Provida
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2004
- HeadquartersBarrio Escalante, Costa Rica
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Provida does
Provida, legally Banco de Sangre Umbilical BSU S.A., is a Costa Rican for-profit company that processes and cryopreserves umbilical cord blood and tissue for stem cell preservation. Founded in 2004 by Dr. Eliana Vasco and Dr. Eduardo Glenn, Ph.D., it operates as the first umbilical cord blood bank in Central America, Panama, and the Caribbean. The company runs a purpose-built own facility in Barrio Escalante, San José, with cryogenic storage in liquid nitrogen tanks at approximately -196°C and processes samples locally within 24 hours of collection, surpassing the 36-hour international standard. Its product portfolio comprises three core services: cord blood storage (hematopoietic stem cells), cord tissue storage (mesenchymal stem cells), and a proprietary cellular expansion service that multiplies mesenchymal stem cells. Two add-on diagnostic modules — telomere-based biological age testing and intestinal microbiota analysis via 16S rRNA gene sequencing — extend the platform into preventive health.
The business model combines a one-time initial service fee of $1,220 (blood only) to $1,650 (blood and tissue) covering collection, processing, and the first year of storage, with recurring annual storage fees of $120 (blood only) to $200 (blood and tissue) under 18-year contracts that automatically renew for additional 10-year terms. Customers are expectant Costa Rican families acquired through a direct, consultative sales motion during pregnancy: contract formalization is followed by delivery of a specialized collection kit at week 36 and sample coordination with the family's physician at birth across all public and private hospitals nationwide. Marketing is conducted through Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, an educational blog, and a referral program that awards existing customers one free annual storage year per successful referral. Under the current leadership of Dr. Luis Miranda, with Ronald Aguilar as the first collaborator, the company remains privately held with no disclosed external funding, parent entity, or subsidiaries.
Provida firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Provida
- Legal name
- BANCO DE SANGRE UMBILICAL BSU S.A.
- Website
- https://bsuprovida.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2004
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Provida industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Stem Cell Banking Services
- NAICS
- Blood and Organ Banks (621991)
- SIC
- Biological Products, (No Disgnostic Substances) (2836)
- akta.pro industry
- Cell & Tissue Banking (biobanking, cord blood/tissue)
Keywords
Where Provida is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Barrio Escalante
- HQ country
- Costa Rica
- HQ region
- Latin America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Provida business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Infrastructure, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Initial Service Enrollment: One-time fees covering initial stem cell collection, processing, and first year of storage. Two service tiers available: blood only or blood and tissue storage.
- Annual Storage Fees: Recurring annual fees for continued cryogenic storage of stem cell samples. Customers receive storage services for an 18-year contract period with automatic 10-year renewals.
- Referral Program: Existing customers receive one free annual storage year for each new family they refer who contracts PROVIDA services.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Annual | Blood only storage - initial service |
| One time/ perpetual license | Annual | Blood and tissue storage - initial service |
| Subscription | Annual | Blood only - annual renewal |
| Subscription | Annual | Blood and tissue - annual renewal |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels6 records
Provida product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Provida collects, processes, and stores umbilical cord blood and umbilical cord tissue from newborns in its own cryogenic facility in Costa Rica, preserving hematopoietic and mesenchymal stem cells for potential future medical use. Customers contract during pregnancy, receive a collection kit around week 36, and the sample is processed locally within 24 hours and stored in liquid nitrogen for an 18-year initial term with automatic renewals. Add-on services include cellular expansion of mesenchymal stem cells, telomere-based biological age testing, and 16S rRNA intestinal microbiota analysis.
Product overview
Provida is a 100% Costa Rican company and pioneer in long-term umbilical cord blood and tissue stem cell storage since 2004. The core offering consists of three main services: Almacenamiento de Sangre del Cordón Umbilical (umbilical cord blood storage for hematopoietic stem cells), Almacenamiento de Tejido del Cordón Umbilical (umbilical cord tissue storage for mesenchymal stem cells), and Expansión Celular (cell expansion to multiply stem cells for advanced treatments). These services are complemented by two additional health diagnostic modules: Edad Biológica (telomere length testing for biological age assessment) and Microbiota Intestinal (gut microbiome analysis via genetic sequencing). All samples are processed and stored locally in Costa Rica within 24 hours.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Almacenamiento de Sangre del Cordón Umbilical (Umbilical Cord Blood Storage) Long-term cryogenic storage of hematopoietic stem cells from umbilical cord blood at approximately -196°C in liquid nitrogen, available for potential future treatment of over 90 diseases including leukemias, lymphomas, and severe anemias. Designed for expectant families in Costa Rica who wish to preserve a once-in-a-lifetime biological resource at birth.
- Almacenamiento de Tejido del Cordón Umbilical (Umbilical Cord Tissue Storage) Long-term cryogenic storage of mesenchymal stem cells derived from umbilical cord tissue (Wharton's jelly) for regenerative medicine applications such as tissue repair and organ regeneration, without requiring genetic compatibility. Targeted at expectant families seeking broader regenerative-medicine options beyond blood-based treatments.
- Expansión Celular (Cellular Expansion) Proprietary technique that multiplies mesenchymal stem cells obtained from stored cord tissue to increase quantity and expand the range of potential future treatments. Offered as a value-added service for families that have stored cord tissue with Provida.
- Edad Biológica - Telomere Testing (Biological Age Assessment) Diagnostic service that measures telomere length to estimate biological age and cellular aging, and provides personalized prevention strategies associated with disease risk. Available to individual consumers interested in cellular health assessment.
- Microbiota Intestinal (Intestinal Microbiome Analysis) Diagnostic service that uses 16S rRNA gene sequencing to characterize gut bacterial composition and relate it to health and various diseases. Targeted at individual consumers seeking personalized gut-health insights.
Quantifiable outcome
- Processing time of under 24 hours surpasses international standard of 36 hours
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Provida
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Provida technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Provida partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Provida competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- StemCyte: Hybrid public/family cord blood bank operating therapeutic and family storage services — comparable dual-track business model with international footprint.
- Cord Blood Registry (CBR): Largest private family cord blood bank in the United States, offering cord blood and tissue storage with nationwide hospital collection coverage — the closest direct comparison to Provida's family-focused storage model.
- Cryo-Cell International: Publicly traded U.S. cord blood bank offering family cord blood and menstrual stem cell storage — a directly comparable family-focused stem cell storage business model.
- Americord Registry: U.S. cord blood and tissue bank selling directly to expectant families — comparable product, contract structure, and consumer-targeted GTM.
- ViaCord: Family cord blood and cord tissue banking service owned by Revvity/PerkinElmer, selling storage contracts directly to expectant parents — directly comparable GTM motion, pricing tiers, and product offering.
- Smart Cells: UK private cord blood stem cell storage company selling direct to expectant families — comparable niche family-banking operator with similar contract structure.
- Cells4Life: UK-based private cord blood and tissue bank with multiple processing/storage technologies and direct-to-parent sales — closely comparable family banking model with emphasis on processing innovation.
Emerging players
- Celularity: U.S. cell therapy company working with placental and cord-derived stem cells — adjacent emerging player leveraging the same biological source material for therapeutic applications, signaling potential future competition or partnership.
Regional players
- FamiCord: European cord blood banking group operating across multiple European countries — comparable family banking model but operating in a different geography, useful for benchmarking expansion of a niche bank.
Broad incumbents
- New York Blood Center: Large established blood and biological products organization that includes public and family cord blood services — broader incumbent with overlapping biological storage capabilities.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Provida social profiles
Digital presenceProvida financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Provida leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Provida funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Provida M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Provida
What does Provida do?
Provida collects, processes, and stores umbilical cord blood and umbilical cord tissue from newborns in its own cryogenic facility in Costa Rica, preserving hematopoietic and mesenchymal stem cells for potential future medical use. Customers contract during pregnancy, receive a collection kit around week 36, and the sample is processed locally within 24 hours and stored in liquid nitrogen for an 18-year initial term with automatic renewals. Add-on services include cellular expansion of mesenchymal stem cells, telomere-based biological age testing, and 16S rRNA intestinal microbiota analysis.
Is Provida a public or private company?
Provida is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Provida founded?
Provida was founded in 2004. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Provida based?
Provida is headquartered in Barrio Escalante, Costa Rica, in the Latin America region.
How does Provida make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Initial Service Enrollment is the primary driver. The others are annual Storage Fees and referral Program.
Who are Provida's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are StemCyte, Cord Blood Registry (CBR), Cryo-Cell International, Americord Registry, ViaCord, Smart Cells and Cells4Life. Celularity is listed as an emerging player. FamiCord is listed as a regional player. New York Blood Center is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Provida have an API?
No public API is recorded for Provida.
What industry is Provida in?
Provida's product category is Stem Cell Banking Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAAAGAE, Cell & Tissue Banking (biobanking, cord blood/tissue). Its NAICS code is 621991 and its SIC code is 2836.