Who we are.
A team of engineers developing bioinspired dry adhesive and gripping solutions.

Over a decade ago, our team was hard at work at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, PA, studying how geckos could climb walls and stick to ceilings, and engineering and prototyping our own bio-inspired gecko adhesives. We started a new company (originally called nanoGriptech) and got to work figuring out what broader problems our material could solve. Our earliest funding came from organizations like NASA, who were interested in improving the grip of robotic interfaces on the International Space Station, and leading sporting goods companies, who were interested in developing next-generation fasteners.

We decided to brand our new technology as Setex, which is named after the sticky hairs on geckos’ toes, called setae. We had an AHA moment when we realized how well our prototype materials gripped to skin. Respiratory protective mask seals made from our materials stayed in place better, and eyewear with Setex nose pads no longer slipped, and could be worn comfortably and securely for hours.

We got to work developing, testing, and scaling production for our Setex Anti-Slip Nose Pads, which we launched online in January 2020. Within 18 months, our unique blend of performance, technology, and branding had resulted in us capturing a 45% market share on Amazon.com. We expanded to produce a wider range of consumer products, including Anti-Slip Earbud Grips, Thumbstick Grips for Gaming, Anti-Slip Grip Pads, Blue Light Glasses, Temple Tip Grips, and more. We’ve launched our products on over a dozen leading e-commerce platforms in North America, South America, Europe, and Asia, and have a rapidly growing network of retailers and brands where we distribute our products and technology. 

We now employee over 15 people in the heart of Pittsburgh, PA, including our rapidly growing manufacturing team, so we can produce each and every one of our Setex products right here in the USA. We are proud to be a rapidly growing small business, supporting our local economy and community.