Effex

Effex is a web-based software platform for Design of Experiments (DoE), aimed at teams that plan, execute, analyze and optimize multi-factor experiments. The product centers on an interactive catalog of experimental designs that users can compare across multiple criteria simultaneously, including trade-offs between design size and quality, together with a recommender system that proposes a design for a stated problem. Supported design types include split-plot, blocked and mixture designs as well as designs with constraints, and the catalog is described as being updated continuously with new designs.

Beyond design selection, the platform covers data collection and analysis: an API for connecting external data sources, centralized input and storage of experimental data, clustering and outlier detection, assisted correlation analysis, all-subset regression with an interactive heat map for model selection and automatic statistical model recommendations, and a multi-response optimization module using prediction profilers, contour plots, desirability functions, parallel coordinate plots and probability-of-success metrics. Collaboration features include real-time sharing and commenting, publicly shareable read-only or comment-only links, and templated one-click report export, including templates described as compliant with international standards.

The company positions the platform against both simple DoE software and the one-factor-at-a-time method, arguing that its designs detect factor interactions with fewer runs and remove manual effort in experiment management, traceability and calculation. It markets to pharmaceutical, semiconductor, chemical and food industry users.

Founding story

The methodology behind Effex originated in research at the Biostatistics group of KU Leuven, led by Prof. Peter Goos and developed by Dr. Ir. José Núñez Ares. The team built a web-based platform around this research to replace what it characterized as outdated experimental planning software.

Business model

Software-as-a-service delivered through the browser, with the company advertising usage-based payment intended to avoid unused seat licenses. Sales conversations are handled through contact and demo requests on the site.

SaaS subscription/usage-based pricing; the site advertises pricing plans and a "pay only when you use" model rather than fixed licenses.

Traction

The about page reports 10 teams using Effex, more than 150 experiments designed and presence in 5 countries. A published customer reference is Kim Schildermans, Technology Manager Chemistry in Nuclear Power Plants and Concrete at ENGIE Laborelec, who states the designs allowed a test program to be completed in half the time. The company claims the platform can save up to 40% of experimental time.

Latest developments

On 17 February 2026, Minitab, LLC announced the acquisition of the Effex solution. Minitab said it will integrate Effex into the Minitab Solution Center to combine its classical DOE options with Effex's OMARS designs, optimal design algorithms, design catalogs and AI-supported design and model recommendation, serving industries including automotive, aerospace, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, food and beverage, electronics, chemicals, semiconductors and advanced manufacturing.