Genoa Instruments, a deep-tech startup specializing in super-resolution optical microscopy and a spin-off from the Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), has successfully completed a €1 million investment round. The funding was led by Deep Ocean Capital SGR SpA through its Deep Blue Ventures (DBV) fund.
DBV, a Deep Tech Venture Capital fund focused on supporting startups, spin-offs, and innovative initiatives in aerospace, healthcare, and sustainability, contributed €800,000 to the round. The remaining €200,000 came from a network of Italian entrepreneurs and investors. This infusion of capital will allow Genoa Instruments to accelerate its growth, expand its market presence, and introduce its technology to leading research centers worldwide.
Genoa Instruments’ flagship product, PRISM – Photon-Resolved Image Scanning Microscope.
Founded by researchers from IIT with over two decades of experience in imaging technologies, Genoa Instruments developed its flagship product, PRISM – the Photon-Resolved Image Scanning Microscope. This innovative optical microscope uniquely combines spatial and temporal super-resolution capabilities to provide detailed structural and functional imaging of living samples. The plug-and-play design of PRISM promises seamless integration with existing microscopy systems, thereby reducing both costs and complexity.
Genoa Instruments aims to make super-resolution microscopy accessible to a wider audience. The company’s goal is to empower research groups and healthcare professionals, regardless of their size or budget, with tools that can unlock revolutionary scientific discoveries. The recent funding will support the acquisition of new sales resources, expanding the existing customer pipeline, accelerating the development of new PRISM product versions, and securing patents to protect its competitive edge in the advanced optical microscopy market, particularly in the fields of clinical, pharmacological, and preventive medicine.
Currently, the startup is based at “H4E,” the Hub for Entrepreneurship, a technology incubator within the Italian Institute of Technology. This environment facilitates technology transfer and the creation of innovative businesses. This convergence of research and entrepreneurship is designed to generate cutting-edge solutions.
Emilia Garito, Chairman and Co-Founder of Deep Ocean Capital SGR SpA, stated, “We are delighted to support Genoa Instruments in its growth trajectory. Their pioneering technology in super-resolution microscopy represents a significant advancement in biomedical and healthcare research and is a source of Italian pride. Italy is finally reclaiming technological excellence, a legacy rooted in the time of Galileo Galilei, a key figure in the invention of microscopy.”
Garito added, “Genoa Instruments is already recognized as a player with strong international collaborations with major companies. Their vision completely aligns with our mission to identify and nurture micro-enterprises that have the potential to drive competitive innovation in deep-tech sectors, which is a core strategy for strengthening the Italian technology industry and its production chain.”
Simonluca Piazza, CEO and Founder of Genoa Instruments, noted, “With the support of Deep Ocean Capital and the new investors, we are ready to attract key talent, enhance our R&D capabilities, and accelerate the launch of our products. We are excited about the opportunities ahead and determined to transform the super-resolution imaging market.”
Marco Castello, CTO and Founder of Genoa Instruments, added, “The imaging technology developed by Genoa Instruments is revolutionary, as evidenced by the growing attention to our imaging techniques at major international industry conferences. By democratizing access to super-resolution microscopy, we enable researchers at every level and budget to equip themselves with the best imaging technology available, thus fostering potentially groundbreaking scientific discoveries.”
Giorgio Metta, Scientific Director of the Italian Institute of Technology, emphasized that “Startups born within the Italian Institute of Technology represent a bridge between advanced research and industry, transforming frontier ideas into tangible solutions for the future. Genoa Instruments is an example of how innovation developed in our laboratories can evolve into a company with a global impact. This operation marks a crucial step in accelerating dissemination of the technology and strengthening Italy’s position in the advanced microscopy sector.”
This marks Deep Blue Ventures’ seventh investment within its first 18 months of operation. The fund intends to complete six more deals by the end of 2025. Its investors include the European Investment Fund (EIF), and CDP Venture Capital SGR through its Technology Transfer Fund, alongside private investors.
