Zyvex Labs

What Zyvex Labs does

Zyvex Labs, LLC is a privately held nanotechnology company headquartered at 1301 North Plano Road, Richardson, Texas, formed in April 2007 when the original Zyvex Corporation (founded by Jim Von Ehr in the late 1990s) restructured into four separate entities. The company operates two divisions built on Atomically Precise Manufacturing (APM). The APM division delivers the ZyVector™ STM Lithography Control System — described as the only complete commercial solution for atomic-precision lithography when paired with ScientaOmicron VT-STM hardware — along with the Zyvex Creep and Hysteresis Correction (CHC) Controller, the Zetcher Tip Etcher, and Diamond Coated Tips. These instruments use Hydrogen Depassivation Lithography (HDL) to remove single hydrogen atoms from a silicon surface with an STM tip, enabling deterministic single-lattice-site placement of dopants such as phosphorus for quantum-computer qubits, Analog Quantum Simulators, and 2D bipolar junction transistors. The Micro and Biosystems (MBS) division designs and manufactures ultra-miniature Class III active implantable medical devices (notably Vagus Nerve Stimulation implants) and provides contract design, fabrication, assembly, encapsulation, hermeticity testing, and FDA-compliant electronics and software validation. Three MBS technologies have been spun off into separate commercialization vehicles: NanoRetina LLC (with Rainbow Medical Inc.) for the NR600 grain-of-rice bionic eye, Teliatry Inc. for bioelectronic medicine including the Firefly injectable implant, and Rapid Molecular Diagnostics LLC for a PCR-free DNA-hybridization diagnostic platform.

Zyvex Labs generates revenue across five streams: (1) one-time hardware sales of ZyVector and related instruments to research institutions, distributed worldwide via the ScientaOmicron partnership announced in March 2016; (2) multi-year US federal research contracts and grants from the Department of Energy (SBIR, STTR, BES, AMO, FOA 1465 programs), DARPA (Tip-Based Nanomanufacturing, Atoms to Products, DSO STTR), the Army Research Office (Silicon Quantum Computing Program, $3.3M grant in 2013), and NSF (GOALI); (3) atomic-precision foundry services on a managed-services basis; (4) MBS medical device contract design and manufacturing services for Class III implants and diagnostics; and (5) equity and licensing participation in the NanoRetina, Teliatry, and Rapid Molecular Diagnostics spin-offs. Customers are concentrated in national laboratories (Sandia, Los Alamos, NIST, Oak Ridge), leading research universities (UNSW Australia under Michelle Simmons, UIUC under Joseph Lyding, UT Dallas under Reza Moheimani, University of Maryland under Zohreh Davoudi), and DARPA program collaborators such as SRI. Current leadership includes John N. Randall, PhD (President, 2018 MNE Fellow), James H.G. Owen, PhD (Director of the APM Division, PI on multiple DOE programs), Josh Ballard (Director of APM, former Beckman Postdoctoral Fellow at UIUC), and Rahul Saini (Director of the Micro and Biosystems Division and System Architect of the NR600 and Firefly implants).

Name

Zyvex Labs

Legal name

Zyvex Labs, LLC

Website

https://zyvexlabs.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Zyvex Labs is a Richardson, Texas-based nanotechnology company that develops Atomically Precise Manufacturing tools — primarily the ZyVector STM Lithography Control System — for fabricating quantum devices at single-atom resolution for national labs and research universities, while also designing ultra-miniature Class III medical devices and commercializing select technologies via spin-offs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Atomic-Precision Lithography Equipment

NAICS

Research and Development in Nanotechnology (541713)

SIC

Semiconductors & Related Devices (3674)

akta.pro primary industry

Sensors, MEMS & Imaging ICs (HDAHAAAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Biosensors & Lab-on-Chip (BioMEMS) (HDAHALAK)

Keywords

• Atomically precise manufacturing
• STM lithography systems
• Scanning probe lithography
• Medical device contract manufacturing
• Class III neuromodulation devices

Headquarters

HQ city

Richardson

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. ZyVector and Related Hardware Product Sales: Sale of the ZyVector STM Lithography Control System (sub-nm resolution lithography), the Zetcher Tip Etcher, Diamond Coated Tips, and the Creep and Hysteresis Correction Controller. ZyVector is distributed worldwide by ScientaOmicron; the product is sold as a one-time hardware purchase to research institutions and labs.
2. Government Research Contracts (DOE/DARPA/ARO/NSF): Multi-year federally funded research contracts from the US Department of Energy (DOE SBIR, STTR, BES, AMO programs), DARPA (Tip-Based Nanomanufacturing, Atoms to Products (A2P) program), Army Research Office (ARO Silicon Quantum Computing Program, $3.3M grant 2013), and NSF (GOALI Program). Contracts span Phase I, Phase II, and Phase IIB stages.
3. Medical Device Contract Design & Manufacturing Services: Zyvex Labs BioMedical Systems (BMS) division offers Program and supply chain management, Device design and development, Medical contract design & manufacturing, Device fabrication & assembly, Encapsulation and hermeticity testing for ultra small packages, Complete transfer of supply chain to customer, Clinical & regulatory support, and FDA compliant electronics and software validations. Provides predictable budget, schedule and supply chain for medical device commercialization.
4. Foundry Services: Foundry services for atomic-precision fabrication on a service basis, leveraging Zyvex Labs' HDL and STM lithography capabilities.
5. Spin-off Equity / Technology Licensing (NanoRetina, Teliatry, Rapid Molecular Diagnostics): Zyvex Labs commercializes select technologies via spin-off companies: NanoRetina LLC (with Rainbow Medical Inc.) for bionic eye implants, Teliatry Inc. for bioelectronic medicine, and Rapid Molecular Diagnostics LLC for the COVID-19/molecular diagnostics platform. Spin-offs leverage Zyvex's technology IP for commercialization.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Zyvex Labs develops and commercializes Atomically Precise Manufacturing (APM) technology, centered on its ZyVector™ STM Lithography Control System that turns ScientaOmicron VT-STM instruments into automated atomic-precision scanned-probe lithography tools capable of sub-nm patterning via Hydrogen Depassivation Lithography (HDL). The Micro and Biosystems (MBS) division provides Class III medical device contract design, fabrication, encapsulation, regulatory support, and supply-chain transfer services for ultra-miniature neuromodulation and diagnostic implants, with downstream commercial applications commercialized through spin-offs NanoRetina (bionic eye), Teliatry (bioelectronic medicine), and Rapid Molecular Diagnostics (PCR-free DNA-hybridization diagnostics).

Product overview

Zyvex Labs operates two main divisions built on Atomically Precise Manufacturing (APM) capabilities. The APM division delivers the ZyVector™ STM Lithography Control System — the only complete commercial solution for atomic-precision lithography when paired with ScientaOmicron VT-STM hardware — together with the Zyvex Creep and Hysteresis Correction Controller (CHC) and Diamond Coated Tips. These products underpin research programs such as Analog Quantum Simulator (AQS) devices for Condensed Matter and Nuclear Physics. The Micro and Biosystems (MBS) division specializes in ultra-miniature Class III neuromodulation and medical devices, including Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS) Implants, and has spun out NanoRetina LLC (NR600 Bionic Eye), Teliatry Inc. (AIMDs / "Firefly" injectable implants for bioelectronic medicine), and Rapid Molecular Diagnostics LLC (PCR-free DNA-hybridization diagnostic platform). The company's R&D scope also spans MEMS-based STM scanners, AI-driven STM image analysis for automated HDL, and bipolar-junction-transistor fabrication programs with DOE, DARPA, and Army Research Office sponsorship.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ZyVector™: STM Lithography Control System that turns the ScientaOmicron VT-STM into an STM lithography tool for atomic-precision patterning via Hydrogen Depassivation Lithography (HDL). Distributed worldwide by Scienta Omicron.
• Zyvex Creep and Hysteresis Correction (CHC) Controller
• Zetcher

Products and services

• ZyVector™ STM Lithography Control System Complete commercial control system that converts a ScientaOmicron VT-STM into an automated atomic-precision scanned-probe lithography tool. Provides 4 fine x/y channels, 1 fine z channel, 3 coarse XYZ channels, 1 tip bias channel, pre-amp gain/bias control, and amplified current input. Supports walk-in, tip stepping, scanning (1–10,000 nm), HDL in AP and FE modes, lattice-registered patterning, piezo calibration, creep correction, lattice phase recognition, and scripting. Used by research institutions and national laboratories to create quantum-computer and Analog Quantum Simulator (AQS) dopant devices.
• Zyvex Creep and Hysteresis Correction (CHC) Controller Live tip position control module for fast settling times after landing and precise motion across the surface, used with STM lithography systems. Provides linear creep correction in x/y over timescales of 0.1s–3600s and lattice phase recognition for lock-in to the atomic lattice; pairs with the ZyVector system to deliver sub-nm resolution lithography performance.
• Zetcher Tip Etcher Tip preparation/etching tool that supports the production of high-quality STM tips required for atomic precision lithography, sold as a standalone accessory to Zyvex Labs' STM customers.
• Zyvex Labs Diamond Coated Tips Diamond-coated STM tips supplied by Zyvex Labs for use with the ZyVector lithography control system and ScientaOmicron VT-STM platforms, enabling high-quality atomic-precision patterning.
• MBS Contract Design, Manufacturing & Regulatory Services End-to-end productization services for Class III active implantable medical devices, including program and supply chain management, device design and development, contract manufacturing, fabrication and assembly, encapsulation and hermeticity testing for ultra-small packages, supply-chain transfer, clinical and regulatory support, and FDA-compliant electronics and software validation. Offered to medical device OEMs and startups needing ultra-miniature implant design and commercialization.

Named customers11 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

AI capability3 records

Feature9 records

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• ScientaOmicron: Global manufacturer of UHV STM/AFM/spectroscopy systems and Zyvex Labs' exclusive worldwide distribution partner for ZyVector. Directly comparable because ZyVector is sold exclusively as an add-on to ScientaOmicron VT-STM tools, making ScientaOmicron both a channel partner and the closest adjacent competitor in scanned-probe lithography.
• IBM Quantum: Operates large internal atomic-scale fabrication programs for silicon and superconducting quantum devices. A potential competitor for federal APM contracts and a downstream customer/partner for Zyvex's atomic-precision devices and ZyVector tools in industrial quantum-computing R&D.
• HRL Laboratories: Malibu-based research lab (Boeing/GM) with deep capability in SiGe and atomically precise heterojunction devices for quantum and neuromorphic computing. Comparable as a federally-funded deep-tech lab pursuing atomic-precision fabrication outside the Zyvex Labs orbit.

Direct peers

• UNSW Centre of Excellence for Quantum Computation (Michelle Simmons group): Long-time Zyvex Labs collaborator and leading academic developer of silicon quantum computing via HDL. Uses ZyVector units placed by the ARO Silicon Quantum Computing Program and develops competing/applications-level atomic-precision techniques; backed by an Australian Government $83M pledge to commercialize single-donor qubits.
• Nanosurf: Swiss manufacturer of STM/AFM systems for research and industry. Comparable as a competing supplier of scanned-probe instrumentation, although Nanosurf does not currently offer an HDL automation package equivalent to ZyVector.
• RHK Technology: US-based vendor of UHV STM/AFM systems and controllers used in academic and industrial nanoscience research. Comparable as a supplier of scanned-probe instrumentation that could in principle offer competing lithography control systems.
• 3-D Epitaxial Technologies: Subcontractor alongside Zyvex Labs on multiple DOE/DARPA APM programs (e.g., DARPA DSO STTR 'Strongly Correlated Materials', DOE 1465). Comparable as a fellow atomically-precise fabrication R&D firm chasing federal funding in the same niche.

Emerging players

• Diraq: UNSW spin-out commercializing silicon spin qubits fabricated via HDL-style atomic-precision techniques. A natural downstream customer and competitor for Zyvex Labs' ZyVector and emerging MEMS-STM platforms as it scales silicon quantum computing manufacturing.
• Quantum Motion: UK-based silicon quantum computing startup working on scalable spin qubit arrays using industrial CMOS-compatible processes. Indirect peer through shared end-market (silicon quantum computing) and dependence on atomically precise fabrication techniques.

Others

• Rainbow Medical: Israeli medical device incubator and strategic partner in the NanoRetina bionic eye joint venture. Comparable as the commercialization vehicle backing Zyvex Labs' medical-device spin-off; not a direct competitor but a critical partner that exposes Zyvex to active Class III implant development.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Zyvex Labs