New Materials Startups

Hertha Metals develops a proprietary pyrometallurgical process to produce iron and steel more efficiently and cost-effectively. The company operates in the industrial materials and steelmaking sector, moving its technology from pilot to commercial-scale plants.

2 investors

Hexigone develops corrosion-inhibition technology through its Intelli-ion "smart-release" platform (including the bio-based PX1 series) used in protective coatings, supplying coatings manufacturers with lower-carbon, safer inhibitors at over 800 MT per year. The company, spun out of Swansea University's Corrosion Group, serves multinational and smaller coatings manufacturers worldwide.

2 investors

Highcon builds digital cutting and creasing machines for manufacturers of folding carton and corrugated packaging and displays, offering an alternative to conventional die-making and setup processes. Its systems serve global and local brands to address shorter time-to-market, smaller job sizes, and sustainability demands driven by e-commerce.

2 investors

Holiferm develops and produces performance ingredients using biomanufacturing and fermentation, supplying biosurfactants for use in personal care, cosmetics, and household cleaning products. Its ingredients are used by consumer brands in products such as cleansers, shower foams, surface cleaners, and shampoo bars.

2 investors

Holy Technologies provides an end-to-end manufacturing service for composite components, using its proprietary robotic Intelligent Fiber Placement (IFP) technology to place continuous fibers along load-optimized paths for minimal weight and recyclability. It serves manufacturers seeking to move from prototype to high-volume production of recyclable composite parts.

2 investors

HT Materials Science develops Maxwell®, a heat transfer fluid that uses nanoparticle technology for commercial and industrial HVAC applications. The company markets its products across Europe, Asia, and North America with production and distribution facilities in multiple regions.

2 investors

Hyfé operates a refining process that extracts specialty ingredients and chemical building blocks from food-processing waste and biomass. It produces high-performance ingredients for the food, beverage, personal care, and nutraceutical industries, along with glucose streams and chemical feedstocks for biomanufacturing.

2 investors

Hypetex Coloured Advanced Materials (CAM) develops sustainable colouring technology for advanced engineered materials such as carbon fibre and flax, offering a portfolio of colour and material combinations along with technical, design and manufacturing support. It also produces FlaxTex, a coated natural fibre for colouring and improving the processing of flax, serving composite manufacturing programmes.

2 investors

Immaterial develops monolithic metal-organic frameworks (m-MOFs), a nanoporous material platform, and scales them from lab to industrial production for gas separation applications such as carbon capture. The company, a University of Cambridge spin-out, designs and engineers adsorption-based systems for point-source and industrial carbon capture.

2 investors

Impossible Objects develops composite-based 3D printing technology. The company operates in the additive manufacturing and hardware sector.

2 investors

Infinna is a circular fiber material made 100% from cotton-rich textile waste that replaces virgin materials in the fashion and apparel industry. The company targets fashion brands seeking to meet sustainability and circularity targets while producing high-quality garments.

2 investors

Innophos develops specialty phosphate ingredients, nutrition solutions, and chelated minerals for the food and beverage, health and nutrition, and industrial specialties markets. It operates an integrated manufacturing supply chain across North America (US, Mexico, and Canada), supplying ingredients and blends to industrial and consumer product customers.

2 investors

Inpria, a JSR company, designs and manufactures metal oxide EUV photoresists based on organometallic tin-oxide clusters for improved patterning resolution in chip production. It supplies semiconductor manufacturers that have adopted EUV lithography, producing its materials at a facility in Corvallis, Oregon.

2 investors

Insignia Technologies develops products using patented colour-changing inks and films that provide real-time visual indicators for applications such as patient safety and food waste reduction. Founded as a spinout from the University of Strathclyde, the company serves businesses across sectors including healthcare and food.

2 investors

ION Storage Systems develops solid-state battery technology, including its Cornerstone cell, and ships samples to consumer electronics manufacturers. It is a U.S.-based company in the energy storage and battery materials sector.

2 investors

IonKraft, a spin-off from the Institute of Plastics Processing (IKV) at RWTH Aachen University, develops a barrier coating technology for mono-material plastic containers that provides the barrier and chemical resistance of multi-layer packaging while remaining fully recyclable. Its coating targets makers of chemical-product packaging seeking recyclable, lower-cost containers.

2 investors

Ionomr Innovations develops ion exchange membranes and polymers, including anion exchange membranes (AEM) and hydrocarbon proton exchange membranes (PEM), used in hydrogen generation, fuel cells, CO2-to-fuel conversion, and chemical recovery for heavy industry. Its advanced materials serve clean energy and industrial applications supporting the renewable and hydrogen economy.

2 investors

Iris Light develops photonic inks based on nanomaterials that enable integration of light-emitting and light-detecting components directly onto silicon wafers, addressing manufacturing bottlenecks in silicon photonics and infrared imaging. The company targets applications including optical communications, medical devices, autonomous vehicle LiDAR, and chemical/biological sensors.

2 investors

Jeosal Materials Research Corporation is a Kingston, Ontario lab developing economically viable recycling processes for fibre reinforced plastics, particularly fibreglass (GFRP) from end-of-life watercraft. Working with Queen's University, it recovers raw materials for reuse in the sporting goods, electronics, and automotive sectors.

2 investors

Jiva Materials makes Soluboard, a patent-protected rigid printed circuit board (PCB) laminate that is recyclable and biodegradable, produced by impregnating natural fibres with a water-soluble polymer and halogen-free flame retardant. It supplies copper clad laminate panels to PCB fabricators and OEMs as a lower-carbon alternative to conventional glass-fibre/epoxy substrates.

2 investors

Kare Chemical Technologies is a pharmaceutical technology company using a patented catalytic process to convert limonene, a citrus by-product, into high-purity CB1 and CB2 receptor ligands for drug development. It develops non-psychoactive therapeutic candidates aimed at safer alternatives to opioids and next-generation metabolic therapies.

2 investors

Keel Labs develops sustainable textile fibers from seaweed biopolymers, with its flagship Kelsun fiber. It focuses on materials innovation for the fiber and textile industry, drawing on ocean-derived inputs.

2 investors

Kern Tec is a B2B producer that upcycles stone-fruit kernels — such as apricot, cherry, and plum pits — into ingredients like seeds, pastes, oils, and granulates for the food and cosmetics industries. Its apricot-kernel products serve as nut-free bases for dairy alternatives, vegan cheese, confectionery, snacks, and cosmetic oils, with customers across the DACH region.

2 investors

Kiriu is a manufacturer specializing in casting and machining technologies, producing automotive and industrial components. The company highlights its foundry (casting) and processing/machining capabilities.

2 investors