1 The EIC Accelerator Project
EIC Accelerator Program Overview
The EIC Accelerator program, a pivotal initiative by the European Innovation Council (EIC), is designed to support innovative startups and small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in scaling their groundbreaking technologies. The program offers a unique blend of grant and equity funding, specifically aimed at fostering the development of high-risk, high-potential innovations within the European DeepTech landscape.
Funding Structure
The EIC Accelerator provides a hybrid funding model known as blended finance, which combines grants and equity investments to maximize support for innovative projects. Under this structure, startups can receive:
- Grant Funding: Up to €2.5 million is available to cover eligible project costs, particularly those related to research and innovation activities. This grant is particularly beneficial for early-stage companies seeking to validate and develop their technologies without the immediate pressure of equity dilution.
- Equity Investment: In addition to grants, the EIC Accelerator offers equity funding of up to €15 million until 2024 and a reduced amount of up to €10 million from 2025 onward. This equity investment allows participating companies to raise substantial capital while retaining significant ownership, thereby facilitating their growth trajectory without compromising control.
Purpose in the European Ecosystem
The EIC Accelerator plays a critical role in the European startup ecosystem, particularly within the DeepTech sector, which encompasses advanced technologies that require significant research and development. By providing substantial financial resources and support, the program aims to bridge the funding gap often faced by innovative startups during their scaling phase. The EIC Accelerator not only helps companies achieve technological breakthroughs but also facilitates access to private sector funding. This is achieved through strategic partnerships, mentorship, and networking opportunities, empowering companies to become attractive investment opportunities for venture capitalists and other investors.
Case Study: SAMPLIX ApS and the Cellularity Project
Company Overview
SAMPLIX ApS, based in Denmark, emerged as a notable winner of the EIC Accelerator program in January 2023. The company specializes in advanced technologies for single-cell analysis, focusing on transforming how functional analyses of living cells are performed. Their project, known as Cellularity, received significant recognition due to its innovative approach to biological research.
Project Description: Cellularity
The Cellularity project represents a critical shift towards single-cell formats in functional analyses. Traditional methods often average data across a population of cells, obscuring vital insights that can be gleaned from individual cellular behavior. SAMPLIX’s innovative technology allows researchers to isolate and analyze single cells, providing unparalleled precision and enabling a deeper understanding of cellular function and heterogeneity.
Technology Basics
At the core of SAMPLIX’s technology is its proprietary platform designed for high-throughput, single-cell analysis. This platform utilizes microfluidics and advanced imaging techniques, allowing for the encapsulation of individual cells in a controlled environment. By employing sophisticated algorithms for data analysis, the system can generate detailed insights into the functional characteristics of each cell.
The implications of this technology are profound. It enables researchers to uncover cellular responses to various stimuli, assess drug efficacy at a granular level, and explore the complexities of cellular interactions within tissues. As a result, it holds significant promise for applications in drug discovery, personalized medicine, and advanced therapeutic development.
Impact of EIC Accelerator Funding
The EIC Accelerator’s blended financing model has equipped SAMPLIX with the necessary resources to scale its innovative technology. The grant component will support ongoing research and development activities, while the equity investment will facilitate further expansion and commercialization efforts. By leveraging the program’s financial backing, SAMPLIX is well-positioned to enhance its market presence and attract private investment, thereby solidifying its role as a leader in the single-cell analysis domain.
Through initiatives like the EIC Accelerator, innovative companies such as SAMPLIX ApS are not only supported in their growth journeys but are also contributing significantly to advancements in healthcare and biological research, ultimately benefiting society at large.
2 The Funding Rounds
Financing Raised
Since submitting its Step 2 proposal and later winning the EIC Accelerator funding in January 2023, Samplix ApS has secured significant financing. In March 2023, the company received a €2.5 million grant and a €7.5 million equity investment from the European Innovation Council (EIC), totaling €10 million in blended finance through the Accelerator program. The EIC’s equity investment is structured to be matched by other investors, positioning Samplix to raise up to €17.5 million as part of this funding round.
Separately, Samplix concluded an additional investment round with its existing investors worth €5 million around March 2023. As of recent reports, the total amount raised by Samplix stands at approximately $13.02 million (about €12–13 million), covering both grants and equity investments.
Funding Rounds: Timing and Amounts
- EIC Accelerator Funding (March 2023):
- Grant: €2.5 million
- Equity Investment: €7.5 million
- Matched Private Investment (Expected):
- Up to an additional €7.5 million expected from external investors as part of conditions for EIC blended finance.
- Separate Investment Round with Existing Investors (March 2023):
- Amount: €5 million
This means that between early and mid-2023, Samplix secured or lined up up to approximately €17–18M in new financing, contingent on full matching funds being realized.
Investor Information
The primary institutional backers since January 2023 include:
- European Innovation Council Fund: Provided both grant (€2.5M) and equity (€7.5M) components.
- Existing Shareholders: Participated in a separate internal round providing an additional capital injection of about €5M.
Company Valuation
No explicit post-money valuation details were disclosed following these rounds; however, given standard practices for EU deep tech investments under EIC blended finance programs—where private co-investment must match public commitments—implied valuations are typically set at levels accommodating both public interest safeguards and market terms set by private co-investors.
Exit Events: IPOs or Acquisitions
There have been no reported exit events for Samplix ApS since receiving EIC Accelerator funding in early 2023:
- No initial public offering (IPO)
- No acquisition or buyout activity
Summary Table
| Date | Round/Type | Amount | Investors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar–Apr 2023 | EIC Grant | €2.5M | European Innovation Council |
| Mar–Apr 2023 | Equity (+matching funds) | Up to ~€15M | EIC Fund + Private Co-Investors |
| Mar–Apr 2023 | Internal/Private | ~€5M | Existing Shareholders |
</em>Timing inferred based on press releases dated March/April; finalization may extend into subsequent months depending on due diligence processes.
Sources
- Samplix Garners EU10m Funding From European Innovation Council
- Samplix – Products, Competitors, Financials — CB Insights
- EIC Accelerator-January 11 Cut Off Winners PDF
- Life Sciences Europe – Organisation Profile for Samplix ApS
3 The Press Releases
Samplix ApS: A Danish Biotechnology Innovator
SAMPLIX ApS, a Copenhagen-based biotechnology company, received significant funding from the European Innovation Council (EIC) Accelerator program in January 2023. This funding was part of the EIC's initiative to support "deep tech" innovations across Europe, with Samplix being one of 32 companies selected for funding.
Funding Details
SAMPLIX received a €2.5 million grant along with a €7.5 million equity investment, totaling €10 million in funding. This blended financing approach is typical of the EIC's strategy to support companies with both grants and equity investments, allowing them to scale their operations effectively. In addition to the EIC funding, Samplix also concluded an investment round with existing investors worth €5 million, further bolstering its financial resources.Technology and Advancements
SAMPLIX is known for its innovative microfluidics platform, which it aims to further develop using the EIC funding. The company focuses on functional characterization of single cells, a critical area in biotechnology that can lead to significant advancements in cell analysis and gene screening. Its previous innovations include the XDrop system, a PCR-free target enrichment approach commercialized in 2019, and XDrop Sort, a microfluidics-based system for high-throughput gene and cell screening applications introduced in the preceding year.Strategic Plans
Following the EIC funding, Samplix plans to expand its market scope and establish a presence in Silicon Valley, California. This strategic move aims to leverage partnership opportunities and enhance its proximity to key customers in the biotechnology sector.Company Background
SAMPLIX was founded in 2013 as a spinout from Estibio, initially focusing on biofuels before transitioning to biotechnology innovations. The company's transition and growth reflect its adaptability and commitment to pushing the boundaries in biotechnological research and applications.Sources
- EIC Accelerator winners and statistics January 2023
- EIC Accelerator 11 January Cut-Off
- Samplix Garners €10M in Funding From European Innovation Council
4 The Technology Advancements
Current Capabilities of Samplix ApS
Samplix ApS, based in Denmark, is a company that specializes in providing cutting-edge microfluidics-based solutions for the life sciences and medical research communities. Their flagship technology, known as the Xdrop platform, utilizes droplet microfluidics to enable high-throughput, single-cell functional analyses and genomic studies. This platform is compatible with flow cytometry and offers a versatile solution for both functional and molecular analysis by encapsulating biomolecules in double-emulsion droplets.
Advancements Since EIC Accelerator Funding
After receiving funding from the European Innovation Council (EIC) Accelerator in 2023, Samplix has focused on advancing their microfluidics technology for the functional characterization of single cells. This technology is crucial for understanding the heterogeneity of immune cells, particularly in cancer research. The funding has supported the development of their Xdrop instruments, which are designed to serve the cell therapy research community by improving workflows related to cytokine, granzyme, antibody, and cell killing applications.
Technology Improvements
Since the funding, Samplix has continued to enhance its Xdrop technology, which specializes in generating double-emulsion droplets. This allows for the efficient analysis of secreted proteins, cell-cell interactions, and other cellular functions. The platform's compatibility with flow cytometers and sorters streamlines research workflows, making it ideal for both academic and commercial applications.
Market Demonstration
Samplix actively participates in conferences and events to demonstrate its technology. For instance, they plan to showcase their advancements at the 22nd CIMT Annual Meeting, highlighting how Xdrop technology is advancing single-cell analysis and functional screening in biologics development.
New Features and Scientific Contributions
While specific new features introduced since the funding are not detailed, Samplix continues to offer comprehensive digital tools to enhance Xdrop workflows, including tools for experimental design and data analysis. They also provide bioinformatics services for sequencing data analysis.
Patents, Studies, and Trials
There is no recent information available on new patents filed, scientific studies published, or clinical trials conducted by Samplix ApS. However, their involvement in conferences and webinars indicates ongoing research and application of their technology in various fields.
Conclusion
Samplix ApS has leveraged the EIC Accelerator funding to further develop and promote its Xdrop technology, enhancing single-cell analysis capabilities. The company continues to innovate, offering advanced tools for research and contributing to the development of cell therapy and genomics.
Sources
- Samplix | Reveal functionality at single-cell resolution
- About us - Samplix
- Xdrop technology - Samplix
- News | Samplix updates
-
5 The Partnerships and Customers
SAMPLIX ApS Partnerships and Market Positioning Post-EIC Accelerator Funding Since securing EIC Accelerator funding in 2023, SAMPLIX ApS has strategically focused on advancing its Xdrop microfluidics platform, particularly for single-cell functional analysis in immunotherapy and genomics. Below is an analysis of its partnerships, customer engagements, and market trajectory:
Key Partners and Collaborations
- European Innovation Council (EIC" class="inline-link" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">SAMPLIX ApS - Development Aid: The EIC’s financial support directly accelerated SAMPLIX’s development of microfluidics for single-cell heterogeneity analysis, specifically targeting immune cell characterization in cancer therapy.
- Academic Institutions:
- University of Antwerp: Dr. Anzaan Dippenaar utilized Xdrop for whole-genome sequencing of Mycobacterium tuberculosis DNA in minute quantities.
- Harvard Medical School: Postdoctoral researcher Alex Khitun presented case studies using Xdrop to validate engineered human cell lines.
- MRC Harwell and University of Verona: Researchers leveraged Xdrop for CRISPR validation and repeat-expansion disorder analyses.
Customer Base and Applications
SAMPLIX’s technology serves diverse sectors:- Immunotherapy Research: Enables single-cell resolution assays (e.g., cytokine secretion, granzyme activity) to study CAR T cells and natural killer cells, addressing challenges like heterogeneous immune responses.
- Infectious Disease Diagnostics: Supports workflows for pathogens with low DNA yields (e.g., tuberculosis).
- Genetic Disorder Research: Facilitates long-read sequencing of genes linked to Usher syndrome type 2A via PacBio compatibility.
Strategic Focus Areas Post-Funding (2024–2025)
1. Single-Cell Functional Assays: Enhancing workflows for cell-killing assays, antibody production tracking, and enzyme screening through webinars with field experts like Volkan Besirlioglu.2. Market Positioning: Targeting biologics developers by demonstrating droplet-based compatibility with flow cytometers (e.g., Agilent NovoCyte Quanteon), reducing reliance on bulk analyses.
Impact on Technology Advancements & Scaling Efforts
The EIC partnership accelerated R&D into droplet encapsulation precision, enabling: ✅ High-throughput screening at single-cell resolution. ✅ Integration with long-read sequencing platforms like PacBio. ✅ Expansion into global markets via conference participation (e.g., CIMT Annual Meeting).New collaborations position SAMPLIX as a leader in functional genomics tools critical for cell therapy optimization—a market gap highlighted by the limitations of bulk omics approaches.
Sources Cited:
- About Us | Samplix | News Archive | Webinars | ERA-Learn Partnership
- Samplix | Reveal functionality at single-cell resolution
- About us - Samplix
- Careers - Samplix
- Xdrop technology - Samplix
- Untitled - MFN.se
- Drug Target Review’s eBook: In February 2024, Samplix contributed to an eBook titled “Reveal Cell Function With Single-Cell Resolution”, highlighting their Xdrop DE50 droplet technology for functional immune cell analysis.
- YouTube Presentation: Peter Mouritzen (VP of Application & Market Development) presented at AGD 2020 on Xdrop™ technology for genomic enrichment. Recent webinar participation includes Volkan Besirlioglu (Field Application Scientist) discussing enzyme engineering advancements in February 2024.
- Early 2025 Events: Listed participation in unspecified conferences for the first half of 2025.
- CRISPR Medicine Conference: While not explicitly confirmed as attendees, CRISPRMED24 (April 23–25, 2024) focused on genetic medicine tools relevant to Samplix’s work.
- Mid-2024 Engagements: Announced conference attendance plans for April and August 2024.
- About Us - Samplix • News Archive - Samplix • Webinars - Samplix • AGD Presentation - YouTube • CRISPRMED24 Conference
6 The Hiring and Company Growth
Samplix ApS: Team Growth and Development
Overview
Samplix ApS is a Danish company specializing in microfluidics-based solutions for the life sciences and medical research communities. Since receiving the EIC Accelerator funding in January 2023, Samplix has continued to develop its Xdrop technology, which enables high-throughput, droplet-based functional analysis of single cells.Current Team Size and Headcount
While the exact current headcount is not publicly disclosed, Samplix's team includes experts in various fields such as microfluidics, cell biology, and bioinformatics. The company has a diverse, multidisciplinary team that supports customers worldwide.Hiring and Recent Growth
Samplix is actively hiring, with recent openings for positions like student assistants in the QA/QC team. This indicates that the company is expanding its workforce to meet growing demands. However, specific details on key recent hires or major changes in the founding team are not available in the public domain.Growth Since EIC Accelerator Funding
Since the funding, Samplix has continued to advance its technology and applications, supporting significant growth in the genomics and molecular biology sectors. The company's Xdrop technology has been successfully applied across various genomes, including human, animal, plant, and microbial, and has supported investigations into cell reactions such as enzyme activity and protein synthesis.Impact of New Team Members
New team members contribute to Samplix's ability to scale and grow by enhancing its research capabilities and expanding its customer support. The addition of diverse expertise helps the company innovate and improve its products, potentially leading to increased market presence and competitiveness.Management and Founding Team Changes
There are no reported significant changes in the management or founding team of Samplix ApS. The leadership includes Lars Kongsbak as CEO, who has extensive experience in life sciences and strategic business development.Future Prospects
The growth and expansion of Samplix's team will likely enhance its ability to develop cutting-edge technologies, such as the Xdrop platform, further solidifying its position in the life sciences research sector. This strategic growth supports the company's mission to democratize single-cell analysis and empower groundbreaking research.Sources
7 The Media Features and Publications
Media Features and Company Involvement of Samplix ApS Post-EIC Accelerator Funding Samplix ApS, a Danish life sciences company specializing in microfluidics-based genomic solutions, has actively engaged with the scientific community through conferences, webinars, and partnerships since securing EIC Accelerator funding in early 2023. Below is a detailed overview of their activities and media presence.Media Features and Publications
While direct media coverage from third-party publications is not explicitly detailed in available sources, Samplix has produced educational content such as webinars and eBooks. For example:Podcasts and Interviews
No specific podcasts were identified. However, public presentations include:Conference Participation
Samplix has maintained a strong conference presence post-EIC funding:Webinars
Samplix hosts regular webinars showcasing applications of their Xdrop platform:Sources Used:
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