DNAPhone

What DNAPhone does

DNAPhone S.r.l. is an Italian private company founded in July 2014 in Parma by University of Parma researchers. It designs, manufactures, and sells Smart Analysis, a patented portable spectrophotometric platform for chemical quality control in food and beverage supply chains. The core instrument is a single-beam spectrophotometer with fixed optics, fiber optic and LED technology that requires no user calibration and has no moving parts; it pairs via Bluetooth with a guided mobile APP, stores data in a proprietary cloud service (cloud.dnaphone.it), and uses pre-filled, pre-calibrated disposable reagent kits (20 tests per kit, 12-month shelf life) scanned via QR code for automatic parameter and calibration identification. The platform supports wine (the original vertical), beer, olive oil, tomato/by-products, and wastewater analysis on a single hardware device, with new parameters and verticals activated remotely via software. ColorLab, launched in 2024, is a complementary web application for CIELab-based color analysis, compatible with any laboratory spectrophotometer. The company holds a European patent on the optical system and a pending patent on the QR-coded kit identification system, with the entire hardware-software-reagent stack developed and produced in Italy.

DNAPhone generates revenue from four complementary streams: (i) one-time hardware sales of the Smart Analysis device and accessories, (ii) recurring consumable sales of pre-calibrated reagent kits by parameter and supply chain, (iii) annual cloud service subscriptions for data storage, sharing, and remote diagnostics, and (iv) software licenses for additional parameters/supply chains and add-on services (premium warranty, professional training, certified control standards). All pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed; ColorLab is offered on a 14-day freemium trial. Go-to-market combines direct sales (Italian domestic, supported by a small technical-commercial team) with a network of exclusive regional distribution partners: KauriWine for Australia and New Zealand, Admeo Inc. for the US/California, and Biosystems SA for France, Spain, Portugal, Chile, Argentina, Mexico, Romania, and the US. The company markets through trade shows (Vinitaly, Winetech, SIMEI, Wine Industry Network), YouTube tutorials, LinkedIn/Instagram/Facebook, customer testimonials, and distribution-partner seminars.

DNAPhone targets small and medium-sized producers and consulting professionals in the food and beverage sector, with all named customers drawn from this segment (small wineries such as Trediberri, Boscaini Carlo, Cantine Garrone, Torraccia del Piantavigna, Conte Leopardi; craft breweries including Birrificio del Ducato, Brekeriet, Argo Brewery, Jacobs BV; olive oil producers such as Case D'Alto; plus consultants and training institutions like Assoenologi Marche, Scuola Enologica di Conegliano, and Instituto de la Cerveza Artesana). Its value proposition is the elimination of external-laboratory dependency by delivering reference-method quality results in minutes, on-demand, with no chemistry expertise required. The company employs 1-10 people, operates from a legal seat and operational/laboratory site both in Parma, and has raised undisclosed capital via a 2017 capital increase and a 2018 Mamacrowd crowdfunding round, with no institutional venture rounds disclosed.

Name

DNAPhone

Legal name

DNA Phone S.r.l.

Website

https://dnaphone.it

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

DNAPhone S.r.l., founded in 2014 in Parma, Italy, designs and sells the Smart Analysis portable spectrophotometer platform (patented fixed-optics, fiber-optic/LED instrument with guided mobile APP and cloud data service) plus pre-calibrated reagent kits, serving small and medium producers and consultants across wine, beer, olive oil, tomato, and wastewater supply chains in 11+ countries via direct sales and regional distribution partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Portable Analytical Instruments

NAICS

Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing (334516)

SIC

Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826), Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823)

akta.pro primary industry

Rapid On-Site Environmental Testing Kits & Instruments (Lateral Flow, PCR, ATP Devices) (AFALAEAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Industrial Quality Inspection & Metrology (Machine Vision) (IMAIAMAF), On-Site Water Testing & Rapid Screening Services (Field Kits, Sensors, ATP) (AFALAJAI)

Keywords

• Portable spectrophotometry
• Enzymatic chemical analysis
• Beverage quality control
• CIELab color analysis
• Reagent test kits

Headquarters

HQ city

Parma

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Smart Analysis hardware device sales: DNAPhone sells the Smart Analysis portable spectrophotometer device along with accessories (tablet, charger, cuvette holder, pipettes, carrying case). The device is sold as a one-time hardware purchase, with additional accessories and add-ons available separately.
2. Reagent kit consumables: The company sells pre-filled, disposable reagent kits in packs of 20 tests. Kits are supplied per parameter (e.g., glucose-fructose, malic acid, lactic acid, volatile acidity, alcohol content, color analysis) per supply chain (wine, beer, olive oil, tomato, wastewater). Kits require refrigeration (2-8°C) and have a 12-month shelf life, creating recurring consumable revenue.
3. Cloud service subscription: Annual renewal of cloud service that enables saving, processing, and sharing of measurement results from any device at any time. The cloud platform also provides remote instrument diagnostics and data aggregation features.
4. Software licenses and parameter/chain activations: Activation of new parameters or new supply chains on the device is performed remotely via software and does not require instrument replacement. Additional licenses and premium warranty plans are available as add-on purchases.
5. Professional services (training, support, calibration standards): DNAPhone provides mandatory training included with purchase, plus optional extra assistance (online or on-site) and premium warranty plans. Certified control standards (pure standards or matrix-based) are sold separately for self-quality control verification.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

DNAPhone designs, manufactures, and sells the Smart Analysis platform, a patented portable single-beam spectrophotometer with fixed optics and fiber optic/LED technology used for enzymatic and colorimetric chemical quality control across wine, beer, olive oil, tomato, and wastewater supply chains. The platform integrates a Bluetooth-connected mobile APP, pre-filled pre-calibrated disposable reagent kits, and a cloud data management service, allowing small and medium-sized producers to obtain reference-method analytical results in minutes without external laboratory dependency. Complementary offerings include ColorLab web software for advanced CIELab color analysis and the We-Lab educational platform.

Product overview

DNAPhone offers Smart Analysis, a modular portable spectrophotometry platform for food and beverage quality control. The core Smart Analysis device (patented single-beam spectrophotometer with fixed optics, fiber optic and LED technology) is combined with dedicated mobile APP, cloud data management service, and specialized reagent kits. Sector-specific modules cover wine, beer, olive oil, wastewater, and tomato products. ColorLab is a complementary web APP for advanced CIELab color analysis. The platform operates on enzymatic/colorimetric chemistry methods, with kits pre-calibrated during production, enabling quality monitoring without laboratory expertise.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Smart Analysis: Patented portable enzymatic analyzer platform for quality control in food and beverage supply chains including wine, beer, olive oil, tomatoes, and wastewater. Uses spectrophotometric technology with fixed optics, managed via mobile APP with cloud data storage.
• ColorLab
• We-Lab

Products and services

• Smart Analysis Portable, patented single-beam spectrophotometer with fixed optics using fiber optic technology and LED sources, enabling enzymatic and colorimetric chemical quality control across wine, beer, olive oil, wastewater, and tomato supply chains. Managed via a Bluetooth-connected mobile APP and integrated cloud services, providing laboratory-quality analysis in minutes without requiring periodic calibration or specialized chemistry expertise. The same hardware supports multiple supply chains through remote software activation of new parameters and chains.
• Smart Analysis Reagent Kits Pre-filled disposable cuvettes containing enzymatic or colorimetric reagents for specific parameters including glucose-fructose, malic acid, lactic acid, volatile acidity, acetic acid, alcohol content, color, free/total SO2, pH, total acidity, tartaric acid, and bitterness (IBU). Packaged in sets of 20 tests, batch-pre-calibrated during production, stored refrigerated at 2-8 degrees Celsius with 12-month shelf life. Kits are specific to the Smart Analysis platform and cover wine, beer, olive oil, tomato, and wastewater supply chains.
• ColorLab Universal Web APP software for advanced beverage color analysis using the CIELab method with 80 wavelengths across 380-780 nm. Imports absorbance spectra from Excel/CSV files or any traditional laboratory spectrophotometer, automatically calculates CIELab parameters, and creates customizable 2D and 3D graphs for color evolution tracking. Includes a 14-day free trial after which a paid subscription is required. Compatible with both the Smart Analysis platform and traditional laboratory spectrophotometers.
• We-Lab Platform designed for the education sector, introduced in September 2016 as a sub-brand of DNAPhone targeting teaching institutions and students with simplified analytical procedures.

Quantifiable outcome

• Analysis time reduced from days (external lab) to minutes (1-15 minutes per parameter depending on the test)
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Biosystems SAcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 June 2020DNAPhone signed a commercial distribution agreement with Biosystems SA (Barcelona, founded 1981) in June 2020 for the distribution of Smart Analysis in the wine sector across France, Spain, Portugal, Chile, Argentina, Mexico, Romania, and the USA (via subsidiary Admeo Inc.). Biosystems, which offers a wide range of high-quality instruments and reagents for clinical diagnostics and food quality control, aims to reach new customer segments including small-to-medium wineries that currently outsource testing or use obsolete equipment. DNAPhone presented at the Biosystems SA and DNAPhone meeting in Barcelona with CEO Pau Vila.
• Admeo Inc.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 December 2019Admeo Inc. is DNAPhone's distribution partner for the US market, particularly California (Napa Valley, Sonoma). Founded in 2013 by CEO Margit Svenningsen (with 22 years in the wine industry), Admeo provides Smart Analysis alongside ByoSistems laboratory instruments for high-quality wine production control. Admeo presented Smart Analysis at the Wine Industry Network (WIN) conference in Sonoma in December 2019. Margit Svenningsen stated: 'Smart Analysis is a technologically well-studied and well-structured solution for any winery, regardless of production size, that enables the winemaker or producer to make decisions during production in favor of wine quality.'
• ByoSistemsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2019ByoSistems collaborated with Admeo Inc. and DNAPhone to provide high-profile laboratory instruments for wine quality control in the US market. ByoSistems representatives (including Sònia Viladevall) participated in the Admeo-DNAPhone meeting in Parma and the WIN conference in Sonoma.
• KauriWinecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 July 2019KauriWine is DNAPhone's exclusive distribution partner for Australia and New Zealand. The partnership was officially launched at the Winetech congress in Adelaide (July 2019) and was followed by a two-week seminar tour across New Zealand, including visits to Amisfield Winery (Otago), Marisco Vineyards (Marlborough), Paritua Vineyard (Hawke's Bay), and Goldie Estate (Waiheke Island). KauriWine's team includes David Hunt, Mark McGill, Naomi Martin-Blanch, Dean Wishart, Diane Stratton, and Andrew Hunt. Mark McGill (Technical Director) noted that 'Australia and New Zealand are new world producers and we typically innovate quicker than the rest of the world, so Smart Analysis will have good uptake.'
• Raytec Vision S.P.A.minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2018DNAPhone co-exhibited with Raytec Vision S.P.A. at Vinitaly 2018 (Enolitech hall, Pavilion F Stand H3) in Verona, as part of an international technology showcase for the wine and olive oil supply chain. Raytec Vision is a technology company in the food & beverage inspection sector.
• Prof. Annamaria Cucinotta (GAEM, University of Parma)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProf. Annamaria Cucinotta from the Department of Information Engineering at the University of Parma serves as an academic advisor to DNAPhone. She is part of the GAEM research group (http://gaem.tlc.unipr.it), which has collaborated with DNAPhone on the design and development of the platform's key electronic and optical components.
• Prof. Stefano Selleri (GAEM, University of Parma)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProf. Stefano Selleri from the Department of Information Engineering at the University of Parma serves as an academic advisor to DNAPhone, part of the GAEM research group. He contributed to the design and development of the platform's key components in collaboration with DNAPhone.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• CDR S.r.l. (CDR WineLab / CDR FoodLab): Italian company that builds portable enzymatic analyzers (WineLab, FoodLab, BeerLab, OilLab) for the same SMB wine, food, and beverage quality control market. CDR is the closest direct competitor to Smart Analysis, with overlapping chemistries, target customers, and channel approach.
• Hanna Instruments: Global manufacturer of portable and benchtop analytical instruments (pH, titration, spectrophotometry, photometry) widely used in food, beverage, and water testing. Comparable to DNAPhone in form factor and target end-users (SMB wineries, breweries, water labs).
• ATAGO: Japanese maker of portable refractometers, polarimeters, and spectrophotometers used heavily in wine, fruit juice, and food quality control. ATAGO competes for the same 'lab-on-the-bench' use case that Smart Analysis targets.
• Hach (Danaher): Manufacturer of portable and laboratory analytical instruments for water quality and food/beverage testing. Directly comparable to DNAPhone's wastewater and beverage QC applications and reagent-based business model.
• R-Biopharm: German provider of test kits and analytical instruments for food and feed safety, including enzymatic and immunoassay kits for wine, beverage, and dairy quality. Overlaps with DNAPhone on reagent chemistry and SMB food/beverage customers.
• Konica Minolta Sensing: Manufacturer of benchtop and portable spectrophotometers for color and appearance measurement, widely used in beverage QC. Directly comparable to the optics side of Smart Analysis, especially with DNAPhone's CIELab-based ColorLab offering.
• X-Rite (Danaher): Global provider of color measurement instruments and software used in beverage, food, and industrial QC. X-Rite's portable/benchtop spectrophotometers and color management software overlap with Smart Analysis hardware and ColorLab software.

Broad incumbents

• Thermo Fisher Scientific: Large diversified scientific instruments company offering spectrophotometers, reagents, and laboratory services across food, beverage, environmental, and pharmaceutical markets. Competes indirectly with DNAPhone via broader lab-instrument portfolios, not specialized SMB portable QC.
• Mettler Toledo: Global manufacturer of precision instruments including spectrophotometers, refractometers, and titration systems used in food, beverage, and chemical QC. Competes at the higher-end of the same SMB/large-customer bench-instrument category.
• Agilent Technologies: Diversified analytical instrument and life science company with UV-Vis spectrophotometers and reagents that overlap technically with DNAPhone's measurement platform, though Agilent's focus is broader and more enterprise/laboratory oriented.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCHWgMUvKOTfbAwfKQozR-QA
• Facebookfacebook.com/DNAphone
• LinkedInit.linkedin.com/company/dnaphone-s.r.l.
• Instagraminstagram.com/smart_analysis_lab

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors2 records

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 DNAPhone