CytoViva

What CytoViva does

CytoViva, Inc. is a privately-held scientific instrumentation company headquartered in Huntsville, Alabama, founded in 2004. The company develops and sells Enhanced Darkfield (EDF) microscopy systems integrated with hyperspectral imaging technology, enabling label-free optical imaging and spectral characterization of nanoscale samples. The core platform is built on two granted US patents (7,542,203 and 7,564,623) covering the EDF illuminator, which achieves up to a 10x improvement in scattering signal-to-noise ratio over traditional darkfield microscopy and allows detection of nanoparticles as small as 10–20 nm from a benchtop setup. The product line extends from the core EDF and hyperspectral microscopy systems (covering VNIR 400–1000 nm and SWIR 900–1700 nm wavelength ranges at ~2 nm spectral resolution) to add-on modules including a patent-pending 3D imaging system, integrated Raman/hyperspectral co-development with HORIBA Scientific, a SynVivo live-cell environmental chamber, and a dual-mode fluorescence module.

The company's go-to-market is a hybrid of direct enterprise field sales in North America and a network of international distributors covering China, Europe (Schaefer Group), Brazil, Singapore, Taiwan, Korea, Japan, India, and Southeast Asia. Revenue is generated primarily from custom-configured hardware system sales with quote-based pricing and multi-year contracts, supplemented by system upgrades, add-on modules, and technical applications support. Since its first FDA installation in 2008, CytoViva has delivered hundreds of systems to research institutions, universities, government laboratories (e.g., FDA, NIH, Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, US Army Corps of Engineers, NIOH South Africa), and academic medical centers (e.g., MD Anderson, SUNY Polytechnic, Georgia Tech, University of Minnesota) across more than 14 countries.

The company operates with a small team (1–10 employees) under a closely held ownership structure, with CEO Samuel M. Lawrence and COO John O. Lawrence leading the business and Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing Byron Cheatham supporting the distribution-driven model. Its installed base serves a horizontal mix of use-case segments spanning nanotechnology and materials science, biomedical and life science research, nanotoxicology, semiconductor/electronics QA, and pharmaceutical drug delivery.

Name

CytoViva

Legal name

CytoViva, Inc.

Website

https://cytoviva.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

CytoViva is a privately-held scientific instrumentation company that develops patented Enhanced Darkfield microscopy and hyperspectral imaging systems for label-free nanoscale imaging. The company serves hundreds of research institutions, universities, government laboratories, and pharmaceutical companies worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Scientific Microscopy Instruments

NAICS

Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing (334516), Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (3345)

SIC

Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826), Optical Instruments & Lenses (3827)

akta.pro primary industry

Microscopy, Imaging & Flow Cytometry Instruments (HLAGAIAE)

Keywords

• Hyperspectral microscopy
• Darkfield microscopy
• Nanoscale imaging
• Spectroscopy instruments
• Optical microscopy systems

Headquarters

HQ city

Auburn University

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Microscopy Hardware Systems: Sale of complete CytoViva hyperspectral microscopy systems including enhanced darkfield illuminator, camera systems, motorized stages, spectrographs, and proprietary software. Systems can be purchased as complete turnkey solutions or retrofitted to existing microscopes.
2. System Upgrades and Add-ons: Existing customers can add capabilities to their systems including fluorescence modules, 3D imaging, hyperspectral imaging upgrades, and Raman integration.
3. Custom System Configuration: Custom system solutions tailored to specific research needs, configured based on customer application requirements and existing laboratory equipment.
4. Technical Support Services: Technical applications support, training, demonstrations, and sample imaging services for prospective and existing customers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

CytoViva designs, manufactures, and sells patented Enhanced Darkfield (EDF) microscopy systems integrated with proprietary hyperspectral imaging technology for label-free optical imaging and spectral characterization of nanoscale samples. Systems are sold as custom-configured turnkey solutions or as retrofits to existing research-grade microscopes, complemented by add-on modules including 3D imaging, integrated confocal Raman, live-cell environmental chambers, and dual-mode fluorescence. The company also provides technical applications support, training, demonstrations, and sample-imaging services to researchers at universities, government laboratories, and pharmaceutical/biotech companies worldwide.

Product overview

CytoViva offers a modular microscopy platform centered on its patented Enhanced Darkfield (EDF) Illuminator and proprietary hyperspectral imaging technology. The core product line consists of the Enhanced Darkfield Microscopy system and the Hyperspectral Microscopy system, which can operate independently or together. The platform is extended through add-on modules including the 3D Enhanced Darkfield Imaging System (for three-dimensional optical modeling of samples), the Integrated Raman and Hyperspectral Microscopy (a co-developed solution with HORIBA Scientific combining confocal Raman with darkfield and hyperspectral imaging), the Live Cell Environmental Chamber (via SynVivo partnership for real-time live cell-nanoparticle studies), and the Dual Mode Fluorescence module (for simultaneous fluorescent and non-fluorescent imaging). The product portfolio supports applications from nanoparticle detection (10–20nm resolution) to semiconductor wafer analysis across biological, materials science, and clinical research domains.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CytoViva Enhanced Darkfield Microscopy The flagship nanoscale optical imaging system featuring the patented Enhanced Darkfield (EDF) Illuminator (US Patents 7,542,203 and 7,564,623). Couples source light directly to darkfield condenser optics via a light guide to improve scattering signal-to-noise ratio up to 10x over traditional darkfield, enabling observation of nanoparticles as small as 10–20nm. Compatible with most research-grade optical microscopes and sold to research laboratories at universities, government agencies, and pharmaceutical companies.
• CytoViva Hyperspectral Microscopy (VNIR and SWIR configurations) Proprietary hyperspectral imaging system for label-free spectral characterization and mapping of nanoscale samples across VNIR (400–1000nm) and SWIR (900–1700nm) wavelength ranges. Uses pushbroom line-scan acquisition via an automated translational microscope stage to produce hyperspectral data cubes; at 100x magnification images contain up to 700,000 pixels with pixel sizes as small as 128nm and ~2nm spectral resolution. Sold to researchers needing nondestructive spectral identification of nanoscale elements in full spatial context.
• CytoViva 3D Enhanced Darkfield Imaging System Patent-pending 3D optical imaging add-on that locates non-labeled nanostructures in translucent matrices using a piezo-driven Z-axis stage combined with proprietary deconvolution and particle-location routines. Produces three-dimensional optical models of samples from stacks of equally spaced 2D images processed with CytoViva 3D Image Analysis ImageJ plug-ins. Sold as a module to extend an existing CytoViva system for label-free 3D nanoscale analysis.
• Integrated Raman and Hyperspectral Microscopy System Joint solution with HORIBA Scientific that integrates confocal Raman imaging (XploRA Plus with 532nm, 638nm, 785nm lasers and four gratings: 600, 1200, 1800, 2400 gr/mm), hyperspectral imaging, and enhanced darkfield imaging on the same microscope platform. Enables cross-correlation of Raman spectra with broadband hyperspectral signal images for comprehensive nanomaterial characterization. Sold to advanced materials and biomedical research labs needing combined chemical and optical signature data.
• CytoViva Live Cell Environmental Chamber Environmental chamber add-on (developed with SynVivo) using a printed microfluidic chip to simulate microvascular network circulation. Combined with the CytoViva enhanced darkfield hyperspectral imaging system, it enables real-time tracking of nanoparticle interactions with live cells and tissue for drug delivery and in-vivo simulation studies. Sold as an add-on to existing CytoViva systems for pharmaceutical and biomedical researchers.
• CytoViva Dual Mode Fluorescence Microscopy Module Add-on module that enables simultaneous real-time observation of both fluorescent and non-fluorescent sample portions through the microscope eyepiece, captured using a standard microscope camera without complicated software or electronic manipulation. Sold as an add-on to existing CytoViva systems for researchers who need to compare labeled and label-free regions in the same field of view.

Quantifiable outcome

• Detection of nanoparticles as small as 10-20nm from laboratory benchtop
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

AI capability5 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• HORIBA ScientificcoreTechnology or IntegrationHORIBA Scientific and CytoViva integrated confocal Raman imaging, hyperspectral imaging, and enhanced darkfield imaging onto the same microscope platform. The system leverages the HORIBA XploRA Plus Raman microscope with full confocal Raman and PL imaging capabilities, multiple laser options (532nm, 638nm, 785nm), and four gratings (600, 1,200, 1,800, 2,400 gr/mm) on a motorized turret. The integrated system enables cross-correlation of Raman spectra with broadband hyperspectral signal images for enhanced nanomaterial characterization.
• SynVivosupportingTechnology or IntegrationSynVivo environmental chamber integrated with CytoViva enhanced darkfield hyperspectral imaging system for live cell, microfluidics, and simulated in-vivo studies. The SynVivo printed microfluidic chip supports microvascular network simulation for tracking nanoparticle interactions with live cells and tissue in drug delivery assays.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/cytovivavideos
• Facebookfacebook.com/256484611052395
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cytoviva-inc
• Instagraminstagram.com/cytoviva

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors

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 CytoViva