What Nanotex does

Nanotex is a B2B specialty chemistry company that licenses proprietary nanotechnology-based fabric enhancement treatments to textile mills and brand partners. Founded in 1998 by Dr. David Soane, a former polymer chemist and Vice Chairman of UC Berkeley's Department of Chemical Engineering, the company was the first to apply nanotechnology to fabrics and operates today as Nanotex LLC, headquartered in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan.

The company's technology platform is built on molecular-level modification of fabric fibers through nano-scale "whiskers" and hydrophilic net architectures. It is organized into three core technology categories: Repellency (including Resist, Speed Dry, All Conditions, Aquapel, and E-Clean), Comfort (Coolest Comfort, Dry Inside, Wick+Block), and Protection (Fresh Protect, Durable Wear, Release, Wrinkle Defense, UV Block, and Resists Static). Select offerings such as Aquapel are fluorine-free and Resists Static is PFAS-free, aligning the portfolio with tightening global chemical regulation.

Nanotex monetizes via technology licensing and royalties, embedding its treatments into partner supply chains rather than selling finished goods. It works with more than 100 leading retail brands across apparel (Nike, Calvin Klein, Banana Republic, Old Navy, O'Neill, Gymboree, The Children's Place), home goods, workwear (Dickies), child safety (Britax), and department stores (JCPenney, Dicks Sporting Goods). The company maintains a global partner network, including Chinese-language support for Asian textile manufacturers, and supports licensee brands with co-branded hangtags, tech sheets, and active social media channels.

Name

Nanotex

Legal name

Nanotex LLC

Website

https://nanotex.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Nanotex is a B2B nanotechnology company that licenses molecular-level fabric treatments—repellency, comfort, and protection—to more than 100 retail and industrial textile brands across apparel, home goods, and child safety markets.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Bloomfield Hills

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Technology Licensing: Nanotex licenses its proprietary fabric enhancement technologies to textile manufacturers and brands. The company provides the technology solutions for fabric treatment, enabling partners to produce water-resistant, odor-resistant, stain-resistant, and wrinkle-resistant fabrics without sacrificing drape and hand feel.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Nanotex licenses proprietary nanotechnology-enhanced textile treatments to fabric manufacturers and brands. The company offers three core technology categories — Repellency, Comfort, and Protection — that modify fabric fibers at the molecular level to provide water/stain resistance, moisture management, odor control, UV protection, wrinkle resistance, and static elimination without sacrificing fabric drape and hand feel. Nanotex works with more than 100 leading retail brands across apparel, home goods, and commercial textiles.

Product overview

Nanotex is a nanotechnology-enhanced textiles technology company that pioneered applying nanotechnology to fabrics in 1998. Founded by Dr. David Soane, former polymer chemist and Vice Chairman of the Department of Chemical Engineering at UC Berkeley, the company offers three core technology categories: Repellency (using nano-scale whiskers to change fabric surface tension), Comfort (using hydrophilic net architecture for moisture dispersion), and Protection (molecular-level fabric enhancements). The portfolio includes 14 branded sub-products such as Resist, Speed Dry, All Conditions, Aquapel, E-Clean, Coolest Comfort, Dry Inside, Wick+Block, Fresh Protect, Durable Wear, Release, Wrinkle Defense, UV Block, and Resists Static. These technologies work at the molecular level of fabric fibers to provide water repellency, comfort, odor control, durability, wrinkle resistance, UV protection, and static resistance without sacrificing fabric drape and hand. Nanotex partners with over 100 leading retail brands including Banana Republic, Dickies, Nike, Calvin Klein, and others.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Resist: Repellency solution that works at the molecular level of fabric fibers using nano-scale whiskers to change surface tension, providing resistance against liquids and common spills.
• Speed Dry
• All Conditions
• Aquapel
• E-Clean
• Coolest Comfort
• Dry Inside
• Wick+Block
• Fresh Protect
• Durable Wear
• Release
• Wrinkle Defense
• UV Block
• Resists Static

Products and services

• Repellency Technology Core technology category that modifies fabric at the molecular level using nano-scale "whiskers" to change surface tension, providing resistance against liquids and common spills. Licensed to textile manufacturers and apparel brands. Includes Resist, Speed Dry, All Conditions, Aquapel, and E-Clean branded treatments.
• Comfort Technology Core technology category using nano-scale hydrophilic net architecture to quickly disperse moisture throughout fabric, providing cooling and moisture-wicking comfort. Licensed to textile manufacturers for apparel, athletic wear, and bedding. Includes Coolest Comfort, Dry Inside, and Wick+Block branded treatments.
• Protection Technology Core technology category providing molecular-level fabric enhancements for safety, durability, and longevity. Includes Fresh Protect (antimicrobial/odor), Durable Wear, Release (stain release), Wrinkle Defense, UV Block (UV-A/UV-B protection), and Resists Static (PFAS-free static elimination).

Named customers12 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered major.

• Banana RepublicmajorOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerApparel brand partner utilizing Nanotex fabric enhancement technologies in their clothing products.
• DickiesmajorOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerWorkwear brand partner incorporating Nanotex technologies into their professional apparel and work clothing.
• BritaxmajorOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerChild safety seat manufacturer using Nanotex fabric treatments in their products.
• NikemajorOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerAthletic apparel giant partner utilizing Nanotex fabric enhancement technologies in athletic wear.
• Calvin KleinmajorOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerFashion brand partner incorporating Nanotex molecular fabric technologies into their apparel lines.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Sciessent: U.S.-based provider of antimicrobial and odor-control textile technologies (e.g., Agion, Lava) licensed to apparel, home textile, and industrial fabric brands — directly comparable as a specialty nano-chemistry textile licensor.
• Schoeller Technologies: Swiss textile finishing specialist licensing technologies such as Schoeller Dryskin, 3XDRY, and coldblack to performance apparel and workwear brands — directly comparable in B2B textile technology licensing.
• HeiQ Materials: Swiss-based specialty textile chemistry company that develops and licenses nano-scale fabric finishes (odor control, moisture management, antiviral) to global apparel and home textile brands — directly comparable to Nanotex's nano-textile licensing model.

Regional players

• NICCA Chemical: Japanese specialty chemicals company supplying textile finishing agents (water repellents, softeners, functional finishes) primarily across Asia — comparable technology and end-markets, with regional overlap relevant to Nanotex's APAC push via Kaijie Textile.

Broad incumbents

• Rudolf Group: German specialty chemical manufacturer supplying textile finishing products (repellents, softeners, easy-care, antimicrobial) to apparel and technical textile brands — closely comparable to Nanotex's finishing chemistry.
• Huntsman Textile Effects: Major textile chemicals supplier offering dyes, finishes, and performance treatments (water repellents, fluorochemicals, durable finishes) to global apparel and home textile mills — competes across Nanotex's portfolio.
• DuPont (Teflon Fabric Protector / Tyvek): Diversified chemicals major whose Teflon Fabric Protector and broader performance materials portfolio competes with Nanotex in protective and repellency fabric finishes for apparel and industrial uses.
• Lubrizol Life Science (Performance Coatings / Textile): Diversified specialty chemicals business with textile and apparel coating/finishing offerings — comparable to Nanotex's protective and repellency chemistries.
• BASF (Textile & Leather chemicals): Global chemical company offering a broad portfolio of textile finishing chemicals (water repellents, softeners, easy-care finishes) — overlaps with Nanotex's repellency, comfort, and protection product lines.
• 3M (Scotchgard Fabric Protector): Multinational conglomerate whose Scotchgard Fabric Protector is a long-standing incumbent in stain- and water-repellent fabric finishes — competes broadly with Nanotex's repellency portfolio across consumer and commercial textiles.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/nanotex
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCJ4H-w6N1qYVlTEfw0MtlBg
• Facebookfacebook.com/nanotex
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nanotex
• Instagraminstagram.com/nanotex_technology
• Pinterestpinterest.com/nanotex

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors5 records

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 Nanotex