TIAX

What TIAX does

TIAX LLC is a private, Lexington, Massachusetts-based technology development company founded on April 4, 2002 by Dr. Kenan Sahin. It operates an integrated lab-based model, including dynamically reconfigurable chemistry labs, a clothing and human factors laboratory, and an in-house machine shop, to transform early-stage inventions into IP-protected, de-risked product platforms ready for commercialization. The company operates two primary technology platforms: Functional Wearables, encompassing the Integrated Aircrew Ensemble (IAE), PRU-series protective garments, CWU-111/P and CWU-112/P environmental protection layers, and life preserver and survival equipment for military aircrew; and Functional Coatings, covering surface sampling tools, strippable peel-and-stick samplers, and hazard remediation coatings developed with commercial and government clients.

TIAX generates revenue through three primary streams: licensing and royalty income from SBIR-developed technology platforms sold to commercial companies, licensing and integration services for non-SBIR technology platforms, and technology processing services for early-stage inventions. Its go-to-market is sales-led and direct, structured around technology acquisition, licensing, spin-out, and joint venture arrangements, with a 20-plus-year track record in the federal Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) program. End customers are primarily U.S. federal agencies — notably the U.S. Air Force (F-22 pilots and 90th Fighter Squadron for the IAE), AFLCMC, and the EPA — with secondary commercial licensing demand from companies seeking technology-enabled product growth without acquiring an entire company. The company is founder-controlled, maintains ISO 9001:2015 certification, and has spun out adjacent technology (CAMX Power for advanced battery materials) while retaining its core wearables and coatings focus.

Name

TIAX

Legal name

TIAX LLC

Website

https://tiaxllc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

TIAX LLC is a private Lexington, MA-based technology development company that transforms early-stage innovations in functional wearables and functional coatings into IP-protected, de-risked product platforms for U.S. government and commercial clients via SBIR contracting, licensing, and technology processing services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Technology Development Services

NAICS

Paint and Coating Manufacturing (325510)

SIC

Paints, Varnishes, Lacquers, Enamels & Allied Prods (2851), Coating, Engraving & Allied Services (3470)

akta.pro primary industry

Specialty & Functional Coatings (Anti-microbial/Anti-slip/Insulating) (IMAIAKAM)

akta.pro secondary industry

Testing, Inspection, Certification & Commissioning (TICx) Technical Services (BPAHAIAL)

Keywords

• Technology development services
• Functional wearables
• Functional coatings
• Military protective equipment
• SBIR technology platforms

Headquarters

HQ city

Lexington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. SBIR Technology Platform Sales: Acquisition of TIAX's SBIR technology platforms by businesses seeking growth through technology-enabled products. TIAX provides skilled workforce and relevant expertise for integration.
2. Non-SBIR Technology Platform Licensing: Investment in non-SBIR technology platforms that help companies get new products to market faster with reduced technological and financial risk. Revenue from technology licensing and integration services.
3. Technology Processing Services: Processing early-stage inventions in labs to create market-ready product platforms for sale, license, spin-out, or joint ventures

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

TIAX is a lab-based technology development company that takes promising, early-stage innovations in Functional Wearables and Functional Coatings and transforms them into market-ready, IP-protected, de-risked product platforms. The company develops physical products such as advanced flight suits, protective garments, and specialized coatings, and offers these technology platforms for sale, license, spin-out, or joint venture arrangements to commercial companies and government clients.

Product overview

TIAX is a technology development company that takes promising, early-stage innovations in Functional Wearables and Functional Coatings and transforms them into technology-enabled product platforms ready for commercialization. The company operates primarily in the SBIR (Small Business Innovative Research) program and also invests in non-SBIR technology platforms. Their Functional Wearables platform includes products such as the Integrated Aircrew Ensemble (IAE), PRU-series protective garments (PRU-74/P, PRU-76/P, PRU-73/P, PRU-75/P, PRU-72/P), and CWU-111/P and CWU-112/P environmental protection layers. Their Functional Coatings platform includes Surface Sampling, Peel & Stick Sampler, and Hazard Remediation technologies. TIAX provides the skilled workforce and relevant expertise to integrate these technology platforms into client product portfolios.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Functional Wearables Multi-disciplinary platform developing functional clothing and protective devices for military and commercial applications, including flight suits, protective vests, life preservers, and survival equipment. The team includes clothing designers, human factors engineers, and mechanical engineers.
• Functional Coatings Platform for developing material-centric products and technologies including hazard identification, remediation solutions, and surface sampling tools for commercial and government clients. The team includes chemists and material scientists working on formulated products, process and material substitution, and hazard detection and remediation.
• Integrated Aircrew Ensemble (IAE) Advanced flight suit system developed for the USAF that redefines capabilities for modern warfighters, delivered to F-22 pilots and 90th Fighter Squadron.
• PRU-74/P Coverall Protective coverall garment for aircrew personnel.
• PRU-76/P Chemical, Biological, Radiological protection garment for aircrew.
• CWU-111/P Environmental Protection Layer (EPL) Environmental protection layer for aircrew ensemble with associated support equipment and special tools.
• PRU-73/P Protective Vest Protective vest component of the aircrew ensemble system.
• PRU-75/P Life Preserver Unit (LPU) Life preserver vest for aircrew with associated support equipment and special tools.
• PRU-72/P Survival Vest (SVest) Survival vest for aircrew with components.
• Surface Sampling Technology Surface sampling technology for detecting and collecting materials of interest from solid surfaces.
• Peel & Stick Sampler Strippable coating sampling device that collects materials of interest from surfaces for analysis.
• Hazard Remediation Technology Technology for hazard detection and remediation applications.
• SBIR Technology Platforms Technology platforms developed through the SBIR program with high-quality Phase I and Phase II wins, available for acquisition by companies seeking growth through technology-enabled products. TIAX provides skilled workforce and relevant expertise for integration.
• Non-SBIR Technology Platforms Technology platforms developed outside the SBIR program to help companies get new products to market faster with reduced technological and financial risk. Available through licensing and integration services.
• Technology Processing Services Professional services that process early-stage inventions in labs to create market-ready, IP-protected, and de-risked product platforms for sale, license, spin-out, or joint ventures.

Quantifiable outcome

• Twelve product platforms developed including IAE for USAF and functional coatings for EPA

Named customers3 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

Feature5 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• CAMX PowercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014In 2014, TIAX spun out the Advanced Battery Materials & Design Division to form CAMX Power as a separate company, co-located with TIAX in Lexington, MA. CAMX Power develops, improves and optimizes battery materials, cell and pack components, and cell and pack designs, as well as BMS components for high performance battery technology solutions.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• SAIC: Major federal IT and engineering services contractor. Comparable to TIAX in serving defense and federal civilian agencies with technology solutions, though at much larger scale and across broader systems integration rather than lab-developed platforms.
• SRI International: Nonprofit R&D institute that licenses and spins out technologies from its labs across multiple domains. Closely parallels TIAX's model of incubating IP-protected product platforms for commercialization, though at significantly larger scope.
• RTI International: Independent research institute delivering contract R&D and technology development for government and commercial clients, with a similar multidisciplinary lab and licensing orientation to TIAX, but at substantially greater scale.
• Battelle Memorial Institute: Largest independent applied science and technology development nonprofit, similarly converting early-stage R&D into commercialized platforms and licensing outcomes for government and commercial clients. Comparable to TIAX in mission and lab-based development model, but at vastly greater scale.
• Applied Research Associates: Engineering and scientific research firm focused on defense, homeland security, and commercial markets; shares TIAX's lab-to-product development orientation and government customer base, with broader program scale.
• Leidos: Large defense and government technology services provider. Overlaps with TIAX in serving DoD and federal civilian customers with technology development, though Leidos delivers at scale across integration and large programs.

Direct peers

• Revision Military: Provider of protective eyewear, head systems, and soldier survivability gear for NATO militaries. Comparable to TIAX in mission-focused protective wearables for defense customers, though focused on eyewear/headborne systems.
• Avon Protection: Designer and manufacturer of respiratory and ballistic protection for military, law enforcement, and first responders. Comparable to TIAX in delivering protective garments and equipment to defense and federal customers, including aircrew ensembles.
• Gentex Corporation: Supplier of advanced protective equipment and optical systems for military aircrew and ground forces. Directly comparable to TIAX's Functional Wearables platform, particularly aircrew life-support and helmet systems for the USAF.

Others

• CAMX Power: TIAX's 2014 spin-out developing advanced battery materials, cell/pack designs, and battery safety tools. Included as an ecosystem/portfolio comparator rather than a direct competitor; illustrates TIAX's spin-out commercialization pathway.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tiax

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 TIAX