Tomocube

About Tomocube

Tomocube develops and manufactures holotomography microscopy systems that provide label-free, quantitative, real-time 3D imaging of live cells and tissues. Established in 2015 in Daejeon, South Korea, as a spin-off from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), the company was co-founded by Kihyun Hong and YongKeun (Paul) Park. Park, who serves as CEO, is a professor of physics at KAIST and holds a Ph.D. from the Harvard-MIT Health Sciences and Technology program, bringing extensive research in photoptics to the company. Hong has a background in successfully developing and exiting companies focused on optical equipment for semiconductors. The company's core technology, Holotomography (HT), merges holography with computed tomography to reconstruct the 3D refractive index (RI) distributions of live cells. This allows researchers to observe cellular structures and dynamics without the need for staining or labeling, which can alter or kill the cells. This non-invasive method is critical for applications in cell biology, immunology, new drug development, and medical diagnostics. Tomocube's product line has evolved from first-generation laser-based systems (HT-1, HT-2) to LED-based platforms like the HT-X1, HT-X1 Plus, and the compact HT-X1 mini, which offer improved usability and reduced noise. These systems are paired with AI-driven analysis software, TomoAnalysis, for quantitative data analysis. Tomocube operates on a business model centered on selling its microscopy equipment to research institutions, pharmaceutical companies, and biotech firms. Revenue is generated through the sale of these capital equipment systems, complemented by ongoing service agreements for software and support. The company is also expanding into industrial metrology for the semiconductor and display manufacturing sectors with its Precision Division, offering systems like the HT-T1 for transparent materials and the HT-R1 for opaque substrates. After securing KRW 21.2 billion in a Series C funding round in September 2021, Tomocube went public on the KOSDAQ market in November 2024.