New Lab - Koverlabs, a bit concerning?
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@gym.rat “Self-explanatory”? I don’t understand what is supposedly so concerning. Is the vial insert the object that concerns you? It is simply an insert placed inside the vial to facilitate injection while minimizing excess sample waste.
I’m not here to convince anyone. I’m here to provide context for any researchers who may come across this thread.
Competition breeds innovation. Freedom Labs recently announced that it will begin accepting online submissions, and Vanguard has finally moved to online COA verification.
I took out a high-interest loan because I believed there was a need for a modern laboratory in this space. It was clear to me that the industry had remained stagnant. With that loan, I purchased my first HPLC system.
Working out of my basement, I taught myself the chemistry, software, and hardware involved in peptide analytics. My computer science background allowed me to build my own website and online platform. I spent my days working two remote software engineering jobs and my nights building the business.
Using Finnrick’s rankings, I cold-emailed nearly every U.S. vendor on their list with the promise of a modern, easy-to-use online system supported by much-needed personal service.
After weeks of struggles, clients began slowly trickling in. Yes, the original address I posted was a virtual address, but more importantly, it was a commercial mailing address where I could securely receive samples. I’m not sure why this has become such a contentious topic. Many companies begin in their founders’ homes, and virtual commercial addresses exist specifically to support businesses in that stage of growth.
My clients appreciated the level of customer service I provided, as well as the quality of our testing. I’m also not sure why anyone would believe that multimillion-dollar companies would entrust their samples to a laboratory without first conducting proper vetting.
Regardless, our clientele grew to the point that I was able to leave my career behind and dedicate my full attention to Kovera.
We currently operate from a leased 3,100-square-foot facility in Buffalo Grove, Illinois. The space is divided into three primary sections. The first contains formal offices, a reception area, and a waiting area. The second is our main laboratory, while the final third is dedicated to receiving and dock operations.
I have had to scale the business rapidly, which has sometimes meant moving into spaces that were not yet formally renovated or completely ready for us. Growth requires flexibility and the ability to adapt to setbacks as they occur.
The “darkness” surrounding Kovera is not because I believe we have something to hide. It comes from my respect for professionalism and my desire to put our best foot forward.
I have seen laboratories publish tours showing customers’ samples stored in Ziploc bags. I would personally be embarrassed to publicize that level of unreadiness, and I shudder to think about the condition of the rest of an operation presented that way.
I grew this business from a single Agilent HPLC system that I could barely afford into a laboratory equipped with eight HPLC systems, two LC-MS systems, an ICP-MS, a BACT/ALERT sterility system, six Charles River Endosafe readers, and additional analytical equipment that continues to expand our testing capabilities. I am investing in a Nexus 200 ($200K) which will facilitate endotoxin testing along with $150K in official lab casework (cabinets and shelving). Everything we've earned continues to be re-invested back into the lab and shortly, we will be open to the public.
Our newest LC-MS system is an Agilent 6546 Q-TOF. I made it a specific goal to acquire this instrument because it allows us to perform comprehensive sample scans and gain a deeper understanding of potential impurities that may be present.
As a researcher myself, I appreciate what peptides have done for my health. I also understand the importance of knowing exactly what we are working with.
Regards,
Aj
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@gym.rat “Self-explanatory”? I don’t understand what is supposedly so concerning. Is the vial insert the object that concerns you? It is simply an insert placed inside the vial to facilitate injection while minimizing excess sample waste.
I’m not here to convince anyone. I’m here to provide context for any researchers who may come across this thread.
Competition breeds innovation. Freedom Labs recently announced that it will begin accepting online submissions, and Vanguard has finally moved to online COA verification.
I took out a high-interest loan because I believed there was a need for a modern laboratory in this space. It was clear to me that the industry had remained stagnant. With that loan, I purchased my first HPLC system.
Working out of my basement, I taught myself the chemistry, software, and hardware involved in peptide analytics. My computer science background allowed me to build my own website and online platform. I spent my days working two remote software engineering jobs and my nights building the business.
Using Finnrick’s rankings, I cold-emailed nearly every U.S. vendor on their list with the promise of a modern, easy-to-use online system supported by much-needed personal service.
After weeks of struggles, clients began slowly trickling in. Yes, the original address I posted was a virtual address, but more importantly, it was a commercial mailing address where I could securely receive samples. I’m not sure why this has become such a contentious topic. Many companies begin in their founders’ homes, and virtual commercial addresses exist specifically to support businesses in that stage of growth.
My clients appreciated the level of customer service I provided, as well as the quality of our testing. I’m also not sure why anyone would believe that multimillion-dollar companies would entrust their samples to a laboratory without first conducting proper vetting.
Regardless, our clientele grew to the point that I was able to leave my career behind and dedicate my full attention to Kovera.
We currently operate from a leased 3,100-square-foot facility in Buffalo Grove, Illinois. The space is divided into three primary sections. The first contains formal offices, a reception area, and a waiting area. The second is our main laboratory, while the final third is dedicated to receiving and dock operations.
I have had to scale the business rapidly, which has sometimes meant moving into spaces that were not yet formally renovated or completely ready for us. Growth requires flexibility and the ability to adapt to setbacks as they occur.
The “darkness” surrounding Kovera is not because I believe we have something to hide. It comes from my respect for professionalism and my desire to put our best foot forward.
I have seen laboratories publish tours showing customers’ samples stored in Ziploc bags. I would personally be embarrassed to publicize that level of unreadiness, and I shudder to think about the condition of the rest of an operation presented that way.
I grew this business from a single Agilent HPLC system that I could barely afford into a laboratory equipped with eight HPLC systems, two LC-MS systems, an ICP-MS, a BACT/ALERT sterility system, six Charles River Endosafe readers, and additional analytical equipment that continues to expand our testing capabilities. I am investing in a Nexus 200 ($200K) which will facilitate endotoxin testing along with $150K in official lab casework (cabinets and shelving). Everything we've earned continues to be re-invested back into the lab and shortly, we will be open to the public.
Our newest LC-MS system is an Agilent 6546 Q-TOF. I made it a specific goal to acquire this instrument because it allows us to perform comprehensive sample scans and gain a deeper understanding of potential impurities that may be present.
As a researcher myself, I appreciate what peptides have done for my health. I also understand the importance of knowing exactly what we are working with.
Regards,
Aj @user_12968
Here is my main problem… You don’t reply to emails and they is no way to get in touch with anyone at your company. I also used the “correct” button under the COA section because you put my email address on the COA and I wanted it removed. That was never fixed. I was going to start using your company because I think your portal is great. You had a decent turn around time. But 4 emails and no reply… not so good. A company has to have a way for their customers to get in touch with them. -
@gym.rat “Self-explanatory”? I don’t understand what is supposedly so concerning. Is the vial insert the object that concerns you? It is simply an insert placed inside the vial to facilitate injection while minimizing excess sample waste.
I’m not here to convince anyone. I’m here to provide context for any researchers who may come across this thread.
Competition breeds innovation. Freedom Labs recently announced that it will begin accepting online submissions, and Vanguard has finally moved to online COA verification.
I took out a high-interest loan because I believed there was a need for a modern laboratory in this space. It was clear to me that the industry had remained stagnant. With that loan, I purchased my first HPLC system.
Working out of my basement, I taught myself the chemistry, software, and hardware involved in peptide analytics. My computer science background allowed me to build my own website and online platform. I spent my days working two remote software engineering jobs and my nights building the business.
Using Finnrick’s rankings, I cold-emailed nearly every U.S. vendor on their list with the promise of a modern, easy-to-use online system supported by much-needed personal service.
After weeks of struggles, clients began slowly trickling in. Yes, the original address I posted was a virtual address, but more importantly, it was a commercial mailing address where I could securely receive samples. I’m not sure why this has become such a contentious topic. Many companies begin in their founders’ homes, and virtual commercial addresses exist specifically to support businesses in that stage of growth.
My clients appreciated the level of customer service I provided, as well as the quality of our testing. I’m also not sure why anyone would believe that multimillion-dollar companies would entrust their samples to a laboratory without first conducting proper vetting.
Regardless, our clientele grew to the point that I was able to leave my career behind and dedicate my full attention to Kovera.
We currently operate from a leased 3,100-square-foot facility in Buffalo Grove, Illinois. The space is divided into three primary sections. The first contains formal offices, a reception area, and a waiting area. The second is our main laboratory, while the final third is dedicated to receiving and dock operations.
I have had to scale the business rapidly, which has sometimes meant moving into spaces that were not yet formally renovated or completely ready for us. Growth requires flexibility and the ability to adapt to setbacks as they occur.
The “darkness” surrounding Kovera is not because I believe we have something to hide. It comes from my respect for professionalism and my desire to put our best foot forward.
I have seen laboratories publish tours showing customers’ samples stored in Ziploc bags. I would personally be embarrassed to publicize that level of unreadiness, and I shudder to think about the condition of the rest of an operation presented that way.
I grew this business from a single Agilent HPLC system that I could barely afford into a laboratory equipped with eight HPLC systems, two LC-MS systems, an ICP-MS, a BACT/ALERT sterility system, six Charles River Endosafe readers, and additional analytical equipment that continues to expand our testing capabilities. I am investing in a Nexus 200 ($200K) which will facilitate endotoxin testing along with $150K in official lab casework (cabinets and shelving). Everything we've earned continues to be re-invested back into the lab and shortly, we will be open to the public.
Our newest LC-MS system is an Agilent 6546 Q-TOF. I made it a specific goal to acquire this instrument because it allows us to perform comprehensive sample scans and gain a deeper understanding of potential impurities that may be present.
As a researcher myself, I appreciate what peptides have done for my health. I also understand the importance of knowing exactly what we are working with.
Regards,
Aj Same question as @beekind
Why did you have to hunt down the owner of a mystery looking vial? Why not just do your job of testing it when it was paid for already and send back the results?
Why does it matter who's the owner of the vial? Do your test results depend on the ownership of the vial or what's in the vial?
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@user_12968
Here is my main problem… You don’t reply to emails and they is no way to get in touch with anyone at your company. I also used the “correct” button under the COA section because you put my email address on the COA and I wanted it removed. That was never fixed. I was going to start using your company because I think your portal is great. You had a decent turn around time. But 4 emails and no reply… not so good. A company has to have a way for their customers to get in touch with them.@Commander DM me your order number and I'll gladly take a look. Reach out on WhatsApp for the quickest direct feedback and support.
Our volume has been increasing dramatically the past few months and I believe all labs have been quite overwhelmed. Still, this isn't an excuse or justification for not responding so apologies for that.
I have implemented submission gating to reduce turnaround times, hopefully this won't be an issue in the future.
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@user_12968 i appreciate the responses. I find the best way to deal with stuff like this is honesty which you have shown from starting in your basement to building a business. Keep up the transparency it’s important on this space.
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Same question as @beekind
Why did you have to hunt down the owner of a mystery looking vial? Why not just do your job of testing it when it was paid for already and send back the results?
Why does it matter who's the owner of the vial? Do your test results depend on the ownership of the vial or what's in the vial?
@pep_researcher Cause it was fun. Maybe don't broadcast publicly, blind tests.
Results weren't returned because after I came on here I wasn't spoken to directly or acknowledged professionally. Frankly if the mod/admin is this unjust and rude I'm not sure my services will be judged fairly. His dispute wasn't countered and his funds were quickly returned.
It sounds like another one of your users, "Commander" used our services without broadcasting his intent. Why not ask him how it turned out?
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Now here is my feels on this. I believe the Kovara story is the same as all the US labs. People saw an opportunity, bought some equipment, self trained and boom the business around them grew so fast that these new popups became needed. Now do you want to trust people who are learning as they go that’s a decision we all have to make for ourselves. I really appreciated the honesty from Kovara though
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Now here is my feels on this. I believe the Kovara story is the same as all the US labs. People saw an opportunity, bought some equipment, self trained and boom the business around them grew so fast that these new popups became needed. Now do you want to trust people who are learning as they go that’s a decision we all have to make for ourselves. I really appreciated the honesty from Kovara though
@stevensanto This makes sense but I will say that I have invalidated all of your favorite labs COAs at least once if not more. Broadcasting these issues would be unprofessional of me so I'd rather leave it to my clients to choose to publicize their issues or not. Naturally they won't because they don't want problems with labs either.
I think it's understandable to scrutinize my business but I think we can all agree that every lab has had their share of mistakes. I will say that I don't think many are taking the steps I am in developing an entire database where every run is stored, analyzed, and compared to our entire history of tests.
I've also made it a goal of mine to reduce user-error by investing in technologies that require minimal human intervention i.e. the Nexus and BacT/Alert systems. Although these instruments carry higher per-sample costs, I believe the investment is justified by the lower error rates, improved consistency, and reduced need for repeat testing.
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@pep_researcher Cause it was fun. Maybe don't broadcast publicly, blind tests.
Results weren't returned because after I came on here I wasn't spoken to directly or acknowledged professionally. Frankly if the mod/admin is this unjust and rude I'm not sure my services will be judged fairly. His dispute wasn't countered and his funds were quickly returned.
It sounds like another one of your users, "Commander" used our services without broadcasting his intent. Why not ask him how it turned out?
Maybe don't broadcast publicly, blind tests.
It WAS a blind test. @randy didn't post the vial type and all details on X.com or FB on his public account or made a YT video. It was in thread here on this private community.
And your response is "it was fun?" Really? As a NEWLY establishing pep testing lab looking to generate more business, you know you have done a lot of shooting in own foot by all this drama, and you are continuing it unfortunately which isn't helping but hurting more.
But anyway, I for once, am going to stay away from anyone who's using Kovera for testing as I have huge doubts about the professionalism and honesty required in this space. And I'm concluding here, won't be replying further.
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Maybe don't broadcast publicly, blind tests.
It WAS a blind test. @randy didn't post the vial type and all details on X.com or FB on his public account or made a YT video. It was in thread here on this private community.
And your response is "it was fun?" Really? As a NEWLY establishing pep testing lab looking to generate more business, you know you have done a lot of shooting in own foot by all this drama, and you are continuing it unfortunately which isn't helping but hurting more.
But anyway, I for once, am going to stay away from anyone who's using Kovera for testing as I have huge doubts about the professionalism and honesty required in this space. And I'm concluding here, won't be replying further.
@pep_researcher A client brought this thread to my attention. I wasn't searching for it lol.
I'm not here to convince you or solicit your business. My clientele has continued to grow and you have every right to choose who you purchase product from.
My only reason for responding is to ensure that my side of the story is represented for anyone who may come across this thread.
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@user_12968 I appreciate you coming back here with detailed explanations. That is what I would expect from the beginning. If you just sent that sample as an ordinary one it would cut all the drama.
I have a question, why don't you print MS chart along with HPLC chart on your report as the other companies do? It is the most useful chart and it would be a record that you do test the identity. -
@user_12968 i appreciate that you finally came on here to help us get a better understanding. The issue I have is you really screwed over Glacier who are great people. I stopped ordering from them as did many others because we didn’t trust your lab results. You never get back lost revenue people just go somewhere else. You should have just done the damn test and stayed on here and communicated .
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@user_12968 I appreciate you coming back here with detailed explanations. That is what I would expect from the beginning. If you just sent that sample as an ordinary one it would cut all the drama.
I have a question, why don't you print MS chart along with HPLC chart on your report as the other companies do? It is the most useful chart and it would be a record that you do test the identity.@vpeptide Just a design choice really. My initial intent was to build a COA page that was able to provide as much testing data as possible.
The COA is meant to be easily digestible by the wide gamut of end-users who have varying degrees of knowledge of the testing process. The actual COA page is supposed to be the home of the entire data package including the COA, extra add-on reports, raw data, along with pictures and video of the testing process.
Frankly I just got extremely busy and the demand wasn't there for it. Usually clients would just download the pdf and upload it to their site because that was what they were used to.
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@user_12968 i appreciate that you finally came on here to help us get a better understanding. The issue I have is you really screwed over Glacier who are great people. I stopped ordering from them as did many others because we didn’t trust your lab results. You never get back lost revenue people just go somewhere else. You should have just done the damn test and stayed on here and communicated .
@Stevepep I think Steve is doing great, but I understand the sentiment. I've also saved him a couple of times from errant testing results from competing labs so quantifying net gain will never be simple.
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@Stevepep I think Steve is doing great, but I understand the sentiment. I've also saved him a couple of times from errant testing results from competing labs so quantifying net gain will never be simple.
@user_12968 Appreciate it. I hope you stay active over here; a lot of us do our own testing as well. You have certainly made me feel more comfortable. I have Kisspepin from Mile High and haven't taken it because you did the testing. Now I will. I really do appreciate you coming on here. I am a lifelong entrepreneur, so I sympathize with the growing pains and hope for your success it certainly looks like you are on your way
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@user_12968 Appreciate it. I hope you stay active over here; a lot of us do our own testing as well. You have certainly made me feel more comfortable. I have Kisspepin from Mile High and haven't taken it because you did the testing. Now I will. I really do appreciate you coming on here. I am a lifelong entrepreneur, so I sympathize with the growing pains and hope for your success it certainly looks like you are on your way
@Stevepep Thank you for your understanding and words of encouragement. I'm trying my best to build the business to the best of my abilities but am always open to constructive criticism.
Apologies if I don't respond in the future but I'll check back once in a while.
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@vpeptide Just a design choice really. My initial intent was to build a COA page that was able to provide as much testing data as possible.
The COA is meant to be easily digestible by the wide gamut of end-users who have varying degrees of knowledge of the testing process. The actual COA page is supposed to be the home of the entire data package including the COA, extra add-on reports, raw data, along with pictures and video of the testing process.
Frankly I just got extremely busy and the demand wasn't there for it. Usually clients would just download the pdf and upload it to their site because that was what they were used to.
@user_12968 Do you realize someone took that actual photo and added what looked like an octopus inside to make it look like you and Glacier were sketchy? I could tell right away it was photoshopped, and I posted about it. Scroll up and you will see it
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@user_12968 Do you realize someone took that actual photo and added what looked like an octopus inside to make it look like you and Glacier were sketchy? I could tell right away it was photoshopped, and I posted about it. Scroll up and you will see it
@Stevepep The vial insert does look like it has tentacles, is that what you are referring to or did they actually photoshop something extra? Thank you either way.
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@Stevepep The vial insert does look like it has tentacles, is that what you are referring to or did they actually photoshop something extra? Thank you either way.
@user_12968 Hysterical; that was trying to be passed off as Viral or Bacteria. Some of this is nuts. Having been in the business, it doesn't grow that way. I think it came from Discord or Telegram.
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