Cytek Biosciences
Cytek Biosciences (NASDAQ: CTKB) develops and manufactures spectral flow cytometry instruments, reagents, and software for cell analysis, serving pharmaceutical and biotech firms, academic research institutions, CROs, and clinical laboratories globally.
- Company typePublic
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersFremont, United States
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Cytek Biosciences does
Cytek Biosciences, Inc. (NASDAQ: CTKB) is a publicly traded life sciences tools company that designs, manufactures, and sells spectral flow cytometry instruments, reagents, software, and services for cell analysis. Founded in 2014 by Wenbin Jiang, Ph.D. (CEO) and Ming Yan, Ph.D. (CTO), the company is headquartered in Fremont, California, and operates 10 offices across the United States, Europe, and Asia-Pacific, including a manufacturing facility in Wuxi, China, a regional HQ in Amsterdam, and an APAC operations hub in Singapore.
The company's core technology is Full Spectrum Profiling (FSP), a proprietary spectral flow cytometry architecture that captures the entire emission signature of each fluorochrome across the light spectrum, enabling panels of up to 40+ colors (Aurora) and 60 colors (Borealis) without optical filter swaps. The instrument portfolio spans the high-end Cytek Borealis 7-laser system, Cytek Aurora Evo with 2X faster throughput and robotic plate handling integration, the Cytek Aurora CS cell sorter, mid-tier Cytek Aurora and Northern Lights systems (including the Northern Lights-CLC clinical variant), and compact analyzers such as Cytek Muse Micro and Guava easyCyte. Supporting offerings include Cytek Amnis ImageStreamX imaging flow cytometry (acquired from Luminex), the Cytek Orion automated reagent cocktail preparation system, cFluor and Tonbo reagent lines, SpectroFlo acquisition software, and the Cytek Cloud digital ecosystem (Panel Builder, SpectroPanel, Experiment Builder).
Cytek operates a hybrid razor-and-blade business model: capital-equipment instruments generate placement revenue, while recurring revenue (reagents, service contracts, software/cloud) reached 34% of total 2025 revenue and grew 21% YoY. Distribution combines direct field sales in 16 major-market countries with a global distributor network (including DKSH, Alliance Global, Biotecha, Aurogene, Gulf Scientific, and others), targeting pharmaceutical and biotech firms (14% YoY growth), academic and research institutions, contract research organizations, and clinical laboratories across more than 50 countries. Customer concentration risk is spread across thousands of instrument placements (3,664 base) with no single logo dominance, though the top three segments (pharma, academic, CRO) drive the bulk of revenue.
Cytek Biosciences firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Cytek Biosciences
- Legal name
- Cytek Biosciences, Inc.
- Website
- https://cytekbio.com
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Short description
- Cytek Biosciences (NASDAQ: CTKB) develops and manufactures spectral flow cytometry instruments, reagents, and software for cell analysis, serving pharmaceutical and biotech firms, academic research institutions, CROs, and clinical laboratories globally.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Cytek Biosciences industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Flow Cytometry Instruments
- NAICS
- Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing (334516)
- SIC
- Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Microscopy, Imaging & Flow Cytometry Instruments (HLAGAIAE)
Keywords
Where Cytek Biosciences is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Fremont
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices10 records
Markets served
Cytek Biosciences business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Flow Cytometry Instruments: Sale of spectral flow cytometers including Aurora, Aurora Evo, Borealis, Northern Lights, Aurora CS cell sorter, Guava, Muse systems. These are high-value capital equipment purchases with typically long sales cycles to academic and pharmaceutical customers.
- Reagents and Consumables: Recurring revenue from cFluor reagents, reagent kits, and consumables. Reagent growth exceeded 20% in Q4 2025. New DUV and IR cFluor reagents launched for Borealis system with Early Access Program.
- Service and Support: Recurring revenue from service contracts (Gold, Silver, Bronze plans) and support services. Service and reagent revenue expected to grow over 20% in 2026, representing 34% of total revenue with 21% year-over-year growth.
- Software Licenses and Cloud Platform: Cytek Cloud platform licenses, SpectroFlo software licenses for instrument operation and data analysis.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Gold Service Plan - Unlimited comprehensive coverage |
| Subscription | Annual | Silver Service Plan - Limited repair coverage |
| Subscription | Annual | Bronze Service Plan - Basic support |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Volume-based reagent pricing |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels8 records
Marketing channels8 records
Cytek Biosciences product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Cytek Biosciences designs, manufactures, and globally distributes full spectrum flow cytometry instruments (Aurora, Aurora Evo, Aurora CS, Borealis, Northern Lights, Northern Lights-CLC, Amnis ImageStreamX, Muse Micro, Guava Muse, Guava easyCyte), proprietary cFluor and Tonbo reagents, the Orion automated reagent cocktail system, SpectroFlo acquisition software, and the Cytek Cloud digital ecosystem. The company also delivers Design-In panel development services and tiered service plans (Gold, Silver, Bronze) to pharmaceutical, biotech, CRO, academic, and clinical laboratory customers in the US, Europe, Japan, China, and Asia-Pacific.
Product overview
Cytek Biosciences offers a comprehensive cell analysis solutions portfolio centered on Full Spectrum Profiling (FSP) technology. The core instrument lineup includes the Cytek Borealis (next-generation 7-laser system), Cytek Aurora Evo and Cytek Aurora (high-performance spectral analyzers), Cytek Aurora CS (cell sorter), Cytek Northern Lights (research) and Northern Lights-CLC (clinical), and compact options (Muse Micro, Guava Muse, Guava easyCyte). The portfolio extends to the Cytek Amnis ImageStreamX for imaging capabilities. Supporting products include the Cytek Orion automated reagent preparation system, cFluor and Tonbo reagents optimized for spectral cytometry, the Cytek Cloud platform with Panel Builder and SpectroPanel algorithm for automated panel design, and SpectroFlo acquisition software. The company provides Design-In services for pharmaceutical panel development and tiered service plans.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Cytek Aurora: Full spectrum flow cytometry system with up to 5 lasers and 64 fluorescence detectors
- Cytek Aurora Evo
- Cytek Aurora CS
- Cytek Northern Lights
- Cytek Northern Lights-CLC
- Cytek Orion
- Cytek Muse Micro
- Cytek Guava
- Cytek Amnis ImageStreamX
- Cytek Borealis
- DxP Athena
- cFluor
- SpectroFlo
- Cytek Cloud
- SpectroLearn
- Tonbo
- QbSure
- ViaDye
Products and services
- Cytek Borealis Next-generation 7-laser full spectrum flow cytometer with 120 detectors including Deep Ultraviolet and Infrared lasers, enabling up to 60-color panels with integrated spectral detection and cellular imaging capabilities.
- Cytek Aurora Evo High-throughput spectral flow cytometer with sample flow rates up to 200 µL/min using both tubes and plates, featuring hardware harmonization for reproducible data across systems and up to 5 lasers with 64 fluorescence detectors.
- Cytek Aurora Full spectrum flow cytometer with up to 5 lasers, 3 scattering channels, and 64 fluorescence detectors (365-829 nm range), capable of resolving up to 40 colors in combination for deep immunophenotyping.
- Cytek Aurora CS Advanced spectral cell sorter sharing the same optical system as the Cytek Aurora analyzer, enabling assay transfer without panel modification, with sorting functionality up to 6 ways and index sorting capability.
- Cytek Northern Lights Affordable full spectrum flow cytometry solution with 1-3 laser configurations, adaptable from 9-color to 24-color detection, featuring low cost of ownership with simplified setup between experiments.
- Cytek Northern Lights-CLC Clinical full spectrum flow cytometry system designed for clinical laboratories, maximizing operational efficiency with portable templates and reusable reference controls for day-to-day standardization.
- Cytek Orion Automated reagent cocktail preparation system delivering walk-away automation for preparing up to 60 antibody cocktails with speed, accuracy, and consistency while reducing hands-on time.
- Cytek Amnis ImageStreamX Flow cytometry system with imaging capabilities combining spectral detection with cellular imaging in a single system, acquired through Luminex ImageStream assets.
- Cytek Muse Micro Compact benchtop cell analyzer with up to 5-parameter analysis, featuring intuitive touchscreen interface and mix-and-read assays for accessible flow cytometry in smaller labs.
- Cytek Guava Muse Easy-to-use microcapillary cell analyzer with 3-parameter analysis in a compact benchtop format, making flow cytometry accessible with simplified workflows.
- Cytek Guava easyCyte Microcapillary flow cytometer with up to 3 lasers and 14 parameters, featuring microcapillary fluidics for direct absolute cell counting and walkaway automation for up to 96 samples.
- cFluor Reagents Fluorochrome reagents optimized for spectral cytometry and full spectrum panels, including DUV and IR variants for expanded panel complexity.
- Tonbo Reagents Quality flow cytometry reagents equivalent to top alternatives at exceptional value, including kits, viability dyes, and buffers.
- Cytek Cloud Digital ecosystem for full spectrum flow cytometry research featuring Full Spectrum Viewer, Panel Builder with SpectroPanel automated design algorithm, and Experiment Builder for streamlined workflows.
- SpectroFlo Flow cytometry acquisition software for Cytek Aurora and Northern Lights platforms, featuring guided workflow from QC to data analysis with portable templates and reference controls.
- Design-In Services Expert panel design, development, and validation services for pharmaceutical companies and CROs, including custom conjugation and CLSI-compliant validation.
- Service Plans Tiered service contracts (Gold, Silver, Bronze) providing coverage for parts, labor, travel, preventative maintenance, and technical support.
- DxP Athena Conventional cytometry solution capable of measuring up to 13 fluorescence parameters.
Quantifiable outcome
- Outperformed declining flow cytometry market with 1% revenue growth vs 4% market decline, demonstrating market share gains
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Cytek Biosciences
Customer profileNamed customers11 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Cytek Biosciences technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration2 records
AI capability3 records
Feature10 records
Cytek Biosciences partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- International Society for Advancement of Cytometry (ISAC)coreCytek launched a two-part initiative with ISAC to expand access to flow cytometry worldwide. This includes awarding a three-laser Cytek Northern Lights flow cytometer and plans for a grant program to fund research projects. The collaboration aims to democratize research access and support scientific communities globally, including donation of an instrument to a hospital in Argentina.
- Luminex Corporation (DiaSorin subsidiary)coreCytek is acquiring the Flow Cytometry & Imaging business unit from Luminex Corporation, a subsidiary of DiaSorin. The acquisition includes over 7,000 instruments and ImageStream imaging capabilities. This transaction aligns with DiaSorin's strategic focus on core diagnostics operations while expanding Cytek's product offerings and geographic reach in cell analysis solutions. Transaction expected to close within 30 days from announcement.
- DKSH (Distribution Partner)majorDKSH serves as a major distribution partner for Cytek covering multiple Asia-Pacific markets including Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam, and China. DKSH provides market expansion services supporting local sales and distribution of Cytek products in these regions.
- Sapphire BioscienceminorSapphire Bioscience distributes Cytek's reagent portfolio in their coverage region, providing local access to cFluor reagents and other consumables.
- Global Distributor NetworkmajorCytek maintains a global distribution channel with numerous regional distributors covering Africa, Asia-Pacific, Europe, Latin America, and Middle East. Key distributors include Alliance Global (Africa), Abacus Dx, GEMATEC (Argentina), Separation Scientific (South Africa), DBR Biotech (Brazil), Biotecha (Baltic states), Accela (Czech), Aurogene (Italy), and many others covering specific geographic territories.
Scale indicators20 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights8 records
Cytek Biosciences competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- BD Biosciences: BD Biosciences (Becton Dickinson's life sciences arm) is the market-leading flow cytometry franchise with the FACSCelesta, FACSymphony, and FACSAria product lines. It is Cytek's most direct competitor, serving the same academic, pharma, and CRO customer base with both conventional and high-parameter flow cytometry.
- Beckman Coulter Life Sciences: Beckman Coulter Life Sciences (a Danaher operating company) offers the CytoFLEX, Navios, and DxFLEX flow cytometry platforms. It competes head-to-head with Cytek in research and clinical flow cytometry, and its broader Danaher backing provides distribution and reagent scale advantages.
- Sony Biotechnology: Sony Biotechnology produces the MA900 multi-application cell sorter and the SH800 cell sorter, both leveraging spectral detection. It is one of the closest direct competitors to Cytek in spectral/sorting flow cytometry for research and translational applications.
- Miltenyi Biotec: Miltenyi Biotec offers the MACSQuant flow cytometry platform alongside its magnetic cell separation and cell therapy workflow franchise. It overlaps with Cytek in flow-based cell analysis for immunology and cell therapy research and brings strong bundled reagent and consumable offerings.
Broad incumbents
- Thermo Fisher Scientific: Thermo Fisher sells the Attune NxT flow cytometer and a broad life sciences reagent and instrument portfolio. As a multi-billion-dollar life sciences conglomerate, it offers overlapping flow cytometry capabilities alongside much larger adjacent franchises, creating bundling pressure on Cytek.
- Agilent Technologies: Agilent offers the Novocyte flow cytometer line within its broader cell analysis and life sciences instrumentation portfolio. As a diversified instrumentation incumbent, it competes with Cytek across research and pharma customer workflows.
- Becton, Dickinson and Company: Becton Dickinson is the parent of BD Biosciences and a major diversified medical technology company. While broader than flow cytometry alone, its scale in reagents, service, and clinical channel relationships creates competitive pressure on Cytek, especially in regulated clinical markets.
Emerging players
- Standard BioTools (Fluidigm): Standard BioTools markets the CyTOF mass cytometry platform for high-parameter single-cell analysis. It is an emerging, technology-differentiated alternative to spectral flow cytometry, competing for the same deep-immunophenotyping use cases as Cytek's FSP systems.
- NanoCellect Biomedical: NanoCellect develops the WOLF and N1 cell sorters for gentle microfluidic cell sorting in genomics and antibody discovery. It targets overlapping research and biopharma applications with a gentler, smaller-footprint alternative to traditional flow sorters.
Others
- 10x Genomics: 10x Genomics provides single-cell sequencing platforms (Chromium) that overlap with flow cytometry in single-cell immune profiling and cell therapy development. It is adjacent rather than direct competition, but its tools increasingly substitute or complement high-parameter flow workflows.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat7 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Cytek Biosciences social profiles
Digital presenceCytek Biosciences compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Cytek Biosciences financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Cytek Biosciences leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
Cytek Biosciences subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Cytek Biosciences funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds5 records
Investors9 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Cytek Biosciences M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A2 records
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Cytek Biosciences
What does Cytek Biosciences do?
Cytek Biosciences designs, manufactures, and globally distributes full spectrum flow cytometry instruments (Aurora, Aurora Evo, Aurora CS, Borealis, Northern Lights, Northern Lights-CLC, Amnis ImageStreamX, Muse Micro, Guava Muse, Guava easyCyte), proprietary cFluor and Tonbo reagents, the Orion automated reagent cocktail system, SpectroFlo acquisition software, and the Cytek Cloud digital ecosystem. The company also delivers Design-In panel development services and tiered service plans (Gold, Silver, Bronze) to pharmaceutical, biotech, CRO, academic, and clinical laboratory customers in the US, Europe, Japan, China, and Asia-Pacific.
Is Cytek Biosciences a public or private company?
Cytek Biosciences is a public company. It is classified as public and is currently operating.
When was Cytek Biosciences founded?
Cytek Biosciences was founded in 2014. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is Cytek Biosciences based?
Cytek Biosciences is headquartered in Fremont, United States, in the North America region.
How does Cytek Biosciences make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Flow Cytometry Instruments are the primary driver. The others are reagents and Consumables, service and Support and software Licenses and Cloud Platform.
Who are Cytek Biosciences's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are BD Biosciences, Beckman Coulter Life Sciences, Sony Biotechnology and Miltenyi Biotec. Broad incumbents are Thermo Fisher Scientific, Agilent Technologies and Becton, Dickinson and Company. Emerging players are Standard BioTools (Fluidigm) and NanoCellect Biomedical. 10x Genomics is listed as an others.
Does Cytek Biosciences have an API?
No public API is recorded for Cytek Biosciences.
What industry is Cytek Biosciences in?
Cytek Biosciences's product category is Flow Cytometry Instruments. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAGAIAE, Microscopy, Imaging & Flow Cytometry Instruments. Its NAICS code is 334516 and its SIC code is 3826.