NanoSoft
NanoSoft designs and sells cryoEM sample preparation tools and consumables — including vitrification dewars, clipping stations, autogrid rings, grid boxes, and tweezers — to structural biology research laboratories worldwide.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2016
- HeadquartersCoventry, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What NanoSoft does
NanoSoft is a cryogenic electron microscopy (cryoEM) sample preparation equipment and consumables maker founded in 2016 and headquartered in Coventry, Rhode Island, with a European distribution point in Karlsruhe, Germany. The company designs and sells tools and consumables for structural biology laboratories performing Single Particle Analysis, cryoFIB for electron tomography, and cryoCLEM workflows. Its product portfolio spans vitrification dewars (including a temperature-controlled ethane system), clipping stations and tools, autogrid rings and C-clips (including FIB variants), patented grid boxes with anti-contamination magnetic lids, tweezers, foam dewars, storage and shipping systems, and repair services. Products are explicitly designed to be compatible with major OEM cryoEM platforms from Thermo Fisher Scientific, JEOL, Leica, and FEI Vitrobot, enabling customers to incrementally upgrade individual components of their existing workflows.
NanoSoft's intellectual property portfolio includes one granted patent (#7,971,744 for the Vitrification Dewar, co-developed with Spearlab) and several patents pending covering differentiated grid storage and consumable designs. The company operates a hybrid go-to-market model combining direct e-commerce sales (with publicly published pricing) and a global distributor network covering the US, China, South Korea, UK, Japan, and India. Pricing is tiered from low-cost consumables ($5–$200) to mid-range tools ($250–$1,600) to major equipment ($1,000–$25,000), with products typically priced at roughly 50% of OEM equivalents. NanoSoft is founder-owned (Michael Godfrin, President and Co-founder) and has received approximately $970,000 in cumulative non-dilutive funding from the National Science Foundation; no venture capital or institutional investor backing is disclosed.
NanoSoft firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- NanoSoft
- Legal name
- NanoSoft, LLC
- Website
- https://nanosoftmaterials.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2016
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- NanoSoft designs and sells cryoEM sample preparation tools and consumables — including vitrification dewars, clipping stations, autogrid rings, grid boxes, and tweezers — to structural biology research laboratories worldwide.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
NanoSoft industry classification
Industry- Product category
- CryoEM Sample Preparation Equipment
- NAICS
- Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing (334516)
- SIC
- Electronic Components & Accessories (3670)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Sample Preparation, Storage & Cryogenics (Freezers, Cryovials, Cryostats) (HLAGAIAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Cold Chain, Cryopreservation & Biologics Storage/Handling Technologies (HLAAAJAN), Cryogenic Logistics (LN2 Dry Shippers, -150°C) (HLAGAMAB), Cold Chain Storage & Cryopreservation Services (LN2/Ultra-low) (HLAGAGAK)
Keywords
Where NanoSoft is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Coventry
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
NanoSoft 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, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- CryoEM Equipment and Consumables Sales: NanoSoft generates revenue primarily through direct sales of cryoEM sample preparation equipment and consumables including grid boxes, vitrification dewars, clipping tools, tweezers, autogrid rings, c-clips, and accessories. Products range from inexpensive consumables ($11-$200) to major equipment ($1,000-$20,000).
- Repair Services: NanoSoft offers repair services for cryoEM tools including tweezer repair, clipping tool refurbishment, clipping station repair, cassette loading station repair, and Aquilos/Hydra shuttle cleaning. These services provide recurring revenue from existing customers at significant discounts vs. new equipment.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Consumables - Grid Boxes and Accessories |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Tools and Instruments |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Clipping Stations |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Dewars and Cryogenic Storage |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | MiTeGen Products (Resale) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Repair Services |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Volume Discounts |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
NanoSoft product offering
Product offeringCore offering
NanoSoft designs, manufactures, and sells cryoEM (cryogenic electron microscopy) sample preparation equipment and consumables used by structural biology research laboratories. The portfolio includes vitrification dewars, grid boxes, clipping stations, autogrid rings, c-clips, tweezers, cryogenic storage and shipping systems, foam dewars, and repair/refurbishment services. Products are compatible with major OEM cryoEM systems from Thermo Fisher Scientific, JEOL, FEI, and Leica.
Product overview
NanoSoft is a cryoEM sample preparation equipment and consumables company founded in 2016, offering a comprehensive portfolio of tools, consumables, and services for structural biologists. The product portfolio includes: Grid Boxes (Metal Universal HPF, 8-Pocket Autogrid, Hybrid, Bulk Storage, Anti-Contamination with magnetic lids); Vitrification Equipment (Vitrification Dewars, Ethane-Temperature Controlled Dewar, Igloo insulation device); Sample Preparation Tools (Cryo-Tweezers, Autogrid Tweezers, Pin Lid Manipulator, Dumont Tweezers); Clipping Systems (Clipping Stations with 8/16 tools, individual Clipping Tools, C-clips, Autogrid Rings for Thermo Fisher and JEOL CryoARM, FIB Autogrid Rings); CryoFIB/CLEM/ET Products (Aquilos Extended Operation System, High Pressure Freezing Planchets, Leica ICE Foam Dewar, Linkam/Leica Adaptor); Storage and Shipping (MiTeGen Puck Systems, MVE Aluminum Dewars, MVE Storage Freezers, MVE Vapor Shippers); Foam Dewars (Spearlab line including Mini, Small, Standard, Large, and Tall vessels); and Repair Services (Thermo Fisher Clipping Station, Cassette Loading Station, Aquilos/Hydra Shuttle, Tweezers, Clipping Tools). The products support Single Particle Analysis, cryoFIB for electron tomography, and cryoCLEM workflows, and are compatible with Thermo Fisher Scientific, JEOL, Leica, FEI Vitrobot, and other major cryoEM platforms.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Metal Universal HPF & Grid Box
- 8-Pocket Autogrid Box
- Hybrid Grid Box
- Bulk Storage Grid Box
- Anti-Contamination Grid Box
- Vitrification Dewar (Foam, with Metal Parts)
- Ethane-Temperature Controlled Vitrobot Dewar
- Vitrification Dewar (Basic)
- Cryo-Tweezers
- Autogrid Tweezer
- Clipping Station
- 100-Pack C-clips
- 100-Pack Autogrid Rings & C-clips
- 100-Pack FIB Autogrid Rings & C-clips
- 100-Pack JEOL CryoARM C-clips
- MiTeGen Cryo-EM Advanced Grid Storage and Shipping Puck System
- Active Drying Rack, 4L Dewar
- Aquilos/Hydra Extended Operation System
- Spearlab Foam Vessel Line (Mini/Small/Standard/Large/Tall)
- MVE Storage Freezers (20L–50L) and CryoSystem 6000
- MVE Vapor Shippers (1.5L–4.5L)
- Clipping Tool Repair
- Tweezer Repair
- Thermo Fisher Clipping Station Repair
- Aquilos/Hydra Shuttle Repair & Cleaning
- High Pressure Freezing Planchets (3mm/6mm)
Quantifiable outcome
- Autogrid rings tested across 50+ cryoEM facilities/labs without any instances of defects or issues in autoloader or microscope (as of June 2023)
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use NanoSoft
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
NanoSoft technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature9 records
NanoSoft partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- MiTeGencoreMiTeGen is a US-based distributor of NanoSoft products, reselling cryoEM grid storage and shipping puck systems. Contact: +1 (401) 249-0780 / [email protected]
- Ted PellacoreTed Pella is a US-based distributor of NanoSoft products. Contact: +1 (607) 266-8877 / [email protected]
- Zeren Tools (泽任)coreZeren Tools is a China-based distributor of NanoSoft products. Contact: +86-18123966210 / [email protected]
- EMTScoreEMTS is a South Korea-based distributor of NanoSoft products. Contact: +82 31 376 0506 / [email protected]
- Agar ScientificcoreAgar Scientific is a UK-based distributor of NanoSoft products. Contact: +44 (0)1279 215 506 / [email protected]
- EM JapancoreEM Japan is a Japan-based distributor of NanoSoft products. Contact: +0081-(0)3-5834-9522 / [email protected]
- BiogenuixcoreBiogenuix is an India-based distributor of NanoSoft products. Contact: +91 11 4875 4875 / [email protected]
- TEM SEMminorTEM SEM is a China-based distributor of NanoSoft products. Contact: +86 13391181880 / [email protected]
- SpearlabcoreSpearlab collaborated with NanoSoft to develop the foam Vitrification Dewar (patent #7,971,744). Spearlab foam dewars use fine closed cell foam for insulation and are used in cryoEM sample preparation workflows.
- National Science Foundation (NSF)minorNSF is listed as a partner, likely through research funding or academic collaboration support for cryoEM sample preparation technology development.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
NanoSoft competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Agar Scientific: UK-based supplier of electron microscopy accessories, consumables, and sample preparation tools. Agar Scientific is both a NanoSoft UK distribution partner and a competing source of cryoEM grid handling and storage products in Europe.
- MiTeGen: Manufacturer of cryoEM storage and shipping pucks (Gen 2.0, AutoGrid Cassette Puck) and puck systems. MiTeGen is both a NanoSoft channel partner (US distributor) and a direct competitor in cryoEM grid storage hardware — NanoSoft resells MiTeGen pucks while also offering its own grid box systems.
- Spearlab: Foam dewar maker co-developing NanoSoft's Vitrification Dewar (patent #7,971,744). Spearlab's Mini/Small/Standard/Large/Tall foam vessels are resold by NanoSoft and overlap directly with NanoSoft's vitrification equipment line, making them both a co-development partner and a competing source of cryogenic vessels.
- Quantifoil: Specialized maker of holey carbon cryoEM grids used in single particle analysis. Operates in the same cryoEM sample preparation workflow as NanoSoft — specifically the grids that NanoSoft's autogrid rings, clipping tools, and grid boxes are designed to handle.
- Ted Pella: US-based supplier and distributor of EM lab consumables, cryoEM grids, and sample preparation tools. Ted Pella is both a NanoSoft US distribution partner and a competing catalog source for tweezers, grids, planchets, and other cryoEM accessories.
- Electron Microscopy Sciences (EMS): Broad catalog supplier of EM lab consumables, accessories, and sample preparation tools. EMS competes with NanoSoft across multiple categories (tweezers, grid boxes, planchets, clipping accessories) within the same cryoEM sample prep workflow.
Broad incumbents
- Leica Microsystems: Manufacturer of cryoEM sample preparation instruments (Leica EM GP2, Leica ICE, Leica VCT5000) and provider of native cryoCLEM and high-pressure freezing workflows. NanoSoft offers Leica-specific accessories (Leica ICE Foam Dewar, Leica EM GP2 Larger Grid Box Container, Linkam/Leica CryoCLEM adaptor), making Leica both an OEM partner ecosystem and a competitive vendor.
- JEOL: Japanese cryoEM instrument OEM (CryoARM) and maker of native autoloader cartridges and consumables. NanoSoft explicitly supports JEOL CryoARM with JEOL C-clips and broader workflow compatibility, positioning JEOL as both a complementary platform and a potential competitor as NanoSoft expands CryoARM-specific accessories.
- Gatan (AMETEK): Manufacturer of cryoEM accessories, cryo transfer holders, and cryo stage systems (e.g., Gatan 626). NanoSoft explicitly markets Gatan 626 accessories (controller cable, transfer station lid, clipring tools), making Gatan a complementary OEM ecosystem with overlapping cryoEM accessory offerings.
- Thermo Fisher Scientific: Dominant OEM of cryoEM instruments (Krios, Glacios, Arctica, Aquilos, Hydra) and manufacturer of native autogrid rings, C-clips, clipping stations, and Vitrobot. NanoSoft's product line is built around TFS-compatible accessories and TFS repair services, making TFS both the platform anchor and the principal competitive threat.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
NanoSoft social profiles
Digital presenceNanoSoft financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
NanoSoft leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
NanoSoft funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
NanoSoft 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 NanoSoft
What does NanoSoft do?
NanoSoft designs, manufactures, and sells cryoEM (cryogenic electron microscopy) sample preparation equipment and consumables used by structural biology research laboratories. The portfolio includes vitrification dewars, grid boxes, clipping stations, autogrid rings, c-clips, tweezers, cryogenic storage and shipping systems, foam dewars, and repair/refurbishment services. Products are compatible with major OEM cryoEM systems from Thermo Fisher Scientific, JEOL, FEI, and Leica.
Is NanoSoft a public or private company?
NanoSoft is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was NanoSoft founded?
NanoSoft was founded in 2016. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is NanoSoft based?
NanoSoft is headquartered in Coventry, United States, in the North America region.
How does NanoSoft make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. CryoEM Equipment and Consumables Sales are the primary driver. The others are repair Services.
Who are NanoSoft's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Agar Scientific, MiTeGen, Spearlab, Quantifoil, Ted Pella and Electron Microscopy Sciences (EMS). Broad incumbents are Leica Microsystems, JEOL, Gatan (AMETEK) and Thermo Fisher Scientific.
Does NanoSoft have an API?
No public API is recorded for NanoSoft.
What industry is NanoSoft in?
NanoSoft's product category is CryoEM Sample Preparation Equipment. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAGAIAJ, Sample Preparation, Storage & Cryogenics (Freezers, Cryovials, Cryostats), with a secondary code of HLAAAJAN, Cold Chain, Cryopreservation & Biologics Storage/Handling Technologies. Its NAICS code is 334516 and its SIC code is 3670.