ACEA BIO is a technology company.
ACEA BIO is a technology company.
ACEA BIO has raised $71.0M across 4 funding rounds.
ACEA BIO has raised $71.0M in total across 4 funding rounds.
ACEA BIO has raised $71.0M in total across 4 funding rounds.
ACEA BIO's investors include Qiming Venture Partners.
ACEA Biosciences is a biotechnology company that develops and commercializes high-performance cell analysis platforms, including the xCELLigence® Real-Time Cell Analysis (RTCA) instruments and NovoCyte® flow cytometers.[1][2][3][4] These tools enable label-free, real-time monitoring of cellular functions for applications in pre-clinical drug discovery, toxicology, safety pharmacology, immuno-oncology, and basic academic research, serving life science researchers, pharmaceutical developers, and clinical diagnostics users.[1][2][3][4] Founded in 2002 in San Diego, California, the company raised $57.89M before being acquired by Agilent Technologies in September 2018 for $250M in cash, integrating its technologies into Agilent's cell analysis portfolio with over 2,500 instruments placed globally and use in more than 1,800 peer-reviewed publications.[1][3][4]
ACEA Biosciences was founded in 2002 in San Diego, California, with a focus on pioneering non-invasive impedance-based cell analysis instrumentation.[1][2][3][4] Key details on specific founders are not detailed in available sources, but the company rapidly developed its core xCELLigence RTCA platform, leveraging microelectrode technology for real-time cellular data in drug discovery and cell biology.[2][4] Early traction came from its innovative label-free assays for applications like cell invasion, migration, and cardiotoxicity screening, leading to global adoption with manufacturing and R&D expansion to Hangzhou, China.[4] A pivotal moment arrived in September 2018 when Agilent Technologies acquired ACEA for $250M, combining it with prior cell analysis buys like Luxcel Biosciences to strengthen real-time live cell measurement capabilities.[4]
ACEA Biosciences rides the wave of advancing real-time cell analysis in biotech, fueled by rising demand for label-free, kinetic assays in precision medicine, immuno-oncology, and accelerated drug discovery amid complex biological targets.[1][2][4] Timing aligns with the post-2010s boom in live-cell imaging and high-content screening, where traditional endpoint assays fall short; market forces like AI-driven drug development and regulatory emphasis on cardiotoxicity testing favor its non-invasive tools.[3][4] As part of Agilent since 2018, ACEA influences the ecosystem by enhancing reagent partnerships and global flow cytometry access, particularly in China, while contributing to over 1,800 publications that standardize real-time cellular metrics in research.[3][4]
Post-acquisition, ACEA's platforms will likely expand within Agilent's ecosystem, integrating with fluorescence-based assays and AI analytics for next-gen workflows in personalized medicine and automated screening.[4] Trends like organ-on-chip models, CRISPR validation, and global clinical diagnostics growth—especially in Asia—position it for sustained momentum, potentially driving revenue beyond its pre-acquisition $100M scale through hybrid impedance-flow systems.[3] Its influence may evolve from standalone innovator to backbone enabler in Agilent's cell analysis dominance, amplifying impact in faster, more predictive drug pipelines that began with its 2002 impedance breakthrough.[1][4]
ACEA BIO has raised $71.0M across 4 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $20.0M Venture Round in February 2019.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 1, 2019 | $20.0M Venture Round | Qiming Venture Partners | |
| Feb 1, 2018 | $15.0M Series E | Qiming Venture Partners | |
| Mar 1, 2016 | $6.0M Series E | Qiming Venture Partners | |
| Nov 1, 2015 | $30.0M Venture Round | Qiming Venture Partners |