Nanochip

What Nanochip does

Nanochip was founded in 1996 and, per its firmographic description, developed very high-capacity removable storage chips targeted at consumer electronics OEMs including MP3 players, digital cameras, cell phones, PDAs, and computers. The company was venture-backed across three disclosed rounds between 2004 and 2008, raising approximately $44 million in aggregate from a syndicate that included Intel Capital, JK&B Capital, New Enterprise Associates, Microsoft, and AKN Technology Bhd. The 2004 Series B was led by JK&B Capital, the 2006 round was led by Intel Capital, and the 2008 round brought the same strategic syndicate back, indicating sustained institutional and strategic interest during the semiconductor development phase.

The current public web presence at the nanochip.com domain is operated by Metron Computerware, an Oakland, California-based entity that delivers computer security and systems support consulting, DNS/Sendmail/Majordomo configuration, computer graphics consulting, and architecture/CAD services through Metron Studios. The site also hosts unrelated sub-brands including OmniMath (financial office systems), Bay Area Stringer and New York Stringer (editorial commentary), Games4Grandmothers and Games4Girls (gaming content), and Bruno Kark Ceramics. This portfolio is inconsistent with the firmographic description of a semiconductor storage chip company and suggests either a dormant chip business, a domain transfer, or a pivot that the input data does not explicitly document.

There is no disclosed revenue, headcount, customer list, or recent product launch. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and consulting engagements are quote-based. Geographic scope is limited to the San Francisco Bay Area, specifically East Bay and Oakland. The company remains privately held with no IPO, acquisition, or going-private event referenced in the available data.

Name

Nanochip

Legal name

Metron Computerware

Website

https://nanochip.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Nanochip was a privately held semiconductor startup founded in 1996 that developed very high-capacity removable storage chips for consumer electronics OEMs; it raised approximately $44M from 2004 to 2008. Its current domain hosts Metron Computerware, an Oakland-based IT consulting business.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

IT Security Consulting

NAICS

Computer Storage Device Manufacturing (334112)

SIC

Computer Storage Devices (3572)

akta.pro primary industry

Embedded & Managed NAND (eMMC/UFS/eMCP) (HDAHAKAG)

Keywords

• Computer security consulting
• Systems support services
• CAD design consulting
• Financial office systems
• Network administration services

Headquarters

HQ city

Fremont

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D

Distribution channels1 record

Core offering

Nanochip operates Metron Computerware, providing computer security consulting and computer systems support services, including DNS, Sendmail, and Majordomo setup and configuration, computer systems management, backup, and security. Through affiliated brands Metron Studios and OmniMath, Inc., the company also delivers teaching, design, and consulting services for architecture, interiors, CAD, and financial office systems and databases.

Product overview

Metron Computerware is a computer security consulting and systems support company based in Oakland, CA. The company operates as a collection of service offerings and sub-brands rather than a unified software product platform. Its core services include computer security consulting, computer graphics consulting, and systems support. The portfolio includes Metron Studios (architecture and CAD consulting), OmniMath Inc. (financial systems and databases), and several content-focused websites: Bay Area Stringer (Bay Area events commentary), Games4Grandmothers (gaming content for seniors), Games4Girls (gaming content for girls), and New York Stringer (international arts and politics magazine).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Metron Computerware
• Metron Studios
• OmniMath, Inc.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• SanDisk (Western Digital): Historical leader in removable flash storage cards and USB flash drives; the most direct comparable to Nanochip's stated mission of high-capacity removable storage chips for consumer devices.
• Kingston Technology: One of the largest independent suppliers of removable flash storage products (USB drives, flash cards, SSDs); closely comparable business model of selling high-capacity removable storage to consumer and enterprise channels.
• Silicon Motion Technology: Designer of NAND flash controllers used in SSDs, eMMCs, UFS, and removable storage cards; the closest direct peer in the controller and storage-IC subcategory relevant to Nanochip's removable storage chip thesis.
• Phison Electronics: Taiwan-based NAND flash controller IC specialist shipping into SSDs, memory cards, and removable storage; directly comparable as a fabless storage controller/chip company.
• Lexar (Longsys): Removable storage brand specializing in high-capacity memory cards, USB flash drives, and portable SSDs; a direct end-market peer in the high-capacity removable storage category Nanochip targeted.

Broad incumbents

• Micron Technology: Major integrated memory and storage IC manufacturer covering DRAM, NAND, and managed NAND solutions; represents the broad incumbent competitive set Nanochip would have needed to differentiate against.
• Samsung Memory: World-leading NAND/DRAM manufacturer and a major supplier of embedded and removable storage components; the dominant incumbent in the broader memory/storage IC category Nanochip was targeting.
• Kioxia (formerly Toshiba Memory): Major NAND flash memory manufacturer with deep IP in high-density flash cells; directly relevant as a technology benchmark for any high-capacity removable storage chip effort.
• SK hynix: Global memory and storage IC supplier with significant NAND and eMMC/UFS product lines; broad incumbent peer in the memory and storage IC category.

Emerging players

• BiTMICRO Networks: Historical fabless designer of high-capacity solid-state storage for industrial and defense markets; comparable as a small-cap storage IC specialist that pursued high-density removable/portable storage niches.

Market position

Strengths3 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat2 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights3 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

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 Nanochip