Vizgen
Vizgen provides integrated spatial multiomics platforms combining MERFISH 2.0 transcriptomics and InSituPlex proteomics on the MERSCOPE Ultra instrument, serving academic researchers, biopharma drug discovery teams, and core facilities worldwide.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2019
- HeadquartersCambridge, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Vizgen does
Vizgen is a privately held spatial multiomics company headquartered in Waltham, Massachusetts, with R&D and lab services in Cambridge, MA. Founded in 2019 to commercialize MERFISH technology exclusively licensed from Harvard University, the company has built an integrated platform that combines spatial transcriptomics (MERFISH 2.0 chemistry on the MERSCOPE Ultra instrument) with spatial proteomics (InSituPlex multiplex immunofluorescence inherited from the October 2024 Ultivue merger), supported by AI-driven analysis (STARVUE) and an open-source cell-segmentation tool (VPT). The company sells capital equipment, recurring reagents and consumables, software licenses, professional services, and runs a global Certified Service Provider (CSP) network, with more than 200 MERSCOPE platforms installed across academic, healthcare, and biopharma customers worldwide and 400+ peer-reviewed MERFISH publications.
Vizgen serves four primary customer segments: academic neuroscience researchers, oncology and immuno-oncology labs, cell-atlasing consortia (including the Human Cell Atlas), and biopharma drug discovery and translational teams, with a secondary base of core facilities and CSPs. The go-to-market combines direct enterprise sales in the UK, BENELUX, Nordics, France, Germany, Austria, and Singapore with a global distributor network covering 14+ countries; revenue is generated through one-time instrument sales, recurring consumables and panel pull-through on the installed base, per-instrument software licensing (EULAs for MERSCOPE Vizualizer and instrument software), and project-based spatial omics services including a newly launched Volumetric Tissue Mapping offering. The company is venture-backed (most recent $48 million Series E in January 2026 led by ARCH Venture Partners) with institutional investors including ARCH, M Ventures, Northpond Ventures, Tao Capital Partners, and Novalis LifeSciences, and is led by CEO Rob Carson following the Ultivue merger.
The business model is a classic razor-and-blade life-sciences tools franchise anchored by a recurring consumables stream tied to the installed MERSCOPE instrument base, complemented by growing services revenue and a software-plus-AI roadmap (cloud-based MERFISH 2.0 analysis, an AI Analysis Agent for end-to-end workflow automation, and continued expansion of pre-designed gene and protein panels). The 2025 settlement of the 10x Genomics / Harvard patent litigation removed a major commercialization overhang, and the CEO has publicly stated Vizgen is on a path to profitability, though no specific timeline has been disclosed. Notable scientific and commercial endorsements come from the Allen Institute for Brain Science, UCSD / Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Mayo Clinic, Weizmann Institute of Science, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, and SickKids Research Institute.
Vizgen firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Vizgen
- Legal name
- Vizgen, Inc.
- Website
- https://vizgen.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2019
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Vizgen provides integrated spatial multiomics platforms combining MERFISH 2.0 transcriptomics and InSituPlex proteomics on the MERSCOPE Ultra instrument, serving academic researchers, biopharma drug discovery teams, and core facilities worldwide.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Vizgen industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Spatial Multiomics Instruments
- NAICS
- Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing (334516), Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714)
- SIC
- Services-Medical Laboratories (8071)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Single-Cell & Spatial Omics Services (HLAGANAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Transcriptomics & Gene Expression Profiling Services (HLAGANAE), Bioinformatics & Multi-omics Analysis Software (HLAGAJAD), Single-Cell & Spatial Omics Discovery Platforms (target ID/validation, functional profiling) (HLAAAIAF)
Keywords
Where Vizgen is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Cambridge
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Vizgen business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Instrument Sales (Capital Equipment): One-time sale of the MERSCOPE Ultra spatial genomics instrument to research institutions, biopharma, and certified service providers; gated by quote-based enterprise sales motion.
- Reagents and Consumables: Recurring revenue from MERSCOPE Gene Imaging Kits, MERSCOPE Slides, sample preparation kits, verification kits, InSituPlex protein assays, and pre-designed gene panels. Consumables attach to the installed MERSCOPE instrument base, providing high-margin pull-through.
- Software Licensing: Per-instrument and enterprise licensing for MERSCOPE Vizualizer visualization software (EULA) and MERSCOPE instrument/image-processing software (EULA), including Early Release purchase and license terms.
- Spatial Omics Lab Services: Professional services including spatial transcriptomics analysis services, spatial proteomics/assay development services, custom panel design services, and the new Volumetric Tissue Mapping service offering project-based access to MERFISH data generation.
- Certified Service Provider Network Revenue: Recurring revenue from CSP program participation: certified labs receive special CSP pricing tiers in exchange for delivering Vizgen spatial biology services to end customers, with co-branding opportunities to drive demand.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Annual | Quote-based pricing across all product categories; not publicly disclosed |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels9 records
Vizgen product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Vizgen develops and sells an integrated spatial multiomics platform for research and translational use, anchored by the MERSCOPE Ultra instrument running MERFISH 2.0 chemistry for in situ single-cell spatial transcriptomics and complemented by InSituPlex multiplex immunofluorescence assays for spatial proteomics, STARVUE AI analysis, and Vizgen Post-processing Tool (VPT) cell segmentation. The company also markets gene panels (pre-designed and custom), reagents and consumables, visualization and analysis software, and fee-for-service spatial omics lab services.
Product overview
Vizgen offers an integrated spatial multiomics platform combining spatial transcriptomics and spatial proteomics, built on its proprietary MERFISH 2.0 chemistry and InSituPlex assays and powered by the AI-driven STARVUE analysis and Vizgen Post-processing Tool (VPT). The core instrument is the MERSCOPE Ultra Platform (with the original MERSCOPE Platform and MERSCOPE Vizualizer Software as the visualization layer), which runs Pre-designed Panels and customizable Add-on Gene Panels (including Mouse PanNeuro Cell Type, Pan Human, Pan Mouse, Human Brain, Human Breast Cancer, Human ImmunoOncology, Human Colon/Lung/Liver/Kidney Cancer, Mouse Transcription Factor A/B, and Tumor EMT/Inflammation/Cardiovascular panels in development). The proteomics arm uses InSituPlex multiplex immunofluorescence with OmniVUE pre-designed panels and U-VUE custom panels. Supporting offerings include the open-source VPT cell segmentation tool (with Cellpose-SAM and InstanSeg plugins), the Vizgen Gene Panel Design Portal, Volumetric Tissue Mapping services for 3D thick-tissue analysis, and Spatial Transcriptomics and Spatial Proteomics Lab Services for end-to-end project support. Together, these tools allow researchers to map up to 1,000 RNA targets and quantify proteins in whole-slide FFPE or fresh frozen tissue at single-cell resolution.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- MERSCOPE: Vizgen's flagship spatial transcriptomics platform / instrument family, including the MERSCOPE Ultra high-throughput instrument.
- MERSCOPE Ultra
- MERFISH
- InSituPlex
- STARVUE
- MERSCOPE Vizualizer
- OmniVUE
Products and services
- MERSCOPE Ultra Platform
Quantifiable outcome
- 200+ MERSCOPE Platforms installed globally (largest spatial biology install base)
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Vizgen
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles6 records
Vizgen technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration7 records
AI capability8 records
Feature8 records
Vizgen partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
29 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.
- HamamatsuflagshipStrategic partnership to streamline spatial biology workflows and deliver biomarker-detecting imaging. Collaboration centers on immunofluorescence imaging using Hamamatsu's MoxiePlex platform integrated with Vizgen's spatial transcriptomics and proteomics solutions. The partnership is intended to help translate multiplex methods into research use, providing researchers with optimized immunofluorescence-based biomarker detection.
- Ultivue, Inc.flagshipVizgen and Ultivue merged in October 2024 to combine Vizgen's MERFISH spatial genomics platform with Ultivue's InSituPlex multiplex proteomic profiling, creating a unified spatial multiomics platform. The merger was accompanied by a Series D financing from ARCH Venture Partners, Northpond Ventures, and Tao Capital Partners. Rob Carson (former Ultivue CEO) became CEO of the combined entity. The integration positions Vizgen as a single-vendor provider of integrated spatial transcriptomics and proteomics solutions.
- BioTuringcoreIntegration partnership to unlock the potential of high-resolution spatial genomics data from MERSCOPE Ultra with BioTuring's SpatialX deep learning platform. The partnership provides researchers with a streamlined solution for analyzing complex spatial genomics data, enabling deeper insights into cellular interactions and tissue architecture. Includes joint webinar content.
- Human Cell Atlas (HCA)coreStrategic partnership to support the Human Cell Atlas mission of mapping every human cell type with high resolution and spatial context. Vizgen provides advanced spatial transcriptomics technology, exclusive HCA member discounts, and a new Cell Atlasing Hub central resource offering public datasets, case studies, and expert consultation to the HCA community.
- Leica BiosystemscorePartnership to incorporate an end-to-end pathology workflow with InSituPlex multiplex immunofluorescence, enabling high-quality spatial proteomics within routine FFPE histology. InSituPlex assays preserve morphology, support same-slide H&E, and deliver reproducible quantitative spatial proteomics integrated with Leica's pathology imaging and digital review workflow.
- ZEISS MicroscopycorePartnership to provide precise, high-resolution imaging and workflow integration enhancing multiplex immunofluorescence data. InSituPlex technology pairs with ZEISS advanced microscopy platforms (including Axioscan 7 and SlideStream) for optimized image acquisition, consistent signal quality, and smoother data handling within ZEISS digital workflows. Supports both standard InSituPlex and ZEISS-enabled automated mIF workflows.
- Bucher Biotec AGcoreAuthorized distributor for Vizgen MERSCOPE Platform products in Switzerland. Office at Viaduktstrasse 42, 4051 Basel. Provides local sales, technical support, and order fulfillment for the Swiss market.
- CARLO ERBA Reagents srlcoreAuthorized distributor for Vizgen MERSCOPE Platform products in Italy. Office at Via R. Merendi, 22, 20007 Cornaredo MI, Italy.
- Izasa ScientificcoreAuthorized distributor for Vizgen MERSCOPE Platform products in Spain and Portugal. Office at Calle Aragoneses, 13, 28108 Alcobendas, Madrid, Spain.
- AccelacoreAuthorized distributor for Vizgen MERSCOPE Platform products across Central and Eastern Europe (Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania). Headquartered at Služeb 4, Prague, Czech Republic.
- PrimetechcoreAuthorized distributor for Vizgen MERSCOPE Platform products in Japan. Office in Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo.
- Cosmo Bio Co., Ltd.coreAuthorized distributor for Vizgen MERSCOPE Platform products in Japan. Office in Koto-ku, Tokyo.
- Gene CompanycoreAuthorized distributor for Vizgen MERSCOPE Platform products in Hong Kong. Office at 8/F Shell Industrial Building, Chai Wan, Hong Kong Island.
- SINSAGE Technology Co., Ltd.coreAuthorized distributor for Vizgen MERSCOPE Platform products in mainland China. Office at 27/F, Block B, China Railway Construction Plaza, Chaoyang District, Beijing.
- MDxK InccoreAuthorized distributor for Vizgen MERSCOPE Platform products in South Korea. Office in Gwangcheon-si, Gyeonggi-do.
- Integrated SciencescoreAuthorized distributor for Vizgen MERSCOPE Platform products in Australia and New Zealand. Office at 54 Gibbes St, Chatswood NSW 2067, Australia.
- Blossom BiocoreAuthorized distributor for Vizgen MERSCOPE Platform products in Taiwan. Office in Nangang Dist., Taipei City.
- Genomax TechnologiescoreAuthorized distributor for Vizgen MERSCOPE Platform products in Thailand (Bangkok) and Singapore.
- Spinco Biotech Pvt. Ltd.coreAuthorized distributor for Vizgen MERSCOPE Platform products in India. Headquarters in Perungudi, Chennai.
- Eldan Electronic Instruments Ltd.coreAuthorized distributor for Vizgen MERSCOPE Platform products in Israel. Office in Petach-Tikva.
- Sanderson Center for Optical Experimentation (SCOPE) at UMass Chan Medical SchoolcoreVizgen Certified Service Provider in Worcester, MA. Certified fee-for-service laboratory delivering MERSCOPE Platform spatial transcriptomics services on behalf of external researchers. Received latest training on Vizgen recommended wet lab and data analysis workflows.
- Center for Spatial Multiomics (COSMO) at TGen / City of HopecoreVizgen Certified Service Provider in Phoenix, AZ. TGen's COSMO service center offers spatial multiomics services using Vizgen technology platforms to external research customers.
- Lanterne DxcoreVizgen Certified Service Provider in Denver, CO. Certified for InSituPlex multiplex spatial proteomics services.
- HistoWizcoreVizgen Certified Service Provider in New York, NY. Provides fee-for-service spatial biology services on Vizgen platforms.
- Arkana LaboratoriescoreVizgen Certified Service Provider in Little Rock, AR. Provides spatial biology services to external researchers using Vizgen technology.
- Fondation Campus Biotech Geneva (FCBG)coreVizgen Certified Service Provider in Geneva, Switzerland. Provides fee-for-service spatial biology services to European research customers.
- Earlham InstitutecoreVizgen Certified Service Provider in Norwich, United Kingdom. Single-cell and spatial analysis service provider.
- HistologiXcoreVizgen Certified Service Provider in Nottingham, United Kingdom. Provides histology and spatial biology services.
- Portrai Inc.coreVizgen Certified Service Provider in Seoul, South Korea. Provides spatial biology services in the APAC region using Vizgen technology.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights7 records
Vizgen competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- 10x Genomics: 10x Genomics offers competing spatial transcriptomics platforms (Visium, Visium HD, Xenium) and is Vizgen's most direct head-to-head competitor in single-cell spatial genomics, also a former litigation counterparty.
- NanoString Technologies (a Bruker company): NanoString's GeoMx digital spatial profiling and cosMx spatial molecular imager compete directly with MERFISH and InSituPlex, particularly in oncology and translational research workflows.
- Akoya Biosciences: Akoya offers the PhenoCycler (formerly CODEX) and Phenoptics spatial proteomics platforms, competing with Vizgen's InSituPlex for spatial multiplex immunofluorescence workflows.
Broad incumbents
- Bruker Corporation: Bruker acquired NanoString's spatial biology assets and offers a broader portfolio of life-science instruments and proteomics platforms, providing incumbent reach that competes with Vizgen's spatial multiomics offering.
- Bio-Techne: Bio-Techne's RNAscope in situ hybridization platform is a long-established spatial genomics incumbent in academic and translational labs, providing low-plex alternative workflows to MERFISH.
- Illumina: Illumina is the dominant next-generation sequencing platform provider and an adjacent incumbent in genomics; David Walt (Illumina founder) sits on Vizgen's SAB and the company represents the broader ecosystem in which Vizgen competes.
- Standard BioTools (formerly Fluidigm): Standard BioTools offers mass cytometry and spatial multiomics-adjacent single-cell analysis platforms, competing with Vizgen for translational and immunology research budgets.
Others
- Leica Biosystems: Leica Biosystems is a Vizgen technology partner integrating InSituPlex multiplex IF with Leica pathology imaging workflows, and represents the broader digital pathology ecosystem that competes for the same workflow budgets.
- Hamamatsu Photonics: Hamamatsu is a strategic Vizgen partner for the MoxiePlex immunofluorescence imaging platform and a broader imaging/sensor incumbent in the spatial biology instrumentation stack.
- Carl Zeiss Microscopy: ZEISS is a Vizgen integration partner for InSituPlex workflows on Axioscan 7 and SlideStream, and is a broader microscopy incumbent whose imaging platforms can substitute or complement Vizgen's MERSCOPE Ultra.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Vizgen social profiles
Digital presenceVizgen compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Vizgen financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Vizgen leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
Vizgen subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Vizgen funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds6 records
Investors8 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Vizgen M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Vizgen
What does Vizgen do?
Vizgen develops and sells an integrated spatial multiomics platform for research and translational use, anchored by the MERSCOPE Ultra instrument running MERFISH 2.0 chemistry for in situ single-cell spatial transcriptomics and complemented by InSituPlex multiplex immunofluorescence assays for spatial proteomics, STARVUE AI analysis, and Vizgen Post-processing Tool (VPT) cell segmentation. The company also markets gene panels (pre-designed and custom), reagents and consumables, visualization and analysis software, and fee-for-service spatial omics lab services.
Is Vizgen a public or private company?
Vizgen is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Vizgen founded?
Vizgen was founded in 2019. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Vizgen based?
Vizgen is headquartered in Cambridge, United States, in the North America region.
How does Vizgen make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Instrument Sales (Capital Equipment) is the primary driver. The others are reagents and Consumables, software Licensing, spatial Omics Lab Services and certified Service Provider Network Revenue.
Who are Vizgen's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are 10x Genomics, NanoString Technologies (a Bruker company) and Akoya Biosciences. Broad incumbents are Bruker Corporation, Bio-Techne, Illumina and Standard BioTools (formerly Fluidigm). Others are Leica Biosystems, Hamamatsu Photonics and Carl Zeiss Microscopy.
Does Vizgen have an API?
No public API is recorded for Vizgen.
What industry is Vizgen in?
Vizgen's product category is Spatial Multiomics Instruments. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAGANAC, Single-Cell & Spatial Omics Services, with a secondary code of HLAGANAE, Transcriptomics & Gene Expression Profiling Services. Its NAICS code is 334516 and its SIC code is 8071.