UbiQD, LLC is a cleantech materials company based in Los Alamos, New Mexico, that specializes in the production of low-hazard quantum dots and nanocomposites. Founded in 2014, UbiQD aims to make its innovative materials widely accessible for various applications, including agriculture, safety, design, solar energy, lighting, security, and personal care. The company offers UbiGro, a retrofit luminescent film designed to enhance crop growth by optimizing sunlight in greenhouses. UbiQD's low-toxicity quantum dots are engineered to efficiently convert light from one color to another, making them suitable for a range of industries while adhering to safety standards. The firm's strategic location near Los Alamos and Sandia National Laboratory facilitates valuable collaborations with leading scientists, furthering its mission to advance nanomaterial production and application.
InventWood
Venture Round in 2024
InventWood, founded in 2016 by Amy Gong in College Park, Maryland, is dedicated to advancing cellulose-based technologies. The company specializes in producing high-performance, cost-effective wood-based materials that enhance thermal energy efficiency and promote environmental sustainability. InventWood's innovative products are designed to be lightweight, safe for installation, and resistant to shattering. By focusing on the development of cellulosic materials, InventWood aims to contribute to a more sustainable future through carbon-negative construction practices, ultimately providing natural goods that benefit both current and future generations.
Ocean Rainforest
Series A in 2023
Ocean Rainforest, Inc. is a company based in Santa Barbara, California, that specializes in the cultivation of seaweed in open ocean installations. Founded in 2007, the company has developed a unique structural system for macroalgae farming in pristine ocean waters, along with onshore processes that ensure the seaweed is stored in a stable condition. Ocean Rainforest offers a range of premium, fully traceable seaweed products that cater primarily to food and cosmetic producers. These products are recognized for their health benefits, as they are rich in proteins, antioxidants, minerals, essential trace elements, dietary fibers, and polyunsaturated fatty acids, positioning them as nutritious superfoods.
Blue Ocean Gear
Series A in 2023
Blue Ocean Gear specializes in the design and manufacture of innovative GPS tracking buoys that cater to the demanding needs of modern fixed gear fisheries. Their flagship product, the SmartBuoy, allows fishers, aquaculture farmers, and ocean scientists to monitor and collect data from their equipment in real-time, improving operational efficiency and profitability by minimizing fuel costs and preventing gear loss. The buoys also contribute to environmental sustainability by addressing the issues of lost gear and marine entanglements. By providing valuable insights into local ocean conditions, Blue Ocean Gear enhances the management and sustainability of ocean resources while combating marine plastic pollution.
Hohonu
Pre Seed Round in 2023
Hohonu is a company that specializes in water level monitoring through the development of advanced sensors and software. Its technology provides real-time data and insights on water levels, allowing clients to compare these levels against predefined thresholds. This capability informs critical actions such as road closures, vehicle relocations, and community alerts in response to flooding threats. Hohonu's solutions cater to various industries and governmental agencies, particularly in coastal areas and regions vulnerable to seasonal flooding. The company also offers services for site selection, sensor deployment, calibration, maintenance, and data delivery, enabling clients to make informed decisions based on accurate monitoring of oceanic factors and the prediction of potential natural disasters.
Ocean Rainforest
Series A in 2023
Ocean Rainforest, Inc. is a company based in Santa Barbara, California, that specializes in the cultivation of seaweed in open ocean installations. Founded in 2007, the company has developed a unique structural system for macroalgae farming in pristine ocean waters, along with onshore processes that ensure the seaweed is stored in a stable condition. Ocean Rainforest offers a range of premium, fully traceable seaweed products that cater primarily to food and cosmetic producers. These products are recognized for their health benefits, as they are rich in proteins, antioxidants, minerals, essential trace elements, dietary fibers, and polyunsaturated fatty acids, positioning them as nutritious superfoods.
Ashored Innovations
Seed Round in 2022
Ashored Innovations specializes in developing sustainability-enabling technologies for the ocean harvest industries. The company is focused on bringing to market innovative solutions, such as an underwater buoy release system designed for trap fishing. This ropeless fishing system allows fishers to deploy ropes and buoys on the ocean floor, which can be recalled when needed, thereby minimizing interactions with marine life and surface vessels. By reducing gear conflict, preventing gear loss and damage, and decreasing ocean waste, Ashored's technology promotes sustainable fishing practices. Additionally, the system incorporates machine learning, sonar, and geo-tracking to collect data on lost traps, allowing for their retrieval and enabling fishing in areas that are typically restricted while safeguarding sensitive marine habitats.
LanzaJet is a company dedicated to producing sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) aimed at reducing the environmental impact of the aviation industry. By utilizing innovative technology, LanzaJet converts non-recyclable waste into low-carbon fuels, providing a viable alternative to traditional fossil fuels. The company's mission aligns with the principles of the circular economy, as it seeks to accelerate the energy transition while enabling airlines to lower their carbon emissions. Through its commitment to cleaner fuel options, LanzaJet plays a significant role in addressing the challenges of greenhouse gas emissions in aviation.
OCEANIUM
Seed Round in 2022
Oceanium is a manufacturer that specializes in developing innovative, all-natural food and nutraceutical products, as well as sustainable materials derived from sustainably-sourced seaweed. The company is committed to enhancing both human health and environmental sustainability through its technical biorefinery process, which maximizes the value extracted from seaweed. This process results in a diverse range of products, including food ingredients and natural bioactive components for health and cosmetic applications. Additionally, Oceanium plays a vital role in supporting the seaweed farming industry in the Western Hemisphere, creating job opportunities in rural coastal communities and contributing to systemic changes in the food system.
Brimstone
Series A in 2022
Brimstone is a company based in Oakland, California, that specializes in developing a carbon-negative process for producing ordinary Portland cement and supplementary cementitious material. Established in 2019 by Cody Finke and Hugo Leandri, Brimstone's technology employs carbon-free calcium silicate rock as a substitute for limestone, resulting in a product that matches the performance of conventional materials while being cost-competitive at scale. This innovative approach aims to provide the construction industry with a cleaner and more sustainable alternative to traditional cement production methods.
Matter.
Seed Round in 2022
Matter is a tech startup based in Bristol that specializes in developing innovative solutions to capture, harvest, and recycle microplastics. The company focuses on eliminating microplastic contamination at various levels, including residential, commercial, and industrial settings. Their technology is designed to filter water and capture plastic micropollutants from wastewater systems, thereby improving water quality and reducing pollution risk. By making these microplastics valuable for safe reuse, Matter aims to address environmental concerns related to microplastic contamination.