Ecossa

What Ecossa does

Ecossa is a German ecotoxicological research and consulting firm operating as a sole proprietorship under Dr. Sebastian Höss, headquartered in Starnberg, Germany. The company specializes exclusively in nematode-based ecotoxicological testing and bioindication, using Caenorhabditis elegans and free-living nematode communities as model organisms to assess environmental risk in sediments, soils, chemicals, and waste materials. Ecossa developed the standardized DIN ISO 10872 toxicity test and the proprietary NemaSPEAR[%]-index for freshwater sediment quality assessment, both of which are embedded in regulatory frameworks including REACH, the EU Water Framework Directive, and biocide/pesticide testing requirements. The firm maintains a 25-year project archive, over 80 peer-reviewed publications, and active research collaborations with European universities and federal institutes.

The company's service portfolio is organized around four interconnected offerings: nematode research and analysis, standardized toxicity testing (ISO 10872), freshwater and soil microcosm studies, and in-situ bioindication tools including the NemaSPEAR[%]-Index and soil bioindicators using Maturity, Structure, Enrichment, and Channel indices. Underlying technical capabilities include small-scale microcosm systems (50-ml centrifuge tubes for soil, 2L jars for sediment) that minimize test material requirements, DNA-barcoding methods validated against morphological taxonomy, and passive dosing exposure systems for hydrophobic and volatile organic substances.

Ecossa operates a professional services business model funded through research project contracts with German federal ministries (BMBF, BMEL), the Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt (DBU), the EU Interreg programme, and the Bundesanstalt für Gewässerkunde (BfG), supplemented by fee-for-service laboratory testing for enterprise chemical clients including BASF, Bayer, and Unilever. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed, and customer acquisition relies on scientific reputation, publication record, and collaborative research relationships rather than traditional marketing. The firm serves chemical and pharmaceutical companies requiring regulatory ecotoxicology data, government environmental agencies needing sediment and soil quality assessments, and academic research institutions conducting ecotoxicology studies.

Name

Ecossa

Legal name

Ecossa (Dr. Sebastian Höss)

Website

https://ecossa.de

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Ecossa is a German ecotoxicological research firm providing nematode-based toxicity testing (DIN ISO 10872), microcosm studies, and bioindication services for environmental risk assessment, serving chemical companies, government agencies, and academic researchers across Europe.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Testing Services

NAICS

Testing Laboratories and Services (54138), Testing Laboratories and Services (541380), Environmental Consulting Services (541620)

SIC

Services-Testing Laboratories (8734), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Pesticide Residue & Agrochemical Screening Services (Soil/Plant/Water) (AFACAKAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Soil Health & Biological Testing Services (Microbial Activity, Organic Matter, Respiration) (AFACAKAD), Biologicals Regulatory, Testing & Quality Assurance Services (AFABAEAO)

Keywords

• Ecotoxicological testing services
• Nematode bioindication
• Sediment toxicity testing
• ISO 10872 testing
• Environmental risk assessment

Headquarters

HQ city

Starnberg

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Research Project Contracts: Ecossa receives funding through research project contracts from government agencies, foundations, and industry partners. Projects include ecotoxicological assessments, sediment/soil quality testing, and bioindication services.
2. Contract Laboratory Testing Services: Fee-for-service laboratory testing using standardized protocols (ISO 10872) for chemical testing, environmental samples, and passive dosing experiments.

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Ecossa is an ecotoxicological research and consulting firm that performs nematode-based ecotoxicological testing and bioindication for environmental risk assessment. It offers standardized toxicity testing under DIN ISO 10872, freshwater and soil microcosm studies, and proprietary bioindication tools (NemaSPEAR[%]-Index) for chemical companies, government agencies, and academic researchers.

Product overview

Ecossa offers ecotoxicological testing and research services organized around four interconnected service areas: Nematodes (research and analysis), Toxicity Testing (ISO 10872 standardized tests), Microcosms (freshwater and soil systems), and In Situ Indices (bioindication tools including NemaSPEAR[%]-Index and soil bioindicators). The company provides standardized ecotoxicological assessment services using nematode-based methodologies for environmental samples and chemicals, serving research institutions, government agencies, and industry clients.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• DIN ISO 10872 Toxicity Testing Standardized ecotoxicological test using nematodes to determine the toxicity of chemicals, sediments, and waste materials for chemical companies, regulators, and researchers.
• NemaSPEAR[%]-Index Proprietary bioindication tool that uses nematode community composition to assess the ecological status of freshwater and sediment ecosystems for environmental monitoring clients.
• Freshwater Microcosm Studies Multi-species freshwater microcosm testing services to evaluate the ecological effects of chemicals and environmental samples on aquatic communities.
• Soil Microcosm Studies Soil-based microcosm testing services that evaluate the effects of chemicals and soil samples on soil nematode communities for chemical registration and regulatory studies.
• Sediment Toxicity Testing Specialized testing service for evaluating the toxicity of freshwater sediment samples using nematode endpoints for environmental regulators and dredging projects.
• DNA-Barcoding Identification Service Molecular identification of nematode species using DNA barcoding to support bioindication, biodiversity, and ecological studies for research clients.

Quantifiable outcome

• NemaSPEAR[%]-index validated for assessing ecological quality classes in freshwater sediments
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Institut für Biodiversität - Netzwerk (ibn)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-term research collaboration partner on biodiversity and ecotoxicology projects including NanoSan (nanoparticle risk assessment), SiTraMaisBt I and II (GMO biosafety), and SeKT (sediment contact tests).
• Ökotoxzentrum (Switzerland)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partner on the PestiRedSoil project investigating effects of pesticide reduction measures on soil organisms and functions using ecotoxicological bioindicators.
• Universität Bielefeld - Department of Animal EcologycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner for ecotoxicology research, nematode ecology studies, and microcosm experiments. Collaborated on NemaSPEAR[%]-index validation and multiple publications.
• Bundesanstalt für Gewässerkunde (BfG)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGerman Federal Institute of Hydrology - major funding source and research partner for sediment quality assessment, meiofauna analysis, and ecotoxicological testing since 2000.
• Forschungszentrum Neu-UlrichsteinminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch collaboration partner in environmental and agricultural research.
• Helmholtz-Zentrum für Umweltforschung (UFZ)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProject partner in NatuReP (2024-2027) investigating ecotoxicological behavior of natural microparticles as reference materials for assessing particulate contaminants.
• Universität BayreuthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner in NatuReP project, collaborating with Prof. Dr. Christian Laforsch on environmental research.
• RECETOX (Masaryk University, Czech Republic)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerERASMUS research exchange collaboration for PhD research on toxicity of nano-formulations of tebuconazole on nematodes.
• DTU Copenhagen (Technical University of Denmark)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSubcontractor in Crack It project (DoCE) developing in-vivo test systems with C. elegans for volatile substance toxicity testing using passive dosing.
• HAW HamburgminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-beneficiary in Sullied Sediments Interreg project for sediment characterization and clean-up in inland waterways.
• Agroscope (Switzerland)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner hosting dissertation work on pesticide reduction measures and soil bioindicators.
• Universität GießenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerExternal partner in ecotoxicological assessment project focusing on bioaccumulation of hydrophobic chemicals by C. elegans with Dr. Leonard Böhm.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Rifcon GmbH: German provider of regulatory ecotoxicology and environmental risk assessment services for chemicals, crop protection, and biocides. Overlaps Ecossa's REACH/biocide regulatory testing focus with deeper commercial scale.
• Noack Laboratorien GmbH: Mid-sized German contract laboratory offering ecotoxicology, biodegradation, and environmental testing services for chemicals. Comparable in GLP testing, client base (chemical industry), and geographic focus.
• ECT Oekotoxikologie GmbH: German specialist ecotoxicology lab focused on sediment and soil testing using benthic invertebrates and other organisms. Closest direct peer given overlap in sediment/soil ecotox niche and regulatory testing services.
• ibacon GmbH: German ecotoxicology contract laboratory offering standardized aquatic and terrestrial ecotox testing for regulatory purposes (REACH, PPP, biocides). Highly comparable to Ecossa in services (GLP ecotox testing) and target clients (chemical industry, regulators).
• Ökotoxzentrum Schweiz: Swiss center of competence for ecotoxicology applied methods, providing sediment/soil ecotox testing and bioindication research. Direct peer collaborating with Ecossa on PestiRedSoil and comparable in regulatory ecotox work.

Broad incumbents

• Bureau Veritas Environmental Testing: Global TIC firm providing environmental and ecotoxicology testing services alongside broader compliance offerings. Comparable as an established testing-services incumbent in Ecossa's regulatory testing market.
• SGS Environment, Health & Safety: Global testing, inspection, and certification firm providing ecotoxicology and environmental testing for industrial and regulatory clients. Broad incumbent overlap in environmental testing services.
• Eurofins Environmental Testing: Global environmental testing giant offering ecotoxicology, sediment, soil, and water testing as part of a much broader portfolio. Competes with Ecossa on standardized ecotox work but lacks Ecossa's nematode specialization.

Emerging players

• Helmholtz-Zentum für Umweltforschung (UFZ) - Department of Ecotoxicology: Major German research institution conducting ecotoxicology and environmental risk research with active collaboration with Ecossa on NatuReP. Peer in producing scientific output and competing for grant funding in environmental toxicology.
• Mesocosm GmbH: German firm specializing in mesocosm and ecotoxicology testing services. Listed as a minor partner of Ecossa and is a focused niche competitor in model-ecosystem testing.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ecossa

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 Ecossa