What NanoWorld does

NanoWorld AG is a Swiss precision-instrument company specializing in Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) probes, registered in Neuchatel, Switzerland and operating as a member of the NanoWorld Group holding. The company manufactures silicon and silicon-nitride MEMS-based AFM probes across a comprehensive product portfolio organized into branded families — POINTPROBE®, ARROW™ (mechanically compatible with Olympus AC160), ULTRA-SHORT CANTILEVERS for high-speed scanning, PYREX-NITRIDE silicon-nitride probes, SuperSharpSilicon™ for high-resolution imaging, and a specialized COATINGS line (conductive, magnetic, reflective). Application-specific variants address non-contact/tapping mode, contact mode, force modulation, bio/life-science imaging, electrical modes (EFM, KPFM, PFM, SCM, Tuna, SSRM, C-AFM), and Magnetic Force Microscopy.

The company monetizes through direct B2B hardware sales of probes and related accessories to research institutions, universities, industrial labs (semiconductor inspection, quality control, materials analysis), and life-science customers. Distribution is operated as direct website catalog sales with a globally localized footprint: brochures are available in ten languages (English, German, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, Japanese, Korean, Simplified and Traditional Chinese), the company maintains a dedicated Chinese-language site (nanoworld.cn), and it publishes application content via a YouTube channel and a corporate blog.

NanoWorld positions itself as the 'World Leader in AFM Tips,' supported by registered trademarks on its core product families and brand name. Headcount is reported at 101–250 employees. The company is privately held, discloses no revenue or funding history in the available sources, and operates without disclosed public ownership, M&A, or leadership-change signals.

Name

NanoWorld

Legal name

NanoWorld AG

Website

https://nanoworld.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

NanoWorld AG is a Swiss manufacturer of AFM probes (silicon and silicon-nitride MEMS) serving academic research, industrial, and life-science laboratories worldwide via direct website sales and a multilingual global distribution footprint.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Atomic Force Microscopy Probes

NAICS

Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (3345), Research and Development in Nanotechnology (541713), Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing (334516)

SIC

Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826), Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823)

akta.pro primary industry

Pressure & Force Sensors (Pressure/Strain/Load Cells) (HDAHALAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Sensor Fusion, Interface ICs & Modules (AFE/Readout/Packaging/Calibration) (HDAHALAO)

Keywords

• Atomic force microscopy probes
• AFM probe manufacturing
• Scanning probe microscopy
• Nanoscale imaging tools
• Silicon nitride cantilevers

Headquarters

HQ city

Soquel

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. AFM Probe Sales: NanoWorld generates revenue through the sale of atomic force microscopy probes and related accessories. The company offers specialized probes for various AFM applications including non-contact/tapping mode, contact mode, force modulation, bio/life sciences, high-speed scanning, electrical measurements, and magnetic force microscopy.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

NanoWorld designs, manufactures, and sells Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) probes and tips used by researchers and laboratories to image and measure samples at the nanoscale. Its product ecosystem centers on the POINTPROBE®, ARROW™, Ultra-Short Cantilever, and PYREX-NITRIDE series, complemented by specialized conductive, magnetic, and reflective coatings, and configured for use across tapping, contact, force modulation, bio/life-science, high-speed, electrical, magnetic force, and high-resolution AFM applications.

Product overview

NanoWorld is a Swiss precision instrument company specializing in Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) probes. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio of AFM probe product series including POINTPROBE®, ARROW™, ULTRA-SHORT CANTILEVERS, and PYREX-NITRIDE, complemented by specialized COATINGS. These products serve diverse AFM applications across non-contact/tapping mode, force modulation, contact mode, bio/life sciences, high-speed imaging, electrical characterization (EFM, KPFM, PFM, SCM, SSRM, C-AFM), magnetic force microscopy, and high-resolution imaging. The offerings form a unified product ecosystem designed to meet the full spectrum of atomic force microscopy research and industrial needs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• POINTPROBE® Standard AFM probe series featuring proven reliability and consistent mechanical properties for reliable imaging results across various scanning modes; targets researchers running atomic force microscopy experiments.
• ARROW™ AFM probe series with the same mechanical properties as Olympus AC160 probes and an aluminum reflex coating for enhanced visibility and ease of use; targets AFM users requiring Olympus-AC160-compatible probe geometry.
• Ultra-Short Cantilevers AFM probes with an ultra-short cantilever design enabling fast-/high-speed atomic force microscopy for dynamic process observation; targets researchers needing high-speed imaging performance.
• PYREX-NITRIDE Silicon nitride AFM probes offering excellent mechanical stability and chemical inertness for various microscopy modes including force modulation; targets researchers requiring durable, chemically inert probe tips.
• SuperSharpSilicon™ High-resolution silicon AFM probes with ultra-sharp tips designed for atomic- and molecular-scale imaging quality; targets researchers needing superior nanoscale imaging resolution.
• Electrical AFM Probes (EFM, KPFM, PFM, SCM, Tuna, SSRM, C-AFM) Conductive AFM probes for electrical characterization techniques including EFM, KPFM, PFM, SCM, Tuna, SSRM, and C-AFM; targets researchers performing electrical property measurements on samples.
• Magnetic Force Microscopy (MFM) AFM Probes AFM probes with magnetic coatings for magnetic force microscopy to map magnetic domains on samples; targets researchers performing magnetic property characterization.
• Bio/Life-Science AFM Probes Specialized AFM probes designed for biological and life-science applications such as cell imaging and biomolecular studies; targets bio-imaging researchers needing gentle imaging of delicate samples.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• NanoWorld GroupparentOthersNanoWorld AG is a member of NanoWorld Group, the parent holding company. The group operates website at nanoworldholding.com.

Recent moves3 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Nanosensors: Germany-based direct competitor specializing in AFM and SPM probes for contact, tapping, and special modes; closest like-for-like rival to NanoWorld in the AFM probe consumables market.
• TipsNano (formerly MikroMasch): AFM probe manufacturer offering silicon and silicon nitride tips across multiple imaging modes; direct competitor with comparable catalog structure and pricing orientation.
• BudgetSensors: Bulgaria-based AFM probe vendor targeting price-sensitive academic users; competes with NanoWorld on the standard silicon and silicon nitride probe segments.
• NanoAndMore: AFM probe specialist distributing multiple probe brands including its own; competes directly in catalog breadth and direct-to-researcher sales channels.
• Nanotools: Germany-based AFM probe manufacturer serving semiconductor, materials science, and life sciences research; comparable catalog, customer base, and Swiss/German precision-manufacturing positioning.

Broad incumbents

• Bruker Nano Surfaces: Division of Bruker that manufactures AFM instruments and supplies proprietary probes; competes with NanoWorld both as an instrument maker and as a probe supplier with bundled offerings.
• Oxford Instruments Asylum Research: AFM instrument manufacturer that also markets AFM probes; comparable because its probe portfolio directly overlaps NanoWorld's product range and its installed base drives consumable demand.
• Park Systems: Korea-based AFM instrument maker with proprietary probe offerings; competes in the same end-customer base (research and industrial metrology) and sells into the same regional markets.

Emerging players

• Rocky Mountain Nanotechnology: Specialized AFM probe maker focused on functionalized and custom probes for advanced applications; overlaps with NanoWorld's high-end specialized probe SKUs.
• SCL-Sensor.Tech: Specialized MEMS-based probe manufacturer with overlap in custom and application-specific AFM probes; competes at the high-resolution and specialized-tip end of the market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/NanoWorldVideo/videos
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nanoworld
• Xx.com/nanoworld

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

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 NanoWorld