What Nectome does

Nectome is a neuroscience company founded in 2015 by Aurelia Song (formerly Robert McIntyre) that has developed Aldehyde-Stabilized Cryopreservation (ASC), a whole-body, whole-brain preservation protocol. The technology combines chemical fixation using glutaraldehyde with cryoprotectants perfused through the body's own vascular system, preserving every synapse and nearly every protein, lipid, and nucleic acid at nanoscale, subsynaptic detail. The preserved body is stable for hundreds of years at -32°C — a much higher and more resilient storage temperature than traditional cryonics at -196°C — and is also compatible with traditional funeral practices at room temperature for months. The protocol was refined over a decade of R&D and has been independently verified by the Brain Preservation Foundation (both Small and Large Mammal Brain Preservation Prizes) and by Andrew Critch of the Survival and Flourishing Fund via electron microscopy at UC Berkeley.

The company sells preservation services directly to terminally ill individuals who plan to use medical aid-in-dying (MAiD), with the preservation procedure required to begin within 12 minutes of death. As of May 2026, Nectome offers full-price sales at $250,000 per preservation through a simple "buy a preservation, get a preservation" model — no memberships, insurance, or complex contracts. Customers sign one document, pay, and receive one transferable preservation that can be used for themselves or a loved one. All procedures are performed at a planned preservation center in the Oregon foothills, chosen specifically for the state's MAiD legal framework and supportive community. Nectome operates with an 11-50 person team, has raised approximately $670K cumulatively (notably $120K from Y Combinator in 2018 and a $550K grant from the Survival and Flourishing Fund in 2025), and reaches its audience primarily through a Substack publication, a Discord community, and direct email outreach.

Name

Nectome

Legal name

Nectome, Inc.

Website

https://nectome.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Nectome is a neuroscience company that sells whole-body, whole-brain human preservation services using its proprietary Aldehyde-Stabilized Cryopreservation protocol, targeting terminally ill individuals planning medical aid-in-dying procedures at $250,000 per preservation.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Mountain View

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Preservation Services Sale: One-time purchase of preservation services ('buy a preservation, get a preservation' model). No memberships, insurance, or complex arrangements. Customer signs one document, pays, and is entitled to one preservation that can be used for themselves or a loved one. Transferable - if the designated person is not eligible, it can be used for someone else or resold.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Nectome provides whole-body, whole-brain human end-of-life preservation services using Aldehyde-Stabilized Cryopreservation (ASC). The protocol uses chemical fixation with glutaraldehyde and cryoprotectants perfused through the body's vascular system to preserve every synapse, cell, protein, lipid, and nucleic acid at nanoscale detail for potential future revival. Preservation must be planned in advance and performed within 12 minutes post-mortem in conjunction with medical aid-in-dying, with procedures executed at a planned Oregon preservation center.

Product overview

Nectome offers a single core service: whole-body, whole-brain human end-of-life preservation using Aldehyde-Stabilized Cryopreservation (ASC). The company was founded by Aurelia Song and has developed a protocol that preserves every synapse and cell at nanoscale detail, compatible with traditional funeral practices. As of 2026, Nectome is conducting pre-sales of its preservation service at $250,000, with operations based in the Oregon foothills. The company supports its service with an educational Substack blog series called 'The Preservation Sequences' that explains the scientific basis and methodology.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Whole-Body, Whole-Brain Preservation Service End-of-life preservation service for terminally ill individuals, performed within 12 minutes post-mortem via aldehyde-stabilized cryopreservation to preserve every synapse and cell at nanoscale detail for potential future revival. Sold as a transferable one-time preservation right for $250,000, with the preserved body stored at -32°C and compatible with traditional funeral practices at room temperature.

Quantifiable outcome

• Every synapse and almost every protein, lipid, and nucleic acid preserved throughout the entire body
• +3 more outcomes

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Brain Preservation Foundation (BPF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKen Hayworth, president of BPF and neuroscientist at Janelia/HHMI, conducted independent verification of Nectome's preservation methods. He witnessed 3-day marathon preservation of rabbit and pig brains, secured samples with tamper-proof stickers, and performed cutting and imaging at Janelia. Sebastian Seung (Princeton/MIT) joined the judging panel. BPF uses FIB-SEM imaging at up to 4nm resolution to evaluate synaptic traceability. BPF released all images and 3D data files publicly. Nectome won both Small and Large Mammal Brain Preservation Prizes.
• University of California Berkeley Electron Microscope LaboratorysupportingTechnology or IntegrationAndrew Critch brought preserved rat brain samples to Berkeley EM Core for electron microscopy imaging. Dr. Danielle Jorgens and Reena Zalpuri provided advice and assistance in experiment planning, electron microscopy sample preparation, and data collection. The lab performed FIB-SEM imaging of samples stored at both -32°C and 60°C to compare preservation quality.
• Professor Bobby Kasthuri (U Chicago)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNeuroscientist consulted during Andrew Critch's independent evaluation of Nectome's preservation technology. Kasthuri reviewed electron microscopy sample quality as part of the third-party validation process.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Alcor Life Extension Foundation: Alcor is the largest US cryonics organization offering whole-body and neuropreservation at liquid nitrogen temperatures (-196°C). Directly comparable to Nectome as both sell end-of-life human preservation services with long-term storage, though Alcor uses traditional cryopreservation rather than ASC.
• Cryonics Institute: Michigan-based non-profit offering whole-body and neuro cryopreservation services since 1976. Directly competes with Nectome in the same end-of-life preservation market with a lower price point and longer operational track record.
• Suspended Animation: Florida-based provider of cryopreservation standby, stabilization, and transport services for cryonics organizations including Alcor and CI. Comparable as a service provider in the same preservation value chain, focused on the procedural side rather than long-term storage.

Emerging players

• Tomorrow Biostasis: Berlin-based startup offering human cryopreservation with a tech-forward brand and standby team model. Comparable as a venture-backed emerging player attempting to modernize and grow the preservation market, though geographically focused on Europe.

Regional players

• Oregon Cryonics: Small Pacific Northwest cryonics organization based in the same region as Nectome. Provides traditional cryopreservation services with local standby capability; competing regionally for the same MAiD-eligible client base.
• Yinfeng Cryonics: Chinese cryonics organization founded with Shandong University Yinfeng Biological Group. Comparable as a regional cryonics provider serving an emerging market, though focused on Asia and not directly competing with Nectome in the US.

Broad incumbents

• Elysium Health: Commercial longevity biotech selling NAD+ boosting consumer health products. Operates broadly in the human longevity/lifespan extension space and addresses overlapping customer interest in life extension, though with a different product category (consumer supplements vs. preservation services).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/nectomeresearch

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors2 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 Nectome