What nextnano GmbH does

nextnano GmbH is a privately held German software company founded in October 2012 and headquartered in Poing, with an operational office in Munich. It develops and licenses TCAD (Technology Computer-Aided Design) simulation software for electronic and optoelectronic semiconductor nanodevices, targeting engineers and scientists at academic institutions and industrial R&D departments working on quantum dots, nanowires, quantum wells, superlattices, laser diodes, LEDs, photodetectors, quantum cascade lasers, solar cells, transistors, biosensors, and qubits. The company's suite comprises nextnano++ (the primary current-generation simulation engine), nextnano3 (a legacy tool originating from TU Munich BSD-licensed code), nextnanomat (a graphical workflow manager), nextnanopy (a Python integration library for automation and post-processing), nextnano.NEGF (a nonequilibrium Green's function module for quantum transport), nextnano.MSB (a material parameter database), and nextnanoevo (an advanced simulation module).

Technically, the platform implements Schrödinger and Poisson solvers self-consistently with multiple k·p band-structure models (6-band, 8-band, 14-band, and 30-band for zincblende and wurtzite crystals), envelope function approximations, the Contact Block Reduction (CBR) method for ballistic quantum transport, drift-diffusion, and optical spectra calculations including exciton effects and Kramers-Kronig relations. Simulations run in 1D, 2D, and 3D. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed; revenue is generated through proprietary software licenses (tiered implicitly across academic and commercial users), training and workshop services, and technical support. The go-to-market is consultative enterprise direct sales, fronted by a Calendly-based 'Free Demo Call' funnel.

The company is wholly owned by nextnano holding GmbH, also controlled by founder and Managing Director Dr. Stefan Birner; Dr. Thomas Grange serves as Authorized Signatory. The group also holds a 49% stake in nextnano Lab SAS in France, and the nextnano® mark is registered as an EU Community Trade Mark. Headcount is reported at 1–10 employees and registered capital stands at €25,000, indicating a micro-cap, founder-led operating profile sustained in part by recurring public grant funding (cumulative ~$2M across 2017–2025).

Name

nextnano GmbH

Legal name

nextnano GmbH

Website

https://nextnano.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

nextnano GmbH develops TCAD simulation software for electronic and optoelectronic semiconductor nanodevices, serving academic researchers and industrial R&D teams in quantum devices, optoelectronics, and next-generation electronics design.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Semiconductor TCAD Simulation Software

NAICS

Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151)

SIC

Semiconductors & Related Devices (3674)

akta.pro primary industry

Semiconductor & Electronics Simulation (device physics, EDA/TCAD twins) (HDAGAEAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

System-Level, Multi-Physics & Package/PCB Co-Design (EDA) (HDAHAFAD)

Keywords

• TCAD simulation software
• Semiconductor nanodevice simulation
• Quantum transport modeling
• Optoelectronic device simulation
• Schrödinger-Poisson solver

Headquarters

HQ city

Poing

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Software Licenses and Subscriptions: nextnano sells proprietary software licenses for its TCAD simulation suite (nextnano++, nextnano3, etc.). The copyright notice indicates proprietary software with licensed usage terms. The company offers competitive pricing for individual researchers and research groups, suggesting tiered licensing based on user type (academic vs. commercial).
2. Training and Workshop Services: The company offers training services and workshops alongside the software, providing additional service revenue.
3. Technical Support: Comprehensive technical support services are offered as part of the customer-oriented approach, likely included in license packages or sold separately for premium support.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

nextnano develops and licenses TCAD simulation software for electronic and optoelectronic semiconductor nanodevices, distributed as the nextnano++ and nextnano3 simulation engines together with the nextnanomat graphical workflow manager, nextnanopy Python interface, nextnano.NEGF quantum transport module, nextnano.MSB material database, and nextnanoevo advanced simulation module. The software simulates 1D/2D/3D nanostructures such as quantum dots, quantum wells, nanowires, superlattices, laser diodes, LEDs, photodetectors, solar cells, transistors, and biosensors. Revenue is generated through software licenses and subscriptions, technical support, and training/workshop services.

Product overview

nextnano GmbH offers a suite of TCAD software for electronic and optoelectronic semiconductor nanodevice simulation. The product portfolio consists of nextnano++ (primary current-generation software), nextnano3 (legacy generation), and GUI/tooling components including nextnanomat (graphical interface), nextnanopy (Python API for automation), nextnano.NEGF (quantum transport module), nextnano.MSB (material database), and nextnanoevo (advanced simulation module). The software simulates nanostructures including quantum dots, nanowires, quantum wells, superlattices, lasers, photodetectors, solar cells, and transistors across 1D, 2D, and 3D dimensions, solving Schrödinger, Poisson, and drift-diffusion equations using k.p methods and other quantum mechanical approaches.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• nextnano++: Proprietary semiconductor TCAD simulation software for modeling nanoscale semiconductor structures and devices. Features include Schrödinger-Poisson solver, k.p method, and support for 1D/2D/3D simulations.
• nextnano3

Products and services

• nextnano++ Primary current-generation TCAD simulation software for electronic and optoelectronic semiconductor nanodevices. Supports 1D, 2D, and 3D simulations with Schrödinger-Poisson solvers, k·p models (1-band, 6-band, 8-band, 30-band), drift-diffusion, quantum cascade laser modeling, and optical spectra calculations. Intended for academic researchers and industrial R&D engineers designing quantum dots, nanowires, quantum wells, superlattices, laser diodes, LEDs, photodetectors, solar cells, and transistors.
• nextnano3 Legacy semiconductor nanodevice simulation software. Originally developed by Technische Universitaet Muenchen under BSD license; subsequently modified and proprietary-licensed by nextnano GmbH. Supports quantum dot, quantum well, and superlattice simulations.
• nextnanomat Graphical user interface (GUI) and workflow manager for the nextnano software suite. Provides a user-friendly environment to set up simulations, visualize results, and manage simulation parameters for nextnano++ and nextnano3.
• nextnanopy Python package providing a Python interface for nextnano software. Enables Python-based post-processing of simulation results, automation of workflows (e.g., C-V curve calculation, GDSII workflows), and integration with Python libraries for data analysis and visualization.
• nextnano.NEGF Nonequilibrium Green's Function (NEGF) module for quantum transport simulations. Enables calculation of ballistic quantum transport through semiconductor devices as an add-on to the nextnano++ engine.
• nextnano.MSB Material Parameter Database containing comprehensive physical parameters for semiconductor materials used in nextnano simulations.
• Training and Workshops Training services and workshops offered alongside the nextnano software, providing instructional content to enable customers to maximize benefits of the software.
• Technical Support Comprehensive technical support services offered as part of nextnano's customer-oriented approach, likely bundled into license packages or available as premium support.

Quantifiable outcome

• Shorter time-to-market for semiconductor devices
• +2 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• QuIC (European Quantum Initiative)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInnovation network partner listed on the company's partner page. QuIC (European Quantum Initiative) is a European quantum technologies consortium.
• QBN (Quantum Business Network)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as an innovation network partner. QBN is a global network of companies and research institutions focused on quantum technologies.
• Nanonetz Bayern (Nanoinitiative Bayern)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBavarian nanotechnology network initiative. Regional cluster connecting nanotechnology companies and research institutions in Bavaria, Germany.
• Bavarian Chips AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional initiative under Bayern Innovativ focused on semiconductor/chip development in Bavaria. nextnano participates as a simulation software provider for chip-related research.
• Chips of EuropeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean initiative to strengthen semiconductor chip design and manufacturing capabilities across Europe. nextnano provides TCAD simulation expertise.
• DGKK (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Kristallwachstum und Kristallzüchtung)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGerman society for crystal growth and crystal preparation. Relevant to semiconductor material simulation and research community.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Broad incumbents

• Synopsys: Global EDA leader whose Sentaurus TCAD and QuantumATK (ex-QuantumWise) products are the primary large-vendor alternative to nextnano in semiconductor device physics and quantum transport simulation.
• COMSOL: Multiphysics simulation platform whose Semiconductor Module and add-ons overlap with nextnano on drift-diffusion and electro-thermal semiconductor simulation, with much broader reach and resources.
• Cadence Design Systems: Major EDA platform provider with device simulation and reliability capabilities adjacent to nextnano's TCAD scope, and the ability to bundle simulation into broader design flows.
• Altair Engineering: Engineering simulation vendor (formerly SimLab/Simulia-adjacent) offering multiphysics and electronic simulation tools that partially overlap with nextnano's device physics and electro-thermal scope.

Direct peers

• Silvaco: Direct competitor in semiconductor TCAD via its Victory TCAD and Victory Device products, offering device-level simulation for similar nanodevice, optoelectronic and analog/RF use cases as nextnano.
• Crosslight Software: Specialist TCAD vendor focused on III-V optoelectronic and quantum-well device simulation, directly competing with nextnano in laser diode, LED, QCL and photodetector design workflows.
• Global TCAD Solutions: Austrian TCAD company offering Minimos-NT and similar device simulation tools, closely comparable in size, geography and product scope to nextnano.

Emerging players

• Nanoacademic Technologies: Quantum transport and NEGF-focused simulation company (NANOTCAD, RESCU), an emerging player addressing the same tight-binding and NEGF device physics workflows as nextnano's NEGF module.
• TiberCAD: Academic-origin TCAD simulation tool for semiconductor nanodevices, comparable to nextnano in scope (quantum wells, nanowires, optoelectronics) and stage (small team, research-driven).
• Quantemol: Spin-out from UCL providing plasma and quantum-chemistry simulation software, with adjacent (non-overlapping) application focus but similar scale and customer base in academic and industrial R&D.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/nextnano_GmbH
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@nextnano
• Facebookfacebook.com/nextnano
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nextnano

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds10 records

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about nextnano GmbH