New Materials Startups

Ruby Bio uses fermentation to produce bio-based surfactants, natural food emulsifiers, polyol sweeteners, biomonomers, and oleochemicals from sugars and up-cycled waste feedstocks. Its palm-free, petroleum-free ingredients serve as sustainable replacements for synthetic materials used in detergents, food products, polymers, packaging, adhesives, and coatings.

5 investors

Shellworks develops VIVOMER, a compostable material made by collaborating with microorganisms that produce natural polymers, designed to perform like plastic but break down without leaving waste. The company works with manufacturers using existing infrastructure to replace conventional permanent plastics.

5 investors

Sicona develops battery materials, including silicon-based anode materials, through in-house R&D, materials production, and a dedicated battery and materials testing laboratory. It aims to supply high-performance, cost-effective battery materials to support the transition to electrified energy.

5 investors

SiTration develops silicon-based electro-extraction (SEE) and nano-filtration (SNF) technologies that recover metals and critical minerals from mining waste, leachate, and recycled material using electricity and no added chemicals. Its process serves mining, refining, and recycling operators seeking to turn tailings and wastewater into recoverable resources such as rare earth concentrates, copper, and precious metals.

5 investors

Tynt develops a patented Reversible Metal Electrodeposition (RME) platform for dynamic dimming and smart tinting of transparent surfaces, ranging from smart eyewear to building facades. The technology enables tunable light transmission, blackout, and switchable mirror functions for adaptive hardware applications.

5 investors

Volt14 Solutions develops silicon-majority anode materials that replace conventional graphite anodes in lithium-ion battery cells, aiming to increase energy density and lower cost while remaining compatible with existing cell manufacturing infrastructure. It sells integrated, ready-to-use anode solutions to battery cell manufacturers.

5 investors

Wild Microbes uses synthetic biology to engineer microbes sourced from diverse wild biomes into production hosts for biomanufacturing high-performance ingredients. Its product pipeline spans emulsifiers, cleansers, vitamins, supplements, and industrial chemicals for partners seeking renewable, microbe-made inputs.

5 investors

ZwitterCo develops zwitterionic anti-fouling membranes that resist organic fouling for filtration of industrial wastewater and process streams. Its products serve dairy and food & beverage processors, biotechnology companies, grain processing/biorefining, and landfill leachate treatment for water reuse and product recovery.

5 investors

6K uses microwave plasma technology (Unimelt) to produce engineered materials, including battery cathode materials and metal powders for additive manufacturing, with an emphasis on sustainable processes. It serves industries such as additive manufacturing, renewable energy, aerospace, and consumer electronics, operating innovation labs in Massachusetts and a production facility in Pennsylvania.

4 investors

Adept Materials develops a moisture-control material technology that provides directional vapor control, humidity regulation, and temperature management, applied as coatings, films, and overlays. Spun out of a Brown University physics lab, its technology targets buildings, apparel, packaging, and healthcare applications with a focus on durability and energy efficiency.

4 investors

AeroShield is a materials science company that developed an ultra-clear silica aerogel, originating from research at MIT, aimed at improving the energy efficiency of buildings. It targets the building materials industry with insulation technology for the built environment.

4 investors

Algenesis Labs develops plant-based, biodegradable polyurethanes and polymers designed to replace petroleum-based materials while retaining durability. Its two chemical systems target manufacturers seeking non-toxic, compostable alternatives for their products.

4 investors

Altrove uses physics-based AI and lab automation to design and manufacture substitutes for critical inorganic materials, aiming to develop alternatives faster than conventional R&D. It targets global industrials seeking to replace critical materials that pose supply chain, cost, and regulatory risks.

4 investors

AmorSui manufactures reusable personal protective equipment (PPE) designed to be more durable, sustainable, and inclusive than traditional disposable options. The company serves healthcare workers and other occupational safety professionals with machine-washable PPE that incorporates circular economy principles and inclusive sizing.

4 investors

Amprius develops and manufactures silicon-anode lithium-ion battery cells that deliver high energy density. The company operates in the advanced battery and energy storage industry.

4 investors

Atelerix develops hypothermic hydrogel encapsulation technology that stabilises and preserves fresh cells, tissues, and blood at room temperature, eliminating the need for cryopreservation and cold-chain logistics. Its plant-based, xeno-free kits (such as CytoStor, BeadReady, and STORganoid) serve research and clinical labs shipping live cell material, organoids, and 3D cell models.

4 investors

Atomic Tessellator combines computational physics with machine learning and enterprise software architecture, though the page does not specify its product offering or customer market.

4 investors

Atomscale builds AI models and a platform for atomic-scale materials manufacturing, capturing and analyzing process data to give real-time visibility, predict material properties, and apply adaptive process control. It serves semiconductor/materials fabrication organizations, data teams, and process engineers with domain-specific AI agents for improving yields and scale-up.

4 investors

Avertana extracts minerals and chemicals from steel manufacturing waste slag using chemical processes, producing sustainable raw materials for industrial manufacturers. The company's circular economy technology replaces conventional mining and refining with waste-derived alternatives that have lower environmental impact and cost.

4 investors

Biomason uses biotechnology to grow biocement, producing concrete and tile products by using bacteria to bind natural materials as an alternative to Portland cement, aimed at concrete producers and the construction industry. Founded in North Carolina with manufacturing and market development in Denmark, the company sells tile products installed in the US and Europe and is developing pavers and walls, with a focus on the European market.

4 investors

BioPlaster produces compostable and biodegradable packaging—including cushioning foam (GreenShell), packaging films, and reusable bags—made primarily from brown seaweed (sargassum) biomass. It targets businesses seeking sustainable alternatives to conventional plastic for applications like delivery, shopping, and secondary packaging.

4 investors

C3D Materials develops advanced elastomer materials and an additive manufacturing platform for 3D printing industrial-strength polyurethane rubber parts. Its reaction-based technology cures liquid materials as they are deposited, allowing durable elastomeric parts to be printed on substrates such as metal, textile, plastics, and ceramics for industrial product design and manufacturing.

4 investors

California Catalysts develops advanced materials and catalysts for hydrogen electrolysis using AI-driven discovery methods. The company partners with electrolyzer manufacturers to commercialize low-cost, non-iridium catalysts and coatings that improve green hydrogen production performance and economics.

4 investors

Canopy Aerospace & Defense designs and manufactures specialized materials and components for aerospace, defense, and space applications, including composites, thermal protection systems, and machined parts. The company operates as an integrated platform providing end-to-end solutions from design through production and sustainment.

4 investors