Krosslinker

KrossLinker is a Singapore-based deep-tech advanced materials company that designs and manufactures silica aerogels for thermal insulation. It describes silica aerogel as the most insulating solid material and states that its proprietary, scalable technology platform makes aerogels more affordable, durable and versatile, enabling adoption in paints and coatings, cold-chain logistics and industrial insulation.

The company's product line includes KrossShield SR Pro™, an aerogel-based cooling paint aimed at urban heat reduction and building energy saving; Cryar®, a super-insulating aerogel composite board; QuintAero®, an ultra-light, low-conductivity silica aerogel powder; and flexible aerogel composite blankets described as in development. Cryar® is presented as a water-based, eco-friendly silica aerogel composite board made through an energy-efficient process, targeted at transporting temperature-sensitive pharmaceutical products such as drugs, vaccines and clinical trial samples, and characterized as non-toxic, lightweight and reusable with long-term property stability.

KrossLinker frames its core technical claim around manufacturing economics: the company states that its aerogel is produced at roughly half the production and capital expenditure of traditional aerogel without performance loss, achieved through faster production and a low-energy novel drying technology, and that this was demonstrated on its pilot production line.

Founding story

KrossLinker was founded in 2019 by a team of scientists holding doctorates: Dr. Elmira Soghrati, Dr. Gayathri Natarajan and Dr. Mahesh Sachithanadam. Natarajan has said the underlying silica aerogel production technology came out of several years of research aimed at addressing the cost, energy and scalability roadblocks of traditional aerogel manufacturing.

Business model

KrossLinker develops and manufactures aerogel materials and finished insulation products (boards, powders, coatings and, in development, blankets) that it sells or co-develops with partners in downstream sectors such as specialty packaging, logistics and construction. The company describes a proprietary production platform (ASPIRE®) intended to lower manufacturing and capital costs relative to conventional aerogel processes, positioning cost reduction as the basis of its commercial offer. As of early 2023 it operated a pilot production line and was working with packaging firms, logistics providers and hospitals to commercialize its cold-chain product.

Sources indicate product sales of aerogel materials and insulation products (boards, powders, coatings) to industrial and packaging customers, plus co-development arrangements with partners; no pricing, contract structure or revenue figures are disclosed.

Traction

As of February 2023 the company had a pilot production line demonstrating its process, its first product (Cryar®) targeting cold chain, collaborations with packaging firms, logistics companies and hospitals, and a group of institutional and government-linked backers including Seeds Capital, ADB Ventures, She1k, Enterprise Singapore, Third Derivative, 500 Global and Entrepreneur First. No revenue, customer counts or shipment volumes are disclosed in the sources.

Latest developments

The company's website presents an expanded portfolio beyond the original cold-chain board, including the KrossShield SR Pro™ aerogel cooling paint for building and construction, the QuintAero® silica aerogel powder, and an aerogel blanket listed as in development, alongside two named application areas: building and construction, and cold-chain storage and transport. Leadership is currently listed as Dr. Gayathri Natarajan (Co-Founder & CEO) and Dr. Mahesh Sachithanandam (Co-Founder & CTO).