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SanChip
Techstars '21Capannori, IT · Founded 2020 · 3 employees on LinkedIn · 1 known investors
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SanChip develops Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) solutions for real-time monitoring of oil and asset conditions, using cloud-based predictive analytics powered by AI algorithms to diagnose failures and optimize operational efficiency. The company serves industrial asset operators seeking to extend asset life, maximize productivity, and reduce operational costs and environmental impact.
Also known as SanChip Innovation · SanChip Innovation srl · SCI
Founders & leadership
SanChip was founded in 2020 by Marco Cozzolino.
Investors · 1
How we know: the company's own site · the Techstars portfolio · open dataset · Top 3000 Accelerator Startups (no YC) 2026-08 · Not right? Tell us
Company profile
researched Sep 2026SanChip develops industrial IoT hardware and software for online monitoring and analysis of lubricants and the assets they serve. Its lab-on-chip sensing technology measures oil parameters in real time and continuously, removing the need for periodic manual sampling and laboratory testing, and feeding results into alerting and diagnostic tools that support predictive maintenance decisions. The stated mission is to increase efficiency while reducing operational costs and environmental impact by extending lubricant life and detecting failures early.
The product line comprises hivor, a plug-and-play device for online oil condition monitoring offered in two models (contamination/wear and temperature; or contamination/wear, water content and temperature), delivered as an analog 4-20 mA sensor that can be read by third-party PLC, DCS or SCADA systems; L-Hub, a multi-parametric online monitoring system for oil analysis and asset protection; and D-BRANE, a cloud-based predictive analysis solution using AI algorithms for failure diagnosis and asset operating status. A D-BRANE Module with 4G connectivity acts as SanChip's data acquisition and processing unit and provides access to the D-BRANE portal with subscription plans for managing signals, trends and alerts.
Alongside products, SanChip offers services including tailor-made R&D and custom device development from concept to production, microfluidic lab-on-chip fabrication and sensor integration at volumes from one-off to large batches, training on tribology and online measurement systems, laboratory fluid sample analysis, and remote monitoring with expert data interpretation and reporting.
Founding story
The venture originated as SanChip Innovation with its Real Time OCM project, aimed at enabling predictive maintenance for owners of industrial machinery, ships, power generation equipment such as wind turbines and gas engines, and OEMs. The founding team was described as combining lubricants-industry and market experience (engineer Leonardo Mattioli), nanotechnology and chip fabrication expertise (Denise Pezzuoli, PhD), and sensor systems and fluid analysis experience (Marco Cozzolino, PhD in Physics).
Business model
Sale of industrial IoT sensing devices and monitoring systems, complemented by a cloud platform (D-BRANE) sold through subscription plans for signal, trend and alert management, and by engineering, fabrication, training, laboratory analysis and remote monitoring services.
Device sales plus subscription access to the D-BRANE cloud portal, together with fee-based services such as custom R&D projects, lab-on-chip fabrication, training courses, fluid sample analysis and remote monitoring and reporting.
Traction
Recognition includes selection by the Techstars accelerator and a special prize at the Premio Gaetano Marzotto; the company also contributed to the EVOCATION project on industrial machinery monitoring and has received several Italian public support and state aid measures.
Latest developments
The company publicizes its contribution to EVOCATION for industrial machinery monitoring and markets the D-BRANE Module with 4G connectivity as the managed route to its cloud portal and subscription plans, alongside support for third-party PLC, DCS and SCADA integration of the hivor sensor.
▸Full profile — market position, technology, go-to-market, geography, history, risks & controversies
Market position
Positioned in the predictive maintenance and lubricant analysis market, competing with laboratories using standard sampling-based analysis methods, makers of rapid but less accurate test kits, and a small number of sensor startups that perform real-time analysis on a single parameter; the market was described as roughly $4 billion globally and projected to reach $12 billion by 2025 at a 25% CAGR.
Continuous, operator-free, multi-parameter real-time analysis integrated directly into machinery, contrasted with interval-based laboratory sampling and with single-parameter real-time sensors, and paired with cloud AI diagnostics and in-house microfluidic fabrication capability.
Technology
Lab-on-chip microfluidic sensing for online oil condition monitoring, drawing on expertise in optical and spectroscopic fluid analysis, microfabrication, nanotechnology and tribology. Sensors measure parameters such as contamination and wear, water content and temperature, with a 4-20 mA analog output or a 4G-connected data acquisition module; collected data feeds the D-BRANE cloud platform, which applies AI algorithms for predictive analysis and failure diagnosis.
Go-to-market
Direct engagement through website enquiry forms and sector-specific applications, a distributor program for resellers, and participation in accelerator and corporate innovation ecosystems; product access is also enabled via third-party control systems (PLC, DCS, SCADA) as well as SanChip's own connectivity module.
Owners and operators of industrial machinery and rotating assets, plus OEMs, across manufacturing, shipping, mining, oil and gas, wind energy and power generation.
Geography
Headquartered in Marlia (Lucca), Italy, at Via del Fanuccio 99/A; an earlier startup profile lists an address in Parma. The company describes an international network and expansion following entry into the Techstars ecosystem.
History
SanChip Innovation was recognized with a special Premio Gaetano Marzotto prize for best female-led startup in coverage dated November 2020, and from the end of 2021 entered the Techstars ecosystem following selection by the accelerator. Press items listed on its startup profile in 2022 include Eni's selection, with Cariplo Factory, of five startups for Industrial IoT development and an item on Eastern Pacific Shipping investing in additional technology start-ups. The company has since operated from Marlia (Lucca) with the hivor, L-Hub and D-BRANE product lines and an accompanying services business.
Risks & controversies
Public materials give limited evidence of commercial scale: the company's customer, award and news sections on its website remain unpopulated with placeholder text, and disclosed funding consists largely of small Italian public grants and COVID-19 state aid measures. Address information differs between the company site (Marlia, Lucca) and an earlier regional startup registry entry (Parma).
Compiled by commissioned research from 8 cited public sources — announcements, filings, and press listed under research sources below.
Key figures
latest reportedCompany-reported or press-reported figures, each dated to when it was claimed — not independently audited.
Timeline · 5
launches, deals, and filingsCoverage dated 19 May 2022 reported that Eni, with Cariplo Factory, selected five startups to develop Industrial IoT solutions, in a press item listed on SanChip Innovation's profile.
A February 2022 article on Eastern Pacific Shipping investing in nine additional technology start-ups is listed among press mentions on SanChip Innovation's startup profile.
SanChip was selected by the Techstars accelerator and entered its ecosystem from the end of 2021 as part of an international expansion process.
Press coverage listed SanChip Innovation, based in Parma, as recipient of the Premio Gaetano Marzotto special prize for the best female-led startup.
Company disclosures of public funds received list a Voucher 3I for innovative startups (EUR 4,880), tax incentives for investment in innovative startups and SMEs (EUR 1,083.50), national COVID-19 state aid framework support (EUR 100,000) and an SME Guarantee Fund COVID-19 measure (EUR 40,000).
Dated company events from announcements, filings, and press; legal rows summarize public dockets and regulator releases.
▸Research sources · 8
primary sources listed
- SanChipsanchip.net · web
8 public sources were cited for this profile; the first-party ones are listed here.
Frequently asked questions
- What does SanChip do?
- Italian IIoT company making lab-on-chip sensors and cloud analytics for real-time oil condition monitoring and predictive maintenance.
- Who founded SanChip?
- SanChip was founded by Marco Cozzolino in 2020.
- Who are SanChip's investors?
- SanChip's investors include Techstars.
- Where is SanChip headquartered?
- SanChip is headquartered in Capannori, IT.