Advanced Silicon Group
Advanced Silicon Group (ASG) is a Lowell, MA-based semiconductor nanotechnology company developing the Nanoswift™ silicon nanowire biosensor for rapid, low-cost, multiplexed protein detection in biomanufacturing, pharmaceutical QC, and defense applications.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2015
- HeadquartersLowell, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Advanced Silicon Group does
Advanced Silicon Group, Inc. (ASG) is a privately held semiconductor nanotechnology company founded in 2015 and headquartered at UMass Lowell's M2D2 facility in Lowell, Massachusetts. The company was built on a 40-patent IP portfolio acquired from Bandgap Engineering and is led by co-founder and CEO Dr. Marcie Black (formerly President of Bandgap Engineering and a technical staff member at Los Alamos National Laboratory) and co-founder and CMSO Bill Rever, with a team of 11–50 spanning semiconductor process, device engineering, and biochemistry.
ASG's core product is the ASG Nanoswift™ silicon nanowire biosensor, a photoelectric, electrically-read protein detection platform that combines high surface-area silicon nanowires with semiconductor manufacturing processes (wet chemistry at atmospheric pressure). The biosensor detects proteins at pico-gram/ml sensitivity, delivers results in under 15 minutes versus 4+ hours for ELISA, supports multiplexed assays on a single chip, and is positioned at roughly 15X lower per-test cost than ELISA. The technology is claimed to be applicable beyond biosensors to solar photovoltaics, Li-ion batteries, microfluidics, MEMS, and thermoelectrics.
ASG generates revenue through four streams: sale of customized silicon nanowire biosensors and silicon nanowire arrays (hardware), licensing of its patent portfolio and trade secrets (royalties), and engineering consulting (professional services). The company pursues a partnership-led, enterprise-focused go-to-market, selling custom development engagements to biomanufacturing and pharmaceutical companies (a notable named partnership is Axogen for nerve tissue growth), pursuing government/defense channels (DARPA ERIS Marketplace 'Awardable' status, SBIR grants from NSF, NIST, Air Force, DARPA), and using MIT.nano, M2D2, ARMI BioFab Startup Lab, NIIMBL, and pitch/award ecosystems to build visibility. Total funding raised is approximately $2.2M across equity (a $1.02M seed in May 2021 led by Cherrystone Angel Group, and a $1M+ round in January 2026 led by Future Labs Capital and TenonVentures) and non-dilutive grants; the Nanoswift product is not yet generally available for purchase, with the company's website operating an email waitlist for commercial launch notification.
Advanced Silicon Group firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Advanced Silicon Group
- Legal name
- Advanced Silicon Group, Inc.
- Website
- https://advancedsilicongroup.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2015
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Advanced Silicon Group (ASG) is a Lowell, MA-based semiconductor nanotechnology company developing the Nanoswift™ silicon nanowire biosensor for rapid, low-cost, multiplexed protein detection in biomanufacturing, pharmaceutical QC, and defense applications.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Advanced Silicon Group industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Biosensors
- NAICS
- Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (3345), Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing (33441), Semiconductor and Related Device Manufacturing (334413), Electromedical and Electrotherapeutic Apparatus Manufacturing (334510), Research and Development in Nanotechnology (541713)
- SIC
- Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826), Semiconductors & Related Devices (3674), Electromedical & Electrotherapeutic Apparatus (3845)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Biosensors & Lab-on-Chip (BioMEMS) (HDAHALAK)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Silicon Wafers (Prime/Test/SOI) (HDAHAGAA), Optoelectronic / Photonics Foundries (Silicon Photonics/LED/Laser) (HDAHACAG)
Keywords
Where Advanced Silicon Group is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Lowell
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Advanced Silicon Group business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Protein Biosensor Products: Sale of silicon nanowire biosensors for protein concentration measurement. ASG offers custom development to make sensors measure specific protein concentrations of interest to customers.
- Silicon Nanowire Arrays: Production of customized silicon wafers with nanowire structures for various applications including solar cells, Li-ion batteries, MEMS, lab-on-chip, optical detectors, and chemical detection.
- Licensing: Licensing of ASG's IP portfolio and trade secrets for manufacturing products in applications ranging from solar photovoltaics to Li-ion batteries, microfluidics, MEMS, and more.
- Consulting Services: Consulting services ranging from engineers working side-by-side with client staff in the lab to remote assistance with testing and guidance. Covers solar cells, Li-ion batteries, MEMs, lab-on-chip, optical detectors, chemical detection, anti-reflection layers, anti-bacteria films, and thermoelectrics.
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Advanced Silicon Group product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Advanced Silicon Group develops and sells silicon nanowire-based biosensors (ASG Nanoswift™) that electrically detect and quantify proteins in solution in under 15 minutes at approximately 15X lower cost than traditional ELISA tests. The company also produces customized silicon nanowire arrays, licenses its 40+ patent IP portfolio, and provides technical consulting for integrating silicon nanowire technology into client products across biomanufacturing, pharmaceutical, defense, solar, and battery applications.
Product overview
Advanced Silicon Group offers a unified product platform centered on silicon nanowire biosensor technology, comprising the ASG Nanoswift™ Biosensor as the flagship product for rapid protein detection, supported by custom Silicon Nanowire Arrays for specialized applications. The portfolio includes licensing services that grant access to ASG's extensive IP portfolio (40+ patents) for manufacturing in adjacent markets, and consulting services that help partners integrate silicon nanowire technology into their existing products. The platform leverages semiconductor manufacturing techniques to deliver cost-effective, multiplexed protein measurements at manufacturing speed, with the core differentiator being the combination of photoelectric detection with silicon nanowire sensitivity for under-15-minute results at 15X lower cost than traditional ELISA testing.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Nanoswift™: ASG's silicon-based biosensor platform that enables rapid detection and measurement of proteins directly in solution.
Products and services
- ASG Nanoswift™ Biosensor A silicon-based, electrically-measured biosensor that detects and quantifies proteins in solution in under 15 minutes, offering approximately 15X lower cost than ELISA tests through scalable semiconductor manufacturing. It features a handheld testing system with a simple 3-step process (expose, rinse, measure) and supports multiplexed testing on a single chip. Targeted at biomanufacturing quality control, pharmaceutical development, point-of-care diagnostics, and defense biosensing.
- Silicon Nanowire Arrays Custom-fabricated silicon wafers with controlled nanowire height, diameter, and density, produced via wet chemistry at atmospheric pressure for uniform, reproducible large-scale manufacturing. Used in applications including solar cells, Li-ion batteries, MEMS, lab-on-chip, optical detectors, and chemical detection.
- IP Licensing Services Licensing of ASG's IP portfolio and trade secrets that allows clients to manufacture products in applications including solar photovoltaics, Li-ion batteries, microfluidics, MEMS, and more. Targeted at enterprise manufacturers seeking to incorporate silicon nanowire technology into their product lines.
- Technical Consulting Services Technical consulting services ranging from on-site engineering support to remote testing assistance, helping firms incorporate silicon nanowires into products for improved performance and lower cost. Covers solar cells, Li-ion batteries, MEMS, lab-on-chip, optical detectors, chemical detection, anti-reflection layers, anti-bacteria films, and thermoelectrics.
Quantifiable outcome
- 15X lower cost than ELISA testing
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Advanced Silicon Group
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Advanced Silicon Group technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Advanced Silicon Group partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- AxogencoreStrategic partnership with Axogen, a pioneer in nerve repair applications, to use ASG's protein sensor in nerve tissue growth applications. The collaboration aims to improve products, reduce costs, and increase speed to market by combining ASG's semiconductor-based protein measurement expertise with Axogen's nerve tissue repair capabilities.
- START.nano at MIT.nanocoreASG was invited to participate in START.nano program at MIT.nano, gaining access to fab.nano facilities and the Lisa T. Su building at MIT for advanced manufacturing capabilities.
- Advanced Regenerative Manufacturing Institute (ARMI)coreCollaboration on using ASG's photoelectric ELISA to help monitor nerve tissue growth for regenerative medicine. ASG was later accepted into ARMI's BioFab Startup Lab program in May 2024, receiving year-long assistance for biofab-related technologies.
- PathsUPminorCollaboration through NSF SECO Supplemental Funding Award to use ASG's photo-electric ELISAs for detection of cardiac biomarkers and point of care testing.
- LeidosminorPartnership with Leidos through funding by a Phase 1 SBIR from the Air Force, focused on sensor development applications.
- The Fabric Design CenterminorPartnership with University of Massachusetts Lowell's Fabric Design Center for research collaboration.
- Boston Institute of BiotechnologyminorCollaboration on using ASG's sensors in biomanufacturing applications.
- Thoreau LabminorPartnership to make sensors addressing diagnostic needs for detection of dormant TB.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Advanced Silicon Group competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Quanterix: Quanterix develops ultra-sensitive single-molecule protein detection platforms (Simoa) for research and clinical diagnostics, directly competing with ASG's Nanoswift in multiplexed, highly sensitive protein measurement, though using a bead-based rather than silicon nanowire approach.
- Meso Scale Diagnostics: Meso Scale Diagnostics offers electrochemiluminescence-based multiplexed protein detection platforms used widely in pharma/biologics QC, directly competing with ASG's Nanoswift on multiplexed, rapid, sensitive protein analytics for biomanufacturing.
- Bio-Techne: Bio-Techne (including ProteinSimple and R&D Systems) provides ELISA kits, Simple Western, and protein analytical tools — directly comparable to ASG's offering in protein measurement workflows for biopharma and life science research.
- Standard BioTools (formerly Fluidigm): Standard BioTools produces integrated fluidic chip-based biological analysis systems, including silicon-based biochips for multiplexed protein and nucleic acid detection — comparable technology category and target customer base to ASG's silicon nanowire platform.
Broad incumbents
- Sartorius: Sartorius is a large bioprocess equipment and analytics supplier whose PAT (Process Analytical Technology) sensors compete with ASG's biomanufacturing protein QC use case, though Sartorius operates broadly across filtration, fermentation, and full bioprocess workflows.
- Roche Diagnostics: Roche's Elecsys and cobas immunoassay platforms dominate the incumbent ELISA-adjacent protein diagnostic market that ASG is targeting with a faster, cheaper, semiconductor-fabricated alternative.
- Abbott: Abbott operates the ARCHITECT and Alinity immunoassay lines plus point-of-care diagnostics (i-STAT), representing the established diagnostic incumbents whose installed base and regulatory entrenchment form the primary competitive barrier to ASG's biosensor adoption.
- Thermo Fisher Scientific: Thermo Fisher supplies the broader life sciences instrument portfolio (including immunoassays and protein analytics) used by pharma/biotech customers that ASG targets, and could leverage its scale and customer reach to out-execute niche entrants like ASG.
- Cytiva: Cytiva (a Danaher company) supplies bioprocess monitoring and analytics tools for biomanufacturing customers, overlapping with ASG's primary biomanufacturing QC use case as part of a broader workflow portfolio.
Emerging players
- SiPhox Health: SiPhox Health is an emerging silicon-photonics-based diagnostics startup building chip-based multiplexed protein testing for at-home use, comparable to ASG in using semiconductor fabrication to disrupt legacy protein diagnostics, though focused on consumer/home diagnostics rather than biomanufacturing.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Advanced Silicon Group social profiles
Digital presenceAdvanced Silicon Group financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Advanced Silicon Group leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Advanced Silicon Group funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds6 records
Investors6 records
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Advanced Silicon Group 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 Advanced Silicon Group
What does Advanced Silicon Group do?
Advanced Silicon Group develops and sells silicon nanowire-based biosensors (ASG Nanoswift™) that electrically detect and quantify proteins in solution in under 15 minutes at approximately 15X lower cost than traditional ELISA tests. The company also produces customized silicon nanowire arrays, licenses its 40+ patent IP portfolio, and provides technical consulting for integrating silicon nanowire technology into client products across biomanufacturing, pharmaceutical, defense, solar, and battery applications.
Is Advanced Silicon Group a public or private company?
Advanced Silicon Group is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Advanced Silicon Group founded?
Advanced Silicon Group was founded in 2015. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Advanced Silicon Group based?
Advanced Silicon Group is headquartered in Lowell, United States, in the North America region.
How does Advanced Silicon Group make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Protein Biosensor Products are the primary driver. The others are silicon Nanowire Arrays, licensing and consulting Services.
Who are Advanced Silicon Group's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Quanterix, Meso Scale Diagnostics, Bio-Techne and Standard BioTools (formerly Fluidigm). Broad incumbents are Sartorius, Roche Diagnostics, Abbott, Thermo Fisher Scientific and Cytiva. SiPhox Health is listed as an emerging player.
Does Advanced Silicon Group have an API?
No public API is recorded for Advanced Silicon Group.
What industry is Advanced Silicon Group in?
Advanced Silicon Group's product category is Biosensors. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDAHALAK, Biosensors & Lab-on-Chip (BioMEMS), with a secondary code of HDAHAGAA, Silicon Wafers (Prime/Test/SOI). Its NAICS code is 3345 and its SIC code is 3826.