What nanosoft does

Nanosoft AS is a privately held Norwegian software company headquartered in Lillestrøm that develops and distributes nanoCAD, a professional-grade computer-aided design (CAD) application for 2D drafting and 3D modeling. The company targets engineers, architects, and designers worldwide, with a stated user base of 920K+, a team of 50+ people, and a network of 30+ international partners supporting distribution across Europe, Asia, and other global markets. The product's primary technical differentiator is full DWG file compatibility, which enables interoperability with files produced by established CAD platforms and supports adoption without abandoning existing workflows.

The underlying technology is a standalone desktop CAD platform that combines 2D drafting and 3D modeling capabilities in a single application with a familiar interface. The company does not disclose an API, SDK, or integration marketplace; it positions the product as a precision tool emphasizing speed, ease of use, and full DWG interoperability rather than a connected cloud platform. No patents, certifications, AI/ML features, or research publications are disclosed in available sources.

Nanosoft generates revenue primarily through one-time software licenses for nanoCAD, sold on a direct-to-consumer basis through its websites (nanocad.no and nanocad.com). Pricing tiers are not publicly disclosed on the Norwegian site, which redirects to nanocad.com for product details. The go-to-market is self-serve with 24/7 support and channel partners; no enterprise sales motion, named customer logos, or contract structures are documented in the available data.

Name

nanosoft

Legal name

Nanosoft AS

Website

https://nanocad.no

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Nanosoft AS is a Norway-based software company that develops and distributes nanoCAD, a professional-grade, DWG-compatible 2D drafting and 3D modeling application sold via one-time licenses to engineers, architects, and designers worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Lillestrøm

HQ country

Norway

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. nanoCAD Software Licenses: Nanosoft AS generates revenue through the sale of nanoCAD professional CAD software. The company offers powerful, affordable, and fully DWG-compatible CAD software for engineers, architects, and designers.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

Nanosoft AS develops and sells nanoCAD, a professional-grade computer-aided design (CAD) software application that supports 2D drafting and 3D modeling with full DWG file compatibility. The software is targeted at engineers, architects, and designers seeking affordable alternatives to traditional high-cost CAD systems, distributed via the nanocad.no / nanocad.com websites worldwide.

Product overview

Nanosoft AS offers a single unified CAD product: nanoCAD. This is a standalone professional-grade CAD software application that combines 2D drafting and 3D modeling capabilities with full DWG file compatibility, designed specifically for engineers, architects, and designers seeking affordable alternatives to traditional high-cost CAD systems.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• nanoCAD: A powerful, affordable, and fully DWG-compatible CAD software for engineers, architects, and designers, providing professional-grade design tools for precise 2D drafting and 3D modeling.

Products and services

• nanoCAD

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• International Partners (30+)coreOthersNanosoft AS maintains relationships with 30+ international partners to support global distribution and service delivery of nanoCAD software across Europe, Asia, and worldwide markets. These partnerships enable the company to serve users across multiple geographic regions.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Autodesk: Autodesk is the dominant vendor of DWG-based CAD software (AutoCAD) and a broad portfolio of design tools. It is comparable to Nanosoft because both target engineers, architects, and designers requiring DWG-compatible 2D drafting and 3D modeling, though Autodesk operates at far greater scale across many product lines.
• Dassault Systèmes: Dassault Systèmes offers DraftSight as a DWG-based 2D/3D drafting product within a much broader PLM and 3D design portfolio (CATIA, SolidWorks). It addresses the same drafting users as nanoCAD and represents both a competitor and an adjacent benchmark for how CAD challengers are integrated into larger design ecosystems.
• Siemens Digital Industries Software: Siemens offers Solid Edge and NX as part of its broader digital industries portfolio, serving mechanical and architectural design customers. It is comparable to Nanosoft because it competes in the design tooling category used by the same engineering and design personas.
• PTC: PTC provides Creo and Onshape for 2D/3D mechanical design and CAD workflows. While focused on mechanical design, it competes in adjacent design software categories with overlapping customer personas (engineers, designers) to nanoCAD.

Direct peers

• Bricsys: Bricsys develops BricsCAD, a DWG-compatible CAD platform for 2D drafting and 3D modeling marketed as a cost-effective alternative to AutoCAD. It is the closest direct peer to nanoCAD given matching DWG file compatibility, target customers (engineers and architects), and price-disruption positioning.
• ZWSOFT (ZWCAD): ZWSOFT develops ZWCAD, a DWG-compatible, affordable CAD platform sold globally with strong presence in EMEA and APAC. It competes head-to-head with nanoCAD on the same value proposition of professional CAD at lower price points.
• Corel (CorelCAD): Corel offers CorelCAD, a DWG-compatible 2D drafting and 3D modeling product targeting professional designers. It competes with nanoCAD in the value-tier of the CAD market with similar feature targeting and SMB/individual customer focus.
• GStarCAD (GZSS): GStarCAD is an affordable DWG-based CAD platform widely distributed across Asia and other regions. It is directly comparable to nanoCAD given its DWG compatibility, professional-grade positioning, and price-led go-to-market in similar segments.
• Graebert (ARES CAD): Graebert develops ARES Commander, a DWG-compatible CAD software with a similar cost-efficient value proposition targeting professional drafters and designers. It is directly comparable to nanoCAD in feature scope, target customers, and price-tier positioning.

Emerging players

• Trimble SketchUp: Trimble's SketchUp is a 3D modeling tool popular among architects and designers. It is comparable to nanoCAD because it serves overlapping design personas in architecture and industrial design, though it focuses more on 3D modeling than full 2D drafting.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nanosoftas

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 nanosoft