The transaction brings together a specialist healthcare investor with deep diagnostics expertise and one of Central Europe’s fastest-growing genomics companies, which now operates in more than 50 markets worldwide.
From regional player to global diagnostics platform
When BlackPeak Capital invested in GenePlanet in 2023, the company was present in 24 countries and operated primarily through a centralized laboratory in Zagreb, Croatia, offering genetic testing services. Since then, the business has transformed significantly.
GenePlanet has expanded into more than 50 markets across Europe, Asia, Africa, and Latin America, completed four strategic acquisitions, and evolved into a pan-European laboratory platform with facilities in Croatia, Sweden, and Hungary. The expansion has strengthened both its proprietary testing capabilities and its next-generation sequencing (NGS) infrastructure while allowing faster delivery of diagnostic services across multiple regions.
Backing the next stage of growth
The new investment from Lauxera is expected to accelerate GenePlanet’s ambitions in advanced diagnostics, personalized medicine, and oncology.
According to the company, the funding will support the development of new proprietary genetic tests, including oncology and rare disease panels, while helping GenePlanet expand further into Western Europe and the United States. Lauxera’s experience in scaling healthcare businesses and navigating regulatory pathways is expected to play a key role in that expansion.
Founder Marko Bitenc believes the company is entering its most ambitious chapter yet.
“Now there is a real chance to become a unicorn.”
A successful investment for BlackPeak
For BlackPeak Capital, the transaction represents a successful partial exit while maintaining exposure to GenePlanet’s future growth. During its investment period, the company more than doubled its international footprint, completed multiple acquisitions, expanded its laboratory network, and launched proprietary products.
Niklas Pichler said the investment thesis from 2023 has largely played out.
“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. Three years later, that conviction has been validated.”
Despite realizing part of its investment, BlackPeak will remain a shareholder alongside Lauxera and GenePlanet’s founder as the company pursues its next phase of expansion.
Building Europe’s next diagnostics leader
Lauxera sees GenePlanet as part of a new generation of European healthcare companies capable of building globally competitive diagnostics infrastructure. Managing Partner Victor Decrion said the firm believes companies like GenePlanet can play a major role in bringing genomic-based personalized medicine to patients worldwide.
With fresh capital, an experienced healthcare investor on board, and an expanding international laboratory network, GenePlanet is positioning itself to become one of Europe’s leading genomics platforms. The company plans to continue growing organically while pursuing additional acquisitions, with the long-term goal of delivering a full liquidity event for early investors within the next three to five years.
