What ANY-maze does

ANY-maze is a Windows-based video tracking and data analysis software platform that automates behavioural experiments on animals, primarily rodents and zebrafish. Founded by Chris Lloyd in the late 1990s and formally launched in 2004, ANY-maze was acquired by Stoelting Co. in 2005 and now operates as a product line within that scientific equipment business, with European operations run through Stoelting Europe in Dublin, Ireland. The platform captures video from USB or network cameras and uses computer vision to track animal position and orientation, including whole-animal and three-point tracking (head, centre, tail base). It automates a wide range of standard behavioural paradigms (Morris water-maze, elevated plus-maze, open field, fear conditioning, novel object recognition, Barnes maze, radial arm maze, Y/T-maze, light/dark box) plus zebrafish tracking, and supports simultaneous operation of 40+ apparatus.

ANY-maze's technical footprint extends beyond software into a proprietary family of hardware interfaces — Operant M/C/L (for Med Associates, Coulbourn, and Lafayette operant equipment respectively), Digital, Analogue, Optogenetic, Synchronisation, Relay, Audio, and Touch — that connect external lab apparatus to the software. It also sells a comprehensive range of physical maze apparatus, cameras, computers, and accessories. Version 7 (released in 2021) introduced a redesigned tracking engine (v5), investigation zones, simplified automatic freezing detection, and redesigned track plots and heat maps.

The business model rests on perpetual one-time licences for the software (sold at a single low price with no add-on modules, plus free unlimited lifetime technical support and updates) combined with hardware equipment sales distributed through Stoelting Co. and regional offices in the USA, Europe, China, India, Japan, and South Korea. A discounted Developing Countries licence (over 700 issued) and an I/O-only licence extend reach into price-sensitive and operant-only segments. Customers are research laboratories at universities and government institutes (including Harvard, MIT, Oxford, Cambridge, Yale, Max Planck, INSERM, Sorbonne, MRC, Tsinghua, and University of Tokyo) across more than 60 countries, with over 1,000 peer-reviewed publications citing the platform.

Name

ANY-maze

Legal name

ANY-maze

Website

https://any-maze.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Short description

ANY-maze develops Windows-based video tracking software and proprietary hardware interfaces that automate behavioural experiments on rodents and zebrafish for university and government research labs worldwide, distributed via parent Stoelting Co.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Dublin

HQ country

Ireland

HQ region

Europe

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Software Licences (Perpetual): ANY-maze sells perpetual licences for its software at a single low price. Every licence includes unlimited lifetime technical support and all software updates for free, for ever. No expensive add-on modules exist — the entire system is included. Licence types include Full licence, I/O-only licence (for operant-only use without video tracking), and Developing Countries licence (heavily discounted).
2. Equipment Sales: ANY-maze also manufactures and sells a wide range of complementary hardware: maze apparatus (water-maze, Barnes maze, radial arm maze, plus maze, novel object arena, etc.), cameras, computers, and accessories. Equipment is sold via the Stoelting Co. network.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

ANY-maze develops and sells a Windows-based video tracking and data analysis software platform that automates behavioural experiments on animals (primarily rodents and zebrafish). The platform uses computer vision to track animal position and movement from video, integrates with a proprietary family of hardware interfaces to connect external lab apparatus, and provides automated data analysis with visualisation tools. The company also manufactures and sells complementary hardware including maze apparatus, cameras, computers, and accessories distributed via parent company Stoelting Co.

Product overview

ANY-maze is a single unified video tracking software platform for behavioral research. The core ANY-maze Software provides video capture, animal tracking, equipment connectivity, and data analysis capabilities. This core platform is complemented by a family of dedicated hardware interfaces (Operant Interface for Med Associates, Coulbourn, and Lafayette equipment; Digital, Analogue, Audio, Synchronisation, Optogenetic, Relay, and Touch interfaces) that connect external equipment to the software. Additional accessories include the Multifunction Remote for test control and ambient measurement. The company also manufactures a comprehensive range of physical maze apparatus (water-maze, open field, plus maze, Barnes maze, radial maze, Y/T-maze, novel object, place preference, light/dark box, and specialized equipment like forced swim test and activity wheels) designed specifically for use with the software. Pricing is a simple single low price for the entire software system including lifetime support and updates.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• ANY-maze Software Windows-based video tracking and data analysis software that automates behavioural experiments on animals (primarily rodents and zebrafish). It captures video, tracks animal position and movement using computer vision, integrates with external lab apparatus via hardware interfaces, automates complex tests through configurable procedures, and provides comprehensive data analysis with visualisation tools. Used by behavioural neuroscience and psychology research labs worldwide.
• ANY-maze Operant Interface (M) Hardware interface that connects ANY-maze to Med Associates operant conditioning equipment, including levers, lights, pellet dispensers, and shockers, via USB. Components plug straight into the interface and ANY-maze automatically adds them to the protocol.
• ANY-maze Operant Interface (C) Hardware interface that connects ANY-maze to Coulbourn Instruments operant conditioning equipment, allowing seamless control of Coulbourn operant components via a user-friendly configuration window.
• ANY-maze Operant Interface (L) Hardware interface that connects ANY-maze to Lafayette Instruments operant conditioning equipment, allowing seamless control of Lafayette operant components through ANY-maze.
• ANY-maze Multifunction Remote

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1,000 peer-reviewed scientific publications have used ANY-maze in their research.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers18 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability3 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Stoelting Co.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2005Stoelting Co., a leading manufacturer and distributor of scientific research equipment, acquired ANY-maze in 2005 (one year after its formal launch in 2004). Stoelting's dedicated team of software, electronic, mechanical, and support engineers continuously develop a broad range of equipment compatible with ANY-maze and provide expert technical support. Stoelting Co. serves as the parent company, primary distributor, and equipment manufacturer.
• Med Associates Inc.coreTechnology or IntegrationANY-maze developed the Operant M interface specifically to integrate with Med Associates operant conditioning equipment. The interface enables ANY-maze to seamlessly control Med Associates components including levers, lights, pellet dispensers, and shockers. ANY-maze also offers an I/O-only licence at a lower price point specifically for Med Associates operant users.
• Coulbourn InstrumentscoreTechnology or IntegrationANY-maze developed the Operant C interface specifically to integrate with Coulbourn Instruments operant conditioning equipment, allowing ANY-maze to control Coulbourn components via a user-friendly configuration window that automatically adds components to the protocol.
• Lafayette InstrumentscoreTechnology or IntegrationANY-maze developed the Operant L interface specifically to integrate with Lafayette Instruments operant conditioning equipment, allowing seamless control of Lafayette operant components through ANY-maze.
• Global Biotech Inc. (格罗贝尔生物科技公司)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGlobal Biotech Inc. is the exclusive regional distributor for ANY-maze in China, operating from Shanghai. The company handles local sales, support, and distribution for Chinese customers. Contact is available via phone, email, and WeChat.
• Gentech Marketing and Distribution (P) LtdcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGentech Marketing and Distribution (P) Ltd serves as the regional distributor for ANY-maze in India (operating as Stoelting India), handling local sales and support from their New Delhi office.
• Muromachi Kikai Co., Ltd.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMuromachi Kikai Co., Ltd. is the regional distributor for ANY-maze in Japan, operating from Tokyo and providing local sales and customer support.
• Kim & Friends, Inc.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorKim & Friends, Inc. is the regional distributor for ANY-maze in South Korea, operating from Seoul and providing local sales and customer support.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Noldus Information Technology: Noldus is the most direct head-to-head competitor to ANY-maze, offering EthoVision XT — the flagship video tracking and behavioural analysis platform for rodents, zebrafish, and other animals used in academic and pharma research labs worldwide.
• Clever Sys Inc. Clever Sys manufactures animal behaviour tracking hardware and software (e.g., FreezeScan, TopScan, Activity Monitor) used in the same preclinical neuroscience and pharmacology labs as ANY-maze.
• Biobserve: Biobserve offers the Observer XT behavioural coding platform and HOME-CAGE monitoring systems for animal research, directly competing with ANY-maze in behavioural phenotyping workflows.
• Ugo Basile: Ugo Basile manufactures a wide range of behavioural research apparatus (rotarod, grip strength, fear conditioning, etc.) and is increasingly integrated with ANY-maze (e.g., fear conditioning units), competing in the same equipment-buying decisions.

Others

• Stoelting Co. Stoelting Co. is ANY-maze's parent company and a manufacturer/distributor of physiological and neuroscience research instruments (e.g., stereotaxics, microscopes). It is comparable as the parent-distributor and a producer of complementary lab equipment sold alongside ANY-maze.
• Med Associates: Med Associates is a major manufacturer of operant conditioning chambers and components (the largest in the space), directly integrated with ANY-maze via the Operant M interface. Comparable as a supplier of equipment used in the same laboratories, with adjacent (not directly competing) products.
• Lafayette Instruments: Lafayette Instruments makes neuroscience and pharmacology research equipment including operant chambers, integrated with ANY-maze via the Operant L interface. Comparable as a complementary equipment vendor serving the same labs.
• Coulbourn Instruments: Coulbourn Instruments manufactures operant conditioning and behavioural research hardware, connected to ANY-maze via the Operant C interface. Comparable as a complementary equipment supplier in the same research environment.

Emerging players

• Maze Engineers: Maze Engineers is a newer competitor designing and selling custom behavioural apparatus (including automated mazes) for academic neuroscience and cognition research — overlapping with ANY-maze's hardware catalogue.
• DeepLabCut: DeepLabCut is a leading open-source markerless pose-estimation toolbox widely used in neuroscience and behaviour research; while not a commercial tracker, it represents an emerging free alternative to ANY-maze's computer-vision-based tracking and a partial substitute for simpler tracking use cases.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 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 ANY-maze