New Materials Startups

Wispeco Aluminium manufactures and supplies aluminium extrusions for industrial and architectural applications, operating casting, extrusion, powder coating, and anodising facilities. It serves customers such as the solar, transport, and construction industries, with manufacturing based in Gauteng and national distribution across South Africa and broader Africa.

1 investor

WPC – WOODPLASTIC manufactures composite wood products including terraces, fences, and facade systems from sustainably sourced wood flour and recyclable high-density polyethylene. The company serves customers in the construction and outdoor design sectors.

1 investor

Wood_Space builds modular timber (solid wood) buildings with a high degree of prefabrication, delivered as freestanding structures for commercial clients. This project page describes a completed bakery location for the Wurm family in Bogen, realized with retail-fitting partner ABC Ladenbau.

1 investor

Woola makes protective packaging from waste sheep wool as an alternative to plastic for shipping fragile items. It targets businesses seeking sustainable, reusable e-commerce packaging, primarily in Europe.

1 investor

Wootz develops materials technology, working with industry partners to move nano-material innovations into applications such as functional electronic devices. It collaborates with clients on rapid material development and deployment.

1 investor

Worthington Industries separated its steel processing business in December 2023 into two publicly traded companies, Worthington Enterprises and Worthington Steel. The businesses operate in steel processing and manufacturing of metal products.

1 investor

White River Forest Products operates a sawmill complex within the White River Sustainable Forest License area, producing FSC-certified lumber products including random length, stud, and value-added products. The community-based forestry company targets around 150 million board feet of output while emphasizing environmental protection and regional social benefits.

1 investor

Wyloo mines and processes high-grade critical materials such as nickel sulphide for green energy and battery supply chains, with producing assets in Australia, mining projects in Canada, and a downstream battery materials processing facility in Ontario. The company works in partnership with local and First Nation communities and emphasizes environmental sustainability in its operations.

1 investor

Wyo-Ben produces Wyoming bentonite clay-based products used in drilling fluids, water treatment, civil engineering, and industrial and consumer applications such as oil and gas drilling, environmental remediation, cat litter, and cosmetics. A family-owned company operating since 1951, it mines reserves in Wyoming's Big Horn Basin and processes products serving a global market.

1 investor

X-nano develops nanomaterials to support the energy transition, targeting critical steps in electric storage (lithium-ion batteries), clean hydrogen, and next-generation nuclear (fourth-gen fission and fusion) energy sectors. The company is a deeptech spinoff from the Italian Institute of Technology (IIT).

1 investor

Xinterra operates the Xinterra Design Factory (XDF), a platform combining high-throughput experimentation, a proprietary materials database, and artificial intelligence to accelerate the discovery and development of new materials and formulations. It serves industrial customers seeking sustainable materials and applies physics-inspired design and data augmentation to guide experiments.

1 investor

XJet develops NanoParticle Jetting (NPJ) technology, a powderless additive manufacturing process that uses inkjet printheads to produce end-use ceramic and metal parts through automated print, wash, and sinter steps. The system targets industrial manufacturers seeking accurate, fully digital parts production without powders, lasers, or additional machining.

1 investor

Xtalic uses a computational material design platform to develop nanostructured metal alloys with enhanced durability, corrosion resistance, and temperature stability for manufacturers with demanding product requirements. Its alloys are used in applications such as electronic connectors, smartphone and EV charging, wearables, and wireless charging, with design and sampling done in a nanomaterial lab in Marlborough, Massachusetts.

1 investor

Crystal Sonic develops patented Sonic Lift-off technology that uses sound waves to separate thin devices from their semiconductor wafer base, allowing the base to be reused. It serves manufacturers of next-generation semiconductors built on materials such as SiC, GaN, GaAs, AlN and LiNbO3, helping reduce manufacturing waste and cost.

1 investor

Yangi produces complete dry-formed paper fiber machine lines and offers prototyping, lab services, and an industrial demo platform for packaging producers seeking plastic-free, fiber-based packaging. Customers gain full ownership of the delivered production lines and support to bring sustainable packaging products to market.

1 investor

A South Korean chemical manufacturer producing specialty and precision chemicals including photolithography and wet chemicals, LCD and LED materials, solar cell materials, and PU systems. Its products serve the semiconductor and display industries, and it operates a certified corporate research institute developing new materials.

1 investor

The Yellow SiC Company produces high-purity (<1ppm impurities) yellow cubic silicon carbide (3C-SiC) at industrial scale using a patented process. The material is used in applications such as power semiconductors.

1 investor

York Timbers is a South African solid wood processor that produces lumber and plywood from sustainably sourced timber, supplying the market through a wholesale distribution network. Founded in 1916, it is South Africa's largest solid wood processor and is listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange.

1 investor

Yumbrella develops natural coating solutions applied to fresh fruit to extend shelf life and reduce food waste. It markets affordable coatings to farmers, including those in developing nations, to help sustain families financially and nutritionally.

1 investor

Zeda is a technology solutions company providing an end-to-end powder-to-finished-part manufacturing platform that combines additive manufacturing, nanotech, and precision machining for highly regulated industries. It operates across two arms, Zeda Technologies and Zeda Health.

1 investor

Zakuro develops solid-state battery technology using a solid-state separator and lithium metal anode to increase energy density over lithium-ion cells. Its approach eliminates the flammable liquid electrolyte to reduce fire risk and is designed to leverage existing lithium-ion manufacturing capabilities.

1 investor

ZealaFoam makes a 100% plant-based, compostable foam from PLA beads expanded with CO2 as a drop-in replacement for polystyrene, compatible with existing manufacturing equipment. Its applications include bean bag fill (EcoBeans), cool chain packaging for fresh and chilled produce, helmets, and bee boxes, produced in New Zealand.

1 investor

Zentek is a Canadian technology company operating three platforms under a contract-research (CRO) model where clients fund development and Zentek retains the IP: Albany, an Ontario graphite mineral deposit; a graphene-based materials line (ZenGUARD, Zenfire, ZenICE, ZenArmor) for fire, ice, corrosion, and filtration applications; and Triera, an aptamer-based diagnostics and molecular discovery business. It serves industrial and therapeutic partners across critical minerals, advanced materials, and diagnostics.

1 investor

Zeopore develops modified zeolite catalysts using its mesoporization technology to improve the activity, selectivity, and lifetime of catalysts for oil refining and petrochemical processes. Its catalysts also target emerging green applications such as plastics recycling, crude-to-chemicals, alcohol conversion, and biomass conversion for the energy transition and circular economy.

1 investor