Detectachem
DetectaChem is a Texas-based manufacturer of handheld drug, explosive, and chemical detection devices serving U.S. law enforcement, military, and first responders via its MobileDetect, SEEKERe/SEEKER Pro, and Apex R7 product lines.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2005
- HeadquartersStafford, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Detectachem does
DetectaChem is a privately-held Texas-based manufacturer of handheld drug, explosive, and chemical detection solutions, headquartered in Sugar Land and operating a wholly-owned German subsidiary (DetectaChem GmbH) for EMEA sales and marketing. The company serves U.S. and allied government customers across law enforcement, the U.S. Military (all branches), HAZMAT and first responders, correctional facilities, and border security agencies. Its product portfolio spans three device families: MobileDetect consumable test pouches, strips, and field kits paired with a free iOS/Android companion app; SEEKERe and SEEKER Pro ruggedized trace detectors developed with the U.S. Department of Defense; and the Apex R7 pocket-sized Raman spectrometer with a 24,000+ item identification library, alongside the newly announced MobileNIR near-infrared analyzer and the APEX Fusion integrated unit.
The underlying technology combines proprietary colorimetric chemistries (protected by multiple utility and design patents), removable trace swabs, patented rigid enclosures, and a Spectrum Matrix Analysis algorithm that automates result interpretation without manual color-reference charts. The MobileDetect App applies computer-vision-based colorimetric analysis that compensates for ambient lighting, while the Apex R7 Raman library supports identification of unknown solids, liquids, and mixtures in under 20 seconds. DetectaChem holds a DEA license enabling rapid adaptation to emerging drug threats, and its chemistries are NIJ-standard for use as presumptive evidence in court.
The company’s revenue model pairs quote-based hardware sales (SEEKERe, SEEKER Pro, Apex R7) with a recurring consumable stream from single-use test pouches, strips, and detection cards priced $9.99–$299.99 per retail box, plus configurable ruggedized field kits priced $140–$1,185. Distribution runs through a direct enterprise field-sales motion with Net 30 terms extended to government agencies, a public e-commerce storefront, and the German subsidiary for EMEA. The company has reported 100,000+ active users of the MobileDetect App and quotes testimonials from law enforcement agencies across Indiana, South Carolina, Texas, Washington, Connecticut, Tennessee, and Oklahoma.
Detectachem firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Detectachem
- Legal name
- DetectaChem Inc.
- Website
- https://detectachem.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2005
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- DetectaChem is a Texas-based manufacturer of handheld drug, explosive, and chemical detection devices serving U.S. law enforcement, military, and first responders via its MobileDetect, SEEKERe/SEEKER Pro, and Apex R7 product lines.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Detectachem industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Field Drug and Explosive Detection Equipment
- NAICS
- In-Vitro Diagnostic Substance Manufacturing (325413), Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing (334516), Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (3345)
- SIC
- In Vitro & In Vivo Diagnostic Substances (2835), Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Forensic & Anti-Counterfeit Testing (Product Integrity) (HLAGADAM)
Keywords
Where Detectachem is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Stafford
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Detectachem business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Handheld Detection Devices: Sale of SEEKERe, SEEKER Pro, and Apex R7 handheld screening devices. Pricing requires quote requests for handheld devices. SEEKERe comes in ruggedized case with device, 20 detection cards, USB cable, charger/power supply, USB storage, alcohol wipes, and quick-start guide.
- Consumable Test Kits and Cards: Recurring sales of single-use test pouches, test strips, and detection cards. Products include Multi-Drug Test Pouches, Fentanyl Test Strips, Specialty Test Pouches for explosives, and detection cards for SEEKERe/SEEKER Pro devices.
- Field Kits and Accessories: Ruggedized field cases with customizable test kit configurations and accessories like Nitrile Safety Gloves
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Fentanyl Test Strip Kits (10 Kits Per Box) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Multi-Drug Test Pouch (10 Count) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | THC & CBD Test Pouch (10 Count) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Nitrile Safety Gloves – Blue (100ct) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | General Explosives Test (10 Count) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Home-Made Explosive Test (10 Count) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | MobileDetect Drug Field Kit – 30 Pouches |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | MobileDetect Drug Field Kit – 40 Pouches |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | MobileDetect-Explosives Field Kit – 30 Pouches |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | MobileDetect-Explosives Field Kit – 40 Pouches |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Corrections Investigator Kit |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Handheld Screening Devices (SEEKERe, SEEKER Pro, Apex R7) |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
Detectachem product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Detectachem manufactures and sells handheld drug, explosive, and chemical detection devices (SEEKERe, SEEKER Pro, Apex R7 Raman Spectrometer, MobileNIR), along with consumable colorimetric test pouches, test strips, and proprietary detection cards. Its products are used by law enforcement, military, and first responders for rapid presumptive field identification, and are integrated with the free MobileDetect App that automates result interpretation and generates court-admissible reports with GPS mapping.
Product overview
Detectachem is a Texas-based manufacturer offering a comprehensive portfolio of handheld drug detection, explosive detection, and chemical identification solutions for law enforcement, military, and first responders. The product ecosystem consists of three main device lines: MobileDetect (smartphone-connected colorimetric test kits and strips), SEEKERe/SEEKER Pro (ruggedized handheld detectors with proprietary detection cards), and Apex R7 (portable Raman spectrometers). All products integrate with the free MobileDetect companion app for automated analysis and reporting. The company holds a DEA license enabling rapid adaptation to evolving drug threats, and products are manufactured in the USA.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- MobileDetect: Brand for drug and explosive test pouches, strips, and field kits with companion mobile app for automated detection and reporting.
- SEEKERe
- SEEKER Pro
- APEX R7
- APEX Fusion
Products and services
- SEEKERe Handheld Detector Rugged, portable handheld explosive and drug detector developed in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Defense. Sold to military, law enforcement, and first responder buyers in MDK (Multi-Detection), EDK (Explosive Detection), and DDK (Drug Detection) configurations.
- SEEKER Pro Handheld Detector Advanced handheld drug and explosive detector with Spectrum Matrix Analysis technology, LCD touchscreen, 100,000 test result storage, and 12+ hour battery life. Developed with the U.S. Department of Defense for military, law enforcement, and first responder buyers.
- Apex R7 Raman Spectrometer Pocket-sized Raman spectrometer for point-and-shoot identification of drugs, explosives, toxic industrial chemicals, precursors, plastics, and household materials with a 24,000+ item library. Powered by connected smartphones or tablets; results in 20 seconds or less for military, law enforcement, and first responder use.
- APEX Fusion Integrated Raman spectrometer pairing APEX R7 technology with a dedicated smart device in a single rugged all-in-one unit. Designed for simplified, secure, reliable chemical identification in austere field environments.
- MobileDetect Drug and Explosive Test Kits Comprehensive drug and explosive detection platform of single-use test pouches, test strips, and field kits with a free companion app that automates colorimetric analysis and report generation using smartphone cameras. Sold to law enforcement, corrections, and first responder buyers.
- MobileDetect Fentanyl Test Strip Ultra-sensitive consumable test strip for nanogram-level fentanyl detection including analogues such as carfentanil and acetyl fentanyl. Sold in boxes of 10 kits with buffer tubes, swabs, and analysis charts for law enforcement and first responders.
- MobileDetect Field Kits Ruggedized case kits bundling MobileDetect test pouches and strips in 30- and 40-pouch configurations, including drug field kits, explosives field kits, and corrections-specific kits. Sold to law enforcement, corrections, and first responder buyers.
- MobileNIR Field Analyzer Rapid, point-and-shoot field analysis device for instant drug identification including organic substances, powered by the MobileDetect App. Currently available for preorder to law enforcement and first responder buyers.
- Apex R7 Pro Combo Kit Combined kit pairing the Apex R7 Raman Spectrometer with the SEEKER Pro detector to deliver Raman chemical identification plus trace explosive and drug detection in one integrated package.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 100,000 active users worldwide using MobileDetect platform
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Detectachem
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Detectachem technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration4 records
AI capability4 records
Feature6 records
Detectachem partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- U.S. Department of DefensecoreCollaborative development partnership for SEEKERe, SEEKER Pro, and Apex R7 products. Technology developed in cooperation with DoD requirements for military-grade detection capabilities.
- DetectaChem GmbHcoreWholly-owned subsidiary in Germany registered at Amtsgericht Rostock HRB 15709. Functions as Sales and Marketing entity covering Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA).
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Detectachem competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Smiths Detection: A global leader in threat detection and screening technologies for aviation, military, and security markets, offering handheld and fixed-site chemical and explosive detection solutions. Directly comparable to DetectaChem's SEEKER/SEEKER Pro product line for military and EOD customers, though at much larger scale.
- Thermo Fisher Scientific (Handheld Raman): Through its TruScan and other handheld Raman offerings, Thermo Fisher competes directly with the Apex R7 in portable chemical identification for first responders, pharma, and security use cases. Significantly larger balance sheet and broader installed base make it a key competitive incumbent.
- Rapiscan Systems: Provider of security inspection and detection solutions across aviation, border, and military markets. Overlaps with DetectaChem in trace explosive detection and offers comparable technology at much broader scale.
- B&W Tek (Metrohm): Portable Raman spectrometer manufacturer (now part of Metrohm) competing with the Apex R7 in handheld chemical identification for pharma, security, and academic markets.
Direct peers
- NIK Public Safety (Safariland Group): Manufacturer of NIK field drug test kits — explicitly named by DetectaChem's own customers as the incumbent comparison product. Competes head-to-head with MobileDetect test pouches and strips in presumptive field drug testing for law enforcement.
- NARK (Safariland Group): Long-standing brand of field drug identification kits for law enforcement. Direct substitute product for DetectaChem's MobileDetect line in presumptive drug testing, with established distribution and procurement history.
- Sirchie: Manufacturer of forensic, crime scene investigation, and field drug testing products for law enforcement. Directly comparable to DetectaChem's law enforcement-focused drug detection kits and field kits.
Emerging players
- Defentect Group: Provider of chemical, biological, radiological, and explosive threat detection solutions for facility security and first responders. Comparable product positioning for security and HAZMAT applications, though with a different distribution model.
- 908 Devices: Developer of handheld and desktop mass spectrometry and chemical detection devices for safety, security, and life sciences markets. Represents the next-generation detection modality that could compete with Raman and colorimetric detection long-term.
Others
- Renishaw (Raman Spectroscopy): Raman spectroscopy technology provider serving pharmaceutical, materials, and research markets. While not directly competing in field drug detection, Renishaw's spectroscopy platforms represent the broader Raman ecosystem in which DetectaChem's Apex R7 competes for technical credibility and library content.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Detectachem social profiles
Digital presenceDetectachem compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance4 records
Detectachem financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Detectachem leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Detectachem subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Detectachem funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Detectachem 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 Detectachem
What does Detectachem do?
Detectachem manufactures and sells handheld drug, explosive, and chemical detection devices (SEEKERe, SEEKER Pro, Apex R7 Raman Spectrometer, MobileNIR), along with consumable colorimetric test pouches, test strips, and proprietary detection cards. Its products are used by law enforcement, military, and first responders for rapid presumptive field identification, and are integrated with the free MobileDetect App that automates result interpretation and generates court-admissible reports with GPS mapping.
Is Detectachem a public or private company?
Detectachem is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Detectachem founded?
Detectachem was founded in 2005. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Detectachem based?
Detectachem is headquartered in Stafford, United States, in the North America region.
How does Detectachem make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Handheld Detection Devices are the primary driver. The others are consumable Test Kits and Cards and field Kits and Accessories.
Who are Detectachem's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Smiths Detection, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Handheld Raman), Rapiscan Systems and B&W Tek (Metrohm). Direct peers are NIK Public Safety (Safariland Group), NARK (Safariland Group) and Sirchie. Emerging players are Defentect Group and 908 Devices. Renishaw (Raman Spectroscopy) is listed as an others.
Does Detectachem have an API?
No public API is recorded for Detectachem.
What industry is Detectachem in?
Detectachem's product category is Field Drug and Explosive Detection Equipment. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAGADAM, Forensic & Anti-Counterfeit Testing (Product Integrity). Its NAICS code is 325413 and its SIC code is 2835.