The DirectSens Story
DirectSens, an Austrian biotechnology company, has been at the forefront of biosensor innovation since its founding in 2013. Established with the mission of translating scientific research into practical solutions, DirectSens specializes in developing next-generation biosensors, focusing on creating enzymes tailored for specific applications. The company successfully launched its first product in 2015 and has since developed a versatile technology platform for detecting various analytes. This flexibility, combined with a customer focused approach, allows DirectSens to address diverse markets demanding advanced sensor technology.
Founded by five graduates from the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna (BOKU), DirectSens emerged from intensive research in enzymology and biosensors. The founders identified promising innovations, particularly in the enzyme space, which they believed had significant commercial potential. This led to the creation of DirectSens, driven by a team of skilled scientists, who became dedicated executives, supported by an international advisory board and business angels that continually challenges and reviews their progress.
Since its inception, DirectSens has achieved notable milestones. In 2013, the company secured its first paying customer and received seed funding from AWS (Austria Wirtschaftsservice). Subsequent angel investments and support from the FFG (Austrian Research Promotion Agency) in 2014 further bolstered its growth. The launch of their flagship product, LactoSens®, in 2016, solidified DirectSens’s market position.
In 2023, DirectSens celebrated its 10th anniversary as a key player in the biosensor industry. The company operates an ISO 9001-certified production facility in Vienna, employing 30 talented individuals in research and production. A broad technology platform, protected by a broad patent portfolio, underpins the company’s innovative biosensor products. DirectSens’s comprehensive approach, encompassing quality management, electrochemistry, enzyme engineering, and manufacturing, ensures excellence at all stages of biosensor development—from research to customer support.
DirectSens continues to develop new biosensor technology yielding in innovative solutions like OatSens®, tailored to the growing alternative milk industry, LactaZyme®, a cutting-edge enzyme family for lactate sensing, and XpressGT®, a fast and reliable reagent kit for diagnosing gestational diabetes. As these technologies continue to evolve, DirectSens is not only addressing current industry challenges but also consistently delivering new, innovative, and improved products that are perfectly aligned with users’ needs.
