What MiTeGen does

MiTeGen, founded in 2004 and headquartered in Ithaca, New York, is a privately held manufacturer of specialized tools, consumables, and reagents for structural biology research, with a primary focus on X-ray crystallography and cryo-electron microscopy. The company's core product platform centers on proprietary cryocooling and cryo-EM sample preparation technologies: the NANUQ Hyperquenching Cryocooler uses patented gas-layer removal to cool samples more than 10x faster than hand-plunging, the GraVitri Plunge Cooler Series (co-developed with MRC LMB) provides modular gravity-driven cryo-EM vitrification, and the patented MicroMount/MicroLoop/MicroMesh family enables micrometer-precision crystal harvesting. MiTeGen also operates a proprietary photolithography-based microfabrication capability used for both its own consumables and custom engineering services, and in May 2026 acquired the Rigaku Reagents product lines (Wizard, JCSG+, Berkeley crystallization screens) to extend the offering into reagents.

The business is structured around five revenue streams: (1) one-time hardware sales of scientific instruments and lab equipment, (2) high-volume recurring consumables (mounts, loops, grids, pucks, plates), (3) crystallization reagents and stock solutions, (4) custom engineering and microfabrication services for unique research needs, and (5) managed services through the NANUQ Access Facility in Ithaca, NY. Go-to-market is hybrid: direct e-commerce via mitegen.com with phone and quote-request support, a sales-assisted motion targeting academic, government, and industrial research labs (including a "New Lab Program" for new lab discounts), active participation in industry conferences (IUCr, Cryo, WNYSBC), and strategic co-development partnerships with major synchrotrons and structural biology institutes (Diamond Light Source, MAX IV, EMBL, MRC LMB, Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin, Argonne, Brookhaven, LBNL, Paul Scherrer Institute). MiTeGen products are designed into industry-standard formats (SPINE, Uni-Puck, Vitrobot-compatible) and are cited in over 6,700 peer-reviewed publications. Leadership includes CEO Ben Apker and founder/Chairman/CTO Robert Thorne; the firm is bootstrapped with no disclosed venture or private equity backing.

Name

MiTeGen

Legal name

MiTeGen LLC

Website

https://mitegen.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

MiTeGen manufactures specialized tools, consumables, and reagents for X-ray crystallography and cryo-EM, serving academic, government, and pharmaceutical structural biology researchers globally with patented cryocooling, crystal-mounting, and microfluidic technologies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Scientific Laboratory Instruments for Structural Biology

NAICS

Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing (334516), Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (33451), Irradiation Apparatus Manufacturing (334517)

SIC

Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826), X-Ray Apparatus & Tubes & Related Irradiation Apparatus (3844)

akta.pro primary industry

Sample Preparation, Storage & Cryogenics (Freezers, Cryovials, Cryostats) (HLAGAIAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

General Lab Equipment (Centrifuges, Incubators, Shakers, Ovens) (HLAGAIAC), Crystallization, Particle Engineering & Micronization Services (HLAGAHAJ)

Keywords

• Crystallography tools
• Cryo-EM sample preparation
• Protein crystallization reagents
• Crystal harvesting mounts
• Cryogenic cooling devices

Headquarters

HQ city

Ithaca

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Scientific Instruments and Equipment: Sale of specialized scientific instruments including NANUQ cryocoolers, GraVitri plunge coolers, cryogenic dewars, dry shippers, incubators, and stereo microscopes. One-time hardware purchases with optional service and support contracts.
2. Consumables and Disposables: High-volume consumable products including crystal mounting loops and mounts (MicroMounts, MicroLoops), crystallization plates, sample storage pucks and cassettes, blotting paper, tweezers, and accessories. Recurring revenue through repeat purchases.
3. Crystallization Reagents: Following acquisition of Rigaku Reagents product lines, MiTeGen now offers crystallization screens (Wizard, JCSG+, Berkeley), stock solutions, buffers, and custom formulations. Includes quality-tested batches with Certificate of Analysis.
4. Custom Engineering and Design Services: Custom product development and engineering services for unique research needs. Collaborative development of specialized tools for academic and government laboratory researchers, with product commercialization and licensing opportunities.
5. NANUQ Access Facility: Facility access service in Ithaca, NY for researchers to use NANUQ cryocooling technology. Options include on-site use, sample shipping for processing, or MiTeGen staff performing cryocooling services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

MiTeGen manufactures and sells proprietary instruments, consumables, and reagents for X-ray crystallography and cryo-EM sample preparation in structural biology research. Core offerings include the NANUQ Hyperquenching Cryocooler, GraVitri Plunge Cooler Series, patented MicroMount/MicroLoop/MicroMesh crystal harvesting tools, and a comprehensive line of crystallization screens, plates, pucks, dewars, and synchrotron-compatible accessories, complemented by custom engineering services and the NANUQ Access Facility.

Product overview

MiTeGen offers a comprehensive portfolio of products and services for crystallography, cryo-EM, and structural biology research. The core offerings include proprietary instruments (NANUQ Hyperquenching Cryocooler for ultra-fast cryocooling and GraVitri Plunge Cooler Series for modular cryo-EM grid preparation), specialized consumables (MicroMounts, MicroLoops, MicroMeshes, Cryo-EM Grids, Autogrid Rings), and crystallization tools (Wizard/JCSG+/Berkeley Screens, Crystallization Plates, Pucks & Cassettes, Goniometer Bases). Following the 2026 acquisition of Rigaku Reagents, MiTeGen expanded into reagents including stock solutions and custom formulations. Additional offerings span lab equipment (incubators, microscopes, cryogenic storage dewars), cryobiology tools, LEXSY protein expression systems, fragment-based drug design tools, and services (custom engineering, microfabrication, NANUQ Access Facility, New Lab Program). Products are designed to work together as an integrated workflow from sample preparation through data collection, with citations in over 6700 published research articles.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• NANUQ: NANUQ Hyperquenching Cryocooler - world-leading cryogenic sample cooling technology that cools samples over 10x faster than hand-plunging techniques
• GraVitri
• Watershed
• MicroMount
• MicroLoop
• MicroMesh
• Uniwand
• Unitray
• CombiPuck
• CryoVial
• IMISX
• MicroRT
• Sentinel Watchdog
• GloQube
• MicroTools
• CrystalChip
• Serial FiX
• Watershed

Products and services

• NANUQ Hyperquenching Cryocooler Patented ultra-fast cryocooling instrument for structural biology researchers that eliminates ice formation, uses less cryoprotectant, and reduces crystal non-isomorphism through cooling rates over 10x faster than hand-plunging.
• GraVitri Plunge Cooler Series Modular, gravity-driven cryo-EM grid plunge cooling system with Basic, Standard, and Advanced models designed for affordable vitrification; achieves 2 m/s terminal plunge speed with sub-millimeter stopping distance and no external power connections required.
• GraVitri 4°C Humidified Enclosure Module Temperature- and humidity-controlled enclosure module for the GraVitri Plunge Cooler that maintains biological samples at 4°C with 90%+ relative humidity up to the moment of plunge to protect protein sample fidelity for downstream cryo-EM analysis.
• MicroMounts, MicroLoops, MicroMeshes, and MicroGrippers Patented microfabricated crystal harvesting tools including precision mounts, high-throughput cryo-loops, thin-film meshes for very small samples (<30 μm), and grippers with flexible fingers for handling delicate crystals in X-ray crystallography.
• Wizard, JCSG+, and Berkeley Crystallization Screens Crystallization screening kits (Wizard, JCSG+, Berkeley) acquired from Rigaku Reagents, used for efficient crystallization condition screening in protein crystallography workflows.
• Crystallization Plates and Accessories Crystallization plates including LCP, 96-well, 48-well, 24-well, and in situ diffraction plates along with accessories for protein crystallization screening workflows.
• Sample Storage Pucks and Cassettes Uni-pucks, SPINE Baskets, ALS Pucks, SSRL Cassettes, ACTOR Magazines, and related tools for high-throughput sample handling and storage at synchrotron beamlines.
• Cryo-EM Grids, Autogrid Rings, and 8-Pocket Autogrid Box Cryo-EM consumables including Holey Carbon and Gold Grids (C-Flat, Negative Staining, Quantifoil, AU-Flat, UltrAuFoil), Autogrid Rings and C-Clips, and an 8-Pocket Autogrid Box for expanded grid storage in cryo-EM and Cryo-FIB workflows.
• CrystalChip Microfluidic Chips for Protein Crystallization Microfluidic chip the size of a microscope slide for protein crystallization, supporting advanced screening and concentration gradient experiments.
• Serial FiX (Serial X) Fixed-Target Chip Fixed-target chip for high-throughput serial X-ray protein crystallization and crystal handling used in serial crystallography at synchrotrons and XFELs.
• Quartz Capillary Diffraction Kit Quartz capillary kit for room temperature neutron diffraction or controlled gas atmosphere diffraction in small-molecule and materials science crystallography.
• Cryo-Protection Safety Products Personal protective equipment (PPE) line for cryogenic work including Cryo-Gloves, Waterproof Cryo-Grip Gloves, Cryo-Apron, Cryo-Industrial Apron and Gaiters, Face Shield, and safety kits.
• Cryo Storage and Freezers (ICB Series) IC Biomedical ICB Series liquid nitrogen freezers for laboratory, biorepository, and research cryogenic storage applications.
• Cryogenic Storage Dewars and CX100 Cryo Express Dry Shipper Cryogenic storage dewars across LD, HC, ICB, XT, K, LABS, and LS Series plus the CX100 Cryo Express Dry Shipper for safe transport of materials at cryogenic temperatures.
• Stereo Microscopes, Microscope Cameras, and Incubators ZEISS stereo microscopes for micro-crystal detection, ZEISS Axiocam 212 and Educam 105 microscope cameras, and vibration-free crystallization incubators from desktop to floor-standing sizes.
• Sentinel Watchdog Beam Stop X-ray beam monitoring and dosing system with an integrated GAGG crystal detector that monitors beam delivery without interfering with diffraction data collection at synchrotrons.
• Watershed Workstation Humidity-controlled protein crystallography workstation that prevents drop dehydration during crystal harvesting to help users obtain optimal diffraction results.
• LEXSY Protein Expression System Eukaryotic protein expression system using Leishmania tarentolae (LEXSY) from Jena Bioscience, distributed by MiTeGen for recombinant protein production in structural biology workflows.
• Fragment-Based Drug Design (FBDD) Products Products supporting fragment-based drug design research, including specialized loops, bases, cryocooling devices, and sample supports for crystallography-based FBDD workflows.
• High Pressure Crystallography Products Tools including support pins and bases for high-pressure crystallography research.
• Cryo Biology Tools and Instruments Cryobiology tools and instruments for assisted reproductive technologies, cell preservation, and cryopreservation of animal cells, tissues, and gametes.
• Custom Engineering and Design Services Custom product development and engineering services delivered by MiTeGen engineers and manufacturing partners to create unique tools that meet specific structural biology research needs.
• NANUQ Access Facility (NAF) Facility access service in Ithaca, NY that lets researchers trial the NANUQ cryocooling technology on site, ship samples for processing, or have MiTeGen staff perform cryocooling services.
• Custom Mount Design and Microfabrication Services Specialized photolithography-based microfabrication of photo-definable polymer structures, porous membranes, and micrometer-scale devices, plus custom micro-tools and loop designs for unique research applications.
• New Lab Program Discount and expert support program offering startup bundles to researchers setting up new labs in crystallography, cryo-EM, SAXS, and related techniques; has assisted hundreds of labs since 2004.
• Starter Kits and Bundles Convenient bundled kits for laboratories including Small Molecule Crystallography, Protein Crystallography, Cryo-EM Vitrification, LCP, SPINE Puck, and Uni-Puck starter kits, ideal for training new users.

Quantifiable outcome

• NANUQ cryocooling cools samples >10x faster than hand-plunging techniques, with 50-100x faster cooling than traditional LN2 plunging
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• RigakucoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 1 January 2026MiTeGen acquired the Rigaku Reagents product lines including Wizard crystallization screens, JCSG+, Berkeley screens, and stock solutions. Rigaku transitioned reagents business to MiTeGen as a partner sharing commitment to crystallography community.
• MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology (LMB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with MRC LMB and Dr. Christopher Russo in developing the GraVitri Plunge Cooler Series. The proven design was developed together with MRC LMB expertise, enabling reliable cryo-EM sample preparation worldwide.
• Diamond Light SourcecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative product development including the Uniwand system developed for XChem at Diamond Light Source. Diamond Light Source researchers use MiTeGen tools for fragment-based drug design and crystallography research.
• Jena BiosciencecoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerDistribution partnership for LEXSY (Leishmania Expression System) protein expression technology and related products including nucleotides, phasing compounds, and crystallization reagents.
• MAX IV LaboratorycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFragMAX fragment-screening platform at MAX IV Laboratory utilizes MiTeGen tools for crystallography and cryocooling in high-throughput fragment screening workflows.
• European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProduct commercialization partnerships resulting in SPINE standard sample holder format and other innovations for synchrotron crystallography.
• Argonne National LaboratoryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative product development for synchrotron crystallography applications at Advanced Photon Source (APS).
• Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCustom microfabrication collaboration for unique loop designs, XFEL spacers, and other specialized tools via photolithography.
• Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProduct development partnerships for advanced crystallography and cryo-EM sample preparation technologies.
• Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProduct development collaboration for synchrotron applications at Swiss Light Source.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• SPT Labtech: SPT Labtech (formerly TTP Labtech) makes mosquito crystal and cryo-EM sample preparation tools directly competing with MiTeGen's crystallization and cryo-EM workflow offerings for structural biology labs.
• Molecular Dimensions: Molecular Dimensions is a long-standing direct competitor in protein crystallization screens, plates, and consumables, with overlapping product categories that compete head-to-head with MiTeGen's acquired Rigaku reagent portfolio.
• Hampton Research: Hampton Research is a leading direct competitor in protein crystallization screens, reagents, plates, and consumables - overlapping directly with MiTeGen's Wizard/JCSG+/Berkeley crystallization portfolio (acquired from Rigaku) and broader crystallography consumables.
• VitroJet: VitroJet is a competing cryo-EM sample preparation platform (pin printing); represents a different technical approach to the cryo-EM grid prep challenge that MiTeGen's GraVitri addresses, with overlapping target customers.
• Jena Bioscience: Jena Bioscience is a MiTeGen distribution partner and direct peer in crystallization reagents, phasing compounds, nucleotides, and the LEXSY protein expression system that MiTeGen resells.

Broad incumbents

• Bruker: Bruker is a broader incumbent in X-ray crystallography and structural biology instrumentation, including X-ray sources, detectors, and software - serving the same synchrotron and academic customer base as MiTeGen.
• Thermo Fisher Scientific: Thermo Fisher is the dominant cryo-EM instrument vendor (Vitrobot, autoloaders, microscopes) and sells competing cryo-EM sample prep consumables; MiTeGen products are explicitly compatible with Thermo Fisher's autoloader ecosystem.
• Rigaku: Rigaku is a major crystallography instrument and reagent supplier; MiTeGen acquired Rigaku Reagents in 2026, making Rigaku both a partner and an adjacent broader incumbent in X-ray crystallography hardware, home-source systems, and structural biology.
• Carl Zeiss: Carl Zeiss supplies stereo microscopes used by crystallographers and is a MiTeGen partner (Stemi microscopes, Axiocam/Educam cameras resold by MiTeGen); broader incumbent in microscopy instrumentation adjacent to MiTeGen's lab equipment category.

Others

• Gatan: Gatan (part of AMETEK) supplies cryo-EM holders and accessories; MiTeGen sells complementary accessories for Gatan 626 cryo-holders, making Gatan an adjacent ecosystem peer rather than direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/MiTeGen
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCxxTDCpr6EX9l-nmqWs0cHQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/mitegennews
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mitegen
• Instagraminstagram.com/mitegen

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

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 MiTeGen