A daily newsletter summarizing recent activity & interesting start-ups globally
RECENT NOTABLE ACTIVITY – ADVANCED MATERIAL
- Nantero which develops storage material using CNT raised $21M in a new round of funding led by Globespan Capital Partners. Link
- Angstron Materials which manufactures nano-graphene platelets raised $5.7M in a new round of funding. Link
- SmartKem a company that develops organic semiconductor material raised $3.71M in a new funding round. Link
- LiquidX a startup that manufactures functional metallic inks raised $2.02M in a new funding round. Link
- Bnnt Materials a startup that develops Boron Nitride Nanotubes raised $1.32M in a new round of funding. Link
- Multiwave Technologies a startup that develops software to accelerate the design of metamaterials has raised funding in a new round. Link
- Cambridge Graphene a company that develops graphene-based inks and other products is acquired by Versarien in Jan 2017. Link
- Samsung acquires QD Vision a company that develops quantum dot displays in Nov 2016. Link
SOME INTERESTING STARTUPS FOUND
Multiwave Technology (2015, Geneva) – Develops software that accelerates the designing of metamaterials.
Full Cycle Bioplastics (2014, Richmond Hill) – Develops bioplastics from organic waste using a proprietary technology.
LEADER BOARD – ADVANCED MATERIAL
Nanomaterials
Quantum Dots
Nanosys (2001, Palo Alto, $147M) – Develops quantum dots and films that are used to make LCD displays. Backed by Intel Capital, Polaris Partners, Lux Capital, In-Q-Tel, and Samsung Venture Investment.
QD Vision (2004, Lexington, Acq) – Develops quantum dot display substrates. Acquired by Samsung in November 2016.
Carbon Based
Nantero (2001, Woburn, $110M) – Develops faster storage material using carbon nanotubes. Backed by Charles River Ventures, Draper Fisher Jurvetson, Globespan Capital Partners, HHVC, and Schlumberger.
Canatu (2004, Helsinki, $25M) – Develops transparent conductive films and touch sensors using carbon nanotubes. Backed by Troika Dialog, Inventure, Tekes, and European Investment Bank.
Metal Based
Cambrios (2004, Sunnyvale, $51M) – Develops silver-based nanowires for developing transparent conductors. Backed by In-Q-Tel, Avalon Ventures, Lux Capital, aRCH Venture, HHVC, and Samsung Venture Investment.
Aerogels
Aspen Aerogel (2001, Northborough, IPO) – Develops aerogel-based insulating and thermal management materials. Went public in June 2014.
American Aerogel (1995, New York, $38M) – Develops packaging material for temperature sensitive shipments using aerogels. Backed by VIMAC Ventures, Cycle Capital Management, and Mount Royal Ventures.
Polymers
Biopolymers
NatureWorks (1997, Minnetonka, $150M) – Develops biopolymers like PLA using atmospheric carbon. Backed by Department of Energy (US) and PTT Global Chemical.
Novomer (2004, Rochester, $46M) – Develops high performance and environmentally friendly polymers using atmospheric carbon (CO, CO2). Backed by Flagship Ventures, OVP Venture Partners, Department of Energy (US), Physic Ventures, National Science Foundation, Saudi Aramco Energy Ventures, DSM, and Small Business Innovation Research.
Conducting
Plextronics (2002, Pittsburgh, Acq.) – Develops conductive polymer and inks for electronic printing applications. Acquired by Solvay in March 2014.
3D Printing
Oxford Performance Materials (1998, South Windsor, $23M) – Develops thermoplastic material for application in 3D printing. Backed by National Institutes of Health, Connecticut Innovations, Hexcel, and Longmeadow Capital Partners.
Functional Coatings
Hydrophobic & Self Cleaning
HZO (2011, Draper, $73M) – Develops water-resistant coatings to make electronic devices waterproof. Backed by Vy Capital, Horizons Ventures, TransLink Capital, Formation 8, HHVC, Delta Electronics, Prudence Holdings, Zagg, and Iron Gate Capital.
Liquipel (2010, Santa Ana, $10M) – Develops hydrophobic nano-coatings to increase the water resistance of the electronic devices. Backed by Burch Creative Capital.
Surface Protection
UCT Coatings (2000, Stuart, $15M) – Develops Nickle-based coatings for electroless metal finishing. Backed by Seraph group.
Optical coatings
Beneq (2005, Espoo, $16M) – Develops optical coatings and atomic layer deposition equipment for application in display manufacturing industry. Backed by Inventure, Suomen Teollisuussijoitus, Via Venture Partners, Rusnano, FVCA, Finnish Industry Investment.
Semiconductor Materials
Soitec (1992, Bernin, IPO) – Develops silicon-on-insulator (SOI) wafers. Went public in 1999.
Rubicon (2001, Bensenville, IPO) – Develops and manufactures sapphire wafers. Went public in 2007.
Metamaterials
Echodyne (2014, Bellevue, $15M) – Develops metamaterial based technology to produce radars. Backed by Madrona Venture Group, Lux Capital, The Kresge Foundation, and Vulcan Capital.
Leaderboard includes all the top funded, IPO and successfully running bootstrapped companies along with their location, founding year and funding amount.
For latest updates, visit Advanced Materials feed.