Stem Pharm
Stem Pharm is a Madison, Wisconsin-based biotechnology company that provides human iPSC-derived neural organoids containing microglia and synthetic PEG-based hydrogel substrates for neuroimmune drug discovery. It serves pharmaceutical, biotech, and academic research customers in Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, epilepsy, glioblastoma, and neurotoxicology through fee-for-service contracts and product sales.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2015
- HeadquartersMadison, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Stem Pharm does
Stem Pharm is a Madison, Wisconsin-based private biotechnology company founded in 2015 that provides human iPSC-derived neural organoid platforms and chemically-defined synthetic substrates for neuroimmune drug discovery. Its core technology centers on 3D human neural organoids composed of neurons, astrocytes, vascular cells, and microglia — the brain's resident immune cells — produced in a scalable 96-well plate format that enables high-throughput phenotypic screening not feasible with traditional 2D cultures or rodent models. The organoid platform is paired with proprietary PEG-based hydrogel products (SureCoat pre-coated plates and Ready-To-Dispense Hydrogels SP-105 and SP-111) that serve as chemically-defined, animal-component-free alternatives to Matrigel, targeting applications in Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, temporal lobe epilepsy, glioblastoma, and developmental neurotoxicity.
The company monetizes through three streams: (1) fee-for-service contracts covering bespoke organoid generation, disease modeling, assay development, phenotypic screening, and custom biomaterials for pharma, biotech, and academic clients; (2) direct product sales of SureCoat plates and SP-105/SP-111 hydrogels via contact-based pricing, accessible also through scientific marketplaces (Science Exchange, Scientist.com, LifeScience Marketplace); and (3) non-dilutive NIH SBIR/STTR grant funding ($3.2M+ disclosed across NIEHS, NINDS, NIA, NCI). Go-to-market is consultative and science-led, anchored by named enterprise collaborations with InMed Pharmaceuticals (Alzheimer's preclinical validation for INM-901) and Verge Genomics (Parkinson's target validation), supported by conference presence (SfN, ISSCR, SLAS, BIO, MPS World Summit), accelerator memberships (Illumina Accelerator, Merck Digital Sciences Studio, StartUp Health Alzheimer's Moonshot), and an active peer-reviewed publication record.
Stem Pharm is led by CEO Steven Visuri (12+ FDA product approvals), COO Connie Lebakken (co-founder), CSO Bill Murphy (UW-Madison professor, 170+ publications, 50+ patent applications), and Sr. VP of Business Development Ryan Gordon (previously StemoniX), with an advisor roster spanning microglia biology, neurosurgery, and venture capital. The company is qualified as a New Business Venture through the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, holds 1-10 employees, and is publicly soliciting investment on its website, indicating active fundraising posture rather than established commercial scale.
Stem Pharm firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Stem Pharm
- Legal name
- Stem Pharm, Inc.
- Website
- https://stempharm.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2015
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Stem Pharm is a Madison, Wisconsin-based biotechnology company that provides human iPSC-derived neural organoids containing microglia and synthetic PEG-based hydrogel substrates for neuroimmune drug discovery. It serves pharmaceutical, biotech, and academic research customers in Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, epilepsy, glioblastoma, and neurotoxicology through fee-for-service contracts and product sales.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Stem Pharm industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Preclinical Drug Discovery Services
- NAICS
- Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Biological Product (except Diagnostic) Manufacturing (325414)
- SIC
- Services-Medical Laboratories (8071), Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826)
- akta.pro primary industry
- In Vitro Model Systems & Organoid Platforms (iPSC/organoids, microphysiological systems) (HLAAAIAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Organoids & Organ-on-Chip (regenerative models) (HLAAAGAD), Neurology & CNS Specialty Pharmaceuticals (HLAIACAC)
Keywords
Where Stem Pharm is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Madison
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Stem Pharm business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Fee-for-Service Drug Discovery Contracts: Stem Pharm provides fee-for-service drug discovery and partnering arrangements to pharmaceutical companies, biotech firms, and academic researchers. Services include neurological disease modeling, assay development, phenotypic drug screening, and neurotoxicity assessments. Revenue is project-based, likely with multi-phase engagements.
- Synthetic Substrate Products: Sale of proprietary synthetic substrate products including SureCoat pre-coated cell culture plates and Ready-To-Dispense Hydrogels (SP-105, SP-111). Products are sold directly to customers for cell culture and assay applications. Contact-based pricing model.
- NIH SBIR/STTR Grant Funding: Stem Pharm has received multiple SBIR and STTR grants from NIH institutes (NIEHS, NINDS, NIA, NCI) totaling approximately $3.2M+ in disclosed funding. These non-dilutive grants support R&D programs and represent a revenue stream for research activities.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | SureCoat Pre-Coated Plates — standard catalog product with contact-based pricing |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Ready-To-Dispense Hydrogels (SP-105, SP-111) — custom formulations |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Fee-for-Service / Pilot Projects |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Stem Pharm product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Stem Pharm develops and sells human iPSC-derived 3D neural organoids featuring incorporated microglia (alongside neurons, astrocytes, and vascular cells) for neuroimmune drug discovery. The platform is paired with proprietary chemically-defined PEG-based hydrogel substrates (SureCoat pre-coated plates, SP-105, SP-111 ready-to-dispense hydrogels) that replace animal-derived Matrigel. Offerings are delivered as catalog products and via fee-for-service drug discovery contracts covering disease modeling, assay development, phenotypic screening, and neurotoxicity assessment.
Product overview
Stem Pharm is a drug discovery platform company offering a portfolio of human neural organoid products and services for neurological disease research. The core offering is their Human Neural Organoids platform, which provides physiologically relevant 3D in vitro models featuring microglia for neuroimmune drug discovery. This core platform is complemented by synthetic substrate products including SureCoat Pre-Coated Cell Culture Plates and ready-to-dispense hydrogels (SP-105 and SP-111). The company also provides fee-for-service offerings including neurological disease models, assay services, and custom biomaterials development. Stem Pharm operates through both direct partnerships and marketplace platforms including Science Exchange, Scientist.com, and LifeScience Marketplace.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- SureCoat: Synthetic substrate technology and pre-coated cell culture plates trademark of Stem Pharm, Inc.
Products and services
- Human Neural Organoids 3D human neural organoids derived from iPSCs and composed of neurons, astrocytes, vascular cells, and microglia. Designed for neuroimmune drug discovery, neuroinflammation modeling, and modeling of human neurodegenerative features that are not observable in rodent models.
- SureCoat Pre-Coated Cell Culture Plates Pre-coated cell culture plates using Stem Pharm's chemically-defined synthetic substrate to optimize adhesion, accelerate cell maturation, enhance phenotypes, and improve assay performance across iPSC-derived neural cells, iPSCs, MSCs, and endothelial cells.
- SP-105 Hydrogel Ready-to-dispense, chemically-defined PEG-based hydrogel optimized for in vitro cellular assays and vascular tubulogenesis with HUVEC and iPSC-derived endothelial cells; non-toxic, optically clear, automation-compatible, supplied frozen.
- SP-111 Hydrogel Ready-to-dispense chemically-defined hydrogel designed for encapsulation and expansion of spheroids and organoids, supplied at 2X concentration to allow dilution and customization of the biomechanical environment; non-toxic, optically clear, automation-compatible.
- Neurological Disease Modeling Services Fee-for-service neurological disease modeling including bespoke organoid generation, neuroinflammation modeling, microglia target studies, neurogenesis and neurodevelopment assays, neurodevelopmental toxicology, and glioblastoma models targeting Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, epilepsy, and developmental neurotoxicology.
- Drug Discovery Assay Services Fee-for-service drug discovery assay services including co-culture models, vascular tubulogenesis assays, immunoassays (cytokines, chemokines), high-content imaging, transcriptional analysis (bulk and single-cell RNA-seq), bioinformatics support, and phenotypic screens for pharma, biotech, and academic partners.
- Custom Biomaterials Development Custom biomaterials development including customized hydrogels, customized synthetic coatings, design-of-experiments (DOE)-based biomaterial optimization, and biomaterial design support and testing services for partner cell-therapy, regenerative-medicine, and drug-discovery programs.
Quantifiable outcome
- INM-901 showed dose-dependent reduction of pro-inflammatory markers IL-6 and IL-8 in human brain organoid models of Alzheimer's disease (InMed collaboration)
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Stem Pharm
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Stem Pharm technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration3 records
Feature5 records
Stem Pharm partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- InMed PharmaceuticalscoreStem Pharm provides its human brain organoid neuroinflammation models to InMed Pharmaceuticals for preclinical validation of INM-901, an Alzheimer's disease drug candidate. Studies demonstrated dose-dependent reduction of pro-inflammatory markers IL-6 and IL-8 in 3D human brain organoid models, supporting InMed's planned IND filing and Phase 1 trial initiation in 2027.
- StartUp Health (Alzheimer's Moonshot)minorSelected among first companies to join StartUp Health's Alzheimer's Moonshot, a collaborative innovation community supported by Gates Ventures and Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation (ADDF), focused on advancing Alzheimer's disease drug discovery through innovation and partnership.
- Verge GenomicscoreCollaboration to develop a disease model to validate novel targets identified by Verge Genomics for Parkinson's disease. Stem Pharm contributes its 3D neuro-immune organoid platform; Verge Genomics contributes AI-driven target identification from patient tissue data.
- University of Wisconsin-Madison (Dr. Mahua Dey, Dr. Christian Capitini)coreNCI STTR grant-supported collaboration with Dr. Mahua Dey (Assistant Professor of Neurological Surgery) and Dr. Christian Capitini (Associate Professor of Pediatrics) at UW-Madison to develop neural organoid models for studying the immunological microenvironment of glioblastoma.
- Merck Digital Sciences StudiominorStem Pharm joined the first biopharmaceutical cohort of Merck Digital Sciences Studio, a 10-month accelerator program involving Merck, Microsoft for Startups, and New Jersey Innovation Institute. Cohort companies can pilot technologies with Merck discovery and clinical scientists. Direct investments from Merck Global Health Innovation Fund, Northpond Ventures, and McKesson Ventures.
- North American 3Rs Collaborative (NA3RsC)minorStem Pharm joined the NA3RsC Microphysiological Systems (MPS) Initiative working to refine, reduce, and replace animals in research. Listed under CNS, tumor, and vascular solutions as an MPS technology provider, enhancing industry visibility and regulatory acceptance.
- Illumina AcceleratorminorSelected for Illumina Accelerator's 10th funding cycle (Cycle 10), gaining access to sequencing systems, reagents, and lab space in San Francisco Bay Area over six months. Stem Pharm planned to use next-generation sequencing resources to validate the physiologic relevance of its cell and tissue models.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Stem Pharm competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Strengths5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Stem Pharm social profiles
Digital presenceStem Pharm compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Stem Pharm financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Stem Pharm leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Stem Pharm funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds9 records
Investors6 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Stem Pharm 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 Stem Pharm
What does Stem Pharm do?
Stem Pharm develops and sells human iPSC-derived 3D neural organoids featuring incorporated microglia (alongside neurons, astrocytes, and vascular cells) for neuroimmune drug discovery. The platform is paired with proprietary chemically-defined PEG-based hydrogel substrates (SureCoat pre-coated plates, SP-105, SP-111 ready-to-dispense hydrogels) that replace animal-derived Matrigel. Offerings are delivered as catalog products and via fee-for-service drug discovery contracts covering disease modeling, assay development, phenotypic screening, and neurotoxicity assessment.
Is Stem Pharm a public or private company?
Stem Pharm is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Stem Pharm founded?
Stem Pharm was founded in 2015. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Stem Pharm based?
Stem Pharm is headquartered in Madison, United States, in the North America region.
How does Stem Pharm make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Fee-for-Service Drug Discovery Contracts are the primary driver. The others are synthetic Substrate Products and NIH SBIR/STTR Grant Funding.
Does Stem Pharm have an API?
No public API is recorded for Stem Pharm.
What industry is Stem Pharm in?
Stem Pharm's product category is Preclinical Drug Discovery Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAAAIAJ, In Vitro Model Systems & Organoid Platforms (iPSC/organoids, microphysiological systems), with a secondary code of HLAAAGAD, Organoids & Organ-on-Chip (regenerative models). Its NAICS code is 541714 and its SIC code is 8071.