DELMIC
Delmic is a Dutch deep-tech company that develops integrated correlative light and electron microscopy systems, multi-beam scanning electron microscopes, cathodoluminescence detectors, and open-source control software for academic and industrial life sciences and materials analysis customers worldwide.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2011
- HeadquartersDelft, Netherlands
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What DELMIC does
Delmic is a Dutch privately-held deep-tech microscopy company, founded in 2011 in Delft, Netherlands, as a spin-out of Delft University of Technology's Charged Particle Optics group and the NWO-Institute AMOLF. The company designs and manufactures integrated correlative light and electron microscopy (CLEM) instruments, multi-beam scanning electron microscopes, cathodoluminescence detectors, and cryo sample-preparation tools, serving academic and industrial customers in life sciences research (cryo-electron tomography, structural biology, cell biology, neuroscience, pathology, virology) and materials analysis (semiconductors, nanophotonics, photovoltaics, geology, quantum materials).
The product portfolio is organized around three technology pillars. The first is integrated cryo-CLEM, anchored by METEOR and METEOR 2.0 (integrated top-down cryo-fluorescence microscopes inserted directly into cryo-FIB/SEM chambers) and ENZEL (a tri-coincident cryo-FIB-SEM-fluorescence system). The second is high-throughput electron microscopy, anchored by FAST-EM, a multi-beam scanning electron microscope co-developed with Thermo Fisher Scientific, Technolution, and TU Delft, designed to acquire images up to 100 times faster than standard SEM and supported by a high-speed data management platform with up to 2 petabytes of local storage and an open API. The third is cathodoluminescence, via the SPARC Spectral, SPARC Compact, JOLT 2.0, and LAB Cube detector families, complemented by the SECOM correlative light and electron microscope and the CERES Ice Defence System (Ice Shield, Clean Station, Vitri-Lock) for cryo sample preparation. ODEMIS, Delmic's open-source microscopy control software, ties the hardware family together, with growing third-party hardware compatibility such as ZEISS electron microscopes.
Delmic's commercial model combines one-time hardware sales (200+ systems sold across 5 continents, 25+ cryo-EM labs using METEOR) with recurring service, training, and customization revenue, supplemented by a licensing agreement with Max-Planck-Innovation GmbH for Cryo Workflow Tools. Go-to-market is enterprise field sales supplemented by a global distributor network, with Nanoscience Instruments serving as the North American channel partner and recurring scientific symposia and webinars driving demand generation. The company has raised 4 million euros in 2023 from Value Creation Capital and the EIC Fund, secured a 2025 EIC Transition grant for the ACCESS cryo-EM project, and is led by CEO Sander den Hoedt. Revenue is not publicly disclosed; operational scale (200+ installed systems, 230+ supported publications, 11-50 employees) is consistent with an annual revenue run-rate in the high single-digit to low double-digit million euro range.
DELMIC firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- DELMIC
- Legal name
- Delmic B.V.
- Website
- https://delmic.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2011
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Delmic is a Dutch deep-tech company that develops integrated correlative light and electron microscopy systems, multi-beam scanning electron microscopes, cathodoluminescence detectors, and open-source control software for academic and industrial life sciences and materials analysis customers worldwide.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
DELMIC industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Scientific Microscopy Equipment
- NAICS
- Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing (334516), Electromedical and Electrotherapeutic Apparatus Manufacturing (334510), Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (33451)
- SIC
- Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM) & Document Generation/Templating (HDAEAGAL)
Keywords
Where DELMIC is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Delft
- HQ country
- Netherlands
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
DELMIC business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Microscopy system sales: Primary revenue from one-time sales of integrated electron microscopy hardware systems including METEOR, FAST-EM, SPARC Spectral, SPARC Compact, JOLT, LAB Cube, SECOM, and CERES products. 200+ systems sold across 5 continents.
- Service, support, and customization: Recurring revenue from installation, training, application support, service contracts, and customized solutions. The April 2023 investment round was explicitly used to 'scale its service, sales, and application activities.'
- Licensing of cryo workflow tools: Licensed-in production and distribution rights for Cryo Workflow Tools invented and developed together with Max Planck scientists, via a licensing agreement with Max-Planck-Innovation GmbH.
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels9 records
DELMIC product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Delmic develops and manufactures correlative light and electron microscopy (CLEM) systems, integrating hardware platforms such as METEOR, FAST-EM, SPARC, and SECOM with proprietary software (Delphi) for nanoscale imaging and analysis. The company's offerings serve life sciences, materials science, and nanotechnology research, with complementary sample preparation (LAB Cube), cathodoluminescence detection (JOLT), and cryo-EM ice protection (CERES) products bundled into end-to-end correlative workflows.
Product overview
DELMIC offers a multi-product platform architecture spanning integrated correlative microscopy instruments, multi-beam electron microscopes, cryo sample-preparation modules, cathodoluminescence detectors, and open-source microscope-control software. The core instruments are METEOR (and the newer METEOR 2.0) for integrated cryo-CLEM, ENZEL for tri-coincident cryo-FIB-SEM-fluorescence, FAST-EM as a multi-beam scanning electron microscope with an API-driven data management platform, and SECOM for correlative light and electron microscopy. These core instruments are complemented by cryo sample-preparation add-ons under the CERES family — the CERES Ice Defence System (Ice Shield), CERES Clean Station, and CERES Vitri-Lock — that feed into the cryo workflows. For cathodoluminescence, DELMIC provides a tiered detector portfolio: SPARC Spectral for high-performance CL, SPARC Compact for efficient routine CL, JOLT / JOLT 2.0 as a basic CL solution, and LAB Cube for time-resolved cathodoluminescence. ODEMIS is DELMIC's open-source microscope-control software (currently at version 3.3) that ties the hardware portfolio together, with growing third-party hardware compatibility (e.g., ZEISS electron microscopes) and an API-based FAST-EM data management platform that streams EM data to external analysis tools such as CATMAID.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- METEOR: Integrated top-down cryo-correlative light and electron microscopy (cryo-CLEM) imaging system for cryo-electron tomography workflows.
- FAST-EM
- SPARC
- JOLT
- LAB Cube
- SECOM
- CERES
- ENZEL
- ODEMIS
Products and services
- METEOR
- FAST-EM
Quantifiable outcome
- FAST-EM acquires images up to 100 times faster than standard SEM and can run unattended for 3 days
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use DELMIC
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
DELMIC technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration2 records
Feature6 records
DELMIC partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.
- Thermo Fisher ScientificcoreConsortium member that co-developed the FAST-EM ultra-fast multi-beam scanning electron microscope alongside Delmic, Delft University of Technology, and Technolution.
- Technolution (Technolution Advance)coreCo-developed the high-speed FAST-EM data management platform with Delmic, providing local storage for up to 2 petabytes and an API that streams EM data to compatible software packages or custom algorithms without loading data to a computer.
- Delft University of Technology (TU Delft)coreFounding research partner from which Delmic spun out. Co-developed the SECOM correlative light and electron microscopy system, the SPARC Spectral cathodoluminescence detector, and the FAST-EM multi-beam SEM. The FAST-EM system is installed at TU Delft's Hoogenboom lab (ImPhys).
- NWO-Institute AMOLFsupportingEarly-stage research collaborator in the development of the SECOM correlative light and electron microscopy system and the SPARC Spectral cathodoluminescence detector.
- Nanoscience InstrumentscoreMicroscopy partner for North America. Co-hosted demonstration workshops at Rockefeller University alongside Delmic, with sales representatives Cliff Mathisen and Chad Tabatt contributing to scientific discussions and providing regional customer engagement.
- Max-Planck-Innovation GmbHcoreLicensing partner under which Delmic Cryo B.V. signed a licensing agreement for the production and distribution of Cryo Workflow Tools invented and developed together with Max Planck scientists.
- Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry (Martinsried, Germany)coreSite of the first METEOR system implementation worldwide. Co-hosted a demonstration workshop in March 2023 alongside Delmic. Long-term collaborator on cryo-ET workflow tools and technology validation.
- Rockefeller UniversitysupportingHosted a four-day demonstration workshop (5–8 July 2022) for the METEOR and CERES Ice Shield cryo-ET solutions, co-organized with Delmic and Nanoscience Instruments. Honkit Ng (Rockefeller Staff Scientist) and Mark Ebrahim (Rockefeller CryoEM facility manager) co-delivered each demo.
- Digital SurfsupportingAnnounced partnership focused on faster and easier data workflows for Delmic users, integrating Digital Surf's surface analysis capabilities with Delmic microscopy data.
Scale indicators11 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
DELMIC competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Thermo Fisher Scientific: Global leader in electron microscopy (formerly FEI) with cryo-DualBeam, Aquilos, and Helios systems used in cryo-ET. Direct overlap with Delmic in cryo-FIB/SEM workflows and a co-development partner on FAST-EM, making Thermo Fisher both a peer and a channel/technology partner.
- JEOL: Established Japanese electron microscope manufacturer offering TEM, SEM, and cryo-EM systems used across life sciences and materials analysis. Comparable to Delmic as a broad incumbent in the same EM instrument category Delmic sells into, with overlapping end customers.
- ZEISS (Carl Zeiss Microscopy): Major electron and light microscopy vendor whose SEM/FIB-SEM platforms are now controllable by Delmic's ODEMIS open-source software. Overlaps with Delmic in advanced EM and is explicitly interoperable via the ODEMIS v3.3 integration.
- Leica Microsystems (Danaher): Provider of light and electron microscopy solutions, including cryo-EM sample preparation (e.g., EM ICE, cryo-CLEM workflows) used by structural biology labs. Direct overlap with Delmic's cryo-CLEM and cryo sample preparation portfolio.
- Hitachi High-Tech: Manufacturer of SEM and FIB-SEM systems (e.g., Ethos, NX5000) used in materials analysis and life sciences, including cathodoluminescence and volume-EM workflows that overlap with Delmic's SPARC and FAST-EM offerings.
- Bruker Nano Surfaces: Provider of atomic force microscopy and electron microscopy instruments (including NanoWizard and Vutara) used in life-sciences and materials labs. Comparable to Delmic as a broader scientific instruments vendor with adjacent EM/cryo product lines.
- TESCAN: Czech manufacturer of SEM, FIB-SEM, and micro-CT systems targeting materials science and life-sciences research. Overlaps with Delmic in advanced EM instrumentation and serves similar academic and industrial customers.
Direct peers
- Gatan (AMETEK): Specialist in electron microscopy detectors, cameras, and sample preparation, including cryo-EM holders and the DigitalMicrograph software ecosystem. Directly comparable to Delmic as a focused EM accessories/detectors vendor serving the same installed base.
- Protochips: Developer of in-situ EM holders and software (e.g., Aduro, Fusion) for TEM and SEM, addressing advanced life-sciences and materials workflows. Comparable to Delmic as a niche EM hardware/software specialist selling premium workflow add-ons to the same research customers.
Others
- Nanoscience Instruments: North American microscopy distributor and channel partner for Delmic. Functions as a sales/distribution peer relationship rather than direct product competitor, but is comparable as a channel serving the same US research customers.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
DELMIC social profiles
Digital presenceDELMIC financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
DELMIC leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
DELMIC subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
DELMIC funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds5 records
Investors5 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
DELMIC 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 DELMIC
What does DELMIC do?
Delmic develops and manufactures correlative light and electron microscopy (CLEM) systems, integrating hardware platforms such as METEOR, FAST-EM, SPARC, and SECOM with proprietary software (Delphi) for nanoscale imaging and analysis. The company's offerings serve life sciences, materials science, and nanotechnology research, with complementary sample preparation (LAB Cube), cathodoluminescence detection (JOLT), and cryo-EM ice protection (CERES) products bundled into end-to-end correlative workflows.
Is DELMIC a public or private company?
DELMIC is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was DELMIC founded?
DELMIC was founded in 2011. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is DELMIC based?
DELMIC is headquartered in Delft, Netherlands, in the Europe region.
How does DELMIC make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Microscopy system sales are the primary driver. The others are service, support, and customization and licensing of cryo workflow tools.
Who are DELMIC's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Thermo Fisher Scientific, JEOL, ZEISS (Carl Zeiss Microscopy), Leica Microsystems (Danaher), Hitachi High-Tech, Bruker Nano Surfaces and TESCAN. Direct peers are Gatan (AMETEK) and Protochips. Nanoscience Instruments is listed as an others.
Does DELMIC have an API?
Yes. The FAST-EM data management platform exposes an API that enables users to stream electron microscopy data to compatible external software packages and to extract data at defined (x, y, z) coordinates. The platform is designed to interface with external analysis tools such as CATMAID and custom software, including scripts written in Python, allowing flexible downstream processing of large multi-beam EM datasets.
What industry is DELMIC in?
DELMIC's product category is Scientific Microscopy Equipment. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDAEAGAL, Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM) & Document Generation/Templating. Its NAICS code is 334516 and its SIC code is 3826.