LifeLabs Design
LifeLabs Design is a Stanford University spin-off that licenses patented WarmLife® infrared-reflective and CoolLife® infrared-transparent temperature-regulating textile technologies to apparel brands and manufacturers serving outdoor, golf, activewear, and fashion markets globally.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2020
- HeadquartersSunnyvale, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What LifeLabs Design does
LifeLabs Design is a B2B materials science company that develops and licenses patented temperature-regulating textile technologies to apparel brands and manufacturers. Spun off from Stanford University's Advanced Materials Laboratory led by Professor Yi Cui, the company operates two proprietary fabric platforms: WarmLife®, an infrared-reflective textile using a metallic nano-layer coating (less than a paperclip's worth of metal) that reflects radiant body heat back to the skin, delivering 30% more warmth with 30% less weight and material than comparable insulation; and CoolLife®, an infrared-transparent fabric made from sustainable nanoporous polyethylene that provides a continuous 2°C surface cooling effect and is described as the world's first thermally transparent textile. These technologies are integrated through the AI-CLO System platform, which LifeLabs positions as enabling thermoregulation across environmental conditions from -65°C to +45°C, with performance measured by Clo and Q-max industry-standard metrics. The IP portfolio comprises 14 global patents originating from Stanford's lab.
The company commercializes exclusively through a B2B technology licensing model. LifeLabs licenses its technologies directly to apparel brands in the outdoor, golf, activewear, and fashion segments and works with strategic manufacturing partners — Kingwhale (Taiwan) for CoolLife and WarmLife integration into knits and wovens, and Shinhan (South Korea) as production partner for WarmLife — to enable global scale. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and brand customers contact the company directly for licensing terms. The go-to-market relies heavily on industry trade show presence (ISPO Munich, PGA Show, Performance Days Munich, Functional Fabric Fair Portland) and on credibility-building earned media, with no direct-to-consumer sales channel.
LifeLabs is a subsidiary of YiLab Temperature Control Technologies and operates regional branches in North America, Europe, and China. The company is headquartered in Palo Alto, California, with co-founders Sophia Ou (CEO, former CORDURA China Marketing Head) and Professor Yi Cui (Stanford academician, U.S. National Academy of Sciences member). Leadership also includes Global VP Ben Ryan, Director of Textile Innovation and Sustainability Jordi Beneyto-Ferre (ex-Adidas, Puma, VF Corporation), and Director of North America Business Operations Mya Franklin/Franklyn. The company has accumulated industry credibility through seven ISPO awards in 2025-2026, field validation via Antarctic and Arctic Circle expeditions, and Bluesign/Oeko-Tex/HIGG sustainability positioning.
LifeLabs Design firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- LifeLabs Design
- Legal name
- LifeLabs Design
- Website
- https://lifelabs.design/
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2020
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- LifeLabs Design is a Stanford University spin-off that licenses patented WarmLife® infrared-reflective and CoolLife® infrared-transparent temperature-regulating textile technologies to apparel brands and manufacturers serving outdoor, golf, activewear, and fashion markets globally.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
LifeLabs Design industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Smart Textiles
- NAICS
- Textile and Fabric Finishing and Fabric Coating Mills (3133), Fabric Coating Mills (31332)
- SIC
- Knit Outerwear Mills (2253), Apparel & Other Finishd Prods Of Fabrics & Similar Matl (2300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Wearable-Integrated & Smart Performance Apparel (CRAAAEAL)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Outerwear & Cold-Weather Apparel Manufacturers (CRAAAAAI), Thermal Underwear & Base Layers (CRAAAIAG)
Keywords
Where LifeLabs Design is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Sunnyvale
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices5 records
Markets served
LifeLabs Design business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Technology Licensing to Apparel Brands: LifeLabs licenses its proprietary WarmLife and CoolLife fabric technologies to apparel brands and manufacturers. Brands integrate the technology into their products (outerwear, base layers, golf apparel, activewear) and pay for access to the validated, university-backed technology.
- Technology Licensing to Manufacturing Partners: Partnerships with textile manufacturers like Shinhan and Kingwhale allow these partners to produce fabrics incorporating LifeLabs' temperature-regulating technologies, extending global availability through established manufacturing networks.
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels9 records
LifeLabs Design product offering
Product offeringCore offering
LifeLabs Design develops and licenses patented temperature-regulating textile technologies—WarmLife® (infrared-reflective warming via nano-metallic coating) and CoolLife® (infrared-transparent cooling via sustainable polyethylene)—to apparel brands and textile manufacturers for integration into performance and sustainable apparel. The technologies are combined through the AI-CLO System platform, validated across -65°C to +45°C conditions, and supported by 14 global patents from Stanford University.
Product overview
LifeLabs Design offers a textile technology platform built around two proprietary fabric technologies: WarmLife® (thermal insulation using nano-metallic coating to reflect body heat) and CoolLife® (infrared-transparent cooling fabric using polyethylene). These technologies can be used independently or combined through the AI-CLO System platform, enabling apparel brands to integrate temperature regulation across a wide range of conditions from -65°C to +45°C. The company also produces specific product implementations such as the ISPO award-winning WarmLife® Merino Wool Insulated Fill.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- WarmLife® Patented infrared-reflective textile technology that uses a metallic nano-layer to reflect radiant body heat back to the skin, delivering 30% more warmth with 30% less material and weight than comparable insulation. Ultra-packable, breathable, and validated through laboratory and Antarctic field testing. Licensed to apparel brands and manufacturers for cold-weather garments.
- CoolLife® World's first infrared-transparent (thermally transparent) fabric technology made from sustainable nanoporous polyethylene, providing instant, continuous, and permanent cooling effect. Reduces surface temperature by 2°C compared to organic cotton with half the environmental impact. Licensed to apparel brands and manufacturers for warm-weather and activewear garments.
- AI-CLO System Integrated temperature control platform combining WarmLife® and CoolLife® technologies with Clo and Q-max measurement standards, enabling thermoregulation across -65°C to +45°C environmental conditions. Backed by 14 global patents from Stanford University and licensed to apparel brands seeking full-spectrum temperature solutions.
- WarmLife® AI-CLO System Merino Wool Insulated Fill Advanced WarmLife-based insulation product implementation combining nano-metallic coating with merino wool to deliver warmth equivalent to 30% more insulating material. Designed for high-performance outdoor apparel brands seeking sustainable, lightweight insulation.
Quantifiable outcome
- CoolLife reduces surface temperature by 2°C compared to conventional materials
- +8 more outcomes
Companies that use LifeLabs Design
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
LifeLabs Design technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration4 records
Feature4 records
LifeLabs Design partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- ShinhancoreSouth Korea-based textile innovator serving as strategic production partner for LifeLabs' WarmLife technology. Shinhan brings deep expertise in advanced woven fabrics for outdoor and activewear with technical manufacturing capabilities needed to scale WarmLife from innovation to global product platform.
- KingwhalecoreStrategic partnership integrating LifeLabs' CoolLife and WarmLife technologies into Kingwhale's premium fabric portfolio (knits, wovens, future developments). Kingwhale is a Taiwan-based performance textile manufacturer established in 1992, specializing in sustainable high-performance textiles for outdoor clothing, alpine sports, active sportswear, athleisure, workwear, and technical wear with vertically integrated services.
- TRIP&COminorFunctional fashion brand partnership for Shanghai Fashion Week 2026 Spring/Summer collection themed 'Ark of the Future.' Hugo (Huang Junxun), brand director, created designs integrating LifeLabs temperature control fabric. Collaboration marks integration of technology with fashion for mass consumer market.
- N.O.C (Narwhal Ocean Research Center)minorMarine conservation organization partnered with LifeLabs for Arctic expedition in Greenland within Arctic Circle. N.O.C team tested WarmLife-powered jackets in extreme conditions (storms, extreme cold, extreme humidity) for research station establishment. LifeLabs supported the expedition as part of climate responsibility commitment.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights7 records
LifeLabs Design competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Outlast Technologies: Outlast licenses phase-change material (PCM) technology to apparel brands for temperature regulation, directly competing with LifeLabs' WarmLife in the heating/warming category and with similar B2B licensing GTM.
- 37.5 Technology (Cocona): 37.5 licenses active-particle technology for apparel thermoregulation using coconut-derived particles, competing head-to-head with CoolLife on the cooling side and offering a comparable licensing model to outdoor and sportswear brands.
- HeiQ Materials: HeiQ develops specialty textile finishes and technologies (cooling, heating, sustainable) licensed to apparel brands globally, with a broad patent portfolio and B2B GTM closely matching LifeLabs' positioning.
- Schoeller Textil: Swiss textile manufacturer offering proprietary performance technologies (e.g., c_change, 3XDRY, coldblack) for outdoor, sportswear, and workwear brands, directly comparable as a competing specialty textile licensor.
- Coolcore: Coolcore licenses moisture-activated cooling fabric technology to apparel brands, directly competing with CoolLife in the cooling apparel category with comparable sportswear/outdoor customer base.
Broad incumbents
- Polartec (Milliken): Established performance-fabric brand (part of Milliken) supplying insulation, fleece, and technical knits to outdoor and activewear brands; broad incumbent whose portfolio overlaps with WarmLife's outdoor insulation applications.
- W. L. Gore & Associates (GORE-TEX): Incumbent waterproof/breathable membrane licensor for outerwear; an integration partner of LifeLabs but also a broad incumbent whose brand relationships and standards set the bar for performance apparel licensing.
- Toray Industries (Textiles Division): Large Japanese materials conglomerate producing technical fibers and functional fabrics for global apparel brands; broader incumbent with heat-managing textile products that overlap with LifeLabs' applications.
Emerging players
- Clim8: French smart-textiles startup developing bio-responsive heating and cooling fabrics for apparel, an emerging direct peer with overlapping technology but narrower commercial footprint than LifeLabs.
Others
- Adidas (Futurecraft / adiFOM R&D): Global sportswear brand with significant in-house materials R&D and brand-side sourcing that competes for licensing partnerships with companies like LifeLabs; relevant as a customer-side incumbent rather than a peer licensor.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
LifeLabs Design social profiles
Digital presenceLifeLabs Design compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
LifeLabs Design financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
LifeLabs Design leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
LifeLabs Design funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds4 records
Investors5 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
LifeLabs Design M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about LifeLabs Design
What does LifeLabs Design do?
LifeLabs Design develops and licenses patented temperature-regulating textile technologies—WarmLife® (infrared-reflective warming via nano-metallic coating) and CoolLife® (infrared-transparent cooling via sustainable polyethylene)—to apparel brands and textile manufacturers for integration into performance and sustainable apparel. The technologies are combined through the AI-CLO System platform, validated across -65°C to +45°C conditions, and supported by 14 global patents from Stanford University.
Is LifeLabs Design a public or private company?
LifeLabs Design is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was LifeLabs Design founded?
LifeLabs Design was founded in 2020. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is LifeLabs Design based?
LifeLabs Design is headquartered in Sunnyvale, United States, in the North America region.
How does LifeLabs Design make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Technology Licensing to Apparel Brands are the primary driver. The others are technology Licensing to Manufacturing Partners.
Who are LifeLabs Design's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Outlast Technologies, 37.5 Technology (Cocona), HeiQ Materials, Schoeller Textil and Coolcore. Broad incumbents are Polartec (Milliken), W. L. Gore & Associates (GORE-TEX) and Toray Industries (Textiles Division). Clim8 is listed as an emerging player. Adidas (Futurecraft / adiFOM R&D) is listed as an others.
Does LifeLabs Design have an API?
No public API is recorded for LifeLabs Design.
What industry is LifeLabs Design in?
LifeLabs Design's product category is Smart Textiles. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAAAEAL, Wearable-Integrated & Smart Performance Apparel, with a secondary code of CRAAAAAI, Outerwear & Cold-Weather Apparel Manufacturers. Its NAICS code is 3133 and its SIC code is 2253.