New Materials Startups

Spora discovers and cultivates wild fungal strains from pristine ecosystems, processing them with proprietary biotechnology and nanotechnology to create mycelium-based products. The company combines scientific research with ancestral knowledge from remote communities to develop sustainable, nature-inspired solutions.

3 investors

Spotless Materials develops PFAS-free repellent coatings that reduce surface fouling and contamination on glass, metal, ceramic, and plastic surfaces. Initially launched as a consumer product, the coatings are now used in industrial applications including medical devices, diagnostic equipment, and automotive components.

3 investors

Spraywerx supplies industrial coating equipment, including HVOF and plasma thermal spray systems, laser cladding systems, powder feeders, and coating powders. It serves industrial coating providers needing tools for wear- and corrosion-resistant coatings.

3 investors

SQIM is a material innovation company that uses living organisms and organic matter (biofabrication) to produce alternative materials. It operates two product brands: Ephea, which makes mycelium-based materials for fashion, and Mogu, which makes materials for interior design and architecture.

3 investors

Sulapac develops a biodegradable plastic alternative made from biomaterials that breaks down fully without leaving microplastics, designed for use in packaging and consumer products across industries including cosmetics and food service. The material can be processed using existing plastic manufacturing equipment, enabling companies to transition from conventional plastic to sustainable alternatives.

3 investors

Sunchem develops patented processes to recover metals such as gold, copper, silver, and silicon from electronic waste, concentrates, and ore with high purity, using less energy and milder chemicals than smelting or cyanide leaching. It serves e-waste suppliers, device manufacturers, solar panel producers, and the mining industry, operating a facility in Berkeley, California.

3 investors

SunGreenH2 develops hydrogen production technology and is seeking strategic partners to pilot and trial its systems.

3 investors

Surrey Hydrogen develops green hydrogen production technology. The company serves industries seeking sustainable hydrogen fuel solutions.

3 investors

Swedish Algae Factory cultivates diatoms and extracts their silica shells, marketed as Algica®, a material used in high-end oceanic beauty care products and applications such as solar panel efficiency enhancement. The company runs a circular production facility in Kungshamn on the Swedish west coast that captures carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and phosphorus during cultivation.

3 investors

Syntetica develops chemical recycling technologies to make polymers circular, starting with nylon, turning waste into new materials. The company works on green chemistry and process scale-up for industrial applications.

3 investors

Syre is a textile impact company that produces circular polyester through textile-to-textile recycling, offering quality on par with virgin polyester while reducing CO2e emissions by up to 85%. It serves the global textile and fashion industry as a supplier of recycled polyester materials produced at industrial scale.

3 investors

TheraDep develops nanoscale plasma coating technology that bonds pharmaceuticals, biologics, and polymers onto surfaces such as metals, plastics, ceramics, and composites at room temperature. Its process targets manufacturers in the labware and medical device markets, offering custom coating solutions that integrate into existing production lines.

3 investors

Tidal Metals uses patented electrochemical technology to produce primary magnesium from seawater or desalination brine using clean electricity, aiming to re-establish domestic magnesium production in the United States. The metal serves defense, aerospace, automotive, and advanced manufacturing industries that rely on magnesium and its use in steel, aluminum, and titanium.

3 investors

Transition Metal Solutions applies microbial and biochemical methods to enhance copper extraction from low-grade ores, enabling more efficient recovery with reduced environmental impact for mining operations. The company works within existing mining infrastructure rather than replacing it, targeting the growing copper demand from the energy transition.

3 investors

Trusscore manufactures advanced PVC-based wall panels incorporating nanotechnology and materials science for residential, commercial, and agricultural applications. The products are water-resistant, lightweight, recyclable, and offer functionality improvements over traditional drywall.

3 investors

Turnover Labs builds a durable electrolysis system that converts dilute CO2 emissions into pure, high-value chemical products on-site at any scale. The technology targets industrial companies seeking low-carbon feedstocks while avoiding import costs and carbon taxes.

3 investors

U-MAP is a University of Nagoya spin-off developing new thermal-management materials to address heat problems in electronic devices such as smartphones, PCs, electric vehicles, data centers, and 5G equipment. Its material aims to solve challenges that conventional industrial materials could not.

3 investors

Unibaio develops TurboCharge, a bioactive carrier platform that makes existing crop protection products more effective, allowing lower chemical use while improving field performance for farmers. The technology draws on biological and materials science to deliver agrochemicals and biologicals across a range of crops.

3 investors

Untuvia develops proprietary technology to recycle down feathers from textile waste into high-quality recycled down for use in the textile and apparel industry. The process is waterless, toxic-free, and significantly more energy and water efficient than conventional methods.

3 investors

UpSolv develops a dissolution-and-purification recycling technology that turns contaminated thermoplastics (including polystyrene, HIPS, ABS, and polyolefins like PE, PP and PC) into custom purified recycled resins for industrial customers. The company is building its first commercial plant in Quebec, Canada, intended to recycle over 10,000 tonnes of contaminated polystyrene waste.

3 investors

Valdera operates a sourcing and procurement platform for buying and selling chemicals and raw materials, connecting buyers, suppliers, brands, manufacturers, and producers. It uses AI, machine learning, and data science to help businesses manage supply chains, serving clients from large industrial manufacturers to beauty industry brands.

3 investors

Vanilla Steel operates an AI-supported trading service for buying and selling carbon steel products, acting as the direct counterparty and managing offers, financing, and logistics for sellers and buyers. It serves steel suppliers, service centers, and buyers across Europe, sourcing material from 500+ European suppliers.

3 investors

Vateris (formerly Concrete4Change) is a UK-based advanced materials technology company whose proprietary process converts industrial flue gas CO₂ into GypCarb, a vaterite-based mineral additive for cement and concrete, while co-producing high-purity SOP mineral fertiliser. It serves the cement, concrete and related construction materials markets, enabling permanent carbon storage embedded in mineral products.

3 investors

VELOZBIO manufactures food ingredients derived from germinated grains and legumes, using controlled germination to raise the nutritional value and technical functionality of its ingredients. Its products are aimed at formulators of high-protein and fortified food products.

3 investors