Crioestaminal
Crioestaminal is a Portuguese family stem cell bank that cryopreserves umbilical cord blood, tissue, placenta, and adipose tissue at -196°C. Part of the Famicord Group, it serves over 120,000 families in Portugal with certified storage and GMP cell therapy manufacturing services.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2003
- HeadquartersCantanhede, Portugal
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Crioestaminal does
Crioestaminal, operated under the legal entity STEMLAB S.A., is a Portuguese family stem cell bank founded in 2003 by University of Coimbra researchers. The company collects, processes, and cryopreserves stem cells from umbilical cord blood, umbilical cord tissue, placenta, and adipose tissue at -196°C in liquid nitrogen, with stated viability for up to 25 years. It holds the first Portuguese Ministry of Health authorization for family stem cell banking (2011, Lei 12/2009), AABB international accreditation for cord blood and somatic cells, NP EN ISO 9001 certification (since 2006), and the only INFARMED GMP certification for cell therapy drug manufacturing among Portuguese cryopreservation banks (2025). Beyond storage, the company operates a 150 m² GMP-certified facility producing experimental cell therapy medicines for clinical trials in stroke, autoimmune disease, and severe inflammatory conditions, and offers cell expansion services using proprietary methods to enable adult transplant viability. It also holds four registered patents covering stem cell compositions, cardiac tissue preservation, exosome-based wound repair, and dendritic cell generation.
The business model is direct-to-consumer subscription, serving primarily expectant parents in Portugal through inside sales, maternity-ward referral networks, and digital marketing. Pricing is structured in tiers ranging from Essencial (~€645 total) to Família + Segura (€3,500 or €1,850 + €130/year), with annual storage fees of €70–€130 creating a recurring revenue base. The customer base exceeds 120,000 families, with 22 documented children treated using stored samples for conditions including SCID, severe aplastic anemia, cerebral palsy, and autism. Since 2018, the company has operated as the Portuguese subsidiary of the Famicord Group, the largest European stem cell bank, providing access to 34 countries, 1,500 hospital partnerships, and over 7,368 treatments performed group-wide. Adjacent services include the Lipostem sub-brand for adult adipose-tissue banking, a Patient Navigator service to assist families during therapy release, and a directed collection program for at-risk families.
Crioestaminal firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Crioestaminal
- Legal name
- STEMLAB S.A.
- Website
- https://crioestaminal.pt
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2003
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Crioestaminal is a Portuguese family stem cell bank that cryopreserves umbilical cord blood, tissue, placenta, and adipose tissue at -196°C. Part of the Famicord Group, it serves over 120,000 families in Portugal with certified storage and GMP cell therapy manufacturing services.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Crioestaminal industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Stem Cell Banking Services
- NAICS
- Blood and Organ Banks (621991), Biological Product (except Diagnostic) Manufacturing (325414), Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714)
- SIC
- Biological Products, (No Disgnostic Substances) (2836), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Cell & Tissue Banking (biobanking, cord blood/tissue) (HLAAAGAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Cold Chain, Cryopreservation & Biologics Storage/Handling Technologies (HLAAAJAN), Cold Chain Storage & Cryopreservation Services (LN2/Ultra-low) (HLAGAGAK), Cell Therapy Manufacturing Services (GMP, autologous/allogeneic) (HLAAAKAC), Stem Cell–Based Regenerative Therapies (HLAAAGAA)
Keywords
Where Crioestaminal is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Cantanhede
- HQ country
- Portugal
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Crioestaminal business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Stem Cell Cryopreservation Services: Primary revenue from cryopreservation services for umbilical cord blood and tissue. Payment structured in phases: adhesion fee during pregnancy, processing fee after birth, and annual storage fees. Multiple service tiers from basic to comprehensive family protection plans.
- Cell Expansion Services: Future preparation of mesenchymal stem cells from cord tissue for clinical use, offered as part of premium service packages
- Credit Intermediation: Crioestaminal acts as credit intermediary on an accessory basis in non-exclusivity regime, offering installment payment options for families
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Essencial - Basic cord blood preservation |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Família - Cord blood and tissue preservation |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Família Segura (Best-seller) - Blood, tissue plus future cell preparation |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Família + - Best value with immediate cell expansion |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Família + Segura - Complete protection with immediate expansion |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels8 records
Crioestaminal product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Crioestaminal collects, processes, and cryopreserves stem cells from umbilical cord blood, umbilical cord tissue, placenta, and adipose tissue at -196°C using liquid nitrogen for long-term storage of up to 25 years. The company operates a GMP-certified 150 m² cell therapy medicine production facility for clinical trial and experimental therapies, and provides add-on services including proprietary cell expansion, directed collections for at-risk families, a research bank, and a Patient Navigator support program.
Product overview
Crioestaminal is a family cord blood and tissue bank operating since 2003, offering cryopreservation services for multiple types of stem cells including umbilical cord blood (Sangue do Cordão Umbilical), umbilical cord tissue (Tecido do Cordão Umbilical), placenta, and adipose tissue. The core service includes collection kits, laboratory processing, and long-term storage at -196°C for up to 25 years. The company operates a GMP-certified cellular therapy drug manufacturing unit and offers add-on services such as cellular expansion, Patient Navigator support, and a research bank for donated samples. Storage plans range from entry-level (Essencial) to premium (Família +), with the best-selling Família Segura plan including future mesenchymal stem cell preparation. Crioestaminal is part of the Famicord Group, the largest European stem cell bank group.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Lipostem: Adult stem cell storage service for adipose tissue stem cells, targeted at non-expecting parents.
Products and services
- Umbilical Cord Blood Cryopreservation (Sangue do Cordão Umbilical) Cryopreservation service for hematopoietic stem cells from umbilical cord blood, used in the treatment of more than 90 hematological, oncological, and metabolic diseases. The cells are similar to those found in bone marrow and applicable for blood disorders and cancers.
- Umbilical Cord Tissue Cryopreservation (Tecido do Cordão Umbilical) Cryopreservation service for mesenchymal stem cells from umbilical cord tissue, with applications in regenerative medicine for autoimmune diseases, cartilage, bone, and muscle regeneration.
- Placenta Cryopreservation Cryopreservation service for placental stem cells, rich in mesenchymal stem cells and epithelial cells with anti-inflammatory properties, under study for various diseases including graft-versus-host disease and peripheral arterial disease.
- Adipose Tissue Cryopreservation (Tecido Adiposo) Cryopreservation service for mesenchymal stem cells derived from adipose tissue (fat), with potential applications in autoimmune, neurodegenerative diseases, and bone/cartilage regeneration. Offered via the Lipostem sub-brand targeted at non-expecting parents.
- Cell Expansion Service (Expansão Celular) Service for expanding stem cell numbers from cord blood samples to ensure viability for adult transplants, using proprietary in-house methods. Available as a component of premium service packages.
- Cell Therapy Medicine Production Unit (GMP) INFARMED GMP-certified 150 m² cellular therapy drug manufacturing unit that produces experimental medications for clinical trials and therapies in areas such as stroke, autoimmune diseases, severe inflammatory conditions, and COVID-19. The only cryopreservation bank in Portugal with this certification.
- Patient Navigator Service Dedicated professional service guiding and assisting families through the process of releasing stored samples for therapy, handling bureaucratic tasks across healthcare systems.
- Research Bank (Banco de Investigação) Research bank service for donated stem cells, allowing researchers access to samples for discovering new therapeutic solutions when families choose not to store for themselves.
- Directed Collections (Colheitas Dirigidas)
Quantifiable outcome
- 22 children treated with cryopreserved stem cell samples from Crioestaminal
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Crioestaminal
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Crioestaminal technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Crioestaminal partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Famicord GroupflagshipCrioestaminal has been part of Famicord Group since 2018. Famicord is the largest European stem cell bank group with 1,000,000+ stored samples, present in 34 countries, with 1,500 hospital partnerships and 7,368+ treatments performed. Crioestaminal serves as the group's Portuguese operation.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Crioestaminal competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Vita 34: German family cord blood bank and Famicord Group subsidiary offering umbilical cord blood and tissue cryopreservation under a near-identical service model, payment structure, and regulatory framework (PEI/GMP). Directly comparable in scale, product portfolio, and GTM.
- PBKM (Polski Bank Komórek Macierzystych): Polish family cord blood bank and Famicord Group subsidiary with comparable service tiers, multi-year storage contracts, and GMP-licensed processing. Same parent group, parallel service design, and overlapping geographic reach.
- Sevibe Cells: Spanish family cord blood bank within the Famicord Group, offering cryopreservation of cord blood and tissue plus cell expansion services. Operates a parallel Iberian market presence with similar regulatory positioning under Spanish Ministry of Health authorization.
- Smart Cells: UK-based family stem cell bank that joined the Famicord Group, offering umbilical cord blood and tissue storage with comparable subscription-based pricing and AABB-equivalent (HTA) accreditation. Direct peer for the Portuguese company's international B2C proposition.
- Biogenis: Romanian stem cell bank within the Famicord Group providing cord blood and tissue cryopreservation plus advanced therapy manufacturing support. Comparable in service mix, regulatory positioning, and role as a regional Famicord operating unit.
- Cellaviva: Nordic family cord blood bank (Sweden/Denmark) within the Famicord Group, offering cord blood and tissue storage under similar subscription models with comparable regulatory certifications. Functions as the Nordic equivalent of Crioestaminal's Portuguese operation.
Broad incumbents
- Famicord Group: Parent group and largest European stem cell bank with 1M+ stored samples across 34 countries. Comparable as the umbrella organization providing Crioestaminal with international scale, central lab standards, and clinical-trial reach.
- Cord Blood Registry (CBR): Largest US family cord blood bank, now part of Generate Life Sciences. Comparable in customer scale (500K+ families), service portfolio (cord blood + tissue + cell expansion), and consumer trust positioning, though operating in a different regulatory and reimbursement environment.
- ViaCord: US-based family cord blood and tissue bank owned by PerkinElmer, offering comparable cryopreservation services plus emerging perinatal tissue storage. Relevant benchmark for service expansion into placenta and tissue banking.
Regional players
- Cryo-Save (now BioVault): European family stem cell bank with historical presence in Portugal and across Europe. Once a direct competitor, now operating under BioVault Family in a more limited geographic footprint. Comparable service model and historical competitive overlap.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Crioestaminal social profiles
Digital presenceCrioestaminal compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance6 records
Crioestaminal financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Crioestaminal leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Crioestaminal funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Crioestaminal 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 Crioestaminal
What does Crioestaminal do?
Crioestaminal collects, processes, and cryopreserves stem cells from umbilical cord blood, umbilical cord tissue, placenta, and adipose tissue at -196°C using liquid nitrogen for long-term storage of up to 25 years. The company operates a GMP-certified 150 m² cell therapy medicine production facility for clinical trial and experimental therapies, and provides add-on services including proprietary cell expansion, directed collections for at-risk families, a research bank, and a Patient Navigator support program.
Is Crioestaminal a public or private company?
Crioestaminal is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Crioestaminal founded?
Crioestaminal was founded in 2003. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Crioestaminal based?
Crioestaminal is headquartered in Cantanhede, Portugal, in the Europe region.
How does Crioestaminal make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Stem Cell Cryopreservation Services are the primary driver. The others are cell Expansion Services and credit Intermediation.
Who are Crioestaminal's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Vita 34, PBKM (Polski Bank Komórek Macierzystych), Sevibe Cells, Smart Cells, Biogenis and Cellaviva. Broad incumbents are Famicord Group, Cord Blood Registry (CBR) and ViaCord. Cryo-Save (now BioVault) is listed as a regional player.
Does Crioestaminal have an API?
No public API is recorded for Crioestaminal.
What industry is Crioestaminal in?
Crioestaminal's product category is Stem Cell Banking Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAAAGAE, Cell & Tissue Banking (biobanking, cord blood/tissue), with a secondary code of HLAAAJAN, Cold Chain, Cryopreservation & Biologics Storage/Handling Technologies. Its NAICS code is 621991 and its SIC code is 2836.