Microscope startup Luxendo GmbH has raised €8 million ($8.56 million) in a Series A round of funding.

Spun out of the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) and backed by the EMBL’s own technology transfer and venture arms, as well as Amsterdam-based Life Science Partners, the company plans to invest the cash in sales, marketing and production .

The Luxendo technology is promoted as a low-phototoxicity alternative to conventional confocal microscopy. Last year, the company launched its MuVi-SPIM and InVi-SPIM tools, both single-plane illumination microscopes said to be much faster than confocal microscopy but with comparable resolution and lower photo-damage.

Andreas Pfuhl, Luxendo’s CEO, said that interest in the microscopes from both academic and industrial customers was “greatly exceeding” the company’s expectations.

“We are delighted that this high level of interest has persuaded our existing investors to commit the additional funds we need to expand Luxendo sales, marketing and service capabilities,”Pfuhl said. “By strengthening our organization we will be able to drive the sales of our microscopes and to ensure that we deliver first-class customer support.”

The firm says that it is also planning to introduce a new instrument for quantitative fluorescence imaging this year, with its novel instrument in the final development phase.

“Today, more than 2,500 cell biology labs around the globe use confocal microscopes to conduct their research, however there is a rapidly growing interest in microscopes that use SPIM technology by scientists in both academia and industry,” said Stefan Herr, managing director at investor EMBL Ventures. “Luxendo’s SPIM technology means that it is well placed to tap this rapidly emerging market.”

Luxendo is a manufacturer of microscopes, including single-plane illumination devices.