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Cyfuse Biomedical

HardwareTokyo, JapanFounded 2010· One of 1739 Hardware companies tracked by AMPulse

The Regenova 3D bioprinter enables the creation of three-dimensional living tissue constructs using the innovative Kenzan method, which arranges cell spheroids onto needles for scaffold-free tissue construction.

CEO / Founder
Shizuka Akieda
Team Size
11-50
Stage
Active
Total Funding
$35.3M
Latest Round
Post-IPO
Key Investors
University of Tokyo Edge Capital (UTEC), Nippon Venture Capital (NVCC), DBJ Capital, Industrial Growth Platform (IGPI), Shibuya Kogyo, M3, Daiwa, JAFCO, Mitsubishi UFJ Capital, SBI Securities Co., Ltd., Okasan Securities Co.

Technology & Products

Key Products

Cyfuse Biomedical's key products include the Regenova bio 3D printer, which utilizes the Kenzan method for scaffold-free tissue construction. They have also partnered with NSK to co-develop a new bio-3D printer with automated, cleanroom-ready production capabilities for regenerative medicine and 3D cell products. Additionally, they collaborate with PHC on 3D cell product production technology.

Technological Advantage

Capable of creating more complex and stable 3D tissue structures compared to traditional bioprinting methods.

Differentiation

Value Proposition

Enables the creation of functional 3D tissue constructs for regenerative medicine and drug discovery through an innovative, scaffold-free bioprinting method.

How They Differentiate

Differentiates itself through the unique Kenzan method which allows for scaffold-free tissue construction, offering more complex tissue architecture.

Market & Competition

Target Customers

Medical researchers, pharmaceutical companies, and healthcare institutions

Industry Verticals

["Regenerative Medicine","Pharmaceutical Research","Tissue Engineering"]

Competitors

Organovo; 3D Bioprinting Solutions; Aspect Biosystems

Growth & Milestones

Growth Metrics

Founded in 2010 in Tokyo, Japan, based on technology license from Kyushu University. Funding includes 540 million yen ($5.1 million) in 2013, 1.4 billion yen ($13 million) in 2015, and 1.5 billion yen ($14 million) in 2018, totaling over a decade from founding. As of 2015, had 22 employees, including 12 researchers and 3 engineers. Publicly listed on TSE Growth (Securities Code: 4892). Leadership changed from Koji Kuchiishi as President & CEO in 2015 to Shizuka Akieda as CEO as of March 2025. Has sold about 30 bioprinters to clients in Japan and the U.S. No recent revenue, employee counts post-2015, or customer sales numbers available.

Major Milestones

["First use of the Regenova 3D Bioprinter outside Japan through a partnership with Cell Applications, Inc."]

Notable Customers

Marubeni; Sysmex; PHC Corporation; Saga University Hospital

https://www.cyfusebio.com

Recent coverage of Cyfuse Biomedical

Why this company matters

Cyfuse Biomedical occupies a distinctive position in the bioprinting market by focusing on scaffold-free tissue construction. While most bioprinters rely on hydrogels or synthetic scaffolds to support cell growth, Cyfuse's Kenzan method arrays cell spheroids onto fine needles, allowing them to fuse into functional tissue without exogenous materials. This approach aims to produce more physiologically relevant constructs for transplantation and screening.

The company's core product is the Regenova bio 3D printer, which automates the needle-array process. Cyfuse has also partnered with NSK to co-develop a next-generation system with automated, cleanroom-ready production capabilities, and with PHC Corporation on 3D cell product manufacturing technology. The platform is designed for reproducibility and scalability in clinical and industrial settings.

Customers include medical researchers, pharmaceutical companies, and healthcare institutions. Notable partners and clients include Marubeni, Sysmex, PHC Corporation, and Saga University Hospital. Cyfuse has sold approximately 30 bioprinters in Japan and the U.S., and the Regenova saw its first use outside Japan through a partnership with Cell Applications, Inc. The company went public on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Growth Market (Securities Code: 4892).

Cyfuse's moat rests on its patent portfolio, including over 80 patents such as one covering tubular cell structure cultivation apparatus, and on its decade-plus head start in scaffold-free bioprinting. However, competition from Organovo, Aspect Biosystems, and others using hydrogel-based or microfluidic approaches remains active. The key open question is whether the Kenzan method can scale to produce clinically relevant tissue volumes at commercially viable throughput.