Slovenia's GenePlanet Lands HealthTech Investment With Unicorn Ambitions

Jan de Vries · 2026-07-31

GenePlanet, a Ljubljana-based genomics and laboratory platform, just landed a strategic investment from Lauxera Capital Partners, a specialist HealthTech investor. The company delivers advanced genetic testing and next-generation sequencing (NGS) services to clients worldwide, and this deal could be the catalyst that pushes it into the unicorn club. Here's what makes this interesting: existing investor BlackPeak Capital partially exited its position but kept a meaningful stake in the Slovenian company. That's a vote of confidence wrapped in a smart financial move—they're taking some chips off the table while still betting on future growth. ### Why BlackPeak's Partial Exit Matters Niklas Pichler, Managing Partner at BlackPeak Capital, explained the rationale behind the move. "When we first invested in GenePlanet, we backed Marko's conviction that a founder-led, product-driven genetics company from Central Europe could build a truly international platform," he said. Three years later, that bet has paid off. GenePlanet now operates across more than 50 markets, has completed four acquisitions, launched proprietary products, and built one of the leading genetic-testing laboratory platforms in the region. Pichler added that Lauxera brings specialist healthcare expertise, diagnostics know-how, and market access that can accelerate GenePlanet's development in ways that are difficult to replicate. ### From 24 Countries to 50+ Markets in Three Years When BlackPeak invested in 2023, GenePlanet was active in 24 countries and operated primarily as a fully integrated genetic-services provider with a single centralized laboratory hub in Zagreb, Croatia. They also had a nascent line of proprietary tests—a small seed that would soon grow. Fast forward three years, and the global footprint has more than doubled. The company now serves markets across Europe, Asia, Latin and Central America, and Africa. Four strategic bolt-on acquisitions were integrated along the way, expanding GenePlanet's technology, licenses, geographic reach, and talent base. In February 2026, GenePlanet announced the acquisition of New Era Genetics, a Hungarian genetic testing company based in Budapest, from Vascular Group. That deal added another piece to the puzzle. ### A Pan-European Laboratory Platform Takes Shape The Zagreb laboratory remains the central hub, but it's now part of a certified Pan-European platform that includes additional hubs in Sweden and Hungary. That means faster turnaround times across continents—a critical advantage in a field where speed can literally save lives. Marko Bitenc, the founder of GenePlanet, didn't mince words about the opportunity ahead. "Now there is a real chance to become a unicorn," he said. That's not just optimism; it's backed by a concrete strategy. ### What's Next: Oncology, Rare Diseases, and the U.S. Market With Lauxera's support, GenePlanet plans to broaden its proprietary genetic testing product portfolio into oncology and rare-disease panels. The company also aims to accelerate expansion into high-value Western European and U.S. markets, including fast-tracking regulatory approvals and reimbursement access where applicable. That's a big deal. The U.S. market alone represents a massive opportunity for genetic testing companies, and getting regulatory approvals in place early could give GenePlanet a significant head start over competitors. ### The Fund Behind the Investment In May 2026, Paris- and San Francisco-based Lauxera Capital Partners announced the close of its Lauxera Growth II fund at approximately $610 million, targeting a structural gap in European HealthTech. That's serious firepower. Victor Decrion, Managing Partner at Lauxera, shared his vision: "We believe Europe's next generation of sequencing infrastructure will be built by companies like GenePlanet—ones that combine scientific excellence, business acumen, and entrepreneurial drive to deliver the benefits of genomic-based personalized medicine to patients across the continent." ### The Road Ahead GenePlanet plans to use this capital to support aggressive organic growth, continued geographic expansion, and further bolt-on acquisitions, particularly in new markets and adjacent areas of genetic testing. The company targets a full liquidity event for early investors within three to five years. Here's a quick rundown of what makes this deal stand out: - Strategic investor with deep HealthTech expertise, not just capital - Proven track record of successful acquisitions and integration - Clear path to U.S. market entry with regulatory focus - Founder-led with a strong product-driven approach For anyone watching the European genomics space, this is a story worth following. GenePlanet has the pieces in place—technology, talent, market reach, and now capital—to make a serious run at becoming a unicorn. The next few years will tell whether that ambition becomes reality.