Top 9 Venture Capital Firms for Advanced Materials Startups

When you're preparing to raise capital for your Advanced Materials startup, knowing which investors truly understand your work is essential. The right partner will appreciate the complexities of materials science, deep tech, and advanced manufacturing.

To help you find them, our team at Rho has curated this overview of the top venture capital firms investing in the sector. Use it to quickly identify investors who are a good fit for your company before or during your fundraising process.

Rho provides access to business banking, corporate cards, and bill pay—built for startup teams moving fast. Once your funding is secured, our integrated financial tools help you manage and deploy that capital efficiently.

Key Takeaways

• For an Advanced Materials startup, securing venture funding means finding a partner who understands the technical complexities and long development timelines inherent to the industry.
• Firms like Material Impact, Breakout Ventures, Creative Ventures, and Phoenix Venture Partners are active investors in the Advanced Materials sector, backing a range of companies.
• Once you've secured funding, our platform helps you manage that capital with integrated tools for business banking, corporate cards, and bill pay.

Which VC Firms in Advanced Materials Are Right for Your Stage?

Whether your company is in its early days or preparing for an exit, it helps to know which investors to approach. Here is a quick overview of the venture capital firms that invest in the Advanced Materials sector, organized by stage.

Pre-seed and Seed VC Firms in Advanced Materials

This initial funding stage is for companies focused on validating core technology and developing a minimum viable product. For founders in advanced materials, deep tech VC firms like Breakout Ventures and Creative Ventures are two examples of investors who back companies at this early phase.

Early Stage VC Firms in Advanced Materials

Early-stage funding, typically covering Series A and B, is designed to help you scale operations and achieve significant market traction. Investors to consider for this phase include Capital-E, which concentrates on electronics and advanced materials, and Valhalla Ventures, which also invests in sectors like sustainability and space technology.

Late Stage VC Firms in Advanced Materials

Late-stage rounds support established companies as they expand into new markets or prepare for an exit through an IPO or acquisition. Manufacturing and semiconductor venture capital firms like Phoenix Venture Partners and Applied Ventures are active at this stage, often looking for companies with proven commercial success.

It's also worth noting that many firms, such as Material Impact and HorizonX Ventures, invest across the full spectrum of startup funding stages.

To help you identify the right investors, here is a closer look at the top VC firms in the advanced materials sector. We’ve included key details on their investment stages, geographic focus, and what makes each a strong potential partner.

1. Material Impact

Based in Boston, Material Impact is a venture firm that builds companies around breakthroughs in material science and deep technology. They focus on turning complex scientific advancements into tangible products with real-world applications.

The firm’s approach is hands-on, often building companies from the ground up and investing from seed through late stages. Their portfolio includes companies like 6K Inc, which produces advanced materials for batteries, and Gen Phoenix, a supplier of recycled-leather materials.

Material Impact is a strong match if you are a founder with a deep technical background looking for a partner to help build a business around your innovation. Once you secure that funding, Rho’s integrated platform can help you manage it with tools for business banking, corporate cards, and automated payments.

• Investment stages: Seed, Early Stage, Late Stage, and Post-IPO
• Industries of focus: Advanced Materials, Deep Technology
• Geographical presence: Headquartered in Boston, MA
• Founded: 2016
• Notable portfolio companies: 6K Inc, Soft Robotics, Gen Phoenix
• Portfolio size: 40 investments

You can refer to their website here.

2. Breakout Ventures

Based in San Francisco, Breakout Ventures is an early-stage fund that backs companies led by scientist-entrepreneurs. They focus on turning bold scientific ideas into businesses with real-world impact.

The firm invests at the seed and early venture stages, concentrating on science-heavy industries like advanced materials, life science, and energy. Their portfolio includes pioneers like Twelve, which converts CO₂ into sustainable fuel, and Ecovative Design, a leader in mycelium-based materials.

Breakout Ventures is a strong match for founders with deep scientific expertise who are building companies rooted in a technical breakthrough. Once you secure funding from a firm like Breakout Ventures, our platform helps you manage that capital with integrated tools for business banking, corporate cards, and bill pay.

• Investment stages: Seed, Early Stage Venture
• Industries of focus: Advanced Materials, Energy, Life Science, Financial Services
• Geographical presence: San Francisco, CA
• Founded: 2016
• Notable portfolio companies: Twelve, Ecovative Design, Cytovale, Modern Meadow
• Portfolio size: 35 investments

You can refer to their website here.

3. Creative Ventures

Creative Ventures is a deep tech firm based in Oakland that invests in early-stage companies addressing major global challenges. They back founders who are using science and technology to solve critical problems in areas like climate, health, and industry.

The firm focuses on seed and early-stage ventures across a wide range of deep tech sectors, from advanced materials to robotics and biotechnology. Their portfolio highlights a history of successful exits, including the AI-powered shopping cart company Caper and lidar maker Sense Photonics.

This firm is a good fit if you are a founder with a technical background building a company to tackle a large-scale problem. After you secure funding from a partner like Creative Ventures, our platform can help you manage that capital with integrated tools for business banking, corporate cards, and bill pay.

• Investment stages: Seed, Early Stage Venture
• Industries of focus: Advanced Materials, Clean Energy, Biotechnology, Robotics, Health Care
• Geographical presence: Headquartered in Oakland, CA
• Founded: 2016
• Notable portfolio companies: Bleximo, ALICE, Caper (acquired by Instacart)
• Portfolio size: 60 investments

You can refer to their website here.

4. Phoenix Venture Partners

Phoenix Venture Partners (PVP) is a venture capital firm that invests in and partners with entrepreneurs to commercialize breakthrough materials science innovations. Based in San Mateo, they focus on turning scientific advancements into successful businesses.

The firm has a strong track record of guiding companies to successful exits, including IPOs like Absci and strategic acquisitions like DarkVision. They invest across multiple stages, from seed to late-stage, signaling their ability to support companies throughout their growth cycle.

PVP is a good fit for founders with defensible, breakthrough technology who are focused on a clear path to commercialization and an eventual exit. After you secure funding from a partner like PVP, our platform can help you manage that capital with integrated tools for business banking, corporate cards, and bill pay.

• Investment stages: Seed, Early Stage Venture, Late Stage Venture, Convertible Note
• Industries of focus: Advanced Materials
• Geographical presence: Headquartered in San Mateo, CA
• Founded: 2010
• Notable portfolio companies: Absci (IPO), DarkVision (acquired by Koch Industries), Serenex (acquired by Pfizer)
• Portfolio size: 47 investments

You can refer to their website here.

5. Valhalla Ventures

Based in Los Angeles, Valhalla Ventures is a firm that invests in companies building what it calls “enduring moats.” They look for businesses with strong, defensible advantages that can create long-term value.

The firm backs founders at the seed and early stages, with a portfolio that includes space-tech company K2 Space and smart-gun developer Biofire. Their investments show a clear interest in deep-tech solutions across sectors like sustainability, biotech, and advanced materials.

Valhalla Ventures is a strong fit for founders developing companies with significant technical or market defensibility. After you secure funding from a partner like Valhalla, our platform can help you manage that capital with integrated tools for business banking, corporate cards, and bill pay.

• Investment stages: Seed, Early Stage Venture
• Industries of focus: Advanced Materials, Biotechnology, Energy, Gaming, Space Travel, Sustainability
• Geographical presence: Headquartered in Los Angeles, CA
• Founded: 2020
• Notable portfolio companies: Jaza, K2 Space, Biofire, Terran Biosciences
• Portfolio size: 23 investments

You can refer to their website here.

6. Applied Ventures

Applied Ventures is the corporate venture capital arm of Applied Materials, a global leader in materials engineering and nanomanufacturing technology. Based in Santa Clara, the firm invests in startups that can accelerate innovation within its core ecosystem.

As a corporate venture fund, Applied Ventures provides startups with capital and strategic access to the resources of its parent company. Their portfolio features several high-profile companies, including AI-chip maker Lightmatter and cloud computing platform Rescale.

This firm is an excellent match for founders whose technology aligns with Applied Materials’ strategic interests in semiconductors, manufacturing, and nanotechnology. Once you secure funding from a strategic partner like Applied Ventures, our platform helps you manage that capital with integrated tools for business banking, corporate cards, and bill pay.

• Investment stages: Seed, Early Stage Venture, Late Stage Venture
• Industries of focus: Advanced Materials, Manufacturing, Nanotechnology, Semiconductor
• Geographical presence: Headquartered in Santa Clara, CA
• Founded: 2006
• Notable portfolio companies: Rescale, Inpria (acquired by JSR Corporation), Lightmatter, Kateeva
• Portfolio size: 97 investments

You can refer to their website here.

7. Tekfen Ventures

Tekfen Ventures is a corporate venture capital group based in New York that invests in early-stage technology companies. They concentrate on startups building solutions for industrial, construction, and real-estate applications.

The firm invests from seed to late-stage and has a clear focus on sectors like advanced materials, energy efficiency, and software. Their portfolio shows a history of successful exits, including public listings for smart-access company Latch and LiDAR maker Quanergy Systems.

This firm is a strong fit for founders in industrial tech or ag-tech who are looking for a strategic partner with a clear path to an exit. After you secure funding from a partner like Tekfen Ventures, our platform can help you manage that capital with integrated tools for business banking, corporate cards, and bill pay.

• Investment stages: Seed, Early Stage Venture, Late Stage Venture
• Industries of focus: Advanced Materials, Industrial, Construction, Real Estate, Agriculture, Software
• Geographical presence: Headquartered in New York, NY
• Founded: 2016
• Notable portfolio companies: Latch (IPO), Quanergy Systems (IPO), Avvir (acquired), Claroty
• Portfolio size: 23 investments

You can refer to their website here.

8. Boeing HorizonX Ventures

Boeing HorizonX Ventures is the corporate venture capital arm of The Boeing Company. Based in Chicago, the firm invests in technologies that can advance Boeing’s strategic interests in aerospace and manufacturing.

The firm backs companies from late seed through mid-growth stages, focusing on innovations in advanced materials, AI, and space travel. Notable investments include AI software company SparkCognition and Reaction Engines, which is developing an air-breathing rocket engine.

HorizonX is a strong match for founders whose technology has clear applications in the aerospace industry and who are looking for a partner with deep operational expertise. Once you secure funding from a strategic partner like HorizonX, our platform helps you manage that capital with integrated tools for business banking, corporate cards, and bill pay.

• Investment stages: Seed, Early Stage Venture, Late Stage Venture, Convertible Note
• Industries of focus: Advanced Materials, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Manufacturing, Space Travel, Cyber Security
• Geographical presence: Headquartered in Chicago, IL
• Founded: 2017
• Notable portfolio companies: SparkCognition, Reaction Engines, Gamma Alloys
• Portfolio size: 38 investments

You can refer to their website here.

9. Capital-E

Based in Washington, D.C., Capital-E provides early-stage capital to companies developing products based on enabling electronics or advanced materials. The firm supports businesses with strong technical foundations and clear selling propositions.

Capital-E concentrates on early-stage ventures, with a portfolio that includes companies like Accelleran, a 5G software provider, and Silicon Mobility, which develops semiconductors for electric vehicles. This shows a clear focus on hardware and deep-tech infrastructure.

This firm is a good match for founders with a background in electronics or materials science who are building a company with a distinct technological advantage. Once you secure funding from a partner like Capital-E, our platform helps you manage that capital with integrated tools for business banking, corporate cards, and bill pay.

• Investment stages: Early Stage Venture
• Industries of focus: Advanced Materials, Angel Investment, Impact Investing
• Geographical presence: Headquartered in Washington, D.C.
• Founded: 2005
• Notable portfolio companies: Accelleran, Silicon Mobility, Silicon Line
• Portfolio size: 26 investments
• Number of exits: 8

You can refer to their website here.

What This Tells Us About The VC Scene for Advanced Materials Companies

This overview shows a well-balanced funding environment for companies in advanced materials. You’ll find investors active at every stage, from pre-seed and seed firms that back early scientific breakthroughs to late-stage partners who support commercial scaling. This indicates a sustained interest in the sector, with capital available for companies throughout their growth.

The investor base is also varied. It includes both traditional venture firms with deep technical expertise and corporate VCs that can offer strategic advantages. While many firms are located in California, there are strong options in other major hubs like Boston, New York, and Chicago, giving you a range of potential partners to consider based on your company’s needs.

Finding the right investor is a critical step. Once your funding is secured, our integrated financial tools—including business banking, corporate cards, and automated bill pay—help you manage and deploy that capital efficiently.

Raise Confidently with Rho

Raising capital is a full-time job, and your time is best spent with investors who understand your work. We hope this list gives you a clear starting point for finding the right partners in the Advanced Materials sector.

Once your funding is secured, the next step is putting that capital to work. If you’ve just raised, Rho can help you set up your financial stack in minutes.

Our platform offers integrated business banking, corporate cards, and bill pay designed for startups. This allows you to manage your funds efficiently and focus on building your company.

FAQs about Venture Capital Firms Focused on Advanced Materials

Which European venture capital firms invest in advanced materials?

Europe has a strong deep tech ecosystem. VCs in Germany, the UK, and the Nordics often focus on industrial tech and material science, backing companies that can support the continent’s advanced manufacturing and sustainability goals.

Are there nanotech venture capital firms in the Asia-Pacific region?

Yes, the Asia-Pacific region has a growing number of VCs focused on nanotechnology and semiconductors. Hubs in Singapore, Japan, and South Korea are particularly active, often connecting startups with established electronics and manufacturing industries.

How do climate tech venture capital firms view advanced materials?

Climate tech VCs see advanced materials as fundamental to their mission. They actively fund innovations in battery chemistry, carbon capture materials, and sustainable packaging, viewing them as key technologies for a decarbonized economy.

What is the role of corporate venture capital in advanced manufacturing?

Corporate VCs in this sector offer more than just capital. They provide startups with strategic access to supply chains, industry expertise, and pilot opportunities, helping to accelerate commercialization and market adoption for new technologies.

How can Rho help after I secure funding?

Once your funding is secured, our platform helps you manage that capital efficiently. We provide integrated business banking, corporate cards, and bill pay, so you can get your finances organized and focus on building.