IImpetux Optics
Impetux Optics is a University of Barcelona spin-off (founded 2012) that designs and manufactures photonic instrumentation for life sciences, best known for its patented SENSOCELL optical tweezers, which measure forces directly from light-momentum changes without per-experiment calibration, plus newer confocal microscopy modules for mechanobiology and cell/tissue mechanics. It is one of fewer than ten companies worldwide making optical tweezers systems, sold to research labs globally through distributors. It is headquartered in Barcelona (Parc Científic de Barcelona).
SectorsDeeptech & Hardware, Photonics, Scientific Instrumentation, Healthtech & Bio, Life Sciences Tools
Start-up MapDeeptech & Hardware › Advanced materials, photonics & sensors
Founders
A
Arnau Farré
Co-founder
E
Elisabet Romeu
Co-founder; former CEO
F
Ferran Marsà
Co-founder
M
Mario Montes-Usategui
Co-founder; Associate Professor of Applied Physics and Optics, University of Barcelona
Global models 5
LLUMICKS
Netherlands · lumicks.com ↗
Builds and sells optical-tweezers-based instruments (C-Trap) and cell-mechanics/avidity systems to life-science research labs, the closest direct match to SENSOCELL.
$120MComparable
RRefeyn
United Kingdom · www.refeyn.com ↗
University spin-off selling proprietary light-based single-molecule measurement instruments (mass photometers) to academic and pharma research labs.
$110MComparable
DDepixus
France · www.depixus.com ↗
Develops single-molecule force-spectroscopy instruments (magnetic tweezers) for biomolecular interaction research, sold as lab hardware.
$40MComparable
NNanolive
Switzerland · www.nanolive.com ↗
EPFL spin-off selling label-free live-cell optical microscopes to life-science labs worldwide via direct sales and distributors.
$30MComparable
OOptics11 Life
Netherlands · www.optics11life.com ↗
Makes optical nanoindentation instruments for mechanobiology and cell/tissue mechanics research, sold to research labs globally.
$15MComparable
In the same niche 22 others
See all in the Start-ups Map →A
Attypics Photonics
Paterna
No stage disclosed · €50M
SSensia Solutions
Madrid
Series B (estimated) · €19M
BBioAmmo
Segovia
Series A (estimated) · €11.6M
NNanogap
Santiago de Compostela
No stage disclosed · €4M
AAGPhotonics
Málaga
Seed (estimated) · €2.7M
F
FYLA
Valencia
No stage disclosed · €2.3M
Notes: Most funded first
Investors 3
Open as list →B
Bullnet Capital
www.bullnet.es
SSEGO Venture
www.sociosinversores.com
U
Universitat de Barcelona (CIC-UB / Fundació Bosch i Gimpera)
Funding rounds 2
| Date | Round | Amount | Lead |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-29 | Series A (estimated) | €2.5M | Bullnet Capital |
| 2016-05 | Seed | €125K |
Lead not disclosed
+1 more
|
News 1
Open as list →| Published | Article |
|---|---|
| 2026-05-02 |
Impetux Optics secures €2.5 million in a funding round led by Bullnet Capital ↗
Biotech Spain
2026-05-02 |