generation protein sequencing system

The flagship offering is the Platinum® Pro Next-Generation Protein Sequencer, a compact benchtop instrument. Shipments for the Platinum Pro began on March 26, 2025. This system is designed for direct protein detection with single-molecule resolution, avoiding the indirect, multi-step processes of traditional Mass Spectrometry. The Platinum Pro is currently available in more than 30 countries through Quantum-Si incorporated (QSI)'s direct and channel partner network.

Key capabilities of the Platinum Pro include:

• Single-molecule resolution sequencing down to single amino acids.
• Direct protein detection with real-time kinetic insights.
• Support for protein barcoding for profiling multiple samples at once.
• Deep proteoform interrogation, including variant and post-translational modification analysis.

High-margin consumable chips and proprietary reagents

The recurring revenue stream is driven by consumable kits, which management noted were performing slightly ahead of expectations in the second quarter of 2025. The gross margin is explicitly stated to be variable based on the mix of instrument sales versus consumable kit sales. For instance, the gross margin for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, was 52%, while the third quarter of 2025 gross margin was 35%. This compares to a 59% gross margin in the second quarter of 2025.

Product development for consumables is advancing:

• The version 4 sequencing kit was undergoing validation and expected to launch in the third quarter of 2025, offering increased proteome coverage.
• The version 3 library preparation kit remains on track for launch by the end of 2025, targeting a 100-fold reduction in sample input requirement.

Carbon instrument: smaller, lower-throughput system for broader access

Quantum-Si incorporated (QSI) has not provided specific details or financial figures for a product named the Carbon instrument as of late 2025. However, the company is advancing its next-generation platform, Proteus. Management confirmed successful sequencing runs on a prototype Proteus system in the third quarter of 2025, with the platform launch targeted for the second half of 2026. The company has also implemented an instrument placement program for the Platinum Pro to increase the installed base despite capital purchasing headwinds.

Here's a look at the recent financial performance tied to product sales:

Software suite for data analysis and workflow integration

The product ecosystem includes the Platinum Analysis software, which supports the Platinum Pro workflow. This software facilitates the analysis of proteomic data generated by the instrument. The Platinum Pro system offers flexibility in data analysis, allowing for either local or cloud-based processing environments. Furthermore, the Pro Mode feature within the Platinum Pro is offered through a Technology Access Program, enabling custom application development for biopharmaceutical partners.

Quantum-Si incorporated (QSI) - Marketing Mix: Place

Quantum-Si incorporated (QSI) deploys its Platinum and Platinum Pro instruments and consumable kits through a targeted, multi-channel approach designed to build an installed base in key research segments.

Direct sales force targeting academic and biopharma research labs.

The deployment strategy in the United States relies on a direct sales force. This team is actively working to increase the funnel of opportunities, particularly within the pharma and biotech market segments, as evidenced by specific initiatives executed during the second quarter of 2025. To counteract headwinds from United States academic market softness and uncertainty in National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding, Quantum-Si incorporated (QSI) launched an instrument placement program in the third quarter of 2025. This program allows for the deployment of sequencing technology to academic customers who were previously constrained by the capital spending environment, aiming to drive awareness and capture future consumable volume. For the nine months ended September 30, 2025, the company recorded total revenue of $2.0 million.

Strategic focus on US and European key markets for initial penetration.

Geographically, Quantum-Si incorporated (QSI) maintains a distinct structure: a direct sales force is deployed within the United States, while Europe utilizes a combined direct and distributor approach. The impact of the US academic market softness in the second quarter of 2025, which saw revenue of only $591,000 for that quarter, highlights the sensitivity of the capital sales channel to macro funding environments. The focus on international markets is significant, as data from the end of the first quarter of 2025 showed that 60% of installed instruments were located outside the United States.

Expanding global distribution network via select partners.

Global reach is heavily augmented by a network of select distribution partners. This network has seen rapid expansion to accelerate the adoption of the Platinum instrument line across various geographies. The growth in the number of partners supporting Quantum-Si incorporated (QSI) is detailed below:

• Partner count as of December 12, 2024: 15 partners.
• Partner count as of the end of the first quarter of 2025: 23 partners.

This expansion in late 2024 and early 2025 included further penetration across Western Europe, Eastern Europe, and Asia, alongside new entry into the Middle East, Africa, South America, and the South Pacific regions. Furthermore, a North American distribution agreement with Avantor was announced in November 2024, supplementing the direct sales efforts in that region.

Centralized service and support model for instrument maintenance.

While specific figures on service contract penetration or instrument uptime are not publicly detailed for late 2025, the overall strategy is built around a centralized service and support model to maintain the installed base. The recurring revenue stream, which comes from consumable kits, is directly dependent on instrument uptime and utilization. The company is actively launching new consumable kits, such as the version 4 Sequencing Kit, and has the version 3 Library Prep Kit for low input samples on track for launch before the end of 2025, all of which rely on a functioning, supported instrument base. For the trailing twelve months ending September 30, 2025, total revenue was approximately $3.18 million, a figure that includes both instrument sales and these recurring consumable sales.

Quantum-Si incorporated (QSI) - Marketing Mix: Promotion

You're looking at the promotional push Quantum-Si incorporated is making to drive adoption of its Platinum line of instruments and consumables, especially as they gear up for the Proteus platform launch in the second half of 2026. The strategy clearly centers on scientific validation and direct engagement with the research community.

Heavy presence at major scientific conferences like AGBT and HUPO

Quantum-Si incorporated made sure its presence was felt at key industry gatherings throughout 2025. For instance, at the US Human Proteome Organization (HUPO) 2025 conference in Philadelphia, the company was active on February 25, 2025. This included sponsoring and moderating a panel discussion titled "Breaking Boundaries: How Next-Generation Protein Sequencing™ is Shaping the Future of Proteomics."

The promotional activity at these events is designed to generate buzz and secure early adopters. Here's a snapshot of the financial context surrounding their Q3 2025 operations, which informs the scale of their marketing investment:

Key Opinion Leader (KOL) engagement and peer-reviewed publications

A core tenet of Quantum-Si incorporated's promotion is enabling research that leads to external validation. The instrument placement program is a direct tactic to achieve this, as management stated that increasing customer utilization is expected to help fulfill goals of driving awareness and "enabling studies that will drive publications."

The HUPO 2025 event showcased this in action, featuring scientific posters presented by researchers from institutions including the University of Virginia, University of Illinois Chicago, and the University of Michigan, all highlighting work using the Platinum® Pro instrument.

• Poster on resolving tropomyosin peptidoforms at single-amino-acid level.
• Poster on reducing protein input for Next-Generation Protein Sequencing.

Digital marketing focused on proteomics and single-molecule analysis

While specific digital marketing spend figures aren't public, the focus is clearly on communicating technological differentiation. The company highlights its platform's ability to provide 'real-time kinetic-based detection' and 'dynamic, functional protein insights with unparalleled resolution.' The launch of new consumable kits is a key promotional point to drive recurring usage.

For example, the launch and benefits of the version 4 Sequencing Kit were highlighted in Q3 2025, and the version 3 Library Prep Kit for low input samples was confirmed to be on track for launch before year-end 2025.

Targeted sales outreach to high-volume research institutions

To counter headwinds like NIH funding uncertainty, Quantum-Si incorporated launched a range of instrument acquisition options, including its instrument placement program. This program allowed deployment of sequencing technology to several new academic customers who might not have been able to acquire the platform through traditional capital sales in the quarter. The appointment of Todd Bennett as Chief Commercial Officer is a direct organizational move to improve sales processes.

The goal of these outreach efforts is clear: increasing the number of customers utilizing the technology to capture consumable volume and revenue. The company's cash position as of September 30, 2025, was $230.5 million, which management believes carries operations into the second quarter of 2028, supporting this long-term sales build-out.

Investor relations emphasizing the total addressable market (TAM) growth

Investor relations materials, such as the presentation furnished on November 19, 2025, at the Investor & Analyst Day, focus on the long-term opportunity. The company is framing its current commercialization efforts as building momentum toward the future Proteus platform launch. Management has expressed confidence in the long-term market opportunity in proteomics, despite short-term commercial results.

The company's guidance for the full year 2025 included an expectation that total cash use would be $103 million or less. The cash and marketable securities balance as of June 30, 2025, was $214.2 million.

Quantum-Si incorporated (QSI) - Marketing Mix: Price

You're looking at how Quantum-Si incorporated (QSI) structures the money customers pay for their proteomics tools, which is heavily leaning into a recurring revenue stream model. This strategy is designed to lower the initial barrier to entry for labs facing capital spending constraints, like those in the academic sector dealing with NIH funding uncertainty.

The core of the pricing strategy is the razor/razor-blade model. Quantum-Si incorporated (QSI) has launched an expanded set of instrument acquisition options specifically to get the Platinum Pro instrument into more labs without requiring immediate, large capital outlay. The goal here is clear: increasing the number of customers utilizing the technology is expected to help fulfill the goals of driving greater awareness, enabling studies that will drive publications, and capturing consumable volume and revenue.

This focus on consumables drives the high recurring revenue component. While the upfront instrument sale might be structured to be more accessible, the financial results show the importance of the ongoing revenue from kits and reagents. For instance, in the third quarter of 2025, the revenue of $552,000 consisted of revenue from the Platinum line of instruments, consumable kits, and related services. The gross margin for that quarter was 35%, which management noted is variable in the near term due to the mix of instrument versus consumable sales. To give you a comparison, the gross margin for the first half of 2025 was 58% on revenue of $1.4 million.

The pricing for consumables is designed to capture value from high-throughput, repeat usage. The company is actively launching new consumables that enhance performance, which supports the value proposition for repeat purchases. For example, the Version 4 Sequencing Kit launched in the third quarter of 2025, and the Version 3 Library Prep Kit is confirmed on track for launch before year-end 2025. This continuous improvement in the recurring product helps maintain the perceived value against competitors in the mass spectrometry and other proteomics tool space.

Here's a quick look at the recent financial performance that reflects this revenue mix:

The strategy to increase the installed base through placement programs is a direct response to market conditions, aiming to secure future consumable revenue streams. The company deployed technology to 12 new academic customers in the third quarter through this placement program. The CFO noted that the gross margin rate is expected to be variable as the company works through the initial stages of commercialization and the timing of sales between instruments and consumable kits.

The consumable pricing strategy is supported by ongoing product development milestones:

• Version 4 Sequencing Kit launched in early September 2025.
• Version 3 Library Prep Kit expected for launch before year-end 2025.
• The Version 3 kit targets a 100-fold reduction in sample input requirement.
• Successful sequencing runs completed on a prototype Proteus system in Q3 2025.

The company's cash position as of September 30, 2025, was $230.5 million, which is anticipated to carry operations into the second quarter of 2028, giving them the financial strength to pursue this placement-heavy pricing model. Finance: draft 13-week cash view by Friday.