DepTech

What DepTech does

DEPtech (stylized from DepTech) is a privately held biotechnology instrumentation company that develops dielectrophoresis (DEP) technology for label-free analysis, characterization, and separation of micro- and nano-scale biological objects such as cells, bacteria, viruses, and proteins. The company has pioneered a 3D approach to DEP devices and serves biological research institutions, pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies developing cell-based therapies, and point-of-care diagnostic settings. It is headquartered in Heathfield, United Kingdom, with a corporate domicile referenced in Switzerland, and remains operational with an active product website.

The company's core offerings are two instruments plus a services line. The 3DEP Cell Analysis system is a desktop-sized device for rapid cell electrophysiology, measuring resting membrane potential, cytoplasm conductance, and membrane capacitance and analyzing 20,000 cells in 10 seconds with roughly one hour of training, positioned against slow, complex patch-clamp methods. The DEParator is a compact benchtop, GMP-compliant, high-throughput label-free cell sorter that separates at 150,000 cells per second, tops out at one billion cells, and keeps cell losses below 10%, positioned against FACS (which leaves fluorophores in cells) and MACS (up to 50% cell loss). Both are label-free, avoiding fluorophores and beads that interfere with measurements.

DEPtech monetizes through hardware sales of the 3DEP and DEParator instruments, recurring revenue from the low-cost consumables required to operate them, and professional services via Contract Research, offering custom DEP solution design drawing on a claimed 70-plus years of combined DEP development experience. Go-to-market is a direct, sales-led, consultative motion: pricing is not publicly disclosed, and prospective customers are directed to contact the company through its website and inquiry form to discuss bespoke solutions.

Name

DepTech

Legal name

DEPtech

Website

https://deptech.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

DEPtech develops label-free dielectrophoresis instruments—the 3DEP cell analysis system and DEParator high-throughput cell sorter—plus contract research services, serving biological research institutions, pharmaceutical and biotech cell-therapy developers, and point-of-care diagnostic settings.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cell Analysis Instrumentation

NAICS

Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing (334516), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Surgical and Medical Instrument Manufacturing (339112)

SIC

Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Microscopy, Imaging & Flow Cytometry Instruments (HLAGAIAE)

Keywords

• Dielectrophoresis cell analysis
• Label-free cell sorting
• Cell electrophysiology instruments
• DEP technology platforms
• Biotech contract research

Headquarters

HQ city

Heathfield

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Revenue model

1. 3DEP Instrument Sales: Sale of the 3DEP desktop cell analysis instrument
2. DEParator Instrument Sales: Sale of the DEParator high-throughput cell sorting device
3. Low-Cost Consumables: Recurring revenue from consumables required for operation of 3DEP and DEParator instruments
4. Contract Research Services: Custom DEP solution design and consulting services drawing on over 70 years of DEP technology experience for analysis, separation, and concentration of cells, bacteria, and nanoparticles

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

DEPtech develops and sells dielectrophoresis (DEP) based laboratory instruments for label-free cell analysis and sorting, including the 3DEP desktop cell analysis system (rapid electrophysiology characterization) and the DEParator high-throughput label-free cell sorting device. The company also provides contract research and custom DEP solution design services drawing on more than 70 years of combined DEP technology experience.

Product overview

DEPtech offers a portfolio of label-free cytometry and cell sorting products based on dielectrophoresis (DEP) technology. The core offerings include the 3DEP Cell Analysis system for rapid electrophysiology characterization and The DEParator for high-throughput cell sorting. These products share the DEP platform technology and workbench footprint, enabling complementary analysis and sorting workflows. The company also provides Contract Research Services leveraging their DEP expertise. All products are designed for label-free operation, avoiding fluorophores or beads that interfere with measurements.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• 3DEP: 3D dielectrophoresis cell analysis platform - a desktop-sized device for rapid electrophysiology analysis, analyzing 20,000 cells in 10 seconds, usable with only an hour's training.
• DEParator

Products and services

• 3DEP Cell Analysis A label-free cell electrophysiology analysis system that provides rapid characterization of cells in 10 seconds, measuring resting membrane potential, cytoplasm conductance, and membrane capacitance without fluorophores or beads. Targeted at biological research laboratories studying cell function, ionic roles, and dysfunction across bacteria, platelets, mammalian cells, cancer cells, and giant cardiac myocytes.
• The DEParator A high-throughput label-free cell sorting device that separates cells at 150,000 cells per second with cell losses below 10%, designed as a compact benchtop system. Targeted at pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies requiring GMP-compliant cell processing, including cell therapy manufacturing workflows.
• Contract Research Services Custom dielectrophoresis research and development services for organizations interested in applying DEP technology but unsure how to proceed, or that require custom-designed bespoke DEP solutions integrated with their own technology. Targeted at life science researchers, instrument developers, and biotech companies.

Quantifiable outcome

• 20,000 cells analyzed in 10 seconds (compared to 10 cells per day with patch-clamp)
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves3 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Emerging players

• Cytovale: Cytovale is an emerging point-of-care cell analysis company (IntelliSep sepsis test), illustrating the clinical point-of-care opportunity that 3DEP's 10-second label-free analysis aims to address.
• Nanion Technologies: Nanion offers automated patch-clamp and electrophysiology instruments that compete with DEPtech's 3DEP in cell electrophysiology analysis, both aiming to replace manual patch-clamp with higher-throughput benchtop platforms.
• MaxCyte: MaxCyte provides electroporation-based cell engineering platforms for cell therapy manufacturing, overlapping with DEPtech's cell therapy manufacturing customer base even though the underlying technology differs.

Broad incumbents

• Molecular Devices: Molecular Devices (a Danaher company) supplies analytical instruments used in cell-based assays and life sciences research, overlapping with DEPtech's research laboratory customer base and benchtop instrument form factor.
• BD Biosciences: BD's FACS line of fluorescence-activated cell sorters and analyzers is the dominant incumbent in the cell sorting market DEPtech targets with the DEParator. Comparable through overlapping application in cell therapy manufacturing and research cytometry.
• Beckman Coulter Life Sciences: Beckman's CytoFLEX and MoFlo XDP flow cytometry instruments compete in the same research and bioprocessing customer base as DEPtech's 3DEP and DEParator products.
• Thermo Fisher Scientific (Life Sciences / Invitrogen): Thermo Fisher offers the broadest portfolio of flow cytometry instruments, cell analysis reagents, and cell therapy manufacturing tools, making it the dominant broad incumbent DEPtech must compete against for biopharma placements.

Direct peers

• Miltenyi Biotec: Miltenyi's MACS technology is the other mainstream label-free-style cell sorting approach, though it uses magnetic beads and surface markers. Directly competes with the DEParator in cell therapy manufacturing and research cell separation.
• Cytonome/STP: Cytonome develops cell sorting and processing platforms for cell therapy manufacturing, including microfluidic cell isolation. Direct comparable in GMP-compliant cell sorting targeting cell therapy developers.
• Sony Biotechnology (CGX10): Sony's cell sorters and spectral flow cytometry instruments directly compete in the high-throughput cell sorting space. Both target research and biopharma customers seeking faster, gentler sorting workflows.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 DepTech