What Akern Srl does

Akern S.r.l., founded in 1980 and headquartered in Pontassieve (Florence), Italy, develops and manufactures medical-grade bioimpedance analyzers (BIA 101 BIVA PRO, NUTRILAB PRO), proprietary electrodes (BIATRODES, BIVATRODES), and accompanying software (BODYGRAM Dashboard 3.0, BODYGRAM HBO, BODYGRAM APPs) for clinical body composition assessment. Its underlying technology — Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA) and the proprietary Bioelectrical Impedance Vector Analysis (BIVA) methodology developed with the University of Padova — produces validated metrics on fat mass, lean mass, hydration, and phase angle as a prognostic biomarker, with devices calibrated against DEXA and MRI reference methods.

The company serves hospitals, oncology centers, nephrology and dialysis units, intensive care, geriatrics, sports organizations, and clinical nutritionists. Its customer base spans Europe and, since 2022, China (via NMPA certification and the EnterNutr distribution partnership). The go-to-market combines direct enterprise field sales with an authorized global distributor network, supplemented by the annual Body Composition Conference, Akern Academy training, and a 4,400+ publication scientific marketing moat.

Revenue derives from four streams: hardware sales (analyzers), software licenses and subscriptions (BODYGRAM), consumable electrodes, and professional training services. Akern is a privately held Italian S.r.l. operating as a subsidiary of PharmaNutra S.p.A., a company listed on the STAR segment of Borsa Italiana, since the June 2022 acquisition.

Name

Akern Srl

Legal name

Akern S.r.l.

Website

https://www.akern.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Akern S.r.l., founded 1980 and based in Italy, develops Class IIa CE-certified bioimpedance analyzers, proprietary electrodes, and BODYGRAM software for clinical body composition assessment. It serves hospitals, oncology/ICU/nephrology units, sports organizations, and clinical nutritionists across Europe and China, operating as a PharmaNutra S.p.A. subsidiary since 2022.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Bioimpedance Medical Devices

NAICS

Electromedical and Electrotherapeutic Apparatus Manufacturing (334510), Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (3345)

SIC

Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826), Electromedical & Electrotherapeutic Apparatus (3845)

akta.pro primary industry

Metrology, Calibration & Testing Equipment (Balances, pH/DO, Standards) (HLAGAIAL)

Keywords

• Bioimpedance analyzers
• Body composition analysis
• Medical diagnostic devices
• Clinical BIA software
• Bioelectrical impedance measurement

Headquarters

HQ city

Pisa

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Bioimpedance Hardware Sales: Sale of BIA analyzers (BIA 101 BIVA PRO, NUTRILAB PRO) as medical devices. Hardware products sold directly and through a global distributor network.
2. Software Licenses and Subscriptions: BODYGRAM Dashboard, BODYGRAM HBO, and BODYGRAM APPS software platforms sold as licenses for data analysis and body composition reporting.
3. Accessories and Consumables: Sale of proprietary electrodes (BIATRODES, BIVATRODES) and accessories for bioimpedance measurement.
4. Professional Training Services (Akern Academy): Training and education courses for healthcare and sports professionals in body composition assessment, including online webinars, in-person courses, and ACME-accredited training programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Akern Srl develops and manufactures Class IIa CE-certified bioimpedance analyzers (BIA 101 BIVA PRO, NUTRILAB PRO), proprietary electrodes (BIATRODES, BIVATRODES), and the BODYGRAM software platform for clinical and sports body composition assessment. The integrated hardware-software-electrode ecosystem enables non-invasive measurement of fat mass, lean mass, hydration status, and phase angle for hospitals, clinics, nutritionists, sports teams, and research institutions.

Product overview

Akern Srl is a bioimpedance technology company offering a portfolio of body composition analysis solutions. The core offerings include two bioimpedance analyzers (BIA 101 BIVA PRO and NUTRILAB PRO), a suite of data analysis software (BODYGRAM DASHBOARD 3.0, BODYGRAM HBO, BODYGRAM APPS, REGIONAL APP, FITNESS APP), and electrode accessories (BIATRODES, BIVATRODES). The analyzers integrate with the Bodygram software platform for data interpretation and reporting, while the REGIONAL APP and FITNESS APP extend functionality for specialized body composition analysis use cases.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• BODYGRAM®: Software platform for interpretation and reporting of body composition data collected through bioimpedance analyzers. Includes BODYGRAM® DASHBOARD 3.0, BODYGRAM® HBO, BODYGRAM® APPs.
• BIA 101 BIVA® PRO
• NUTRILAB™ PRO
• BIATRODES™
• BIVATRODES™
• Akern® Academy

Products and services

• BIA 101 BIVA PRO Vector bioimpedance analyzer with dual Total BIA and Regional BIA measurement modes, featuring Signal Quality Index technology for signal validation and up to 5 hours of battery life. Class IIa CE certified medical device for clinical, sports, and research settings.
• NUTRILAB PRO Advanced body composition analyzer designed for hospitals and research institutions, providing nutritional screening, sarcopenia detection, and hydration status assessment with built-in malnutrition risk indices. Class IIa CE certified medical device applicable for ages 3-99.
• BODYGRAM DASHBOARD 3.0 Advanced data analysis software platform for body composition analysis interpretation and reporting, compatible with Akern BIA analyzers. Used by clinicians and researchers for analysis workflows.
• BODYGRAM HBO Software interface designed for hospitals and universities to manage and report body composition data collected from Akern bioimpedance analyzers.
• BODYGRAM APPS Suite of functional applications for complete body composition analysis, including the REGIONAL APP and FITNESS APP modules for specialized use cases.
• REGIONAL APP Software application for analyzing ten anatomical regions to enable localized body composition assessment using Akern's Regional BIA technology.
• FITNESS APP Software application that combines fitness metrics with body composition analysis to support training optimization for athletes and fitness professionals.
• BIATRODES Proprietary bioimpedance electrodes with high conductivity featuring silver/silver-chloride grid construction, solid high-density conductive gel, and intrinsic impedance under 30 Ohms for accurate BIA measurements.
• BIVATRODES Novel-format bioimpedance electrodes combining stimulus area and reading area in a single electrode to eliminate variability related to alignment and distance, achieving a coefficient of variation below 1% for measurement reproducibility.
• Akern Academy Training Programs Training and education courses for healthcare and sports professionals in body composition assessment, including online webinars, in-person courses, and ACME-accredited training programs. Trains 46+ professionals annually.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 4,400 scientific publications produced using Akern technology, making it one of the most cited companies in bioimpedance literature
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

AI capability2 records

Feature9 records

Partnerships

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

• Instituto Nacional de Educación Física de Cataluña (INEFC Barcelona)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Akern partnered with INEFC Barcelona, Clinica Creu Blanca, and Campus docent SJD for the ML-BIVA (muscle-localized BIVA) research project. The study aims to evaluate ML-BIVA sensitivity to muscle changes from high-intensity exercise, validated against high-resolution MRI.
• PharmaNutra GroupflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 June 2022PharmaNutra S.p.A., a company listed on the STAR segment of Borsa Italiana, acquired Akern S.r.l. in June 2022. This acquisition provided Akern with access to PharmaNutra's resources, distribution network, and international growth opportunities. PharmaNutra specializes in clinical nutrition and medical devices.
• i-DealcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 February 2022Akern partnered with i-Deal on the CONCERTO project, a winner in Challenge 4 (clinical screening management) of the GATEKEEPER Open Call 2. The project integrates Akern's Bodygram software with i-Deal's SizeYou AI-powered digital anthropometry technology to create a web-based clinical screening service. Clinical research conducted at University of Padova under Prof. Antonio Paoli.
• GATEKEEPER (EU Horizon 2020)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022GATEKEEPER is a European Multi-Centric Large-Scale Pilot funded by the EU Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme (GA n.857223). The Akern/i-Deal CONCERTO project was selected as a winner from 64 proposals across Europe, addressing clinical screening management challenges.
• CETILAR / PharmaNutraminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2022Akern serves as scientific and technology partner for CETILAR (a PharmaNutra brand) at sporting events in Italy. Akern measures body composition of athletes and spectators using bioimpedance, while CETILAR products complement the nutritional supplementation aspect of athlete monitoring.
• EnterNutr Guangzhou New Health Biotechnology Co., Ltd.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2019Akern partnered with EnterNutr, a government-funded Chinese company founded in 2008 by Dr. Hanxi Li and based in Guangzhou, specializing in hospital supply for parenteral nutrition therapy. Akern obtained NMPA certification in 2022 enabling sales of its medical devices in the Chinese clinical market. Akern's CSO visited eight major Chinese hospitals in 2023 to establish scientific collaborations.
• University of PadovacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Francesco Campa (under Prof. Antonio Paoli's direction) leads clinical research within the CONCERTO project at University of Padova. The university also conducted the landmark BIVA population reference study with over 4,000 adults, updating 30-year-old norms.
• University of Lisbon - Facultade de Motricidade HumanacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMulti-year collaboration with the Faculty of Human Kinetics at University of Lisbon and its sports science experts led to the development of the new Regional BIA measurement model, transitioning from segmental to regional analysis for more precise tracking of changes in individual anatomical regions.
• BaxterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAkern collaborated with Baxter on the Onco-Biva Screening study, a multicenter observational study evaluating the predictive power of bioimpedance parameters on clinical outcomes in cancer patients. Baxter provided support for the webinar on nutritional screening in oncology patients.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Broad incumbents

• Hologic: Hologic is a major medical technology company whose DEXA-based body composition assessment systems (Horizon and Discovery lines) are the gold standard reference method against which BIA devices (including Akern's) are validated. While Hologic does not compete in BIA, its DEXA systems are the primary alternative body composition technology in clinical research and high-end body composition assessment.
• SECA: SECA is a German global leader in medical measuring systems and scales, with medical-grade BIA body composition analyzers used in hospitals and clinical research. SECA's installed base in hospitals and medical weight management overlaps with Akern's clinical and prevention segments, though SECA's portfolio is broader and its BIA line is one of many product lines.
• Omron Healthcare: Omron Healthcare is a global incumbent in consumer and clinical health monitoring devices, with body composition monitors and BIA-enabled scales that overlap with Akern's fitness segment offerings. As a large Japanese multinational, Omron has significantly greater distribution and brand reach than Akern in consumer and retail channels.

Direct peers

• Tanita: Tanita is a Japanese pioneer in BIA technology and one of the longest-established body composition device manufacturers globally. Tanita competes with Akern across both professional clinical analyzers and consumer-grade smart scales, with strong brand recognition in fitness and wellness channels where Akern is also expanding.
• RJL Systems: RJL Systems is a US-based manufacturer of bioelectrical impedance analyzers primarily used in clinical research and nutritional assessment. RJL competes directly with Akern in the research and clinical nutrition segments, particularly in North American academic and hospital research settings.
• InBody: InBody is the global market leader in bioimpedance body composition analyzers, directly competing with Akern's BIA 101 BIVA PRO and NUTRILAB PRO across clinical, fitness, and research segments. Both companies offer multi-frequency BIA devices with proprietary software platforms, making InBody Akern's most direct head-to-head competitor.
• Bodystat: Bodystat is a UK-based specialist in bioimpedance analysis for clinical and research use, directly competing with Akern in the hospital, nutrition, and academic research segments. Both companies focus on single-frequency and multi-frequency BIA devices used in clinical nutrition and body composition assessment.

Others

• Fresenius Kabi: Fresenius Kabi is a global leader in clinical nutrition, infusion therapy, and medical devices, and is an adjacent/ecosystem player relevant to Akern through the shared clinical nutrition and oncology nutrition customer base. Akern's body composition devices are used alongside Fresenius Kabi nutritional products in hospitals, making them complementary channel partners and competitors for hospital nutrition budgets.
• Abbott Nutrition: Abbott is a global healthcare leader with a major clinical nutrition division (Ensure, Glucerna, etc.) and a strong hospital sales infrastructure. While Abbott does not manufacture BIA devices, its clinical nutrition salesforce addresses the same hospital and clinical nutrition customers that Akern serves with its body composition analyzers, making Abbott an adjacent ecosystem participant and potential channel partner.

Emerging players

• ImpediMed: ImpediMed is an Australia/US-based medical technology company specializing in bioimpedance spectroscopy (BIS) for clinical applications including lymphedema and heart failure. While more focused on BIS than single/multi-frequency BIA, ImpediMed competes in the medical-grade bioimpedance segment and shares Akern's clinical research orientation.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

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 Akern Srl