This Belgian Startup Just Raised $6.5M to Fix a Hidden Problem in Cancer Therapy

Jan de Vries · 2026-10-09

### A Quiet Launch with Big Ambitions SpectaCell, a new life sciences startup based in Ghent, Belgium, has officially launched with €6 million (about $6.5 million) in Seed funding. The company spun out of imec, VIB, and Ghent University, and it's on a mission to change how we analyze cells for immunotherapy development. The round was led by imec.xpand, with participation from PMV's Flanders Future Tech Fund, InnovationQuarter Capital, Qbic, and VIB. That's a strong lineup of backers for a company that's barely out of the gate. ### What SpectaCell Actually Does At its core, SpectaCell is building a next-generation cell analysis platform. But what does that mean in plain English? When researchers develop immunotherapies—treatments that help your immune system fight cancer—they need to know how those treatments affect individual cells. Does a drug kill a cancer cell? How do different cells respond? Most existing tests give you indirect signals or averages across a sample, which can hide important differences between cells. SpectaCell's technology combines chip-based imaging with data analysis to track large numbers of individual cells directly, at high resolution and over time. No fluorescent labels needed, which can interfere with cell behavior. The result is an easy-to-use, cartridge-based instrument that delivers insights in hours instead of days. ### Why This Matters for Drug Development Immunotherapies are opening new doors for treating cancer and immune system diseases. But predicting which candidates will work in patients—and producing them consistently—remains a major challenge. Slow, fragmented testing can leave critical gaps in understanding and delay decisions while patients wait. "Breakthrough medicines need breakthrough tools," said Tony Montoye, CEO and co-founder of SpectaCell. "Researchers need to know much earlier which candidates deserve further investment and why." Montoye added that the company is building a new standard in cell analysis: detailed insight, results within hours, and a simple workflow that connects research with manufacturing. "Together with our biopharma partners, we will turn that vision into a platform for developing better treatments more efficiently. And ultimately, that is what we want to make possible for patients: better medicines, sooner." ### The Technology Behind the Platform SpectaCell's platform is designed to measure how treatments affect individual cells. Applications include cell therapies and T-cell engagers—treatments that help immune cells recognize and attack cancer cells. "Developers of new immune therapies need to understand what happens when a treatment meets its target: does it kill a cancer cell, for example, and how do individual cells respond?" the company explained. "Many existing tests provide only part of that picture because they measure indirect signals or averages across a sample. Important differences between cells can disappear in those averages." The company is targeting pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, as well as specialist manufacturers worldwide. It's developing a single platform for use from early research and process development through to routine manufacturing quality checks. ### What's Next for SpectaCell SpectaCell was founded in 2026 by Mathieu Rabaey, Veronique De Vroey, Jan Van de Velde, and Tony Montoye. The company plans to use this capital to fund further development and commercialization of the platform with pharma partners. Benoit Devogelaere, Partner at imec.xpand, said, "SpectaCell brings together disruptive semiconductor technology, an experienced team and a major commercial opportunity in drug development and manufacturing. We are convinced that SpectaCell can become essential to how new medicines are selected, developed and produced. With applications across cell therapies, T-cell engagers and other advanced treatments, we see the potential to set a new industry standard and build a globally competitive life-sciences business. We are proud to lead this round and back that ambition." It's a big vision for a young company. But if SpectaCell can deliver on its promise, it could help bring better treatments to patients faster—and that's something worth watching.