Axion BioSystems
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2008
- HeadquartersAtlanta, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
Axion BioSystems firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Axion BioSystems
- Legal name
- Axion BioSystems, Inc.
- Website
- https://axionbiosystems.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2008
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Axion BioSystems industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Live-cell Analysis Instrumentation
- NAICS
- Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (33451), Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing (334516), Instrument Manufacturing for Measuring and Testing Electricity and Electrical Signals (334515), Electromedical and Electrotherapeutic Apparatus Manufacturing (334510)
- SIC
- Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826), Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823), Instruments For Meas & Testing Of Electricity & Elec Signals (3825)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Microscopy, Imaging & Flow Cytometry Instruments (HLAGAIAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Biosensors & Lab-on-Chip (BioMEMS) (HDAHALAK), Automation, Controls & Manufacturing Execution for Bioprocessing (SCADA/DCS/PLC/MES) (HLAAAJAE)
Keywords
Where Axion BioSystems is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Atlanta
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices5 records
Markets served
Axion BioSystems business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Operations
Revenue model
- Hardware Systems: Sale of Maestro MEA instruments (Pro, Edge, Volt), Maestro Z platforms, and Omni/Lux imaging systems. Hardware platforms serve as the foundation for recurring consumables revenue.
- MEA Plates and Consumables: Recurring revenue from proprietary plate formats including BioCircuit MEA plates, CytoView MEA plates, Organoid MEA plates, Lumos MEA plates, and SpheroGuide MEA plates in various well formats.
- Software Licenses and Subscriptions: AxIS software modules for neural, cardiac, impedance, and imaging analysis. Axion Portal cloud subscription for AI-powered data analysis with tiered modules.
- Axion Insights Lab Services: Contract research services offering Maestro MEA assay services from study design through data analysis, delivering actionable electrophysiology insights.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Maestro Pro - High-throughput MEA system for research labs |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Maestro Edge - MEA and live-cell analysis system |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Maestro Z - Impedance-based live-cell analysis |
| Subscription | Annual | Axion Portal Cloud Analysis - AI-powered imaging software |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels8 records
Axion BioSystems product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Axion BioSystems develops and manufactures Multiwell Microelectrode Array (MEA) and impedance-based live-cell analysis platforms that record electrical and functional activity from neurons, cardiomyocytes, and other cells in real time without labels or dyes. Its Maestro Pro/Edge/Volt MEA systems, Maestro Z impedance systems, and Omni/Lux incubator-compatible imaging systems are sold to pharmaceutical companies and academic researchers along with proprietary MEA plates, Axion Portal cloud AI software, and Axion Insights Lab contract research services.
Product overview
Axion BioSystems offers a comprehensive live-cell analysis platform comprising three core technology lines: Maestro MEA (Microelectrode Array) systems for electrophysiology recording from neurons and cardiomyocytes; Maestro Z platforms for impedance-based live-cell analysis; and Omni/Lux imaging systems for automated brightfield and fluorescence live-cell imaging. These platforms are supported by specialized software modules (Neural, Cardiac, Viability, Impedance, GxP, Automation) and a cloud-based Axion Portal with AI-powered analysis. The product portfolio includes specialized consumables (MEA plates in various formats including BioCircuit, CytoView, Lumos, SpheroGuide, and Organoid MEA plates) and is complemented by the Axion Insights Lab service for contract research. Recent acquisitions of CytoTronics (high-density CMOS MEA technology) and CytoSMART Technologies expand capabilities in live-cell imaging and high-throughput single-cell resolution screening.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Maestro: Multi-electrode array (MEA) platform for real-time, label-free live-cell analysis including Maestro Pro, Maestro Edge, and Maestro Volt systems.
- Axion Insights Lab
- Axion Portal
- Lumos
- Omni
- Lux
Products and services
- Maestro Pro High-throughput Multiwell Microelectrode Array (MEA) and live-cell analysis system for recording electrical activity from neurons and cardiomyocytes in real time with label-free, noninvasive measurements across 24-, 48-, and 96-well formats.
- Maestro Edge MEA and live-cell analysis system designed for mid-throughput applications with flexible configuration options for neural and cardiac assays.
- Maestro Volt MEA system optimized for high-quality voltage measurements with enhanced signal resolution for demanding electrophysiology applications.
- Maestro Z Live-cell analysis system that tracks cellular health, barrier function, proliferation, viability, and cytotoxicity using label-free, impedance-based assays.
- Maestro ZHT High-throughput impedance-based live-cell analysis system for accelerated cellular assays.
- Maestro TrayZ Multiplate live-cell analysis system for processing multiple plates with impedance-based cellular analysis.
- Omni Multiwell live-cell analysis platform with brightfield and fluorescence imaging performed from inside the incubator for uninterrupted longitudinal studies.
- Lux Single-well live-cell analysis with brightfield and fluorescent imaging from the incubator for smaller scale experiments.
- Lumos Standalone multiwell optical stimulation device supporting 24-, 48-, or 96-well plates with up to four wavelengths (blue, green, orange, red) for optogenetic experiments when paired with Maestro Pro or Edge systems.
- Axion Portal Cloud-based AI-powered software platform built on Microsoft Azure for monitoring, analyzing, and sharing live-cell imaging data with real-time insights, cloud-enabled parallel processing, and automated user alerts.
- Axion Insights Lab Contract research service offering Maestro MEA assay services from study design through data analysis, delivered by in-house electrophysiology experts.
- MEA Creator Kit Custom MEA development kit enabling researchers to create custom microelectrode array configurations for specialized applications.
- Exact FL Automated brightfield and fluorescent cell counter with smart counting capabilities for cells and organoids.
- Corning Cell Counter Automated cell counting solution offered in partnership with Corning for cell enumeration.
Quantifiable outcome
- Reduced animal testing through human iPSC-based cardiac safety assays accepted by FDA
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Axion BioSystems
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Axion BioSystems technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration2 records
AI capability3 records
Feature7 records
Axion BioSystems partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- CytoTronicscoreAcquired high-density CMOS microelectrode array technology from CytoTronics (originally developed at Harvard University). The acquisition adds more than 13 million nanoscale, multimodal sensors distributed across 96-well and 384-well microplates, enabling high-throughput screening at single-cell resolution for neural and cardiac drug discovery applications.
- CytoSMART TechnologiescoreAcquired by Axion BioSystems in March 2022 to expand capabilities in stem cell research, immuno-oncology, and drug discovery. CytoSMART's live-cell imaging analysis technology complements Axion's MEA portfolio, enhancing the company's offerings in live-cell analysis for life sciences research.
- Harvard UniversitycoreTechnology origin institution for the CytoTronics CMOS MEA technology acquired by Axion. The high-density CMOS microelectrode array platform was originally developed at Harvard University before being commercialized through CytoTronics.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Axion BioSystems competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Nanion Technologies: Nanion makes MEA, patch-clamp, and impedance-based live-cell analysis platforms (e.g., CardioExcyte 96, SyncroPatch) used in cardiac safety and ion-channel research. It directly competes with Axion's Maestro MEA and Maestro Z lines for the same pharma and academic electrophysiology and CiPA budgets.
- MaxWell Biosystems: MaxWell Biosystems commercializes high-density CMOS microelectrode array technology (MaxOne, MaxTwo) for single-cell and network-level neural recordings. It competes head-to-head with Axion's newly acquired CytoTronics-derived high-density CMOS MEA platform in pharma and academic neuroscience.
- Molecular Devices: Molecular Devices (part of Danaher) sells the Axion-adjacent MEA platform (legacy AxIS-style products) plus patch-clamp (IonWorks), imaging, and screening instruments. It is a long-standing competitor in electrophysiology and cell-based assay screening for pharma.
Broad incumbents
- Agilent Technologies: Agilent is a broad life-science and cell-analysis incumbent (xCELLigence, Seahorse, BioTek) and was the counterparty in Axion's 2026 patent settlement. It competes in real-time cell analysis and overlaps with Axion's impedance-based Maestro Z platform.
- Sartorius: Sartorius (including legacy IntelliCyt) provides cell analysis and live-cell imaging platforms for bioprocessing and pharma R&D. It competes for the same cell-based assay and bioprocess-monitoring budgets as Axion's impedance and imaging products.
- Thermo Fisher Scientific: Thermo Fisher offers cell analysis instruments, lab automation, and reagents across pharma and academic markets. Its CellInsight, Attune, and automation portfolios compete broadly with Axion's instrument-and-consumables stack.
- Revvity (formerly PerkinElmer): Revvity provides life-science reagents, cell imaging, and high-content screening platforms (including legacy Nexcelom cell counting). It competes with Axion's Omni/Lux imaging and cell counting offerings for similar pharma and academic use cases.
- Tecan: Tecan sells laboratory automation, readers, and imaging systems (Spark, Infinite, Fluent) widely used in pharma screening. Its imaging and plate-reader portfolio overlaps with Axion's assay readouts and competes for shared lab automation budgets.
Emerging players
- Hamilton Company: Hamilton provides automated liquid handling and integrated cell-analysis workflows that pair with MEA and impedance readers. It is an integration partner and indirect competitor for Axion's MEA Automation Module and impedance automation offerings.
Others
- Corning Life Sciences: Corning supplies cell-culture consumables, microplates, and a co-branded cell counter distributed by Axion. As a consumables and labware supplier, Corning is an ecosystem partner and adjacent commercial channel rather than a direct MEA competitor.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Axion BioSystems social profiles
Digital presenceAxion BioSystems compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Axion BioSystems financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Axion BioSystems leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Axion BioSystems subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
Axion BioSystems funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds5 records
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Axion BioSystems 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 Axion BioSystems
What does Axion BioSystems do?
Axion BioSystems develops and manufactures Multiwell Microelectrode Array (MEA) and impedance-based live-cell analysis platforms that record electrical and functional activity from neurons, cardiomyocytes, and other cells in real time without labels or dyes. Its Maestro Pro/Edge/Volt MEA systems, Maestro Z impedance systems, and Omni/Lux incubator-compatible imaging systems are sold to pharmaceutical companies and academic researchers along with proprietary MEA plates, Axion Portal cloud AI software, and Axion Insights Lab contract research services.
Is Axion BioSystems a public or private company?
Axion BioSystems is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Axion BioSystems founded?
Axion BioSystems was founded in 2008. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Axion BioSystems based?
Axion BioSystems is headquartered in Atlanta, United States, in the North America region.
How does Axion BioSystems make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Hardware Systems are the primary driver. The others are MEA Plates and Consumables, software Licenses and Subscriptions and axion Insights Lab Services.
Who are Axion BioSystems's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Nanion Technologies, MaxWell Biosystems and Molecular Devices. Broad incumbents are Agilent Technologies, Sartorius, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Revvity (formerly PerkinElmer) and Tecan. Hamilton Company is listed as an emerging player. Corning Life Sciences is listed as an others.
Does Axion BioSystems have an API?
Yes. The MEA Automation Module provides an API for interfacing with liquid handling platforms, enabling automation of Cardiac and Neural MEA assays. The Impedance Automation Module also offers an API for automating impedance assays with liquid handling platform integration. Developer documentation is at axionbiosystems.com/products/mea/mea-software/mea-automation-module.
What industry is Axion BioSystems in?
Axion BioSystems's product category is Live-cell Analysis Instrumentation. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAGAIAE, Microscopy, Imaging & Flow Cytometry Instruments, with a secondary code of HDAHALAK, Biosensors & Lab-on-Chip (BioMEMS). Its NAICS code is 33451 and its SIC code is 3826.