FlowBeams

What FlowBeams does

FlowBeams is a privately held MedTech startup founded in 2021 as a spin-off from the University of Twente (Netherlands) and headquartered in Enschede. The company is developing needle-free injection technology that uses laser-driven heating of liquid to generate rapidly expanding micro-bubbles, which propel thin, high-velocity jets through the skin for virtually painless delivery of therapeutics and cosmetics. Its lead product, BoldJet, is a needle-free, high-precision liquid microjet delivery device targeting superficial skin layers, with stated applications across cosmetic procedures and medical injections including vaccines and insulin. The company is also advancing the iSENS project (Integrated needle-free injection and sensing using opto-microfluidics), funded by a €2.5M European Innovation Council (EIC) Transition grant awarded in March 2024.

The business model is enterprise/B2B-oriented, with planned commercialization through device sales and technology licensing, beginning with the cosmetics market before expanding into the more heavily regulated human drug pharma market. Additional target verticals named in the source material include veterinary, agriculture, and tattoo/permanent makeup. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and operates on a custom-quotation basis for enterprise customers. Revenue is not yet reported, and the company is pre-commercial.

FlowBeams is co-founded by CEO Lea Milovich, CSO Prof. David Fernández Rivas (who leads the BuBble-Gun research team at the University of Twente), and CTO Jelle Schoppink. The team has grown to approximately 10 members covering product, regulatory, R&D (optics & fluidics), biomedical engineering, and operations. External validation includes the CES 2025 Innovation Award in Beauty & Personal Care and selection as one of ten winners of the Academic Startup Competition 2024/2025. Funding to date consists of non-dilutive grants — the €2.5M EIC Transition grant and prior NOW Take-off 2 funding — with no institutional venture capital or private equity investors identified in the available source material.

Name

FlowBeams

Legal name

FlowBeams

Website

https://flowbeams.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

FlowBeams is a Dutch MedTech spin-off from the University of Twente developing needle-free, laser-driven microjet injection technology (BoldJet) targeting cosmetics first and human drug pharma thereafter, with planned B2B device sales and technology licensing.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Medical Devices

NAICS

Surgical and Medical Instrument Manufacturing (339112), Electromedical and Electrotherapeutic Apparatus Manufacturing (334510)

SIC

Surgical & Medical Instruments & Apparatus (3841)

akta.pro primary industry

Needle-Free Injection Systems (Jet Injectors/Microneedle Patches) (HLAHAIAD)

Keywords

• Needle-free injection
• Jet injection technology
• Microfluidic drug delivery
• Laser-based injection devices
• Opto-microfluidic platforms

Headquarters

HQ city

Enschede

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Device and Platform Licensing: FlowBeams plans to commercialize their novel platform technology, starting with cosmetics market and expanding to human drug pharma. Revenue model will involve device sales and technology licensing.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

FlowBeams develops needle-free injection technology using laser and microfluidic systems that generate high-velocity liquid microjets to deliver medications and cosmetic substances through the skin without needles. Their flagship product, BoldJet, delivers precise, virtually painless injections into superficial skin layers for cosmetic procedures, vaccines, and insulin administration. The company is initially commercializing in cosmetics while expanding into human drug pharma applications.

Product overview

FlowBeams offers a single unified needle-free injection platform centered on the BoldJet product, which utilizes proprietary laser and microfluidic technology to deliver medications and cosmetic substances through high-velocity microjets without needles. The company is initially targeting the cosmetics market while pursuing human drug/pharmaceutical applications. Their technology platform is backed by the iSENS research project developing integrated injection and sensing capabilities using opto-microfluidics. The platform serves multiple industries including healthcare (vaccines, insulin, drug delivery), cosmetics (skin rejuvenation, dermal fillers, mesotherapy), veterinary, agriculture, and tattooing/PMU.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• BoldJet: Needle-free, high-precision liquid microjet delivery device that injects directly into the skin. Targets superficial skin layers for cosmetic procedures and medical injections including vaccines and insulin. Virtually painless and minimally invasive.

Products and services

• BoldJet A needle-free injection device that uses high-precision liquid microjet delivery directly into the skin through laser-based technology. Targets superficial skin layers for cosmetic procedures and medical injections including vaccines and insulin.

Quantifiable outcome

• Eliminates 44 million needles disposed of daily worldwide
• +2 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• University of TwentecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFlowBeams is a MedTech spin-off from University of Twente. Prof. David Fernandez Rivas leads ongoing research (Bubble-Gun team) at the university. Supported by MESA+ and TechMed Institute from University of Twente.
• NovelTcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStartup ecosystem partner providing support to FlowBeams as a Twente-based deeptech venture.
• EPFL (École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner with logo displayed among top industrial and academic partners supporting FlowBeams.
• MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner with logo displayed among top industrial and academic partners supporting FlowBeams.
• 4TUminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOrganized Dutch delegation to Hello Tomorrow Global Summit in Paris along with Techleap.
• TechleapminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDutch startup support organization; co-organized delegation to Hello Tomorrow Global Summit and runs Academic Startup Competition.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Bioject Medical Technologies: Bioject has historically been a pioneer in needle-free jet injection technology for vaccines and therapeutics. Its business focus on jet-based drug delivery makes it a direct comparable in technology category.
• Portal Instruments: Portal Instruments is developing a needle-free drug delivery platform (originally MIT-derived) targeting biologics and large-molecule therapies. It competes with FlowBeams on technology positioning and pharma-licensing business model.
• INJEX Pharma: INJEX produces needle-free injection systems based on spring-driven jet technology for insulin and other injectables. It is comparable to FlowBeams in targeting needle-free delivery, though its mechanism differs from FlowBeams' laser-driven approach.
• PharmaJet: PharmaJet develops needle-free jet injection devices (Tropis and Stratis) for vaccines and drug delivery. It is the closest direct competitor to FlowBeams in the needle-free jet injector category and a useful benchmark for commercial scale and regulatory progress.

Broad incumbents

• Becton Dickinson (BD): BD is a global leader in injection and drug delivery devices including syringes, auto-injectors, and prefillable systems. It is a broad incumbent competing across the same end markets where FlowBeams targets disruption.
• West Pharmaceutical Services: West Pharma provides drug containment and delivery solutions including injectable device components. It is a broad incumbent serving pharma partners that FlowBeams is also trying to engage for needle-free delivery.
• Halozyme Therapeutics (Antares Pharma): Halozyme (which acquired Antares Pharma) is a broad incumbent in drug delivery devices, including auto-injectors and advanced injection platforms. It competes with FlowBeams for pharma device partnerships, though its focus is broader than pure needle-free.
• 3M Drug Delivery Systems: 3M's Drug Delivery Systems division (now part of Kindeva Drug Delivery) develops transdermal and microneedle-based delivery technologies. It is a broad incumbent in the alternative drug delivery space adjacent to FlowBeams' positioning.

Emerging players

• Vaxxas: Vaxxas develops high-density microarray patch (HD-MAP) technology for needle-free vaccine delivery. It competes for the same end-customer wallet (needle-free vaccination) with an alternative delivery mechanism (microneedle patches vs. laser-driven jet).
• Micropoint Technologies: Micropoint Technologies focuses on microneedle-based transdermal drug and vaccine delivery. It is comparable as an emerging needle-free delivery player, though operating in the microneedle sub-segment rather than jet injection.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/flowbeams

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

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 FlowBeams