RespiQ
RespiQ is a Dutch deep-tech health startup building a hardware-as-a-service breath diagnostics platform that uses plasma emission spectroscopy and AI to detect VOC biomarkers at parts-per-billion sensitivity, initially targeting COPD and gut-health applications for clinicians and, eventually, consumers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2019
- HeadquartersLeiden, Netherlands
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What RespiQ does
RespiQ (legal entity: Respiro B.V.) is a Dutch deep-tech health startup founded in 2019 and headquartered in Amsterdam that builds a hardware-and-software breath diagnostics platform. Its core technology combines plasma emission spectroscopy with proprietary machine-learning pipelines to detect volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in exhaled breath at parts-per-billion sensitivity, versus the parts-per-million benchmark of conventional breath-analysis approaches. The platform is designed for point-of-care and, eventually, at-home use, with an interpretable-AI architecture that traces every prediction back to scientifically meaningful molecular features — a deliberate choice to support clinical adoption and regulatory clearance under EU MDR/IVDR.
The product surface is structured around a single hardware-as-a-service device that powers multiple health applications via software updates. Two applications — COPD health monitoring (remote breath biomarker tracking for early detection of exacerbations) and a Gut Health module for food intolerance, SIBO, and IBS — entered clinical trials in 2024, while SIBO and Asthma are slated for R&D in 2026 and Lung Cancer for R&D in 2027. RespiQ is pre-commercial; its commercial go-to-market is currently enterprise field sales to clinics and HCPs (pulmonologists, dieticians, nutritionists, GPs), with a planned direct-to-consumer motion. Pricing is undisclosed but operates on a subscription hardware-as-a-service model.
The company is primarily grant-funded, anchored by a €4 million EIC Pathfinder Challenge Grant (Nov 2023) alongside a €105k Antler pre-seed (2019) and additional non-dilutive support from DIGI-B-CUBE, RVO's VFF, Rabobank Innovation Loan, Eurostars, BiotechBooster, and Women TechEU. It operates within a deep research and translational consortium network that includes Amsterdam UMC, LUMC, King's College London, SINTEF, and uRoboptics, and participated in the EIC Multi-Corporate Day (Oct 2025) engaging P&G, Air Liquide, Chiesi, Merck, and Nestlé. Leadership comprises CEO Ernst Breel, Founder/CFO-CSO Mira Gleisberg (formerly CEO), CTO/co-founder Vitalii Vorkov, and a PhD-heavy technical team.
RespiQ firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- RespiQ
- Legal name
- Respiro B.V.
- Website
- https://respiq.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2019
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- RespiQ is a Dutch deep-tech health startup building a hardware-as-a-service breath diagnostics platform that uses plasma emission spectroscopy and AI to detect VOC biomarkers at parts-per-billion sensitivity, initially targeting COPD and gut-health applications for clinicians and, eventually, consumers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
RespiQ industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Breath Diagnostics
- NAICS
- Medical Laboratories (621511)
- SIC
- Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Blood Oxygen & Respiratory Monitoring (Pulse Oximetry, Capnography, Spirometry) (HLAHACAD)
Keywords
Where RespiQ is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Leiden
- HQ country
- Netherlands
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
RespiQ business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Hardware-as-a-Service (Device as a Service): The company offers its breath analysis device as a service (hardware-as-a-service). This model provides customers with the ability to collect data and expand into new health domains via software updates. The subscription-style recurring revenue model enables continuous value delivery.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Not specified | Device as a Service subscription model |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
RespiQ product offering
Product offeringCore offering
RespiQ develops a compact breath analysis device that combines plasma emission spectroscopy with AI and machine learning to detect volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in human breath at parts-per-billion sensitivity. The device enables non-invasive, real-time detection of disease-related biomarkers for early diagnosis and chronic disease management, with initial focus on COPD/respiratory health and gut health conditions (food intolerance, SIBO, IBS). The hardware is offered via a hardware-as-a-service subscription model that allows customers to expand into new health domains through software updates.
Product overview
RespiQ offers a breath diagnostics platform consisting of a hardware device and software analysis system. The core product is a compact breath analysis device (hardware-as-a-service model) that detects volatile organic compounds at parts-per-billion sensitivity. The platform powers multiple health applications: COPD Health Monitoring for respiratory care, and Gut Health/GutSense for digestive health management (food intolerance, SIBO, IBS). The device is initially available to health professionals, with plans to expand to patients and consumers. Software updates enable expansion into new health domains.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- RespiQ Breath Analysis Device
Quantifiable outcome
- Detection sensitivity improved from parts-per-million to parts-per-billion levels
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use RespiQ
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
RespiQ technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability6 records
Feature6 records
RespiQ partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Nell-LUMCcoreConsortium partner in the €4M EIC Pathfinder Challenge Grant for developing breath diagnostics technology for COPD patient monitoring. LUMC (Leiden University Medical Center) conducts clinical trials for COPD.
- SintefcoreConsortium partner in the €4M EIC Pathfinder Challenge Grant alongside Nell-LUMC, Kings College London, and uRoboptics for breath diagnostics technology development.
- Kings College LondoncoreConsortium partner in the €4M EIC Pathfinder Challenge Grant for breath diagnostics technology for COPD patient monitoring. Contributes academic research expertise to the project.
- uRobopticscoreConsortium partner in the €4M EIC Pathfinder Challenge Grant and the Eurostars COPDetect project with Amsterdam UMC. Works on improving and automating RespiQ sensor technology.
- Amsterdam UMCcorePartner in Eurostars COPDetect project for developing breath-based COPD detection technology. Amsterdam UMC leads a team of over 40 researchers at the department of pulmonary disease focusing on precision medicine.
- P4O2 (Precision Medicine for more Oxygen) ConsortiumcoreDutch research consortium coordinated by Amsterdam UMC with a budget of over €14.5 million, co-funded by Health~Holland. RespiQ participates in research focusing on lifestyle intervention and personalized nutrition for improving early detection, prevention, and treatment of lung diseases including asthma, COPD, and lung cancer.
- Food ValleyminorListed as a partner organization, likely related to food intolerance and gut health research initiatives.
- De Haagse HogeschoolminorListed as a partner organization, contributing to the ecosystem of research and development partners.
- BiotechBoosterminorAwarded Biotech Booster grant for GutSense project. BiotechBooster supports innovative biotech ventures in the Netherlands.
- Women TechEUminorRespiQ won Women TechEU support program, providing visibility and ecosystem support for women-led tech startups in Europe.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
RespiQ competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Owlstone Medical: UK-based leader in breath biopsy for early disease detection, developing VOC-based diagnostics for cancer, inflammatory, and infectious diseases. Directly comparable to RespiQ as a peer in clinical-stage breath diagnostics targeting multiple indications with a hardware-plus-software platform.
- Breathomix: Dutch breath analysis company developing eNose-based technology for respiratory and metabolic disease diagnostics. Directly comparable to RespiQ as a Netherlands-headquartered breath diagnostics peer targeting similar clinical applications.
- Noze: Canada-based breath diagnostics company developing VOC-based disease detection for respiratory and metabolic conditions. Directly comparable as a startup competitor in AI-powered breath biomarker analysis.
- Bedfont Scientific: UK-based manufacturer of breath analysis medical devices including Smokerlyzer, GastroCH4ECK, and NObreath FeNO monitors. Comparable as a commercial-stage breath diagnostics device maker targeting respiratory and gut health applications.
Broad incumbents
- Spirosure (Circassia): Commercial-stage respiratory diagnostics company focused on fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) testing for asthma. Comparable as a regulatory-cleared breath-based respiratory diagnostic device maker operating in an overlapping clinical use case.
- Philips: Global medtech incumbent with respiratory care, sleep, and patient monitoring portfolios. RespiQ's founder Mira Gleisberg previously worked at Philips, and the company competes for clinical mindshare in respiratory diagnostics against Philips' broader portfolio.
Emerging players
- Aer Nosor: Emerging breath diagnostics company developing electronic nose technology for lung disease and cancer screening. Comparable as an early-stage competitor in VOC-based breath diagnostics with overlapping target indications.
- Strados Labs: US-based respiratory health technology company developing wearable pulmonary monitoring and AI-enabled lung sound analysis. Comparable as a respiratory digital health startup focused on remote patient monitoring for chronic lung disease.
- Cambridge Respiratory Innovations (CRiL): UK-based developer of the N-Tidal device for real-time capnography-based respiratory monitoring. Comparable as a breath diagnostics hardware-and-software platform targeting chronic respiratory disease management.
Regional players
- eNose Company: Netherlands-based developer of electronic nose technology for detecting diseases through exhaled breath. Comparable as a Dutch peer in breath-based disease diagnostics with overlapping target indications in respiratory and infectious disease.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
RespiQ social profiles
Digital presenceRespiQ financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
RespiQ leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
RespiQ funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds4 records
Investors3 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
RespiQ M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about RespiQ
What does RespiQ do?
RespiQ develops a compact breath analysis device that combines plasma emission spectroscopy with AI and machine learning to detect volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in human breath at parts-per-billion sensitivity. The device enables non-invasive, real-time detection of disease-related biomarkers for early diagnosis and chronic disease management, with initial focus on COPD/respiratory health and gut health conditions (food intolerance, SIBO, IBS). The hardware is offered via a hardware-as-a-service subscription model that allows customers to expand into new health domains through software updates.
Is RespiQ a public or private company?
RespiQ is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was RespiQ founded?
RespiQ was founded in 2019. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is RespiQ based?
RespiQ is headquartered in Leiden, Netherlands, in the Europe region.
How does RespiQ make money?
One revenue line is on record: hardware-as-a-Service (Device as a Service).
Who are RespiQ's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Owlstone Medical, Breathomix, Noze and Bedfont Scientific. Broad incumbents are Spirosure (Circassia) and Philips. Emerging players are Aer Nosor, Strados Labs and Cambridge Respiratory Innovations (CRiL). eNose Company is listed as a regional player.
Does RespiQ have an API?
No public API is recorded for RespiQ.
What industry is RespiQ in?
RespiQ's product category is Breath Diagnostics. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAHACAD, Blood Oxygen & Respiratory Monitoring (Pulse Oximetry, Capnography, Spirometry). Its NAICS code is 621511 and its SIC code is 3826.