Netminder

What Netminder does

Netminder operates as a product line within ePaint, a privately held, family-owned manufacturer of eco-friendly, copper-free antifouling marine paints and release coatings founded in 1991. The company manufactures formulations at its East Falmouth, Massachusetts facility on Cape Cod and distributes them through a Stuart, Florida e-commerce hub at epaint.com, with auxiliary direct phone sales for bulk and government orders. Its portfolio spans water-based and solvent-based antifouling paints (Ecominder, EP-2000, ZO, ZO-HP, SN-1, SN-1 HP), biocide-free release coatings (EP-21, EP-23), complementary primers and thinners, and application supplies; the flagship Netminder (EP-23) product is a photoactive silicone release coating for aquaculture netting.

The company's core technical differentiator is a patented photoactive process that uses sunlight to photo-catalyze dissolved oxygen and water, continuously generating hydrogen peroxide at hull and netting surfaces to inhibit biofouling without persistent biocides. All products are copper-free, eliminating galvanic corrosion on aluminum hulls, and certain lines carry EPA-approved biocides (Pyrithione Zinc, SeaNine 211N) with short environmental half-lives. The portfolio is validated by U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Navy specification approvals for aluminum fleet use at 30+ knots, the 1996 EPA Presidential Green Chemistry Award for SeaNine 211, and third-party ratings from Practical Sailor and the San Diego Unified Port District.

ePaint's primary customers are recreational boaters, racing sailors, aluminum boat owners, aquaculture operators, and U.S. government/military vessels; commercial customers include yacht clubs and crew boat fleets. Revenue is generated through one-time unit-priced product sales (quart to 5-gallon pail) via direct-to-consumer e-commerce, with custom pricing for bulk and government orders. The company holds a Veteran-Owned business certification and is privately held with no external funding beyond a 2014 seed investment of $150,000 from Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Southeastern Pennsylvania.

Name

Netminder

Legal name

ePaint.com LLC

Website

https://netminder.us

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Netminder is a product line of ePaint, a family-owned manufacturer of copper-free antifouling marine paints and photoactive release coatings serving recreational boaters, government fleets, and aquaculture operators via DTC e-commerce and bulk sales.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Marine Coatings

NAICS

Paint and Coating Manufacturing (325510)

SIC

Paints, Varnishes, Lacquers, Enamels & Allied Prods (2851)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYIMAJAKAJ

Coatings, Corrosion Protection & Anti-Fouling Systems

Industrials, Manufacturing & Construction/Marine & Shipbuilding/Shipbuilding Materials & Components (Steel, Aluminum, Composites, Prefab Modules)

SECONDARYIMAEAGAD

Marine & Offshore Coatings

Industrials, Manufacturing & Construction/Chemicals & Industrial Materials/Coatings, Adhesives & Sealants

Keywords

• Antifouling marine coatings
• Boat bottom paint
• Aquaculture netting protection
• Biofouling prevention
• Copper-free coatings

Headquarters

HQ city

Falmouth

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Antifouling Paint Sales: One-time product sales of copper-free antifouling paints (ZO, ZO-HP, SN-1, SN-1 HP, EP-2000, Ecominder) in various sizes from quart to 5-gallon pails. Revenue generated through direct e-commerce sales with pricing based on product type and volume.
2. Release Coating Sales: Sales of biocide-free release coatings (EP-21, EP-23) designed for aquaculture and non-toxic fouling prevention. Products sold in aerosol cans, gallons, 5-gallon pails, and 30-gallon drums.
3. Primer and Accessory Sales: Sales of EP-PRIME 1000 epoxy primer, thinners (EP-10, EP-13), and Wet Film Thickness Gauge for application support. Complementary products that support main antifouling paint sales.
4. Custom/Bulk Orders: Customized pricing for bulk purchases and special orders, particularly for commercial and government customers requiring larger quantities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Netminder manufactures and sells photoactive antifouling and release coatings for marine and aquaculture applications, most notably a photoactive coating that protects aquaculture netting from UV degradation and biofouling. The broader product line includes copper-free antifouling boat paints and biocide-free release coatings sold directly to consumers and government/military customers. Manufacturing occurs in East Falmouth, MA with distribution from Stuart, FL through a family-owned e-commerce storefront.

Product overview

ePaint is a manufacturer of eco-friendly, copper-free antifouling marine paints and coatings sold primarily through its e-commerce platform. The product portfolio centers on two main technology categories: antifouling paints (ZO, ZO-HP, SN-1, SN-1 HP, EP-2000, Ecominder) formulated with either Pyrithione Zinc or SeaNine 211N biocides combined with ePaint's patented photoactive technology that generates hydrogen peroxide to prevent biofouling; and release coatings (EP-21, EP-23) that are biocide-free and rely on soft ablative or silicone compositions to resist fouling. Supporting products include EP-PRIME 1000 epoxy primer, paint thinners (EP-10, EP-13), and application supplies. The products are manufactured in East Falmouth, MA and distributed from Stuart, FL.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ePaint: Eco-friendly copper-free antifouling marine paint and coatings for boats

Products and services

• Ecominder Antifouling Paint Water-based, copper-free antifouling paint designed for slime, algae, and bacteria control in fresh water and low-fouling saltwater environments, formulated with Pyrithione Zinc and ePaint's patented photoactive technology.
• EP-2000 Antifouling Paint Water-based, copper-free antifouling paint formulated with renewable-resource bio-polymers for tropical waters, providing up to 24 months of service in Florida water testing per Practical Sailor evaluation.
• ZO Antifouling Paint The original copper-free solvent-based antifouling paint, offering unlimited coat-to-launch time and suitable for fresh and salt water, safe for aluminum boats, motor brackets, trim tabs, and running gear.
• ZO-HP High-Performance Antifouling Paint High-performance solvent-based antifouling paint featuring fluoro-polymers for the lowest friction surface when wet, offering drag reduction and fuel savings for racing sailors in harsh tropical environments.
• SN-1 Heavy-Duty Antifouling Paint Heavy-duty copper-free solvent antifouling paint approved for use on US Coast Guard and US Navy aluminum boats, offering the best choice for aluminum boat applications.
• SN-1 HP High-Performance Antifouling Paint High-performance copper-free antifouling paint used on the US Coast Guard aluminum fleet, designed for boats operating at 30 knots or greater including crew boats, patrol boats, and military craft.
• EP-21 Release Coating Soft ablative, non-toxic biocide-free release coating that releases biofouling by slowly eroding like a bar of soap, recommended as a budget option for single-season protection on small, slow-moving boats and rated Excellent by Practical Sailor.
• EP-21 Aerosol Foul Release Coating Aerosol-format foul release coating packaged in 16 oz cans for outboards, outdrives, and small areas, providing single-season protection that can be applied directly to factory painted finishes without priming.
• EP-23 Photoactive Release Coating (Netminder) Advanced water-based silicone photoactive release coating designed for aquaculture applications, pesticide-free, that sticks to all gear types and protects netting from UV degradation and biofouling.
• EP-PRIME 1000 Epoxy Primer Multi-purpose two-part epoxy primer providing excellent corrosion protection for metal surfaces and serving as tie-coat for ultimate adhesion of bottom paint to gel coats, available in Gray, Oxide Red, and White.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 24 months service life in Florida waters demonstrated in Practical Sailor testing - only copper-free paint to achieve this duration
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• US Coast GuardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUS Coast Guard utilizes ePaint SN-1 HP high-performance copper-free antifouling paint on their aluminum fleet vessels. The Coast Guard's adoption of ePaint validates the product's performance for high-speed aluminum boat applications at 30+ knots.
• US NavycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUS Navy approved ePaint copper-free coatings for use on Navy aluminum boats, following the same specification standards as the Coast Guard for heavy-duty antifouling protection.
• Nantucket Community SailingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerePaint provides paint donations to Nantucket Community Sailing for their support boats and J/105 racing fleet, supporting youth sailing programs and earning Sailors for the Sea Gold certification.
• Nantucket Yacht ClubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNantucket Yacht Club partnered with ePaint for painting their large signal boat and various support boats, contributing to NRW (Nantucket Race Week) sustainability initiatives.
• US EPAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSeaNine 211, the active biocide in ePaint products, received EPA's 1996 Presidential Green Chemistry Award. All ePaint products are EPA-approved for use and comply with Federal, State, and most local environmental regulations.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• PPG Industries: Large diversified coatings manufacturer with marine and industrial protective coatings lines. Operates broadly across marine markets with overlapping chemistries for fouling and corrosion protection.
• Jotun: Norwegian global coatings company with a substantial marine segment offering antifouling, foul-release, and anti-corrosion systems for commercial and recreational vessels. Direct overlap in hull antifouling technology.
• Boero Yacht Coatings: Italian marine coatings producer offering antifouling and topside paints for recreational and professional boating. Overlaps in hull protection technology and customer segment, primarily serving European markets.
• Hempel: Major international marine and protective coatings manufacturer with antifouling product lines (including silicone-based and copper-free options such as Silic One, referenced in customer testimonials). Competes head-to-head with ePaint in copper-free hull protection.
• AkzoNobel (International Paint / Interlux): Global coatings giant whose International Paint and Interlux brands are the dominant suppliers of marine antifouling paints worldwide. Overlaps directly with ePaint's hull-coating category but with vastly broader portfolios and global distribution.
• Sherwin-Williams: Large diversified coatings company with industrial protective and marine-adjacent product lines. Potential competitive threat as it expands into specialty and environmentally friendly marine coatings.

Regional players

• Chugoku Marine Paints: Japanese marine coatings manufacturer with broad antifouling and anti-corrosion product portfolios serving Asian shipbuilding and shipping markets. Comparable technology and category but primarily a regional peer to ePaint's US footprint.

Direct peers

• Coppercoat: Manufacturer of copper-based epoxy antifouling coatings marketed for long-life (multi-year) hull protection. Competes in the same eco-friendly / long-duration antifouling niche as ePaint, though with copper rather than copper-free chemistry.
• Pettit Marine Paint: US-focused manufacturer of marine bottom paints, primers, and topside coatings serving the same recreational and commercial boat owner base as ePaint, with overlapping antifouling product categories.
• Sea Hawk Paints: Specialty marine coatings brand focused on antifouling paints for recreational and commercial vessels. Closely comparable business model and customer base to ePaint.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/569230503160479
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/netminder-llc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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 Netminder