Inscopix

What Inscopix does

Inscopix, founded in 2015 based on Stanford University research, develops and commercializes miniature microscope (miniscope) platforms for in vivo cellular-resolution imaging of neural circuits in freely behaving animals. The product family spans single-color calcium imaging (nVista), dual-color imaging (nVue), integrated optogenetics (nVoke), two-photon imaging (nVista 2P, launched April 2025), and multi-region imaging (Quartet, Chromatone), complemented by the nVision synchronized behavior acquisition unit, the IDEAS data analysis platform (integrating suite2p and Caiman), the IDPS processing software, the Inscopix iQ learning platform, and consumables such as ProView 2P lenses, GRIN lenses, and viral constructs.

The company serves two primary customer segments: academic neuroscience researchers at universities and research institutes (Johns Hopkins, UCSF, Stanford, Caltech, Harvard, Max Planck Florida, Vanderbilt, Tufts, University of Washington, Seoul National, among others), and pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies pursuing CNS drug discovery. The go-to-market is consultative enterprise field sales with quote-based pricing, supplemented by direct demo requests, a grants assistance program, and event-driven demand generation through the SfN annual meeting, the DECODE Summit, and the Bruker Online Neuroscience Summit. Distribution is direct plus a global network inherited from the November 2022 acquisition by Bruker Corporation (NASDAQ: BRKR), with consumables sold via the Bruker online store.

Inscopix generates revenue through four streams: hardware system sales (the dominant stream), software subscriptions (IDEAS, IDPS), consumables (lenses, viruses, accessories), and preclinical CRO services delivered through the Inscopix Discovery Lab for pharma target engagement, dose-finding, pharmacodynamics, efficacy, and lead candidate selection studies. The company holds a WEF Technology Pioneer designation (2015) and is widely regarded as the only commercial provider of miniature microscopes for cellular-resolution in vivo brain imaging in freely behaving animals, with a publication footprint of hundreds of peer-reviewed papers spanning Nature Communications, Neuron, eLife, and BiorXiv.

Name

Inscopix

Legal name

Inscopix Inc.

Website

https://inscopix.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Inscopix develops and commercializes miniature microscope (miniscope) platforms that enable in vivo cellular-resolution imaging of neural circuits in freely behaving animals, serving academic neuroscience researchers and pharmaceutical preclinical drug discovery programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Neuroscience imaging instruments

NAICS

Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing (334516), Electromedical and Electrotherapeutic Apparatus Manufacturing (334510), Surgical and Medical Instrument Manufacturing (339112)

SIC

Optical Instruments & Lenses (3827), Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826), Services-Medical Laboratories (8071)

akta.pro primary industry

Microscopy, Imaging & Flow Cytometry Instruments (HLAGAIAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Medical Imaging AI (HDAAAEAH)

Keywords

• Neural circuit imaging
• Miniscope systems
• In vivo calcium imaging
• Two-photon microscopy
• Preclinical neuroscience CRO

Headquarters

HQ city

Mountain View

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. Hardware Systems Sales: Sale of miniature microscope platforms including nVista, nVue, nVoke, nVista 2P systems and accessories. These are high-value scientific instruments sold to academic and pharmaceutical research institutions.
2. Software Subscriptions: Software as a service offering including Inscopix Data Exploration (iQ) platform and Inscopix Data Processing Software (IDPS) for data analysis.
3. Consumables: Sale of consumables including lenses, viruses, and miniscope accessories through the Bruker store.
4. Preclinical CRO Services: Contract research organization services for pharmaceutical companies providing in vivo brain imaging and behavioral analysis. Inscopix Discovery Lab partners with pharma for target engagement, dose-finding, pharmacodynamics, efficacy, and lead candidate selection studies.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Inscopix designs, manufactures, and sells miniature microscope (miniscope) platforms — nVista, nVue, nVoke, nVista 2P, Quartet, and Chromatone — that enable cellular-resolution in vivo imaging of neural circuit activity in freely behaving animals. The hardware is bundled with complementary software (IDEAS, IDPS, nVision), consumables (GRIN lenses, viruses), and preclinical contract research services for pharmaceutical drug development.

Product overview

Inscopix offers a portfolio of miniscope platforms for neural circuit imaging in freely behaving animals, including nVista, nVue, nVoke, and nVista 2P systems for single-color, dual-color, optogenetics, and two-photon imaging respectively. These are complemented by the nVision behavioral acquisition unit for synchronized behavioral data, the IDEAS platform for multimodal data analysis integrating suite2p and Caiman tools, and the Quartet/Chromatone multi-site systems for simultaneous multi-region imaging. The company provides end-to-end solutions including consumables (GRIN lenses, viruses), software tools (IDPS, Inscopix iQ), and preclinical CRO services for pharmaceutical research.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• nVista System: Single color miniscope system for in vivo calcium imaging
• nVoke System
• nVue System
• nVista 2P System
• nVision Platform
• Quartet System
• IDEAS Platform
• Inscopix iQ

Products and services

• nVista System Single-color imaging miniscope platform for in vivo calcium imaging of neural circuits in freely behaving animals. Sold to academic and pharmaceutical neuroscience researchers.
• nVue System
• nVoke System Integrated miniscope combining in vivo cellular-resolution calcium imaging with simultaneous or sequential optogenetic manipulation, used by neuroscience researchers to causally link circuit activity with behavior.
• nVista 2P System Self-contained miniature two-photon microscope weighing approximately 2 grams, offering single-cell resolution with imaging depths up to 300 microns and full field-of-view acquisition at up to 15 Hertz over a 400x400-micron area. Integrates with the IDEAS platform, nVision behavior unit, and IDPS. Sold to academic and pharmaceutical neuroscience researchers.
• nVision Platform Behavioral acquisition unit enabling synchronized imaging of behavioral movies with in vivo miniscope data for integrated neural activity and behavior analysis. Sold to academic and pharmaceutical neuroscience researchers.
• Quartet System Ultra-light fiber bundle multi-region miniscope for multi-site calcium imaging and behavioral assessment in freely moving animals. Sold to academic and pharmaceutical neuroscience researchers.
• Chromatone System Multi-color imaging system for multi-site miniscope applications, enabling multi-color and multi-region neural insights. Sold to academic and pharmaceutical neuroscience researchers.
• IDEAS Platform Inscopix Data Exploration, Analysis and Sharing (IDEAS) platform — a unified, scalable software solution for multimodal neuroscience research data, integrating suite2p and Caiman for calcium imaging analysis. Sold to academic and pharmaceutical researchers as a subscription.
• Preclinical CRO Services (Inscopix Discovery Lab) Contract research organization services providing in vivo brain imaging and behavioral analysis for pharmaceutical preclinical drug development programs — including target engagement, dose-finding, pharmacodynamics, efficacy, and lead candidate selection studies. Sold to pharmaceutical and biotech companies.
• Lenses & Viruses (Consumables) GRIN lenses and viral constructs (consumables) for miniscope imaging applications targeting shallow and deep brain regions. Sold to academic and pharmaceutical neuroscience researchers via the Bruker online store.

Quantifiable outcome

• nVista 2P enables imaging depths up to 300 microns with single-cell resolution
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

AI capability5 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Bruker CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 November 2022Bruker Corporation acquired Inscopix for neuroscience research in November 2022. Inscopix is now a Bruker Company, integrating with Bruker's fluorescence microscopy portfolio. The nVista 2P system launch in April 2025 represents the combined company's continued innovation in miniscope technology.
• Max Planck Florida Institute for NeurosciencecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 January 2019Strategic partnership to catalyze MPFI's neural circuit research with Inscopix's platform and capabilities for mapping brain circuit activity. This collaboration empowered researchers at one of the world's leading neural circuit research institutions.
• Charles River (Brains On-Line)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 10 November 2017Partnership between Inscopix and Brains On-Line, a Charles River Company, to advance the application of neural circuit mapping technology into the pharmaceutical contract research organization (CRO) market. This partnership expanded access to Inscopix technology for pharmaceutical preclinical research through Charles River's established CRO network.
• Supernus PharmaceuticalscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with Supernus Pharmaceuticals for NV-5138 screening through Inscopix's neurobehavioral assay. Supernus presented findings comparing their drug candidate with ketamine and rapastinel, demonstrating the value of Inscopix's CRO services for antidepressant drug development.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Carl Zeiss Microscopy: Zeiss (ZEISS Group) offers a broad portfolio of confocal, two-photon, and lightsheet microscopes used across neuroscience research. While they do not make miniature head-mounted microscopes, their high-end benchtop systems compete for the same neuroscience capital-equipment budgets at major research universities.
• Evident Scientific (formerly Olympus Scientific): Evident Scientific (spun off from Olympus) manufactures research microscopes including confocal and two-photon systems for neuroscience applications. Competes for neuroscience capex budgets but does not offer a freely-behaving miniature microscope alternative.
• Nikon Instruments: Nikon Instruments offers confocal and high-content microscopy systems used across life-science and neuroscience research. They overlap with Inscopix on customer accounts and budget allocation but do not compete in the freely-behaving animal miniscope niche.
• Bruker Corporation: Bruker is the parent company of Inscopix since November 2022 and operates the broader fluorescence microscopy portfolio into which Inscopix now integrates. As the ultimate acquirer and corporate parent, Bruker is the most consequential comparable for evaluating commercial strategy and distribution scale.
• Leica Microsystems: Leica (Danaher subsidiary) provides confocal and two-photon microscopy systems widely used in neuroscience labs. They serve overlapping customers as Inscopix at the benchtop-imaging tier, though they lack an in vivo freely behaving miniature microscope offering.

Direct peers

• Doric Lenses: Doric Lenses manufactures fiber photometry systems, optical components, and miniature imaging accessories for neuroscience research. Their fiber-photometry platform competes with Inscopix's miniscope systems for the same in vivo calcium-imaging experiments in freely behaving animals.
• Thorlabs: Thorlabs supplies optical components, lenses, cameras, and imaging modules used by neuroscience researchers assembling custom imaging rigs. While not a miniscope specialist, Thorlabs is a substitute-supplier for many of the same academic neuroscience customers.
• Mightex Imaging: Mightex develops LED light sources, miniature cameras, and optical components used in neuroscience imaging experiments. They compete for budget from the same academic and pharma neuroscience labs that buy Inscopix miniscopes, particularly on the illumination and accessories side.

Emerging players

• Cambridge NeuroTech: Cambridge NeuroTech produces silicon probes and miniaturized headstages for chronic neural recording in freely behaving animals. They target overlapping neuroscience labs and programs but use electrophysiology rather than optical imaging.
• Blackrock Microsystems: Blackrock Microsystems makes electrophysiology electrode arrays and neural recording systems used in behaving-animal neuroscience research. They compete with Inscopix for the same experimental paradigm budgets but at a different measurement modality (electrical vs optical).

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Inscopix
• Facebookfacebook.com/632704703444800
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/inscopix-inc-

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors3 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Inscopix