Spatial Transcriptomics has revolutionized the approach to understanding disease mechanisms and therapeutic responses by providing a comprehensive view of gene expression within tissue samples while preserving their spatial context. This project explores the re-examination of current spatial transcriptomic imaging techniques, introducing a microscope start-up business out of Stanford, California. This microscope, the Simplifying Quantitative Imaging Platform Development and Deployment (SQUID) model, acts as a new and inexpensive way to image cells spatially, though a variable of time and money still act as a constraint for current diagnostics. In parallel with the SQUID, a novel methodology via quick image pre-scanning using this project’s small-scale microscope, the OCTO, acts as an alternative for initial spatial information, allowing for a more specific imaging process when targeting desired areas under higher magnification. It is designed to expedite fine-grain spatial transcriptomic analysis, bridging the gap between affordability and functionality by cutting single-cell imaging time by hours. Through preserving spatial context and accelerating imaging processes, the OCTO, in parallel with the SQUID, empowers researchers, clinicians, and low-resource clinics to delve deeper into cellular interactions and functions. Leveraging LED illumination, custom microscope body construction, strategic part sourcing, and in-house code for higher quality imaging via inexpensive parts, OCTO represents a significant advancement in spatial transcriptomics research. With automated runs and data sequencing capabilities, the OCTO streamlines experimentation, paving the way for faster diagnosis, drug discovery, and therapeutic development.