Universal Diagnostics

universaldx.com ↗ ·Madrid ·Series C

Universal Diagnostics (Universal DX) is a Spanish in-vitro diagnostics company developing minimally invasive, blood-based liquid biopsy tests for early cancer detection using multi-omics, next-generation sequencing, bioinformatics and machine learning. Its lead product, Signal-C, is a blood test for colorectal cancer and advanced adenomas that has entered a US pivotal clinical trial targeting 15,000+ participants for FDA approval, backed by a commercialization deal with Quest Diagnostics. Founded in 2012 with roots in Singularity University, it is HQ'd in Madrid with sites in Seville, Ljubljana (Slovenia) and Dallas/Texas, has raised well over $100M, and in 2026 closed a ~€62M Series C in which Spain's state tech fund SETT invested €30M.

Founded
2012
Founders
2
Total funds raised
€167M
Rounds
5
Investors
8
Last round
Jan 2026
SectorsHealthtech & Bio, Diagnostics, Liquid Biopsy, Oncology, AI & Data, Medtech Start-up MapHealthtech & Bio › Diagnostics & precision medicine testing

Suggest a correction

Founders

Juan Martínez-Barea
Founder & Executive President
Marko Bitenc
Co-Founder

Global models 5

Grail
United States · grail.com ↗
Develops NGS- and machine-learning-based blood tests for early cancer detection (Galleri) and seeks regulatory approval to sell them through health systems and lab partners.
$2BComparable
Freenome
United States · www.freenome.com ↗
Multi-omics, ML-driven blood test for colorectal cancer and advanced adenomas that has gone through a large pivotal trial for FDA approval, with a commercial lab partnership, the closest direct match to Signal-C.
$1.1BComparable
Guardant Health
United States · guardanthealth.com ↗
Liquid-biopsy diagnostics company whose FDA-approved Shield blood test screens for colorectal cancer, sold as a reimbursed lab test.
$550MComparable
Thrive Earlier Detection
United States · www.thrivedetect.com ↗
Built a multi-analyte blood test (CancerSEEK) for early detection of several cancers, validated in large prospective studies, before Exact Sciences acquired it.
$367MComparable
Delfi Diagnostics
United States · delfidiagnostics.com ↗
Uses cfDNA fragmentomics and machine learning for low-cost blood-based early cancer detection, commercialised as a lab-developed test.
$330MComparable

In the same niche 48 others

See all in the Start-ups Map →

Notes: Most funded first

Investors 8

Open as list →

Funding rounds 5

DateRoundAmountLead
PublishedArticle
2026-10-26 Las startups en España rozan los 4.000 millones de euros invertidos, en 2026 ↗
2026-10-09 Startups españolas levantan €3.827M en 9 meses, +49% ↗
2026-01-20 SETT invests 30 million euros in Universal DX, a Spanish company that uses AI for the early detection of cancer ↗
Capital & Corporate (Capital-Riesgo.es)
2026-01-20
2025-05-06 Can a blood test help close the colorectal cancer screening gap? ↗
Clinical Laboratory News (ADLM)
2025-05-06
2025-02-27 Universal DX secures €20 million loan from EIB to advance early cancer detection ↗
EU-Startups
2025-02-27
2024-10-18 Revolutionizing Colorectal Cancer Screening One Blood Test at a Time ↗
Startup to Follow
2024-10-18
2024-08-07 Universal DX Initiates Clinical Trial for FDA Approval of Signal-C® Colorectal Cancer Screening Blood Test ↗
Business Wire
2024-08-07
2023-11-21 Universal DX and Quest partner for colorectal cancer blood test ↗
Medical Device Network
2023-11-21
Start typing to search across everything.
↑↓ navigate↵ openesc close? shortcuts
Keyboard shortcuts
/ Ctrl K
Search
j k
Next or previous row
↵
Open the row
Ctrl ↵
Open it in a new tab
[ ]
Previous or next page
?
This list