Kugelmeiers

What Kugelmeiers does

Kugelmeiers Ltd. is a privately held Swiss biotechnology company headquartered in Erlenbach, founded in 2015 as a spin-off from the University of Zurich. The company develops, manufactures, and markets the patented Sphericalplate 5D — a scaffold-free 3D cell culture platform whose distinctive geometry and surface features enable reproducible, scalable formation of uniform cell spheroids for research, diagnostics, and regenerative medicine. Kugelmeiers sells three plate formats anchored on the same core geometry: a 96-well Strip Format (2,400 spheroids/plate) for parallel multi-individual testing, a 24-well Plate (9,000 spheroids/plate) for workflow startup, and a 6-well Plate (20,184 spheroids/plate) for scaled-up production. Revenue is generated through direct-to-customer online sales of these physical products (paid via invoice, credit card, or PayPal) supplemented by services provided on a time-and-materials basis under Swiss Code of Obligations; pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed.

The company operates as an orchestration hub in the European cell-therapy ecosystem, participating in five EU-funded consortia (ORGANTRANS, CELLS IN MATRIX, VANGUARD, Eurostars, and the 2025 NEOLIVER program) aimed at clinical translation of islet, liver, and bioartificial pancreas therapies, and maintaining an explicit ecosystem of more than 40 named partners spanning research hospitals (University Hospital Zurich, CHU Lille, LUMC), automation vendors (Tecan, CSEM, RegenHU, Cellink), imaging suppliers (Nikon, Leica), and pharma/biotech collaborators (Betalin Therapeutics, Nordmark Pharma). Co-founders Sandra H. Kugelmeier-Heller and Dr. med. Patrick Kugelmeier remain on the Board of Directors, while day-to-day leadership is provided by a hired management team including a CEO (Dr. Meelis Reidla), CFO (Dr. Christian Frey), and global heads of Science & Product Innovation, Sales, and Production & Technology, supported by in-house regulatory and quality management capacity geared toward medical-device and cell-product approval. Capital structure is non-dilutive to date — no equity rounds are disclosed; funding flows entirely through Swiss and EU grant programs, with membership in industry associations Swiss Medtech, Biolago, and Toolpoint.

Name

Kugelmeiers

Legal name

Kugelmeiers Ltd.

Website

https://kugelmeiers.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Kugelmeiers Ltd. is a Swiss biotech company that develops and sells the patented Sphericalplate 5D 3D cell culture platform, enabling researchers, diagnostics labs, and cell-therapy developers to produce standardized cell spheroids for regenerative medicine applications.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

3D Cell Culture Technologies / Life Sciences Research Tools

NAICS

Medical Equipment and Supplies Manufacturing (3391), Surgical Appliance and Supplies Manufacturing (339113)

SIC

Surgical & Medical Instruments & Apparatus (3841), Biological Products, (No Disgnostic Substances) (2836)

akta.pro primary industry

Cell Therapy Developers (Allogeneic/Off-the-shelf) (HLAAABAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Cell Therapy CDMO (HLAGABAD), Cell Therapy CDMO (Autologous/Allogeneic Manufacturing) (HLAGAGAA)

Keywords

• 3D cell culture
• Spheroid technology
• Regenerative medicine
• Cell therapy platforms
• Medical devices

Headquarters

HQ city

Erlenbach

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Product Sales: Kugelmeiers develops, manufactures, markets and sells products related to cell cultures and medical devices. Products include 96-well Strip Format (2,400 spheroids per plate), 24-well Plate (9,000 spheroids per plate), and 6-well Plate (20,184 spheroids per plate). Revenue is generated through direct product sales with payment via invoice or credit card/online payments.
2. Services: Kugelmeiers provides services for assistance related to its Products. Services are provided pursuant to Swiss Code of Obligations and typically on a time and material basis.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Kugelmeiers develops, manufactures, and sells the patented Sphericalplate 5D 3D cell culture platform in 96-well Strip, 24-well, and 6-well plate formats that enable production of uniform, standardized cell spheroids for research, diagnostics, and regenerative medicine applications. The company also provides related professional services (e.g., assistance with its products pursuant to the Swiss Code of Obligations) on a time-and-material basis.

Product overview

Kugelmeiers operates a single-platform product portfolio anchored by the Sphericalplate 5D, a patented 3D cell culture technology for producing uniform, standardized cell spheroids used in research, diagnostics, and regenerative medicine. The platform is marketed in three physical plate formats: the 96-well Strip Format (2,400 spheroids per plate) for flexible, multi-individual experimental setups; the 24-well Plate (9,000 spheroids per plate) for startup 3D cell culture; and the 6-well Plate (20,184 spheroids per plate) for scaled-up production. All three formats share the same Sphericalplate 5D geometry and are aimed at researchers and clinicians pursuing cell therapy and regenerative medicine applications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Sphericalplate 5D Platform Patented 3D cell culture platform that enables production of uniform, standardized cell spheroids for research, diagnostics, and regenerative medicine; available in three plate formats.
• 96-well Strip Format Flexible 3D cell culture plate producing 2,400 spheroids per plate, enabling flexible experimental setup design and data collection from multiple individuals in a small volume. Targeted at researchers running multi-condition or multi-donor studies.
• 24-well Plate 3D cell culture plate producing 9,000 spheroids per plate, designed for starting up 3D cell culture workflows for researchers and developers.
• 6-well Plate 3D cell culture plate producing 20,184 spheroids per plate, designed for scaling up 3D cell culture workflows for larger production needs.
• Product-related Services Professional services for assistance related to Kugelmeiers' Sphericalplate 5D products and cell culture/medical device offerings, provided under Swiss Code of Obligations typically on a time-and-material basis. For researchers, diagnostics labs, and cell therapy developers using the Sphericalplate 5D platform.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

47 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Weidmann Medical Technologies AGcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Project partner in Eurostars consortium focused on developing novel production methods for high throughput human cell culturing and cell transplantation device to improve islet cell transplantation for diabetes patients.
• Temicon GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Project partner in Eurostars consortium working on engineering new tooling methods to meet quality criteria for human use in cell transplantation.
• University of UtrechtcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Coordinator of NEOLIVER consortium - developing world's first autologous bioprinted liver designed for clinical use, with twelve consortium members.
• University of Geneva, Department of SurgerycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Coordinator of VANGUARD project - European consortium to develop bioartificial pancreas as beta cell replacement therapy for Type 1 diabetes.
• The School of Medicine of Università del Piemonte Orientale Amedeo AvogadrocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020VANGUARD project partner developing clinical beta-cell replacement therapy to overcome limitations of current diabetes treatments.
• The Transplantation department of Lyon University HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020VANGUARD project partner contributing to development of bioartificial pancreas for Type 1 diabetes treatment.
• IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Diabetes Research InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020VANGUARD project partner contributing expertise in diabetes research and beta-cell replacement therapy development.
• Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Diabetes CentercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020VANGUARD project partner contributing to bioartificial pancreas development for Type 1 diabetes.
• Erasmus University Medical Center RotterdamcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020VANGUARD project partner providing clinical translation expertise for beta-cell replacement therapy.
• Accelopment AGsupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2020Project management partner for VANGUARD European consortium developing bioartificial pancreas therapy.
• European Society for Organ Transplantation (ESOT-ELPAT)supportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Ethics, Legal and Social Aspects partner for VANGUARD project providing expertise on ethical considerations in organ transplantation.
• CSEMcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Project coordinator of ORGANTRANS - European consortium developing automated and standardized tissue engineering platform for liver regenerative medicine.
• University of UtrechtcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020ORGANTRANS project partner contributing to development of liver tissue constructs using advanced cell biology and bioengineering.
• Leibniz Institute for Interactive MaterialscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020ORGANTRANS project partner providing expertise in biomaterials for liver tissue engineering.
• RegenHU AGcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2020ORGANTRANS project partner providing 3D bioprinting technology for liver construct assembly.
• VIB VZWcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020ORGANTRANS project partner contributing to stem cell biology and organoid development expertise.
• King's College LondoncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020ORGANTRANS project partner providing clinical translation expertise for liver regenerative medicine.
• Amires SROsupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2020Project management partner for ORGANTRANS consortium developing liver tissue engineering platform.
• Betalin Therapeutics Ltd.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Project coordinator of CELLS IN MATRIX - European consortium developing engineered micro pancreas (EMP) for diabetes drug R&D using Sphericalplate 5D technology.
• Medical Faculty and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus at TU DresdencoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020CELLS IN MATRIX project partner contributing to development of organ-derived 3D cell culture model for diabetes research.
• University Hospital ZurichcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020CELLS IN MATRIX project partner contributing clinical expertise for engineered micro pancreas development.
• University of GenevasupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerEcosystem partner for cell harvesting in 3D cell culture technology development.
• Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität MünchensupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerEcosystem partner for cell harvesting contributing to diabetes and cell therapy research.
• IRCCS Ospedale San RaffaelesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerEcosystem partner for cell harvesting in diabetes research applications.
• Université Lyon 1supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerEcosystem partner for cell harvesting contributing to translational research.
• Translational Research DiabetessupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerEcosystem partner for cell harvesting in diabetes cell therapy development.
• Nordmark PharmasupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerEcosystem partner for cell harvesting in pharmaceutical research applications.
• Università del Piemonte OrientalesupportingTechnology or IntegrationEcosystem partner for cell programming in beta-cell research.
• CytosurgesupportingTechnology or IntegrationEcosystem partner for cell programming technology integration.
• StapworkssupportingTechnology or IntegrationEcosystem partner for cell programming and stem cell technologies.
• CSEMsupportingTechnology or IntegrationEcosystem partner for cell handling providing automation expertise.
• TecansupportingTechnology or IntegrationEcosystem partner for cell handling providing laboratory automation solutions.
• CellinksupportingTechnology or IntegrationEcosystem partner for cell handling providing 3D bioprinting technology.
• RegenHU AGsupportingTechnology or IntegrationEcosystem partner for cell handling providing 3D bioprinting and biofabrication solutions.
• Sphericalplate 5D (internal brand)coreTechnology or IntegrationCore 3D cell culturing platform technology developed by Kugelmeiers for spheroid formation.
• MimetassupportingTechnology or IntegrationEcosystem partner for 3D cell culturing providing organ-on-a-chip technology.
• TissusesupportingTechnology or IntegrationEcosystem partner for 3D cell culturing tissue engineering solutions.
• CelvivosupportingTechnology or IntegrationEcosystem partner for 3D cell culturing providing dynamic culture systems.
• NikonsupportingTechnology or IntegrationEcosystem partner for cell analysis providing imaging solutions.
• CelldynamicssupportingTechnology or IntegrationEcosystem partner for cell analysis providing dynamic imaging and analysis.
• Leica MicrosystemssupportingTechnology or IntegrationEcosystem partner for cell analysis providing microscopy solutions.
• SynentecsupportingTechnology or IntegrationEcosystem partner for cell analysis providing automated cell analysis systems.
• CelltoolsupportingTechnology or IntegrationEcosystem partner for cell analysis providing label-free live cell analysis.
• Cellbox SolutionssupportingTechnology or IntegrationEcosystem logistics partner providing specialized shipping solutions for cell transport.
• University Hospital Zurich (USZ)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerEcosystem therapeutic partner for clinical translation of cell therapies.
• CHU LillesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerEcosystem therapeutic partner for clinical applications in France.
• Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerEcosystem therapeutic partner for clinical translation in the Netherlands.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Sarstedt: German manufacturer of cell culture plastics and plates with a comparable 96-well / multi-format consumables portfolio, directly overlapping Kugelmeiers' plate product family.
• Corning Life Sciences: Market-leading cell culture plate and consumables manufacturer. Operates broadly across labware (including ultra-low attachment / spheroid plates) and dwarfs Kugelmeiers in catalog depth and distribution, making it the primary incumbent alternative.
• Thermo Fisher Scientific (Cell Culture): Through Nunc, Gibco and related brands, Thermo Fisher supplies the dominant range of cell culture plates, media, and spheroid-format consumables used by the researchers Kugelmeiers targets.

Emerging players

• Mimetas: Provides organ-on-a-chip and 3D cell culture platforms for predictive tissue models. Sits in the same 3D-culture / translational research ecosystem that Kugelmeiers serves via Sphericalplate 5D, with overlapping customer segments.
• TissUse: Berlin-based developer of multi-organ-on-chip platforms for preclinical testing. Comparable as a European 3D tissue engineering player selling into pharma's drug-testing and predictive-model workflows that Kugelmeiers also serves.
• Cellink (BICO): Bioconvergent 3D bioprinting and cell culture technology provider. Listed as a Kugelmeiers ecosystem partner and competes for the same translational cell therapy / tissue engineering lab customers.
• RegenHU (BICO Group): Swiss 3D bioprinting and biofabrication platform provider, already named as a partner to Kugelmeiers in ORGANTRANS and as an ecosystem peer. Comparable as a complementary 3D cell/tissue engineering tooling provider.

Direct peers

• InSphero: Switzerland-based developer of 3D spheroid and organoid technologies for drug discovery and safety testing. Directly competes with Kugelmeiers in the standardized 3D cell culture / spheroid platform category.
• PromoCell: Germany-based supplier of primary cells, cell culture media, and 3D culture reagents, with overlapping customer base of academic and pharma researchers using standardized 3D culture technologies.

Others

• Lonza (Cell & Gene Technologies): Major CDMO and bioprocessing supplier whose cell & gene therapy manufacturing solutions sit downstream of platforms like Sphericalplate 5D. Indirect peer in enabling the same end-market translational cell therapy manufacturing.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

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Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Kugelmeiers