What Apogee Flow Systems does

Apogee Flow Systems Ltd. is a privately held UK biotechnology instrumentation company, founded in 2002 and headquartered in Hemel Hempstead, with a wholly-owned Asia-Pacific subsidiary (Apogee Flow Asia Ltd.) established in Hong Kong in June 2020. The company designs and manufactures high-sensitivity flow cytometers specialised for the detection and analysis of small particles — extracellular vesicles, viruses, bacteria, liposomes, and nanoparticles — that fall below the sensitivity threshold of conventional flow cytometry instruments. Core technologies include multiple high-sensitivity light scatter detectors, a patented refractive index-compensated light scatter size calibration method (US Patent, 2015) based on the Mie solution to Maxwell's equations, and the patented cLDEP (centripetal liquid dielectrophoretic) particle sorting principle commercialised in the Kairos module — the first application of cLDEP to particle sorting, offering roughly 10x higher speed than piezoelectric alternatives with no moving parts.

The product portfolio comprises three instrument families — the MicroPLUS (nanoscale particle analysis, sensitive to 40nm polystyrene beads with the IOTA option), the Universal (conventional cellular analysis including immunophenotyping, ploidy, and CD4 counting), and the Micro-GxP (regulated GMP/GLP/IVD environments with encrypted audit trails and IQ/OQ/PQ services) — supplemented by modular add-ons (IOTA nanoparticle upgrade, Kairos sorter, 96-well microplate autosampler) and the ApogeeMix consumable line of polystyrene and silica calibration reference particles. Instruments are custom-built to buyer specifications (up to 4 lasers and 12 optical detectors) and sold primarily through direct enterprise sales, regional distributors in Europe (Inodex in France, Bio-Port Europe), and the Hong Kong subsidiary in Asia-Pacific.

Revenue is generated predominantly through one-time capital equipment sales of high-value configured instruments, with a smaller recurring consumables stream from ApogeeMix reference particles and a growing aftermarket retrofit stream from IOTA and Kairos upgrades. Customer segments include academic and clinical researchers in extracellular vesicle science, virology, microbiology, and neuroscience, plus regulated diagnostic developers — most notably Nanostics Inc., whose ClarityDX Prostate liquid biopsy platform is powered by Apogee's Microflow technology. The company pursues a research-led, conference-driven GTM model anchored on peer-reviewed publications, exhibitions at CYTO, ISEV, ASM Microbe, GEIVEX, and ABRF, and a flagship clinical validation collaboration.

Name

Apogee Flow Systems

Legal name

Apogee Flow Systems Ltd.

Website

https://apogeeflow.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Apogee Flow Systems designs and manufactures high-sensitivity flow cytometry instruments for detecting small particles including extracellular vesicles, viruses, bacteria, and nanoparticles, serving academic researchers, clinical laboratories, and clinical diagnostics developers worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Flow Cytometry Instruments

NAICS

Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing (334516), Electromedical and Electrotherapeutic Apparatus Manufacturing (334510)

SIC

Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823), Surgical & Medical Instruments & Apparatus (3841), Electromedical & Electrotherapeutic Apparatus (3845)

akta.pro primary industry

Microscopy, Imaging & Flow Cytometry Instruments (HLAGAIAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Flow Cytometry & Cellular Analysis Diagnostics (HLAHAAAF), Liquid Handling & Laboratory Automation (Pipettes, Robots, Workstations) (HLAGAIAD)

Keywords

• Flow cytometry instruments
• Laboratory particle analysis
• Biomedical instrumentation
• Life sciences research tools
• Nanoparticle measurement equipment

Headquarters

HQ city

Hemel Hempstead

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Flow Cytometry Instruments: Apogee Flow Systems manufactures and sells a range of flow cytometers (MicroPLUS, Universal, Micro-GxP) as custom-built instruments configured to customer specifications including choice of lasers, detectors, and options. These are high-value capital equipment items sold primarily to research institutions and clinical laboratories.
2. ApogeeMix Consumables: Sale of reference particle consumables (ApogeeMix product line) for flow cytometer calibration and performance assessment. Sold via email purchase orders with credit card or invoice payment options. Shipped from Europe.
3. Instrument Upgrades and Accessories: The company offers hardware upgrades for existing instruments (e.g., IOTA nanoparticle upgrade, Kairos sorter module, cooling system for autosampler, faster motor drivers), providing a recurring revenue stream from the existing installed base.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Apogee Flow Systems designs and manufactures flow cytometry instruments used by research and clinical laboratories for analyzing cells and particles. The company produces several cytometer models (MicroPLUS, Universal, Micro-GxP), offers ApogeeMix reference particles for instrument calibration, and provides the IOTA nanoparticle upgrade and Kairos cLDEP particle sorter.

Product overview

Apogee Flow Systems offers a range of flow cytometers optimized for small particle analysis, becoming a global reference system for studies of extracellular vesicles, bacteria, liposomes, and viruses. The product portfolio centers on three main cytometer lines (MicroPLUS, Universal, and Micro-GxP) with modular add-ons including the IOTA nanoparticle upgrade and Kairos cLDEP particle sorter, plus ApogeeMix reference particles and light scatter calibration kits. Cytometers are custom-built to customer specifications with up to 4 spatially separated lasers, up to 12 optical detectors, and 3 light scatter detectors. The MicroPLUS models are designed for nanoscale applications while the Universal model serves conventional cellular research, and the Micro-GxP variant addresses regulated GMP/GLP/IVD environments.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ApogeeMix: Reference particles for flow cytometer performance assessment and calibration.
• IOTA
• Kairos
• MicroPLUS
• Universal
• Micro-GxP

Products and services

• MicroPLUS Flow Cytometer A compact flow cytometer model in Apogee's product line, designed for life science research and clinical applications requiring high-sensitivity cell and particle analysis.
• Universal Flow Cytometer A flow cytometer model from Apogee's product line, intended for general-purpose life science research and clinical particle analysis applications.
• Micro-GxP Flow Cytometer A flow cytometer model designed for GxP-compliant workflows, intended for pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and regulated clinical environments.
• ApogeeMix Reference Particles Proprietary reference particles used for calibration of Apogee flow cytometers, supporting instrument validation and quality control for research and clinical laboratories.
• IOTA Nanoparticle Upgrade An optional upgrade for Apogee flow cytometers that adds nanoparticle detection and analysis capabilities, extending instrument utility to extracellular vesicle and nanoparticle research.
• Kairos cLDEP Particle Sorter A particle sorter based on circulating laser-based DEP (cLDEP) technology, offered by Apogee for advanced cell and particle sorting applications.

Quantifiable outcome

• 10x fluorescence sensitivity boost from IOTA hardware upgrade
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Century Clinical Research, Inc.minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2020Century Clinical Research, Inc. in Daytona Beach, FL serves as a US recruitment site for Nanostics' ClarityDX Prostate clinical validation study. This partnership expands Apogee-powered diagnostics into the US market and increases patient cohort diversity for the study.
• Apogee Flow Asia Ltd.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 June 2020Apogee Flow Asia Ltd. is a wholly-owned subsidiary established in June 2020 to serve the growing Asia-Pacific customer base. Located in Hong Kong's commercial district, it provides facilities for demonstration, training, and applications development. This subsidiary represents a significant investment in regional coverage.
• ISEV / MRS Joint Extracellular Vesicle ConferenceminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 August 2019ApogeeFlow and Nanostics exhibited jointly at the First ISEV & MRS Joint Extracellular Vesicle Conference focused on cancer in Nashville, August 2019. This joint exhibition promoted both the instruments and the clinical applications.
• Nanostics Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Nanostics Inc. (Alberta, Canada) is Apogee Flow Systems' key clinical diagnostics partner. ApogeeFlow's Microflow technology powers Nanostics' ClarityDX Prostate liquid biopsy platform for early diagnosis of clinically significant prostate cancer. A clinical validation study with 2,800 men was launched in 2019. The study expanded to the US with Century Clinical Research Inc. in Daytona Beach, FL. Nanostics is also developing a bladder cancer test using Apogee technology. This is Apogee's flagship clinical application partnership.
• Bio-Port EuropeminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 September 2013Bio-Port Europe collaborated with Apogee to introduce its contribution to small particle flow cytometry at the Czech Society for Analytical Cytology meeting in Mikulov, September 2013.
• Inodex (France)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 March 2008Inodex is Apogee's French distributor and collaboration partner. They exhibited and demonstrated the new 'Auto40' flow cytometer at the '3eme Cours de Retrovirologie Biologique' in Dakar, Senegal in 2008. Present new Auto40 features at customer events in Africa.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• CytoFLEX (Beckman Coulter): Listed separately as a key flow cytometry product platform competing with Apogee in research applications; related to Beckman Coulter above but distinct as a high-sensitivity research cytometer line.

Broad incumbents

• Sony Biotechnology: Flow cytometry subsidiary of Sony, offering the SA3800 and other spectral flow sorters. Competes for research and clinical cytometry customers with broader application scope than Apogee's small-particle focus.
• Thermo Fisher Scientific (Life Sciences): Global life science instrumentation incumbent with the Attune NxT flow cytometer and broader lab instrument portfolio. Competes with Apogee for research lab capital equipment budgets and could enter the small-particle niche with its R&D resources.
• BD Biosciences: Global flow cytometry leader with the BD FACSDiscover and BD CellView systems. Large established player with full reagent and service ecosystem; competes with Apogee for research and clinical cytometry dollars, though focused on conventional cell analysis.
• Beckman Coulter Life Sciences: Major flow cytometry incumbent (part of Danaher) offering CytoFLEX and other cytometers. Overlaps with Apogee in flow cytometry but does not specialize in sub-micron particle sensitivity; competes indirectly for research and clinical lab budgets.

Direct peers

• NanoFCM: Chinese-based developer of nano-flow cytometry instruments for extracellular vesicles, viruses, and nanoparticles. The closest direct competitor to Apogee in the small-particle cytometry niche, with similar resolution targets (sub-100nm).
• Cytek Biosciences: Pure-play flow cytometry company with spectral flow platforms (Aurora, Northern Lights). Closely comparable as a focused cytometry instrument vendor; while not yet in the sub-micron niche, it is the most direct strategic comparable for a specialty cytometry company going public or scaling.
• On-Chip Biotechnologies: Japan-based flow cytometry company with microfluidic cell sorting technology. Comparable to Apogee as a specialty cytometry vendor with novel sorting approaches and a focus on biomedical research customers.
• Stratedigm: US-based specialty flow cytometry company offering customizable, modular cytometer platforms. Direct comparable to Apogee as a smaller specialty cytometry vendor serving research customers with configurable instruments.

Emerging players

• NanoCellect Biomedical: Smaller flow cytometry company focused on microfluidic cell sorting for cell therapy and genomics. Compares to Apogee as a niche cytometry vendor with novel microfluidic approaches, though focused on cell sorting rather than small-particle analysis.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ApogeeFlow

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

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 Apogee Flow Systems