Cradle

Level 22: Biology, Chemistry & Drug Discovery

Science · Level 22

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In short

Cradle is an AI tool in the Biology & Medicine category from Cradle Bio B.V. in Amsterdam, Netherlands. The pricing model is paid. It is available in English only.

Company HQAmsterdam, Netherlands· Cradle Bio B.V.

What is Cradle?

Cradle is an AI platform designed for biologists to accelerate the protein engineering process through generative design. The software utilizes machine learning to suggest protein designs optimized for specific biological properties such as stability, solubility, or binding affinity. Instead of relying on time-consuming trial-and-error laboratory methods, Cradle enables the pre-selection of promising candidates through in-silico experiments.

The interface integrates into existing laboratory workflows, helping scientists manage their data centrally and evaluate results in real-time. By continuously incorporating feedback loops from the laboratory, the AI learns from every experiment and significantly improves its predictions for future development cycles. This leads to a drastic reduction in the number of laboratory iterations required.

In addition to the software, the company provides technical interfaces that allow seamless data exchange between biological data sources and the AI platform. Users can choose from a variety of models specialized for specific protein engineering tasks. The goal is to make the development of new enzymes, therapeutics, and biological materials more efficient and cost-effective.

Core features & strengths

  • Generative Protein Design — The platform uses state-of-the-art AI models to suggest sequences that meet specific biological requirements. This allows for targeted protein optimization as early as the design phase.
  • Experimental Feedback — Scientists can feed their lab results directly back into the system. The AI processes this data to continuously increase the accuracy of its future predictions.
  • Collaboration Platform — The software provides tools for teams to securely share research findings and plan experiments together. This encourages interdisciplinary knowledge exchange within the lab.

Who is this tool for?

The tool is primarily aimed at molecular biologists, biochemists, and researchers in the pharmaceutical and industrial biotechnology sectors. It is ideal for teams conducting protein engineering who wish to optimize their lab workflows using modern AI methods.

Typical use case

A biotech company aims to develop an enzyme that remains stable in industrial detergents at low temperatures. The team uploads existing sequence and activity data to the Cradle platform, which then generates thousands of variant suggestions. By simulating thermostability, researchers can select the top 20 candidates for subsequent laboratory synthesis. This process reduces the number of required lab test series from hundreds to a minimum, saving both time and resources.

What is Cradle good for?

  • The tool is primarily aimed at molecular biologists, biochemists, and researchers in the pharmaceutical and industrial biotechnology sectors. It is ideal for teams conducting protein engineering who wish to optimize their lab workflows using modern AI methods.
  • A biotech company aims to develop an enzyme that remains stable in industrial detergents at low temperatures.
  • Generative Protein Design: The platform uses state-of-the-art AI models to suggest sequences that meet specific biological requirements. This allows for targeted protein optimization as early as the design phase.
  • Experimental Feedback: Scientists can feed their lab results directly back into the system. The AI processes this data to continuously increase the accuracy of its future predictions.
  • Collaboration Platform: The software provides tools for teams to securely share research findings and plan experiments together. This encourages interdisciplinary knowledge exchange within the lab.

When a different tool fits better

Cradle should not be used if no biological source data is available, as the AI relies on high-quality input data. Furthermore, the tool is not designed for clinical diagnostics or direct medical applications on humans.

Pricing & plans

Cradle offers a free starter model as well as paid tiers for teams and enterprises with advanced features.Freemium

Supported languages

DEGerman — not supportedENEnglish — fully supported

The user interface and all documentation for Cradle are available exclusively in English.

Interface = the tool's menu language, content = the language you can work in. Without guarantee — vendors keep expanding their language coverage.

Privacy & GDPR

European provider (Switzerland/Netherlands) with EU hosting. Customer data stays separated per project and does not feed other customers' models; data processing agreement available.

Fact sheet

Fact sheet with the key data
VendorCradle Bio B.V.
HeadquartersAmsterdam, Netherlands
CategoryBiology & Medicine
Pyramid levelLevel 22 – Biology, Chemistry & Drug Discovery
Pricing modelPaid
Free forever optionNo
Open SourceNo
Entry planStarter: 0 $ (0 €)
Germannot supported
Englishinterface and content
Privacy classificationGDPR / EU
Data processing agreementData Processing Agreements (DPA) are provided for enterprise customers as part of their service contracts.

Alternatives to Cradle

  • AlphaFold — Open Source · HQ: London, United Kingdom · GDPR / EU
  • ESMFold — Open Source · HQ: Menlo Park, United States · GDPR / EU
  • Owkin — Paid · HQ: Paris, France · Unclear
  • RoseTTAFold — Open Source · HQ: Seattle, United States · US Cloud
  • Schrödinger Maestro — Paid · HQ: New York, United States · Unclear

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Frequently asked questions

How much does Cradle cost?

Cradle offers a free starter model as well as paid tiers for teams and enterprises with advanced features. Current plans: Starter: 0 $ (0 €); Team: 99 $ (92 €); Enterprise: upon request (upon request).

Is Cradle free?

Cradle offers a limited free tier; the full feature set requires a paid plan. Free access requires registration. Enterprise pricing depends on specific requirements and user counts.

Does Cradle support German?

No. Cradle is English-only and has no German interface. The user interface and all documentation for Cradle are available exclusively in English.

How does Cradle handle data privacy?

Data is processed on secure cloud servers, with infrastructure primarily hosted within the EU (AWS/Google Cloud). Customer inputs and design data are not used for training Cradle's general models by default. The platform is designed for professional research data; however, highly confidential IP should not be uploaded without verifying current security protocols.

Who is behind Cradle?

Cradle is operated by Cradle Bio B.V., headquartered in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

Where does Cradle sit in the AI Tool Pyramid?

Cradle sits on level 22 (“Biology, Chemistry & Drug Discovery”) and belongs to the Biology & Medicine category. Levels group tools by topic and are not a ranking.

Is Cradle GDPR-compliant?

Cradle operates at European data protection level: the vendor documents EU processing or EU data centres and offers a data processing agreement. For business use, concluding that agreement remains mandatory.

What are alternatives to Cradle?

Comparable tools in the same category are AlphaFold, ESMFold, Owkin, RoseTTAFold. They differ mainly in pricing model, company location and data protection level, so a direct comparison is worthwhile before deciding.