What JenLab does

JenLab GmbH is a privately held German medical-technology company founded in 1999 as a spin-off of the University Hospital Jena (Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena). The company designs, manufactures, and sells CE-certified multiphoton tomography (MPT) systems based on near-infrared femtosecond laser pulses that generate label-free optical biopsies via two-photon fluorescence, second harmonic generation (SHG), and coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS). Its portfolio spans clinical tomographs (MPTflex, MPTcompact, DermaInspect), CARS-enabled variants for chemical imaging (MPTflex-CARS, DermaInspect-CARS), functional modules such as TauMap (FLIM) and VerticalAge (SAAID skin-age index), and adjacent femtosecond tools for research use (2PM/2P microendoscope, 2PM-Cryo, femtOgene transfection, femt-O-cut sub-100nm processing). Devices are deployed in hospitals, cosmetics and pharmaceutical R&D labs, and space-medicine programs, with named users including Charité Berlin, NASA, ESA, P&G, L'Oreal, Chanel, Beiersdorf, J&J, and the University of California.

The company monetizes primarily through capital equipment sales of CE-marked clinical tomographs, complemented by a global equipment-rental program and fee-based basic-experiment and clinical-study service contracts. Distribution is direct enterprise field sales supplemented by partners and distributors, with demand generation concentrated at major industry events such as Medica, SPIE Photonics West, and LASER World of PHOTONICS, and reinforced through a steady peer-reviewed publication record, the JenLab Young Investigator Awards, and recurring recognition including the 2011 SPIE Prism Award and 2014 IAIR/New Economy awards. Operations sit across Berlin (HQ), Jena (R&D), and Saarbrücken, with end-customer deployments reported in Germany, the U.K., Italy, Russia, Australia, Japan, and the United States, and a 2016 non-dilutive funding round of approximately $2.77 million from EISMEA providing working capital continuity.

Name

JenLab

Legal name

JenLab GmbH

Website

https://jenlab.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

JenLab GmbH is a German medical-technology company that designs and sells CE-certified, femtosecond-laser multiphoton tomography systems for label-free in vivo skin and tissue imaging, serving hospitals, cosmetics and pharmaceutical R&D labs, and space-medicine programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Medical Imaging Equipment

NAICS

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

SIC

Surgical & Medical Instruments & Apparatus (3841), Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826)

akta.pro primary industry

Microscopy, Imaging & Flow Cytometry Instruments (HLAGAIAE)

Keywords

• Multiphoton tomography systems
• Femtosecond laser imaging
• Medical diagnostic devices
• Optical biopsy technology
• Non-invasive tissue imaging

Headquarters

HQ city

Neuengönna

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Medical Device Sales: Sale of CE certified multiphoton tomographs including MPTcompact, MPTflex, DermaInspect, and specialized variants like MPTflex-CARS and DermaInspect-CARS for clinical and research applications.
2. Rental Services: Rental of multiphoton tomography equipment for customers who prefer not to purchase outright.
3. Service Contracts: Basic experiments and clinical studies services using the company's imaging technology.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

JenLab manufactures CE certified clinical multiphoton tomographs based on femtosecond laser technology for non-invasive in vivo tissue imaging. The systems enable optical biopsies and chemical imaging without surgical intervention, serving clinical diagnostics (especially skin cancer detection), cosmetic and pharmaceutical research, and space medicine applications.

Product overview

JenLab offers a portfolio of medical diagnostic devices based on multiphoton tomography technology using femtosecond laser systems. The core products include MPTflex and MPTcompact clinical tomographs for in vivo skin imaging with submicron resolution. These are supplemented by specialized modules: CARS variants (MPTflex-CARS, DermaInspect-CARS) for chemical imaging, TauMap for fluorescence lifetime imaging, and VerticalAge for skin aging measurement. Additional products include 2PM two-photon microscopes, femtosecond laser tools (femtOgene for transfection, femt-O-cut for nanoprocessing), and 2PM-Cryo for cryomicroscopy. All products leverage two-photon fluorescence, second harmonic generation (SHG), and CARS signals to provide label-free optical biopsies without tissue removal.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• MPTflex Flexible clinical multiphoton tomograph with optomechanical arm and 360-degree measurement head, providing submicron resolution optical biopsies with two-photon fluorescence and second harmonic generation (SHG) signals. Used by hospitals and research institutions for in vivo tissue imaging.
• MPTcompact CE certified multiphoton tomograph offering rapid microscopic view into skin and tissues with submicron resolution for clinical diagnostics. Designed for clinical and biomedical research applications.
• DermaInspect CE marked multiphoton tomograph for label-free skin imaging to obtain 3D optical biopsies with submicron resolution. Used for early cancer diagnosis and skin aging determination.
• 2PM (Two-Photon Microscope) Low-cost compact two-photon microscope for cell biology, biotechnology, and medical applications providing high-resolution 3D tissue imaging.
• 2P Microendoscope Two-photon microendoscope for minimally invasive in vivo tissue imaging at microscopic resolution.
• MPTflex-CARS Flexible clinical CARS (Coherent Anti-Stokes Raman Scattering) tomograph providing chemical imaging information in addition to standard multiphoton tomography, enabling label-free optical biopsies with chemical fingerprints.
• Equipment Rental Service Rental of multiphoton tomography equipment for customers who prefer not to purchase outright. Available globally.
• Basic Experiments Service Basic experiments service using JenLab's multiphoton tomography imaging technology for client research needs.
• Clinical Studies Service Clinical studies service using JenLab's multiphoton tomography imaging technology for medical research and clinical trials.

Quantifiable outcome

• Resolution 1,000 times better than conventional ultrasound, X-ray, or MRI
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• European Space Agency (ESA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014ESA Project Skin B collaboration for evaluating skin aging effects in astronauts working on the International Space Station. JenLab's MPTflex generates high-resolution images of astronaut skin before and after space missions to study effects of cosmic radiation and microgravity.
• NASAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with NASA for evaluating skin aging effects in astronauts aboard the International Space Station as part of space medicine research.
• Charité BerlincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerClinical research partnership for CARS studies on cancer patients, detection of intratissue chemotherapeutics, and hand-foot syndrome evaluation. Charité is the largest hospital in the European Union.
• University of CaliforniaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partnership for studying skin physiology and oxygen consumption using multiphoton tomography technology.
• Special Olympics SaarlandminorOthersMajor sponsor of Special Olympics Saarland, supporting sports organization for athletes with intellectual disabilities.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Leica Microsystems: Part of Danaher; manufacturer of TCS SP multiphoton/confocal microscope systems used in life-science research. Comparable to JenLab on multiphoton imaging technology and research customer overlap, though with a much broader portfolio.
• Nikon Instruments (Nikon Healthcare): Manufacturer of the A1R HD multiphoton/confocal microscope platform sold to research institutions. Comparable to JenLab on multiphoton imaging technology and customer overlap, while operating a much broader microscopy portfolio.
• Evident (formerly Olympus Life Science): Manufacturer of the FV3000 confocal/multiphoton microscope line. Similar to JenLab in offering multiphoton imaging systems for research customers, with a broader microscopy and clinical instrument portfolio.
• Carl Zeiss (ZEISS Microscopy): Global incumbent in light and multiphoton microscopy (LSM 980 with NLO, Z.1 systems). Comparable to JenLab as a broader multiphoton/laser-scanning microscope provider with deeper commercial scale and an established clinical and life-science research customer base.
• Canfield Scientific: US-based leader in dermatology imaging (VECTRA, VISIA, D200) and clinical photo documentation. Overlaps with JenLab on dermatology imaging customers and skin analysis use cases, but with a broader commercial imaging portfolio.
• Bruker: Owns the Ultima two-photon/multiphoton microscopy line (formerly Prairie). Overlaps with JenLab on multiphoton imaging instrumentation for neuroscience and biological research customers, albeit with larger scale.

Direct peers

• FotoFinder Systems: German-based vendor of dermoscopy, total body photography and AI-augmented skin imaging systems used by dermatologists. Comparable to JenLab as a specialty medical imaging supplier targeting dermatology and skin cancer screening workflows.
• Michelson Diagnostics: UK-based developer of the vivoSight hand-held optical coherence tomography/probe-based imaging system for non-invasive skin imaging in dermatology. Highly comparable to JenLab as a small specialist commercializing novel optical skin-imaging devices to clinicians and researchers.
• Caliber Imaging & Diagnostics (formerly Lucid Inc.): US-based maker of the VivaScope reflectance confocal microscopy platform for cellular-level in-vivo skin imaging and pathology. Directly comparable to JenLab for offering label-free, non-invasive skin imaging devices marketed to dermatologists.

Others

• Coherent: Major supplier of ultrafast femtosecond lasers (e.g., Chameleon Vision-S) widely used as the laser source inside multiphoton microscope systems. Comparable to JenLab as a critical infrastructure/enabler in the femtosecond multiphoton imaging value chain.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about JenLab