Amsterdam’s 819 Capital Partners acquires Direct Diagnostics and offers growth funding for expansion

Amsterdam-based 819 Capital Partners (819), an investment firm, has announced the acquisition of Direct Diagnostics from Sanquin Health Solutions (SHS).

The deal also includes additional growth funding from 819, a firm specialising in venture capital, private equity, and corporate finance. The amount, however, remains undisclosed.

Direct Diagnostics plans to utilise the growth investment to expand its operations, targeting both domestic and international B2C and B2B markets. The investment is facilitated through 819’s Evergreen Fund I.

Rogier van den Braak, MD of SHS, explains that SHS is selling the company to enable further growth. “For SHS, the sale of Direct Diagnostics is logical because the company was ready for the next step. With its entrepreneurship and experience, 819 can realise further expansion.”

What does Direct Diagnostics offer?

Founded in 2022 in Amsterdam, Direct Diagnostics offers personalised healthcare solutions and actionable recommendations. 

The company’s mission is to empower individuals to make informed decisions about their health, enhancing their quality of life through preventive diagnostic tests. By shifting focus from disease control to prevention, the company aims to transform the healthcare system.

Elsemieke Hackenitz, CEO of Direct Diagnostics, says, “I am proud of the team and look forward to the growth and development Direct Diagnostics will undergo in the coming period.”

Direct Diagnostics originated from Sanquin’s innovation department. Sanquin, a knowledge-driven not-for-profit organisation, is responsible for supplying blood in the Netherlands, engaging in blood product collection, processing, issuance, and research. 

“We would like to make this knowledge and expertise about (blood)diagnostics accessible not only to patients, but to everyone,” says the company.

Direct Diagnostics collaborates with partners like Sanquin Diagnostiek, Sanquin Research, and Medical Laboratories Dr. Stein & Collegae to ensure reliable results.

Aim of the acquisition

With the deal, 819 Capital Partners enters the market of home diagnostics, driven by increased demand and limited healthcare access. 819 mentions that Direct Diagnostics stands out for its diverse tests, reliability, and user-friendly approach.

Sven Kempers, managing partner at 819, says, “Direct Diagnostics brings a lot of value to customers, including through the product design and usability. Additionally, the product is developed under Sanquin’s high-quality standards, ensuring high reliability in test results.”

“With us, Direct Diagnostics enters a new phase, including internationalisation,” adds Kempers.

Direct Diagnostics aims to improve healthcare accessibility in the face of a shortage of general practitioners. 

With a wide range of tests, the company enables self-examination, prioritising patients with abnormal values for timely GP appointments and targeted follow-up investigations, offering a “win-win” solution for the healthcare system.