Varcode
Varcode provides low-cost, single-use Smart Tag™ temperature indicators and cloud-based management software for cold chain monitoring, serving food & beverage and pharma & life sciences customers with unit-level, scan-based temperature excursion tracking.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersChicago, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Varcode does
Varcode is a Chicago-based technology company that provides a low-cost cold chain monitoring solution for temperature-sensitive products, founded in 2014 and operating across the United States and Israel. Its core product is the Smart Tag™ — a single-use wireless temperature indicator that uses a food-safe ink and fatty acid compound to irreversibly alter a printed barcode as the tag experiences cumulative time over a configurable temperature threshold. The barcode can be scanned by any standard scanner or smartphone, with each scan producing permanent digital records stored on a cloud, blockchain-enabled platform. Supporting software includes the Smart Tag Management System (STMS™), a Scanning Suite (iOS/Android mobile app, QR-code web scanning, and industrial scanner integration), and a Management Suite with analytics dashboards and automated email/SMS alerts, collectively branded as the Varcode Smart Data Solution (VSDS).
The company serves customers in Food & Beverage (grocery retail, DTC home delivery, meat/protein, produce, specialty foods) and Pharma & Life Sciences (diagnostic testing, clinical research, high-value drug delivery, bio-specimen logistics, direct-to-home pharma delivery), with adjacent exposure to 3PL/logistics and CPG. Its revenue model combines hardware sales of disposable Smart Tags via a direct e-commerce storefront and enterprise sales channels with subscription-based SaaS revenue from the STMS platform; pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed. Across 2016–2023, Varcode raised roughly $17.2 million through private exempt offerings and was acquired by Four M Commercial Operations (FMCO) on February 18, 2025, continuing operations as a subsidiary under the new parent.
Varcode firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Varcode
- Legal name
- Varcode LTD.
- Website
- https://varcode.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Acquired
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Varcode provides low-cost, single-use Smart Tag™ temperature indicators and cloud-based management software for cold chain monitoring, serving food & beverage and pharma & life sciences customers with unit-level, scan-based temperature excursion tracking.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Varcode industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Cold Chain Temperature Monitoring
- NAICS
- Totalizing Fluid Meter and Counting Device Manufacturing (334514)
- SIC
- Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823), In Vitro & In Vivo Diagnostic Substances (2835)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Light exposure / door-open / tamper event sensors (TLAEALAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Vaccine/biopharma cold chain compliance sensors (GxP/21 CFR Part 11 capable) (TLAEALAK), Cold storage facility environmental sensing (rooms, freezers, blast chillers) (TLAEALAL)
Keywords
Where Varcode is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Chicago
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Varcode business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations
Revenue model
- Smart Tag Hardware Sales: Varcode sells its Smart Tag™ temperature monitoring devices directly to customers through its e-commerce platform. The tags are inexpensive, single-use monitoring devices that can be applied at various levels (pallet, case, individual product). Revenue is generated through product sales with various temperature configurations available.
- Software/SaaS Platform (STMS): Varcode offers cloud-based software for temperature data management, analytics dashboards, and alert systems. The Smart Tag Management System (STMS) provides online dashboards, automated email/SMS alerts, and data storage. This is likely a subscription-based model for enterprise customers.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Custom enterprise pricing based on volume and configuration |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Varcode product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Varcode provides a low-cost, wireless cold chain monitoring solution built around its proprietary Smart Tag™ time-temperature indicator. The Smart Tag uses a food-safe ink and fatty acid compound that spreads across a barcode when exposed to temperatures above a configured threshold, producing a dynamically changing barcode that captures cumulative time-over-threshold data. This scanned data is uploaded to Varcode's cloud-based, blockchain-enabled Smart Tag Management System (STMS) and exposed through its Varcode Smart Data Solution (VSDS) platform, supporting last-mile temperature monitoring for food, beverage, pharmaceutical, and direct-to-consumer delivery customers.
Product overview
Varcode offers a modular cold chain monitoring platform called the Smart Data Solution (VSDS) comprised of hardware tags and software components. The core products are the Smart Tag™ and Smart Tag VI™—low-cost wireless temperature monitoring tags that use a food-safe ink and fatty acid compound to track cumulative time over threshold temperature via dynamically changing barcodes. Supporting software includes the Scanning Suite for data capture via mobile app, QR code, or industrial scanners; the Management Suite for analytics, dashboards, and alerts; the Varcode App for mobile scanning on iOS and Android; and the Client Portal web application for centralized tag management and reporting.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Smart Tag™: Temperature monitoring tags using food-safe ink and fatty acid compound technology that tracks cumulative time over threshold temperature via dynamic barcode changes.
- Smart Tag VI™
- Smart Tag Management System™ (STMS™)
- Varcode Smart Data Solution (VSDS)
- Scanning Suite
- Varcode App
Products and services
- Smart Tag™
Quantifiable outcome
- Tags have an inactivated shelf life of 1 year from manufacturing date; once activated, tags track cumulative time over threshold temperature for up to two additional years.
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Varcode
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Varcode technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
Varcode partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Avery DennisoncoreVarcode was selected as one of five startups for Avery Dennison's AD Stretch accelerator program in collaboration with venture development firm Highline Beta. The program addresses ecological harms in the packaging industry across three themes: maximizing consumer experiences, materials and packaging 2.0, and sustainable value chains. Varcode's temperature monitoring solutions for packaging are being piloted as part of this initiative.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Varcode competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Cryoport Systems: Cryoport provides temperature-controlled logistics and chain-of-custody solutions for biopharma, animal health, and reproductive medicine, including temperature monitoring and visibility — comparable to Varcode for high-value pharma cold chain monitoring.
- Controlant: Controlant provides real-time temperature monitoring and visibility solutions specifically for pharma and life sciences cold chains, including reusable data loggers and cloud analytics — a direct competitor to Varcode in pharma cold chain monitoring.
- LogTag Recorders: LogTag Recorders designs and manufactures small electronic temperature data loggers and indicators for food, pharma, and cold chain applications — a comparable temperature monitoring competitor to Varcode in both food and pharma segments.
- TempTime (Sharp Corporation): TempTime, a Sharp Electronics brand, manufactures time-temperature indicators used in pharmaceutical and food packaging — directly comparable to Varcode's ink-based Smart Tag time-temperature indicator technology.
- Monnit Corporation: Monnit offers IoT-based remote temperature monitoring sensors and cloud platform for food service, healthcare, and logistics cold chain — comparable to Varcode in IoT-style temperature monitoring with cloud connectivity.
- Berlinger & Co. AG: Berlinger manufactures time-temperature indicators, electronic data loggers, and vaccine cold chain monitoring solutions used in pharma and food logistics — directly comparable to Varcode's Smart Tag indicators and scanning platform.
Emerging players
- Kelsius: Kelsius provides wireless temperature monitoring for food service and food safety compliance with automated cloud logging and alerts — a comparable wireless temperature monitoring solution in the food and DTC segments where Varcode competes.
- Zest Labs (Ecoark Holdings): Zest Labs provides fresh food cold chain monitoring and predictive analytics focused on reducing food waste — an emerging peer with partial overlap to Varcode's food and produce monitoring use cases.
Broad incumbents
- Sensitech (Carrier Global): Sensitech, owned by Carrier Global, is a leading provider of temperature monitoring and supply chain visibility solutions for cold chain, serving food, pharma, and logistics customers with electronic data loggers and cloud platforms — directly comparable to Varcode's cold chain monitoring offering.
- Emerson (Elpro): Elpro, part of Emerson's automation portfolio, provides temperature monitoring and cold chain visibility solutions primarily for pharma and life sciences, competing with Varcode in regulated cold chain segments as part of a broader industrial automation portfolio.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Varcode social profiles
Digital presenceVarcode financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Varcode leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Varcode funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds4 records
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Varcode 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 Varcode
What does Varcode do?
Varcode provides a low-cost, wireless cold chain monitoring solution built around its proprietary Smart Tag™ time-temperature indicator. The Smart Tag uses a food-safe ink and fatty acid compound that spreads across a barcode when exposed to temperatures above a configured threshold, producing a dynamically changing barcode that captures cumulative time-over-threshold data. This scanned data is uploaded to Varcode's cloud-based, blockchain-enabled Smart Tag Management System (STMS) and exposed through its Varcode Smart Data Solution (VSDS) platform, supporting last-mile temperature monitoring for food, beverage, pharmaceutical, and direct-to-consumer delivery customers.
Is Varcode a public or private company?
Varcode is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently acquired.
When was Varcode founded?
Varcode was founded in 2014. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Varcode based?
Varcode is headquartered in Chicago, United States, in the North America region.
How does Varcode make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Smart Tag Hardware Sales are the primary driver. The others are software/SaaS Platform (STMS).
Who are Varcode's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Cryoport Systems, Controlant, LogTag Recorders, TempTime (Sharp Corporation), Monnit Corporation and Berlinger & Co. AG. Emerging players are Kelsius and Zest Labs (Ecoark Holdings). Broad incumbents are Sensitech (Carrier Global) and Emerson (Elpro).
Does Varcode have an API?
No public API is recorded for Varcode.
What industry is Varcode in?
Varcode's product category is Cold Chain Temperature Monitoring. Its primary akta.pro industry code is TLAEALAE, Light exposure / door-open / tamper event sensors, with a secondary code of TLAEALAK, Vaccine/biopharma cold chain compliance sensors (GxP/21 CFR Part 11 capable). Its NAICS code is 334514 and its SIC code is 3823.