Tangible Science
Tangible Science develops proprietary contact lens coating technology (Hydra-PEG, Hydra-Glyde) and a compatible care product system (Clean, Boost, Fill) for specialty lens wearers. It sells direct-to-consumer, through eye care practitioners, and licenses to lens manufacturers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2011
- HeadquartersRedwood City, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Tangible Science does
Tangible Science (operating as Tangible® Science, legal entity Tangible Science LLC, California) is a small private company that develops and commercializes a proprietary contact lens surface coating technology and an integrated system of compatible lens care products. Its core innovation is Tangible Hydra-PEG, a hydrophilic polymer coating permanently bonded to specialty contact lenses during manufacturing that mimics the eye's natural mucin layer, reducing discomfort, dryness, deposit buildup, and fogging on scleral, RGP, and hybrid lenses. A reformulated variant, Hydra-Glyde, is offered through manufacturer partnerships for daily disposable soft lenses.
The company monetizes this technology through three streams. First, direct-to-consumer e-commerce on tangiblescience.com sells companion care products — Tangible Clean (FDA-cleared multipurpose solution, $25/12oz), Tangible Boost (Rx-only monthly conditioning treatment, $44.99/2-pack), and Tangible Fill (FDA-cleared preservative-free saline, $30.99/60 vials) — with subscription options at 10–15% discounts. Second, a practitioner wholesale channel serves registered optometrists and ophthalmologists with wholesale pricing, free samples, and an E-Rx submission tool. Third, OEM/licensing partnerships with contact lens manufacturers embed Hydra-PEG and Hydra-Glyde into their production lines, a channel with global scope versus the US-only direct channels.
In May 2026, Tangible Science extended beyond eye care by co-developing ADME-One with Ginkgo Bioworks (Datapoints) and Inductive Bio — an integrated Tier 1 ADME assay and AI-powered pharmacokinetic projection platform for small-molecule drug discovery, run from Ginkgo's Boston laboratory. The company is led by founders Karen Havenstrite (CEO) and Victor McCray (Executive Chairman), with a reported 1–10 person team and roughly $9.5M of disclosed funding since 2012 from NSF grants, Mission Bay Capital, Mission BioCapital, and Helicase Venture.
Tangible Science firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Tangible Science
- Legal name
- Tangible Science
- Website
- https://tangiblescience.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2011
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Tangible Science develops proprietary contact lens coating technology (Hydra-PEG, Hydra-Glyde) and a compatible care product system (Clean, Boost, Fill) for specialty lens wearers. It sells direct-to-consumer, through eye care practitioners, and licenses to lens manufacturers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Tangible Science industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Ophthalmic medical devices and specialty contact lens care
- SIC
- Ophthalmic Goods (3851)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Specialty & Functional Coatings (Anti-microbial/Anti-slip/Insulating) (IMAIAKAM)
Keywords
Where Tangible Science is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Redwood City
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Tangible Science business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations
Revenue model
- Product Sales - Direct to Consumer: Direct sales of contact lens care products (Tangible Clean, Boost, Fill) to end consumers through e-commerce website with subscription and one-time purchase options.
- Wholesale to Practitioners: Wholesale pricing and distribution of products to eye care practitioners who register for practitioner accounts and stock products for direct patient sales.
- Technology Licensing/Co-development: Licensing of polymer technology and co-development partnerships with contact lens manufacturers and biotech companies for specialized applications.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Tangible Fill - Preservative-free saline solution |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Tangible Boost 2-Pack - Monthly conditioning solution |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Tangible Clean - 12oz multipurpose solution |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Tangible Clean Travel Pack - 3.4oz |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
Tangible Science product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Tangible Science develops and sells a proprietary polyethylene-glycol-based polymer coating (Tangible Hydra-PEG) applied to gas-permeable and specialty contact lenses to improve wettability and comfort, along with companion lens care products (cleaners, conditioning drops, and saline). It also offers the ADME-One bioengineering platform co-developed with Ginkgo Bioworks for microbiome-based drug discovery.
Product overview
Tangible Science is a contact lens technology company that offers a suite of products for specialty lens wearers consisting of: Tangible Hydra-PEG (a surface coating applied during lens manufacturing that mimics the eye's natural surface to enhance comfort and reduce deposits), Tangible Clean (multi-purpose lens solution for daily cleaning and disinfection), Tangible Boost (prescription-only monthly conditioning treatment to restore Hydra-PEG coating), and Tangible Fill (preservative-free saline for filling scleral lenses). The Tangible Care System is designed to work together, with Hydra-PEG providing the foundational coating and the care products maintaining and enhancing lens performance. Additionally, Tangible Scientific co-developed ADME-One™ with Ginkgo Bioworks and Inductive Bio as an AI-powered pharmacokinetic platform for drug discovery.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Tangible Hydra-PEG
- Tangible Clean
- Tangible Boost
- Tangible Fill
- ADME-One
Quantifiable outcome
- Enhanced comfort and extended wearing time for specialty contact lens patients
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Tangible Science
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Tangible Science technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Tangible Science partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Ginkgo Bioworks (Datapoints)coreCo-developed ADME-One, a fully integrated ADME platform for small molecule drug discovery. The platform combines high-throughput Tier 1 ADME assays with AI-powered human pharmacokinetic projections, executed from Ginkgo's Boston laboratory. Tangible Scientific provides proprietary surface chemistry technology for the integrated workflow.
- Inductive BiocoreCo-development partner for ADME-One platform, providing AI-powered pharmacokinetic projection capabilities to complement Tangible Scientific's assay technologies.
- Contact Lens ManufacturerscorePartnership with contact lens manufacturers to apply Tangible polymer technology (Hydra-PEG, Hydra-Glyde) to various contact lens products including daily disposable lenses, expanding technology reach beyond specialty lenses.
Scale indicators1 record
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Tangible Science competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- CooperVision: Major soft contact lens manufacturer with specialty lens lines (including scleral products) and care solutions; competes with Tangible in lens care and is a potential Hydra-PEG licensing partner.
- SynergEyes: Specialty hybrid contact lens manufacturer that has historically applied Tangible Hydra-PEG coatings to its lenses, making it both a customer and a competing specialty lens brand.
- Menicon: Japanese specialty contact lens manufacturer with strong RGP and scleral lens portfolio, including care solutions (Menicare); competes with Tangible in the specialty lens and lens care categories.
- Alcon: Global leader in contact lens care solutions (Opti-Free, Clear Care, AOSEPT) and contact lens manufacturer; competes with Tangible across consumer multipurpose solutions and lens coatings.
- Alden Optical: Specialty custom contact lens manufacturer (scleral, RGP, keratoconus) whose patient base is the same specialty-wearer segment Tangible serves with care products.
- Johnson & Johnson Vision: Markets Biotrue and RevitaLens multipurpose solutions plus the Acuvue contact lens line; competes with Tangible in lens care and as a potential licensing partner for contact lens coating technology.
- Bausch + Lomb: Major contact lens care manufacturer offering Boston Simplus and other RGP/scleral lens care solutions that compete directly with Tangible Clean and Tangible Boost in the practitioner's recommended regimen.
- X-Cel Specialty Contacts (Blanchard): Specialty contact lens manufacturer including scleral and RGP designs; competes in the same specialty lens practitioner channel and is a Hydra-PEG licensing collaborator.
Emerging players
- BostonSight (Scleral Lens FitVault): Specialty scleral lens and prosthetic ocular surface company whose patient population overlaps directly with Tangible's primary customer base.
- Ocular Science: Ophthalmic pharmaceutical and dry-eye product company serving optometrists and ophthalmologists with overlapping practitioner-channel distribution.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Tangible Science social profiles
Digital presenceTangible Science financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Tangible Science leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
Tangible Science funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds7 records
Investors4 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Tangible Science 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 Tangible Science
What does Tangible Science do?
Tangible Science develops and sells a proprietary polyethylene-glycol-based polymer coating (Tangible Hydra-PEG) applied to gas-permeable and specialty contact lenses to improve wettability and comfort, along with companion lens care products (cleaners, conditioning drops, and saline). It also offers the ADME-One bioengineering platform co-developed with Ginkgo Bioworks for microbiome-based drug discovery.
Is Tangible Science a public or private company?
Tangible Science is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Tangible Science founded?
Tangible Science was founded in 2011. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Tangible Science based?
Tangible Science is headquartered in Redwood City, United States, in the North America region.
How does Tangible Science make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Product Sales - Direct to Consumer is the primary driver. The others are wholesale to Practitioners and technology Licensing/Co-development.
Who are Tangible Science's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are CooperVision, SynergEyes, Menicon, Alcon, Alden Optical, Johnson & Johnson Vision, Bausch + Lomb and X-Cel Specialty Contacts (Blanchard). Emerging players are BostonSight (Scleral Lens FitVault) and Ocular Science.
Does Tangible Science have an API?
No public API is recorded for Tangible Science.
What industry is Tangible Science in?
Tangible Science's product category is Ophthalmic medical devices and specialty contact lens care. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAIAKAM, Specialty & Functional Coatings (Anti-microbial/Anti-slip/Insulating). Its SIC code is 3851.