BCU

What BCU does

BCU (Banco del Cordón Umbilical del Perú S.A.C.) is a Peruvian private company founded in 2002 that operates as the exclusive Peruvian representative of New England Cord Blood Bank Inc. (NECBB), a U.S.-based cryogenic laboratory founded in 1971. The company collects, processes, and stores hematopoietic stem cells from umbilical cord blood and mesenchymal stem cells from umbilical cord tissue at the moment of birth, with cryopreserved samples transported to and held at NECBB's facility in Marlborough, Massachusetts, under AABB, FDA, and CLIA oversight. The core technology relies on liquid nitrogen cryopreservation with continuous power generation and 24/7 computerized infrastructure monitoring, and includes a US$80,000 engraftment compensation guarantee, orphan insurance, and free worldwide transport to transplant centers.

The product portfolio extends beyond core cord blood banking to include Baby Screen 100+, a newborn metabolic screening test detecting 119 pathologies from a heel-prick blood sample, and First Milk, a breast milk analysis test measuring omega-3 DHA levels to optimize infant nutrition. Through a partnership with Access One, BCU also distributes an international health insurance product offering USD 500,000–1,000,000 in coverage per insured per year and access to top U.S. hospitals. The revenue model combines recurring annual storage fees (collected via automatic debit through Niubiz) with one-time diagnostic test fees and insurance distribution commissions.

BCU serves primarily expectant parents and families with newborns in Peru, marketed as a form of 'biological insurance' against blood diseases, cancers, and genetic disorders. Go-to-market is sales-led, executed through a network of commissioned freelance representatives, supplemented by digital channels (WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube) and cross-sell partnerships with Peruvian insurers (Pacifico Seguros, Mapfre Seguros, Rimac Seguros). The company operates a customer-facing office in San Isidro, Lima, and its legal headquarters are in Santiago de Surco, Lima. Peruvians are the primary customer segment; treatment-use cases referenced (Duke University, Boston Children's Hospital, CHOP, etc.) span global transplant recipients but are not direct BCU commercial customers.

Name

BCU

Legal name

Banco de Cordon Umbilical del Peru S.A.C.

Website

https://bancodecordon.com.pe

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

BCU is a Peruvian private company that, as the exclusive representative of U.S.-based New England Cord Blood Bank, collects and cryopreserves umbilical cord blood and tissue stem cells for Peruvian families with newborns, offering recurring storage plus add-on diagnostic and insurance products.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Stem Cell Banking / Cord Blood Cryopreservation

NAICS

Blood and Organ Banks (621991)

akta.pro primary industry

Cell & Tissue Banking (biobanking, cord blood/tissue) (HLAAAGAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Cold Chain, Cryopreservation & Biologics Storage/Handling Technologies (HLAAAJAN), Bone Marrow & Stem Cell Transplant (BMT/HSCT) (HLAKAFAI)

Keywords

• Cord blood banking
• Stem cell cryopreservation
• Newborn screening
• Umbilical cord tissue
• International health insurance

Headquarters

HQ city

San Isidro

HQ country

Peru

HQ region

Latin America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Cryopreservation Services: Annual maintenance fees for storing cryopreserved umbilical cord blood and tissue samples. Customers sign contracts with NECBB for long-term storage, with annual payment through automatic debit via Niubiz.
2. Baby Screen 100+ Newborn Screening: Metabolic screening test for newborns detecting 119 pathologies, offered as an add-on service to cord blood banking clients.
3. First Milk DHA Testing: Omega-3 DHA measurement test for breast milk, offered as a supplementary service for lactating mothers.
4. Access One International Health Insurance: International health insurance distributed through BCU, with coverage of USD 500,000 or USD 1,000,000 per insured per year. Special benefits for BCU clients.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

BCU collects, processes, and cryopreserves hematopoietic stem cells from umbilical cord blood and mesenchymal stem cells from umbilical cord tissue at the time of birth, transporting samples to NECBB's facility in Marlborough, MA for long-term liquid-nitrogen storage under annual maintenance contracts. The portfolio also includes add-on metabolic screening (Baby Screen 100+), breast milk DHA analysis (First Milk), and the Access One international health insurance product distributed through BCU.

Product overview

BCU (Banco del Cordón Umbilical del Perú) is a cryopreservation and biotechnology services company offering a suite of stem cell banking and health screening products. Its core offering is umbilical cord blood and tissue stem cell cryopreservation (via its partnership with New England Cord Blood Bank, established in Peru since 2002), supplemented by two diagnostic testing products — Baby Screen 100+ (newborn metabolic screening for 119 pathologies) and First Milk (breast milk omega-3 DHA analysis) — and Access One (an international health insurance product). The portfolio is anchored by NECBB's cryogenic infrastructure in Marlborough, MA, and is distributed exclusively in Peru through BCU.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Access One: International health insurance product offered in partnership with Access One, providing access to medical treatments in the USA and worldwide including stem cell treatments
• Baby Screen 100+
• First Milk

Products and services

• Criopreservación de Células Madre (Cord Blood Banking) Cryopreservation service for expectant parents that collects, processes, and stores hematopoietic stem cells from umbilical cord blood and mesenchymal stem cells from umbilical cord tissue at birth. Includes dual cryopreservation of blood and tissue, free global transport to transplant centers, and a Guarantee of Tranquility compensation of up to US$80,000 if cells fail to engraft. Long-term storage occurs at NECBB's AABB-accredited, FDA-registered, and CLIA-certified facility in Marlborough, MA, USA.
• Baby Screen 100+ Newborn metabolic screening test that analyzes a few drops of heel blood (from 48 hours of life up to 5 years of age) to detect 119 possible pathologies, including amino acid disorders, organic acid disorders, carbohydrate disorders, fatty acid oxidation disorders, peroxisomal disorders, and genetic diseases.
• First Milk Breast milk analysis test that measures omega-3 DHA levels in maternal milk to optimize infant nutrition and brain/visual development, with recommendations for diet and supplementation if levels are suboptimal.
• Access One International Health Insurance International health insurance product offered in partnership with Access One, providing families with access to top US and global hospitals (Mayo Clinic, MD Anderson, Boston Children's, Cleveland Clinic), with annual coverage of USD 500,000 or USD 1,000,000 per insured, including coverage for hematopoietic stem cell transplants and second medical opinions.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% viability in thawed cord blood samples used in transplant treatments
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

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

• New England Cord Blood Bank Inc. (NECBB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNECBB is the parent company and exclusive provider of cord blood banking services represented by BCU in Peru. Founded in 1971, NECBB is one of the first licensed private cryogenic laboratories in the United States. BCU acts as the exclusive Peruvian representative, collecting samples locally and sending them to NECBB's Marlborough, MA facility for processing and long-term storage.
• Access OnecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAccess One is an international health insurance product offered exclusively through BCU, providing families with access to top US hospitals (Mayo Clinic #1 in USA, MD Anderson #1 in cancer, Boston Children's #1 in children, Cleveland Clinic #1 in cardiology) and coverage of USD 500,000 or USD 1,000,000 per insured per year. The insurance covers stem cell treatments including hematopoietic stem cell transplants.
• Mayo ClinicmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMayo Clinic is ranked #1 hospital in the USA and is a partner hospital of Access One international health insurance distributed through BCU.
• MD Anderson Cancer CentermajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMD Anderson is ranked #1 in cancer treatment and is a partner hospital of Access One international health insurance distributed through BCU.
• Boston Children's HospitalmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoston Children's Hospital is ranked #1 hospital for children and is a partner hospital of Access One international health insurance distributed through BCU.
• Cleveland ClinicmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCleveland Clinic is ranked #1 in cardiology and is a partner hospital of Access One international health insurance distributed through BCU.
• Pacifico SegurosminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPacifico Seguros offers special benefits to insured clients who use BCU cord blood banking services.
• Mapfre SegurosminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMapfre Seguros offers special benefits to insured clients who use BCU cord blood banking services.
• Rimac SegurosminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRimac Seguros offers special benefits to insured clients who use BCU cord blood banking services.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• New England Cord Blood Bank (NECBB): BCU's parent/strategic partner and core operator; same cord blood and tissue cryopreservation business, AABB/FDA/CLIA certified, processing and storing samples globally for 385,000+ clients since 1971.
• Cells4Life: UK-based private cord blood and tissue bank with multiple storage options including whole cord storage; comparable dual cryopreservation model with similar value proposition.
• Cord Blood Registry (CBR): One of the largest family cord blood banks in the US, storing both cord blood and cord tissue; direct competitor with comparable dual-storage model and large customer base.
• ViaCord (PerkinElmer): Major US cord blood banking service offering family storage of cord blood and tissue; direct competitor with similar value proposition and dual cryopreservation offering.
• Future Health Biobank: UK-based biobank offering cord blood, cord tissue, and dental pulp stem cell storage with international operations; comparable multi-product cryopreservation model targeting expectant parents globally.
• Cryo-Cell International: US-based private cord blood bank offering family and public banking services with AABB accreditation; competes directly with NECBB in the same product category and customer segment.
• China Cord Blood Corporation: Operates cord blood banking network in China with multiple licensed banks; comparable family cord blood storage service in an emerging market context analogous to BCU's Peru positioning.
• StemCyte: US-based cord blood bank operating both family and public banking programs with international presence; comparable service offering with therapeutic use track record.
• Vita 34: Germany-based private cord blood bank offering stem cell storage from umbilical cord blood and tissue; comparable dual cryopreservation model serving European expectant parents.
• Cordlife Group Limited: Asia-Pacific focused cord blood and tissue banking operator with multiple country presence; comparable service offering targeting expectant parents in emerging markets.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCThUjMaj9ArJxiGf_ogIDoA
• Facebookfacebook.com/bcuperu
• Instagraminstagram.com/bcuperu
• Xx.com/bcu_peru

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 BCU