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Key people at CellEctric Biosciences.
Based in Vienna, Austria, CellEctric Biosciences develops an electrodynamic cell manipulation system that utilizes electric fields to automate the precise, chemical-free handling of complex biological samples. The biotechnology company's proprietary platform enables specific clinical and research applications, including rapid sepsis diagnosis, tumor cell disruption, and the isolation of viable bacteria or leukocytes directly from whole blood. Operating with a dedicated team of approximately 20 scientists, the enterprise targets commercial and academic laboratories focused on life sciences research, diagnostics, and advanced cellular therapies. The startup has secured venture capital financing from lead investor IST cube alongside xista science ventures, and recently won the life sciences category at the EIT Health Catapult pitch competition. CellEctric Biosciences was founded in 2021 by Klemens Wassermann and Terje Wimberger as an official spin-off from the AIT Austrian Institute of Technology.
Cellectric Biosciences (also referred to as Cellectric or CellEctric Biosciences) is a Vienna-based seed-stage deep-tech biotech startup developing a proprietary platform for automated cell manipulation using electromagnetic fields, known as "electrome-based" technology. The company targets clinical and commercial healthcare partners with its beachhead application: an electromagnetic sample preparation platform that enables fast, automated, selective analyte detection in complex human samples, accelerating diagnosis, enhancing precision, and seamlessly integrating into workflows to save lives and reduce costs.[1][3][4]
It serves healthcare providers and life science researchers by solving persistent challenges in routine applications like cell isolation (destroying/removing unwanted cells), molecular transport (cargo delivery to live cells), digital cell sorting without aerosols, and non-denaturing cell lysis for mass-spectrometry prep. Early growth includes securing patents, awards (e.g., Falling Walls Young Innovator 2013, i2B 2021, Austrian Phönix Gründerpreis), and funding from FFG programs, aws PreSeed/Seed, AIT Austrian Institute of Technology, and private equity led by xista science ventures, with a team of ~20 diverse scientists and engineers.[1][3][4]
Cellectric Biosciences emerged from research at Austria's AIT Austrian Institute of Technology, where the core idea for electrodynamic sample preparation to accelerate sepsis diagnosis won the Falling Walls Young Innovator Award in 2013 and a Young Investigator Award at the 2015 World Congress on Electroporation.[3] Technology maturation was internally funded by AIT, securing patents for broader applications, followed by FFG Spin-off Fellowship and aws PreSeed for prototype development.[3]
Co-founders Klemens Wassermann (supervisor with PhD oversight experience) and Terje “T.J.” Wimberger (PhD student passionate about "electromagnetic stuff") launched the company in 2021 after Wimberger's insights during his PhD crystallized the concept.[4] Wassermann described the "electrome" (a body's bioelectrical activity) as an orchestra, bridging electrodynamics and biology. The startup has since grown to ~20 experts in molecular biology, electrical engineering, and more, emphasizing diverse international teams with cultural synergy measures, and won business plan awards like i2B and Phönix Gründerpreis in 2021.[3][4]
Cellectric stands out in biotech through its patented electromagnetic cell manipulation technology, which applies targeted electric fields to liquid samples without damaging currents, selectively affecting cells (e.g., rupturing specific types while sparing others).[1][4] Key strengths include:
This positions it as a pioneer in "electrodynamic biotech," with seamless integration and sustainability for new applications.[3]
Cellectric rides the electrome trend—harnessing bioelectrical activity at cellular levels for diagnostics and therapy—amid rising demand for precision medicine, automated workflows, and deep-tech biotech post-COVID.[1][4][5] Timing aligns with advances in electroporation and bioelectric medicine, where manual sample prep bottlenecks delay sepsis (a leading killer) and cancer detection; their platform accelerates this by 10x+ via selectivity.[3][4]
Market forces favor it: aging populations drive infection diagnostics needs, while EU deep-tech funding (e.g., FFG/aws) and Vienna's biotech hub support scaling. It influences the ecosystem by evangelizing "electrical biomedicine," winning global awards, and partnering with majors, potentially redefining routine processes like cell sorting and enabling broader electrome apps in therapy.[4][6]
Cellectric is poised to dominate electrodynamic biotech, targeting market entry in infection diagnostics (sepsis first) within 3-5 years, scaling production, and expanding to cell therapy enabler via its electrical atlas and patents.[4] Trends like AI-driven personalization and sustainable automation will amplify its edge, evolving it from seed-stage innovator to global leader in bioelectric medicine.
This electrifying bridge between physics and biology could upgrade "Dr. Frankenstein"-style cell control into routine healthcare, fulfilling its mission to energize precision medicine and save lives.[1][4]
Key people at CellEctric Biosciences.
