What TipsNano does

TipsNano (ТипсНано) is a niche manufacturer and distributor of accessories for atomic force microscopy (AFM) and related scanning probe techniques, with operational roots in Russia and a sales entity nominally registered in Tallinn, Estonia. Its catalog spans seven major product categories: standard silicon cantilevers across the NSG, CSG, FMG, NSA, and HA series; specialty probes including monocrystalline diamond tips with 2 nm radius and 10x silicon durability, super-sharp tips, high-frequency W2C-coated probes, and TiN-coated conductive probes; TERS (Tip-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy) probes marketed with >100x enhancement factor; SNOM probes; HOPG calibration samples; PTB-traceable TGZ and TGG calibration grids; and complementary vibration isolation hardware distributed via a K&S (Israel) partnership. Pricing is published in Russian rubles per pack (for example, 40,950 rubles for 15 standard cantilevers up to 304,500 rubles for 10 VIT_P/TERS probes), with quantity-tier discounts at the 50-unit level and custom cantilever sets offered on request.

The business model is direct-to-lab e-commerce through tipsnano.ru, supplemented by LLC Kapella (ООО "Капелла") as the official Russian distributor and the K&S arrangement for Israel. End customers are research institutions, universities, and materials-science or metrology laboratories in 30+ countries including Germany, the UK, the Netherlands, and France. Revenue mechanics rely on high-volume, low-touch transactions across a long tail of academic and industrial SPM users, with no disclosed subscriptions, enterprise contracts, or service-layer monetization. No funding rounds, parent company, subsidiaries, or headcount figures are disclosed in the available data.

The company's defensibility rests on specialty fabrication know-how (diamond tip growth, TERS geometry design, conductive coatings) and an established cross-border distribution footprint rather than software, data, or recurring revenue. There is no observable AI/ML capability in the product stack, no disclosed R&D pipeline beyond incremental SKU extensions, and the strategic activity cadence (TiN probe relaunch in 2016, diamond cantilevers in 2020) is consistent with a mature niche consumables vendor rather than a scaling platform.

Name

TipsNano

Legal name

TipsNano (ООО "Капелла" as official Russian distributor)

Website

https://tipsnano.ru

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Short description

TipsNano is a Russian-rooted, Estonia-registered manufacturer and e-commerce distributor of AFM cantilevers, TERS probes, and calibration standards, selling direct to research universities and materials-science laboratories in over 30 countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Scientific Microscopy Accessories

NAICS

Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing (334516), Other Measuring and Controlling Device Manufacturing (334519)

SIC

Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826)

akta.pro primary industry

Microscopy, Imaging & Flow Cytometry Instruments (HLAGAIAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Inertial & Motion Sensors (Accelerometers/Gyroscopes/IMUs) (HDAHALAA), Metrology, Inspection & Machine Tool Accessories (CMMs, Probing, Gauging) (IMAHADAK)

Keywords

• AFM cantilevers
• Scanning probe microscopy
• TERS probes
• AFM calibration standards
• Vibration isolation systems

Headquarters

HQ city

Tallinn

HQ country

Estonia

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. AFM Cantilevers and Probes: Sale of standard and specialized AFM cantilevers including NSG, CSG, FMG, NSA, HA series with various coatings (Al, Au, Pt, PtIr, TiN, W2C, diamond). Products sold in sets of 5-50 units with volume discounts.
2. Vibration Protection Systems: Supply of K&S (Israel) vibration isolation systems for AFM, SEM, and vacuum pumps including active and passive protection systems.
3. Calibration Standards and Test Samples: Sale of calibration gratings (TGZ, TGG, TGT, TGQ, TGX series), test samples (DNA, SiC, PFM), substrates (mica, sapphire), and grating sets (TGS) for AFM calibration.
4. TERS Probes: Tip-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy probes (VIT_P/TERS, VIT_P_C/TERS) for combined AFM-Raman systems, priced at 304,500 rubles per set of 10.
5. Custom Cantilever Sets: Personalized cantilever sets (MIX_ET/50, MIX_GL/50, UNISET, MSSET) configured to customer specifications for multiple AFM modes.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

TipsNano manufactures and supplies high-precision accessories for scanning probe microscopes (SPM), with a primary focus on Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) cantilevers and probes. The product catalog includes standard and specialized AFM cantilevers with monocrystalline diamond tips, super-sharp tips, conductive coatings (Au, Pt, PtIr, TiN, W2C), magnetic cantilevers, SNOM probes, TERS (Tip-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy) probes, calibration gratings and test samples, HOPG substrates, customizable cantilever sets, and K&S active vibration isolation systems for AFM and electron microscopes.

Product overview

TipsNano (ТипсНано) is a Russian company specializing in the supply of accessories for scanning probe microscopes (SPM), primarily Atomic Force Microscopes (AFM). The product portfolio includes: Standard AFM cantilevers (NSG, NSA, CSG, FMG series) with various coatings; Specialized AFM cantilevers including super-sharp, high aspect ratio (NSC), diamond-coated (HA_C_DCP), top-visual (VIT_P), monocrystalline diamond-tipped (DEP, DRP, DRPS series); SNOM (Scanning Near-field Optical Microscopy) fiber probes and cantilevers; HOPG calibration samples; AFM calibration equipment (TGZ, TGG, TGT, TGQ, TGX calibration gratings and sets); TERS (Tip-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy) probes; Test samples (DNA, SiC, PFM); Substrates (mica, sapphire); and K&S vibration isolation systems. The company also offers customizable cantilever sets (UNISET, MSSET, MIX series) for multiple AFM measurement modes.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Эталон (Etalon) Series: High-precision composite cantilevers combining sharp needle (10nm), precise resonant frequency values, vertical chip walls, and enhanced beam reflection.
• GOLDEN Series

Products and services

• Standard AFM Cantilevers Silicon AFM cantilevers for semi-contact (NSG, NSA), contact (CSG), force modulation (FMG), and conductive measurement modes with various reflective and conductive coatings, sold in sets of 15 or 50 units for AFM researchers and laboratories.
• Specialized AFM Cantilevers Specialized AFM cantilevers including high-aspect-ratio (NSC), super-sharp (NSG30_SS, CSG10_SS) with tip radius down to 2nm, diamond-coated (HA_C_DCP), monocrystalline diamond-tipped (DEP, DRP, DRPS series), top-visual (VIT_P), and colloidal probes (CPC series with SiO2 spheres 2-15 micrometers) for advanced nanoscale imaging and measurement.
• Monocrystalline Diamond-Tipped AFM Cantilevers AFM cantilevers (DEP, DRP, DRPS series, including super-sharp DEP30R_SS) with monocrystalline diamond tips offering 7nm typical tip radius (custom 2nm) and durability at least 10x greater than silicon, designed for highest resolution imaging, electrical AFM, nanoindentation, and scratching applications.
• TERS Probes (Tip-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy) TERS probes (VIT_P/TERS, VIT_P_C/TERS) based on Top Visual cantilevers for combined AFM-Raman systems, providing guaranteed enhancement factor >50x (typical >100x, some >500x) with nano-Raman mapping resolution of 20-70nm. Priced at 304,500 rubles per set of 10.
• SNOM Probes (Scanning Near-field Optical Microscopy) Scanning Near-field Optical Microscopy cantilevers and fiber probes (e.g., MF004 with single-mode Nufern 780-HP optical fiber, aperture ~185nm, wavelength 780-970nm) for optical near-field measurements beyond the diffraction limit.
• AFM Calibration Equipment AFM calibration gratings (TGZ, TGG, TGT, TGQ, TGX series), grating sets (TGS), test samples (DNA on mica DNA01, SiC, PFM samples), and substrates (sapphire, mica discs and sheets) traceable to PTB for X/Y/Z axis calibration and nonlinear measurement verification.
• HOPG Calibration Samples Highly Oriented Pyrolytic Graphite (HOPG) calibration samples in ZYB and ZYH types for atomic-resolution AFM calibration and reference imaging of layered materials.
• K&S Vibration Isolation Systems Active and passive vibration isolation systems distributed from K&S (Israel) for AFM, SEM, and vacuum pumps, including desktop AFM vibration protection (SOTO150 for 20-150 kg loads), modular floor systems for heavy electron microscopes (SOTO1200, up to 4000 kg total capacity), and passive systems for forevacuum pumps.
• Cantilever Sets Pre-configured and customizable cantilever sets (UNISET, MSSET, MIX_ET, MIX_GL series) bundling multiple probe types from the GOLDEN series for combined AFM modes including contact, semi-contact, conductive (PFM, SRM, EFM, SCM, SKM), and MFM.
• Conductive Probes with TiN Coating TiN-coated conductive AFM cantilevers (FMG01, NSG01, NSG10, NSG30) with stable coating resistant to damage at high voltages/large currents, tip radius <35nm, voltage tolerance ±8V, and 50+ scan capability for electrical AFM techniques.
• Magnetic Cantilevers (MFM Series) Magnetic force microscopy cantilevers including low-moment variants (MFM_LM with 45-115 kHz resonant frequency, 0.5-9.5 N/m force constant) for magnetic imaging of low-coercivity samples with 20-30nm spatial resolution and 1-year guaranteed service life.
• Colloidal Probes (CPC Series) Colloidal probes with SiO2 spheres ranging from 2 to 15 micrometers, calibrated by size and attached to cantilever tips, for studying colloidal interactions, surface forces, and cell mechanics in contact mode.

Quantifiable outcome

• Tip radius down to 2nm with custom monocrystalline diamond cantilevers
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers2 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.

• K&S (Israel)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorK&S is an Israeli company with 20+ years of experience developing vibration protection devices for microelectronics manufacturing. TipsNano serves as the distributor for K&S vibration isolation systems in Russia and other markets. K&S uses proprietary technology with voice coil motors instead of piezoelements, providing active 6-axis vibration control.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• NT-MDT Spectrum Instruments: Russia-headquartered manufacturer and direct competitor in SPM/AFM probes and instruments, with overlapping monocrystalline diamond and conductive probe lines, similar distribution channels, and the same academic/government buyer base.
• NanoAndMore: Distributor and reseller of AFM probes (including Nanosensors, AppNano, Team Nanotec) and calibration standards to European and international research labs; comparable in distribution model and customer base to TipsNano.
• Rocky Mountain Nanotechnology (RMN): US-based AFM probe manufacturer specializing in functionalized, coated, and specialized probes (Au, PtIr, diamond-like carbon), serving overlapping applications such as conductive AFM, KPFM, and biological SPM.
• NanoWorld (Nanosensors): Switzerland-based specialist in silicon and high-aspect-ratio AFM probes with comparable catalog depth, serving the same research-institution and university customer segment as TipsNano.
• AppNano: US-based manufacturer of AFM probes and calibration standards, with comparable product lines across conductive, magnetic, and standard silicon cantilevers targeted at academic and industrial SPM labs.

Broad incumbents

• WITec (Oxford Instruments): Manufacturer of correlative AFM-Raman and TERS-capable microscopes, overlapping with TipsNano in the TERS probe market and pulling through demand for nano-Raman consumables.
• HORIBA Scientific: Supplier of Raman, TERS, and combined AFM-Raman systems (e.g., NanoRaman); competes and co-exists with TipsNano's TERS probes as both instrument vendor and a route to market for specialized probes.
• Asylum Research (Oxford Instruments): AFM instrument maker now part of Oxford Instruments; while primarily an OEM, its MFP-3D and Cypher platforms drive downstream demand for the probe consumables that TipsNano supplies.
• Bruker Nano Surfaces: Large incumbent offering AFM probes and full AFM instrumentation; competes with TipsNano's consumable and TERS probe portfolio as part of a broader nanoscience portfolio that includes Dimension and Innova systems.

Others

• K&S (Kushnir Scientific / Kinetic Systems): Israeli manufacturer of active voice-coil vibration isolation systems, currently a TipsNano distribution partner; comparable as an equipment supplier to the same microscopy customer base rather than a direct probe competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/TipsNanoCo

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 TipsNano