New Materials Startups

Kastus Solar develops nanotechnology-based anti-soiling coatings for solar panels that create hydrophilic and photocatalytic surfaces to reduce dust accumulation and improve energy generation. The company serves solar panel operators and manufacturers seeking to enhance panel efficiency and sustainability.

1 investor

Kemin develops and manufactures specialty ingredients across areas including human and animal nutrition, pet food, plant science, and health applications. The company operates globally, serving customers in more than 120 countries with over 500 specialty ingredients.

1 investor

Kemvera is a sustainable chemical company that produces bio-based drop-in chemicals, including bio-acetic acid and bio-ethyl acetate, made from Midwest corn ethanol to help brand owners lower the carbon footprint of products like paints, footwear, disinfectants, and perfumes. It operates in the low-carbon chemicals and materials industry and is developing CO₂-derived chemicals, with US-based production.

1 investor

Kensing manufactures plant-based, high-purity ingredients including natural vitamin E (tocopherols), sunflower-derived phytosterols, biosurfactants, and specialty esters. Its products serve the nutraceutical/dietary supplement, personal care, home care, and cosmetics industries, with an emphasis on clean-label, sustainable, and upcycled sourcing.

1 investor

Kentegra processes pyrethrum flowers into a natural active ingredient used for pest and bug protection, positioning it as a safer alternative to synthetic options. It works with farming communities in Kenya, sourcing flowers to support their financial and social wellbeing.

1 investor

Ketjen provides advanced catalyst solutions and technical support for the oil refining industry, including fluidized catalytic cracking, hydrotreating, and hydrocracking catalysts. It also offers catalysts that help refiners process bio-based and waste-derived feedstocks to produce renewable fuels and recycled monomers.

1 investor

Key Container, together with sister companies Custom & Grimes Box and Mount Tom Box, manufactures corrugated packaging products including custom and stock boxes, die-cut boxes, displays, pizza boxes, and packaging supplies. It is an integrated packaging provider that controls the full production process, from combining paper and raw materials into corrugated sheets to finished boxes and displays.

1 investor

Keyes Packaging Group produces molded fiber trays and specialty-tissue protective wrap used to store and ship food and beverage products such as apples, pears, avocados, eggs, citrus fruit, and wine bottles. It serves the food and beverage industry and operates the largest molded fiber plant on the West Coast, based in Washington state.

1 investor

1 investor

KVTC operates a plantation teak forestry and integrated timber processing business in a remote region of Tanzania, growing and sustainably harvesting teak while managing over 20,000 hectares of native forests and wetlands. It produces timber and value-added wood products, supplying sustainably sourced teak from Africa.

1 investor

KinectXions works with strategic partners to develop and commercialize sustainable products, focusing on manufacturing technology to improve performance and lower cost. It supports partnerships across R&D, product commercialization, manufacturing, channel distribution, and turnkey installation services.

1 investor

KINKELDER is an international manufacturer of high-quality TCT, segmental, and HSS circular saw blades used for cutting steel tubes, pipes, and solids. It co-develops products with customers, operates in-house production across two continents, and supports clients with application engineering and coating expertise.

1 investor

Kinotech is a research and development company that recovers zinc from electric-arc-furnace steelmaking dust to produce high-purity electrolytic zinc (99.995%, LME grade) using its proprietary direct alkaline leaching and electrolysis process. The company targets recycling of a material largely landfilled as industrial waste, aiming to reduce environmental pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.

1 investor

Kish Company sources, processes, manufactures, and distributes industrial minerals, extenders, and additives such as barium sulfate, calcium carbonate, graphite, mica, talc, and titanium dioxide. It supplies custom-formulated materials—including tailored particle sizes, surface treatments, and drop-in replacements—to manufacturers, with an internal lab for QC testing and new product development.

1 investor

Kisling develops adhesive, sealing, and potting solutions used in electric motor production, including magnet bonding and thermal potting applications. It serves manufacturers of electric drives and motors.

1 investor

Kiwi Leather Innovations develops bio-based materials made from kiwifruit horticultural by-products, supplied as precision-cut sheets for use by designers, luxury brands, and automotive interior manufacturers. The company uses green chemistry and non-toxic finishing to produce leather alternatives for the fashion and automotive industries.

1 investor

KLISBio develops a silk fibroin-based biointegrative platform for nerve repair and other medical applications. The company serves medtech markets focused on biocompatible medical devices and biomaterials.

1 investor

Klöckner & Co is a steel and metal distributor and processor offering online ordering with personalized pricing, chosen delivery dates, and digital quote and document management. Through its Nexigen® brand it provides transparent, CO₂-reduced material, service, and logistics solutions to help customers build sustainable supply chains.

1 investor

Kremen Group is a Slovenian company made up of businesses operating in cooperation with strategic partners RHI Magnesita CZ and EKW GmbH. It operates under ISO 9001 quality and ISO 14001 environmental standards.

1 investor

Kremenak NanoTech (KNT) is a deep tech startup that develops patented and patent-pending nanoengineered material platform technologies and products, including Shredder, which uses material science to prevent microbial spoilage in commercial beverage production. Its R&D laboratory operates out of the University of Missouri Life Science Business Incubator.

1 investor

Kriya Materials develops PFAS-free multifunctional coatings that control light, heat, and surface behaviour, spanning a refractive index range of 1.16–2.00 with functions such as anti-reflection, hard coating, antistatic, and NIR blocking from a single platform. Its coatings serve OEMs across consumer electronics, automotive, solar, and photonics supply chains. The company was founded in 2006, originated from Philips Research, and operates from Nuth, The Netherlands.

1 investor

Kunin is a US-based vertically integrated ion-exchange technology company that manufactures ion-exchange resins, develops metal recovery processes, and builds co-product plants at operating mines, smelters, and refineries. It focuses on recovering critical and by-product metals (including rare earths) from low-concentration, high-impurity feedstocks to build domestic US critical mineral supply.

1 investor

Kuprion develops ActiveCopper materials and printable conductive inks used to manage heat in high-power, high-temperature electronic systems, serving electronics engineers and manufacturers across industries including semiconductor packaging, electric vehicles, and 5G communications. Spun out of Lockheed Martin, the company supplies copper interconnect and adhesive materials for improved electronics performance and reliability.

1 investor

Kwambio appears to be associated with designer jewelry and home decor products. The page provides insufficient detail to confirm the company's full offering or business model.

1 investor