Amplifold, a Munich-based biotech developing rapid diagnostics powered by DNA-origami nanotechnology, has closed an oversubscribed €5M seed round.
The LMU spin-off will use the funding to industrialise its DNA-origami signal-amplification platform for next-generation lateral flow assays (LFAs).
Backing From Leading European Deep-Tech Investors
The round was co-led by Matterwave Ventures and XISTA Science Ventures, with participation from Bayern Kapital, b2venture and Becker Ventures of the Labor Becker Group.
Co-founder and managing director Dr. Enzo Kopperger explains that Amplifold’s architecture delivers “up to roughly 100-fold higher analytical sensitivity at essentially the same cost of goods as conventional LFAs,” adding that the technology is designed to integrate seamlessly into existing diagnostics manufacturing lines.
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DNA-Origami: High Sensitivity Without Raising Costs
The in vitro diagnostics (IVD) and life-sciences sectors remain capital-intensive, with high costs tied to R&D, regulatory approval, and clinical validation. Despite these barriers, investor interest continues to rise — particularly since the pandemic accelerated demand for rapid testing innovation.
Amplifold fits squarely into this momentum. Its technology originated in the LMU nanoengineering lab led by Prof. Dr. Tim Liedl, where co-inventor Dr. Maximilian Urban and colleagues developed DNA-origami nanostructures capable of detecting molecular targets with exceptional precision.
These engineered DNA shapes can amplify the signal of standard lateral flow assays by up to two orders of magnitude — dramatically improving sensitivity while keeping tests simple, rapid and affordable.
“Lateral flow tests revolutionised access to diagnostics, but sensitivity has long remained a trade-off,” said Urban. “DNA-origami amplification pushes rapid tests closer to instrument-level performance without changing the familiar format.”
Scaling Industrialisation, Regulatory Work And Product Development
With the new funding, Amplifold will accelerate development of its first in vitro diagnostic product and advance toward IVDR certification in Europe. The company will also strengthen regulatory, engineering and manufacturing capabilities as it moves toward commercialisation.
As part of its growth plan, Amplifold will relocate to the Innovation and Start-Up Centre for Biotechnology (IZB) in Martinsried, a major European life-sciences hub. The company has also received support from GoBio Initial, the Medical Valley Award, and EXIST Forschungstransfer.
Amplifold announced that industry veteran Dr. Federico Bürsgens will join as CEO next year. In addition, Benedikt Kronberger (Matterwave Ventures) and Stephan Huber (XISTA Science Ventures) will join the board of directors.
About Amplifold
Amplifold develops next-generation rapid diagnostics using DNA-origami nanostructures that deliver ultra-high sensitivity at low cost. Founded in 2025, the company’s platform boosts diagnostic accuracy by up to 100× compared with current rapid tests, enabling faster, more reliable detection of diseases and biomarkers worldwide.
