Confocal.nl

the Dutch microscopy company

Value Creation Capital provides expansion capital for next generation microscopy technology company Confocal.nl


Amsterdam / Bilthoven, August 30th, 2018

Confocal.nl introduces a new microscope based on RE-SCAN technology developed at the Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences of the University of Amsterdam. This innovative technology converts a standard microscope into a super-resolution microscope for three-dimensional confocal imaging: the Re-scan Confocal Microscope (RCM). RCM combines the super-resolution capability with drastically higher sensitivity than most confocal microscopes. It is available as a highly affordable and customized device, which is ideal for small labs with specific interests in biomedical research but also as a working-horse at microscopy facilities. The simple technical design and open-architecture makes the system platform- and software independent which allows plug-and-play upgrading of any standard fluorescence microscopes.

The investment will enable Confocal.nl to strengthen its leading position in the scientific research market and expand its business in emerging life sciences, pharma- and industrial markets. Furthermore, this investment allows Confocal.nl to strengthen its development team and improve and expand its product portfolio.

“During the last few years we see a shift from purchase new microscope systems to upgrading existing microscopes within institutes to more efficiently use their funding” says Peter Drent, CEO of Confocal.nl.

Dr Erik Manders, CTO of the company and inventor of the technology, explains: “Researchers are interested in our products not only because of the high image quality but also because it is easy-to-use, affordable and an innovative solution. Thanks to the investment of Value Creation Capital, we will be able to accelerate our growth and further develop the market.”

Value Creation Capital (VCC) invests in companies who are active in high-tech (TechNano Fund), cyber security (Security of Things Fund), business software, data intelligence and IT managed services. VCC has been founded in 2005 by serial entrepreneurs who built several fast-growing ICT and tech companies that were subsequently sold. “Given the enormous market of microscopy industry and the drive for higher resolutions and performance the Confocal.nl Rescan Add-on can be of tremendous value for customers”, explains Willem van den Berg, Managing Partner of Value Creation Capital.

Van den Berg: “Confocal.nl’s modules allow for high sensitive, substantially better resolution and speed based on rescan technology”.

UvA Ventures Holding works with the University of Amsterdam technology transfer office (IXA – UVA) to identify exciting early stage innovations and build them into fast growing sustainable companies. Peter Krijnsen, CEO of UvA Ventures, adds “On behalf of UvA-IXA, UvA Ventures Holding and the shareholders of Confocal.nl, we would like to extend a warm welcome to Value Creation Capital. We highly value their significant experience and track record especially in the optics domain, and we feel that with this strategic investment Confocal.nl is well positioned to accelerate their sales and marketing efforts”.

For more information:

Confocal.nl B.V. Peter Drent (CEO): +31 650 543244

Value Creation Capital B.V./TechNano Fund B.V. Willem van den Berg: +31 30 225 3506

Testing the limits: Leica DMi8 meets RCM

Marco Meijering and Frank Houdijk from Leica visited us last week.

Purpose of their vist – testing the new DMi8 on the RCM (or RCM on the new DMi8).

We used the Leica “no optics” C-mount to connect to the RCM. System was brought to “life” with a new RCM Micro-Manager driver. Very nice setup and excellence performance!

Leica’s new DMi8 and RCM

Result:

 

 

RCM was well received at FOM2018

FOM is undoubtedly among the most attractive scientific meetings for high-end microscopy world. This year it took place in Singapore (25-28 March).

Confocal.nl was present throughout the meeting with a booth and demo setup in the exhibition area. Our booth (15) was perfectly located, and brought us many visitors, great discussions and new leads during the conference breaks and exhibition hours.

 

In addition to the booth, we had several RCM-related talks. I myself talked about our new exciting developments in near infrared confocal project (“Expanding confocal imaging into the near infrared wavelengths”).

 

Ronald introduced the developments we have been doing to achieve the SIM-resolution with RCM (“Re-scan confocal microscopy (RCM): towards SIM-resolution”). He talked about the new invention of angular illumination that can increase the resolution to 140nm, and showed the results from our first attempts of SIM scanning.

But the highlight of the whole event was the credits Markus Sauer gave to the RCM in his plenary talk “Single molecule localization microscopy: Where next?” on Monday morning. It is a truly profound moment for a small company like Confocal.nl to see its product appreciated by its customers.

Markus Sauer from University of Würzburg, giving his plenary talk at FOM2018

 

The trip to Singapore also served the business: our APAC distributor SANE Asia organized the distributor meeting before the FOM2018 started. Carla and Stan were attending this event, and it was very inspiring for us to see so many enthusiastic supporters of RCM in one place!

SANE Asia distributor meeting.

Already looking forward to FOM2019 – in London! We will sure be there to introduce again our latest products and features. But if you like to know more about RCM-VIS and RCM-NIR in the meantime, contact us! Let us know if you would like to have a demo, or visit us in Amsterdam!

Farewell 2017, hello 2018!

From lab to business

2017 was a great year for confocal.nl! Starting with the opening of our new office (Sciencepark 406, 1098XH, Amsterdam), where Irene Stellingwerf, the first ever employee, had the honour of cutting the ribbon. Our own facility away from the university labs was a big step for us as a company.

Opening of the new office (Erik, Irene, Peter)
At the RCM factory. Pay attention to the shelves on the right side! (Fred, Remco and Erik)

First units of RCM were shipped to customers in 2017. All RCM units are tested in our office before shipment, which can create sometimes a bit of a chaos, but it is always a great pleasure to see boxes being packed and prepared for a route to far away destinations.

 

Research and development

We have been doing pioneering work for Near Infra Red (800nm ex.) in the lab and we were really lucky to be awarded an Eurostars grant (called Detector) to study the potential deep imaging of single photon NIR.

Suring the summer 2017 we had 6 students helping us with different RCM applications. They worked on neuro imaging (Maaike), lipid vesicle imaging (Alesha), comparing SIM imaging and RCM imaging (Thomas), and NIR imaging (Stan). Danny started to work on the uManager driver and Fleur even designed a new microscope for the RCM. These were inspired times, happy and creative for all of us!!

How difficult is it to design a microscope? (Thanks again, Fleur)

Many meetings and conferences

We attended the HOLM in Luxembourg, FOM in Bordeaux, ELMI in Dubrovnik, MMC in Manchester. Seeing is Believing in Heidelberg, the Bangalore microscopy course, and finally ASCB in Philadelphia. What a nice feeling, setting up, demonstrating the RCM, showing our 170nm resolution even on the exhibition floor, and talking to potential customers. The feedback was overwhelming: signal to noise ration, value for money, but most important “the extreme ease of use”! In 2018 we plan to do all this again and even more….

Explaining RCM at the HOLM workshop in Luxemburg

 

All set up and ready to go in Dubrovnik for ELMI! (Irene)
Erik and Zheng installing RCM at the Bangalore Microscopy Course
Taken at the ELMI in Dubrovnik (during the coffee break), my favourite dataset. RCM 170 nm raw image on the left side and deconvoluted (123nm) at the right side

 

Expanding the team

Stan and Danny stayed working with confocal.nl. Stan is working with us full time now, as a field service engineer, setting up RCM at customer locations and supporting users.

Danny is working part time, providing uManager support. Riina joined us to take care of our website and activities in the social media. In September, Carla joined the team to take care of all the sales activities. I am really proud of this talented, young and enthusiastic team!

 

From start-up to scale-up

For me, 2017 was the transition year from a start-up to scale-up. 2018 will be the year for scale up. We are discussing with different investors how to drive this scale up phase the best forward. More news soon. We have set ourselves an ambitious sales target for 2018, but I am confident that with the current team and the support from Erik and Ronald from the University lab, we can achieve this! In case you are interested learning more about what RCM can do for you in your lab or would like to know more about the upcoming RCM-NIR, please contact one of us!

May you all reach your (new year) resolutions in 2018!

Enjoying spring sun in Bordeaux (Irene, Peter, Danny and Erik)

Yes we are plug and play!

RCM is ideal to upgrade “older” imaging systems into a modern super-resolution confocal systems.
The Erasmus MC optical imaging center in Rotterdam (Netherlands) gave us the challenge upgrading their MAG Biosystems (A Photometrics® Systems Brand) TIRF system.
The result: we successfully integrated the laserbox in the RCM environment and could even re-use the current camera!
An old TIRF system upgraded with Confocal.nl RCM unit, at Erasmus Imaging Center in Rotterdam
Please contact us in case you are considering upgrading your current imaging system into a confocal microscope that offers super resolution images at a very affordable price level!