InnoFluidics aims to become world leader in single-cell analysis

When Sertan Sukas, founder of InnoFluidics, was working as a postdoc on a microfluidic system for manipulating tumor cells twelve years ago, he was captivated not only by the technology, but also by its limitations. “I came from a mechanical engineering background, but ended up in the medical world,” he says. “And what I saw there was, frankly, disappointing: the technologies for diagnosing and treating cancer turned out to be surprisingly primitive compared to what is technically possible.”

For Sukas, what began as an intellectual interest turned into a personal one. In the region where he grew up, he lost several family members to cancer. “That made my mission very clear: I wanted to develop something that would make a difference in cancer diagnosis and treatment. And that started with better data, better analysis. At the cellular level.”

Bioprocessing 4.0

Fast forward to 2022: Sukas is at the helm of startup InnoFluidics, developing a new generation of label-free flow cytometers for the bioprocessing industry. “Our first customers are R&D teams in bioprocess development,” Sukas explains. “That’s where we’re laying the foundation. But ultimately, we want to move into applications in immunotherapy and oncology.”

The timing seems perfect. The biotech industry is on the cusp of what insiders call “Bioprocessing 4.0”: fully automated, data-driven production of biological drugs. “Pharmaceutical companies are investing heavily in technologies that can deliver real-time, multi-parameter data,” says Sukas. “We deliver exactly that — without expensive labels, without time-consuming steps. And with precision at the individual cell level.”

Hardware and vision

What sets InnoFluidics apart is that it is a hardware company, developing in-house all of its equipment. This is unusual in a world where many startups depend on external product development. “We have now successfully installed our minimum viable product (MVP) at a customer's site and can demonstrate it live,” says Sukas. “For us, as a technical deeptech startup, that is a huge milestone.”

That process did not happen overnight, though. “We are bringing a discontinuous innovation to market. That means you can't just fit into existing categories. It took many iterations to find a product definition that resonates with customers.”

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Brainport as a springboard

As a solo founder, Sukas found crucial support in the Brainport ecosystem. “Access to business development support, networks, and financing in the early stages was crucial,” he recalls. InnoFluidics continues to collaborate with local partners in areas such as HR, legal advice, and prototyping.

But there is also room for improvement. “For a health tech hardware company like ours, more accessible validation infrastructure is needed. Think labs and rapid prototyping facilities. In addition, Brainport needs to raise its international profile to become more attractive to potential partners from the pharmaceutical sector.”

International outlook

Although InnoFluidics has its roots firmly in Eindhoven, it has had an international outlook from the outset. “If we hadn't started here, we would probably have started in the US,” says Sukas. “That's where biotechnology and capital come together more quickly. But that's precisely why we need to build a strong ecosystem here. I believe that's possible in Brainport.”

Ultimately, his vision is as ambitious as it is clear: InnoFluidics as a world leader in single-cell analysis. Sukas: “If we succeed, we will have developed a technology that helps doctors and researchers worldwide make better decisions. That's why I do this.”

G&A 2025

Every year, we spotlight 10 start-ups from the Brainport region. Each receives a Gerard & Anton Award.

View G&A 2025