What PhenoSys does

PhenoSys GmbH is a Berlin-based specialty scientific instrument manufacturer founded in 2006 that designs and sells turnkey hardware-software systems for animal brain research and behavioral phenotyping. The product portfolio spans miniature two-photon microscopy (Mini2P), virtual reality rigs for head-fixed and freely moving rodents (JetBall, DoubleDisk, Moculus), quantitative optomotor vision assessment (qOMR, qOMR-XT), RFID-based individual animal tracking in group housing (ColonyRack, MultiMouseMonitor, IDspyder, IDsorter, IDrevolyzer), and indirect calorimetry (CaloBox), supported by proprietary software (PhenoSoft Control, AnalyticsM, omrStudio).

The company sells primarily to academic and clinical neuroscience research institutions — universities, medical schools, and research institutes including Harvard, Stanford, Johns Hopkins, Oxford, Max Planck, Charité Berlin, McGill, Karolinska, and Monash — through a hybrid direct-sales and certified-distributor model covering Australia/New Zealand, China, France/Canada, Japan, Korea, and the USA/Mexico. Revenue derives from hardware system sales, on-site installation and training services, extended warranty plans priced at 8% of product price per additional year, and the PhenoLearn training program delivered with Lab-Animal-Training. Several flagship products are co-developed with named academic principal investigators, embedding the firm in elite neuroscience networks and contributing to peer-reviewed validation in journals such as Nature Methods, Cell, and Neuron. The company is privately held, led by Prof. York Winter, and reports no external venture or private equity funding.

Name

PhenoSys

Legal name

PhenoSys GmbH

Website

https://phenosys.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

PhenoSys GmbH designs and sells turnkey hardware-software systems — including miniature two-photon microscopes, VR rigs, RFID monitoring, and calorimetry — for academic and clinical neuroscience and behavioral research laboratories worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Research Equipment Hardware Sales: Sale of turnkey research systems including Mini2P, VR systems (JetBall, DoubleDisk, Moculus), vision assessment systems (qOMR, qOMR-XT), monitoring systems (ColonyRack, MultiMouseMonitor, IDspyder), and metabolic measurement systems (CaloBox). Systems are sold as complete packages with integrated hardware and software.
2. Installation, Training & Support Services: On-site installation, training, and technical support services provided with each system. Full installation support including unpacking, setup and staff training. 24-hour response technical support available.
3. PhenoLearn Training Courses: Specialized training courses for researchers and technicians covering stereotaxic neurosurgery, study design, and laboratory animal science. Courses conducted in partnership with Lab-Animal-Training.
4. Extended Warranty & Service Plans: Extended service plans available at 8% of product price per additional year beyond standard 1-year warranty.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

PhenoSys designs, manufactures, and sells turnkey hardware systems for animal brain research and behavioral phenotyping. Its portfolio includes the Mini2P miniature two-photon microscope for freely moving calcium imaging, virtual reality setups (JetBall, DoubleDisk, Moculus) for rodent behavior studies, automated vision assessment systems (qOMR, qOMR-XT), RFID-based individual animal monitoring (ColonyRack, MultiMouseMonitor, IDspyder, IDsorter, IDrevolyzer), and indirect calorimetry (CaloBox). The company also delivers on-site installation, training, and extended warranty support to neuroscience research institutions worldwide.

Product overview

PhenoSys provides turnkey solutions for animal brain research and behavioral phenotyping. The product portfolio includes the Mini2P miniature two-photon microscope for high-resolution multi-plane calcium imaging in freely moving mice, VR setups (JetBall, DoubleDisk, Moculus) for neural recording during navigation and behavioral tasks, vision assessment systems (qOMR, qOMR-XT) for optomotor response testing in mice and rats, and RFID-based monitoring/tracking solutions (ColonyRack, MultiMouseMonitor, IDspyder, IDsorter, IDrevolyzer) for continuous individual animal tracking in group housing. The CaloBox provides indirect calorimetry for metabolic measurement. Software products include PhenoSoft Control, omrStudio, and AnalyticsM. The company also offers training services through PhenoLearn.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Mini2P Turnkey System A miniature two-photon microscope turnkey system for large-scale, high-resolution, multi-plane calcium imaging in freely moving mice. Features an ultralight scope weighing approximately 2.6g with integrated SiPM detectors, on-board two-photon laser at 920nm, and a complete workstation package requiring only a single power connection. Designed for neuroscience research institutions studying neural circuits, learning, memory, and brain-wide activity mapping.
• JetBall Virtual reality system combining an air-cushioned spherical treadmill with visual stimulation for rodents, available with TFT monitor ring or dome display options. Modular design integrates with PhenoSoft Control, Schedule, and VR software for custom paradigm creation. Used by neuroscience researchers for stable electrophysiological recordings in mice navigating virtual environments.
• DoubleDisk Virtual reality system combining the exploratory freedom of a spherical treadmill with the running stability of a linear treadmill via a two-disk design featuring zero-point sensors and disk brakes. Enables precise animal behavior control for dynamic and flexible rodent research applications. Invented by Mackenzie Mathis at Harvard/EPFL and commercialized by PhenoSys.
• Moculus Head-fixed VR behavior system featuring a patented binocular OLED display providing genuine stereoscopic 3D vision for mice. Integrates with a linear treadmill and delivers true depth perception rather than flat-screen 2D alternatives. Developed in partnership with Femtonics and BVC.
• qOMR Quantitative optomotor response system for automated, objective measurement of visual acuity and contrast sensitivity in mice without physical restraint. Uses automated real-time head tracking and a virtual stimulation cylinder. Co-developed with Dr. Friedrich Kretschmer and accompanied by the omrStudio software for stimulus design, experiment execution, and data analysis.
• qOMR-XT Quantitative optomotor response system specifically engineered for objective vision and contrast sensitivity assessment in rats, extending the qOMR technology to larger rodent species. Co-developed with Dr. Friedrich Kretschmer.
• ColonyRack RFID-based automated monitoring system for tracking individual animals in large, semi-natural groups within multi-cage rack housing environments. Supports 8, 18, or 70 cages with interconnecting tubes and continuous 24/7 data collection. Co-developed with Prof. Dr. Gerd Kempermann at DZNE Dresden for individuality studies in genetically identical mice.
• MultiMouseMonitor RFID-based activity monitoring system providing accurate individual movement data for group-housed rodents in a fully automated 24/7 manner. Uses a reader grid placed underneath cages (8-reader for Type III cages, 20-reader for Type IV cages). Requires no habituation period and reduces operator interaction.
• IDspyder Flexible, modular RFID system for position or individual tracking in existing or custom-built test arenas, with additional temperature acquisition capability for environmental monitoring.
• IDsorter Automated individual access control system for rats enabling testing of individual animal behavior within group housing environments via RFID-based sorting.
• IDrevolyzer RFID-powered running wheel system for gathering voluntary activity data from group-housed animals.
• CaloBox Push-button indirect calorimetry system for automated measurement of metabolic rate, energy expenditure, respiratory exchange ratio, O2 consumption, CO2 production, and water vapor in mice, rats, and birds. Co-developed with Prof. Dr. Gerhard Heldmaier.
• PhenoLearn Training Program Specialized training program in behavioral analysis and surgical technique, including stereotaxic neurosurgery training, EU Function A and D courses, and laboratory animal science certification. Delivered in partnership with Lab-Animal-Training in English, with on-site and on-demand formats available to researchers and technicians globally.

Quantifiable outcome

• Mini2P enables recording from thousands of neurons concurrently during freely moving behavior including climbing and jumping
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature9 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Scitech Pty. Ltd.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExclusive distributor for Australia, New Zealand & Oceania. Provides local sales, delivery, and support services for PhenoSys products in the region.
• Hong Kong Plexon Ltd.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized distributor for China (Beijing). Handles local distribution, sales support, and customer service.
• Viewpoint SAcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistributor for France, Canada, French-speaking Switzerland & French-speaking Belgium. Provides local sales and support.
• Bio Research Center Co. LtdcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized distributor for Japan (Nagoya). Handles sales, delivery, and local customer support.
• Kim & Friends, InccoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExclusive distributor for Korea (Seoul). Provides local distribution and support services.
• Blackrock NeurotechcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized distributor for USA & Mexico (Salt Lake City). Handles sales and support for North American customers.
• Dr. Friedrich KretschmercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-development partner and developer of qOMR and qOMR-XT quantitative optomotor response systems. Collaboration product brought to market together with its developer.
• Prof. Dr. Gerhard HeldmaiercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-development partner for CaloBox indirect calorimetry system. Joint product developed with Prof. Heldmaier and PhenoSys.
• Mackenzie Mathis (Harvard University & EPFL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInventor of DoubleDisk Treadmill technology developed at Harvard and EPFL. PhenoSys manufactures and commercializes this technology.
• Femtonics and BVCminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for bringing Moculus true 3D VR system to market. Femtonics and BVC contributed to development of this head-fixed behavior system.
• Prof. Dr. Gerd Kempermann - DZNE DresdencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerClose cooperation on development of ColonyRack RFID-based monitoring system for automated tracking in large rodent colonies.
• Lab-Animal-TrainingcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartnership for PhenoLearn training initiative. Lab-Animal-Training is a recognized leader in lab animal science education, conducting courses aligned with EU training frameworks.
• 3R Collaborative - Translational Digital Biomarker InitiativeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember of the Translational Digital Biomarker Initiative within 3R Collaborative, supporting Replacement, Reduction, and Refinement principles in animal research.
• Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience (MPFI)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPhenoSys sponsors the Neuroimaging course at MPFI Florida, engaging with researchers and demonstrating Mini2P capabilities.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Ugo Basile: Italian manufacturer of behavioral research equipment (rotarod, grip strength, fear conditioning, hot plate). Targets the same neuroscience and pharmacology research labs as PhenoSys.
• TSE Systems: German manufacturer of metabolic, behavioral, and phenotyping systems including IntelliCage, Phenomaster, and running-wheel modules. Closely comparable product portfolio to PhenoSys in rodent phenotyping.
• Coulbourn Instruments: US designer of behavioral research systems including operant chambers and activity monitors for rodents. Closely comparable commercial positioning to PhenoSys in academic neuroscience labs.
• Stoelting Co. US manufacturer of behavioral neuroscience instruments (Any-maze, elevated plus maze, fear conditioning systems). Comparable target customer and product category to PhenoSys.
• Lafayette Instrument: US manufacturer of neuroscience and behavioral research instruments. Competes for the same academic neuroscience research budgets as PhenoSys across operant, sensory, and motor assays.
• Biobserve: German provider of video tracking and behavioral analysis software and systems (Viewer, EthoVisionXT partners). Comparable technology stack and customer overlap with PhenoSys's behavioral research lines.
• Campden Instruments: UK-based maker of behavioral and physiological research instruments (including 5-choice serial reaction time and touchscreen systems for rodents). Directly comparable product mix and customer base to PhenoSys.
• MED Associates: Manufacturer of neuroscience and behavioral research equipment including operant chambers, startle systems, and fear conditioning apparatus. Sells into the same academic neuroscience labs as PhenoSys.
• Noldus Information Technology: Wageningen-based provider of behavioral research hardware and software (EthoVision, DanioVision). Direct overlap with PhenoSys in rodent behavioral phenotyping and VR-based behavioral assays.

Broad incumbents

• Bruker (BioSpin / NanoSurface): Large diversified scientific instrument manufacturer with preclinical imaging and phenotyping product lines. Competes indirectly with PhenoSys via two-photon imaging and broader preclinical research infrastructure.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/phenosys
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/phenosys-gmbh

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 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 PhenoSys