Prithvi Ventures

Mars Materials is a Houston, Texas-based startup focused on commercializing innovative technology that converts CO2 and biomass into low-cost, low-carbon feedstocks, specifically acrylonitrile (AN). This feedstock is essential for the production of acrylamide and carbon fiber, both of which are in high demand due to increasing regulatory pressures and the need for sustainable alternatives to traditional petrochemical sources. The company's developments are particularly relevant in supply-constrained markets that are actively seeking decarbonized options. By utilizing a process originally developed at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Mars Materials aims to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and lower production costs for synthetic fibers and thermoplastics, including applications in 3D printing and carbon fiber manufacturing.

Bucha Bio creates a novel biomaterial grown from infinitely renewable bacterial-nanocellulose. Strands of natural fibers interlock to form a high-performance textile with a luxuriously soft handfeel. Produced in weeks rather than months or years, use it in premium applications instead of animal leather, polyurethane, latex, vinyl, and so much more. Creating a reliable material is our goal, adding plastics and petrochemicals like PU polyurethane would make it easy, but we’ve never taken the easy way out. Committed to sustainability, Bucha Bio’s team is dedicated to creating a completely biodegradable textile that enables the next generation of designers to create products for a more sustainable future. Our biomaterial is water-resistant, scratch-resistant, sunlight-resistant, flame-resistant, and so many more reasons to test it out in your next product.

Tandem Repeat is a deep-tech company based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, founded in 2018. The company specializes in the development of tunable, adaptable, and programmable protein-based bioderived materials, focusing on sustainable manufacturing solutions. Tandem Repeat operates primarily within the textile, medical, and cosmetic industries, offering innovative biopolymer-based textiles that leverage fermentation and biosynthesis technologies. This approach enables the creation of customizable and programmable textiles, positioning the company at the forefront of sustainable materials innovation.

Capra Biosciences is a biotechnology company that develops bioreactor technology to enable efficient, low-carbon production of bio-based chemicals. Its biofilm bioreactor platform reduces downstream processing requirements and costs in bio-manufacturing and supports the production of hydrophobic products, including fuels, retinol, and performance lubricants.

Exosonic is an early-stage aerospace start-up based in Los Angeles, California, focused on developing supersonic unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to enhance adversary air training missions for both commercial and government clients. Founded in 2019, the company aims to evolve these supersonic UAVs into collaborative combat aircraft, with aspirations to create quiet supersonic airliners informed by the insights and revenues generated from its UAV endeavors. Exosonic has secured over $4.5 million in private capital and over $2 million in funding from AFWERX. The company's team of 15 full-time employees is currently working on a subscale flight test vehicle designed to showcase autonomous capabilities and explore crewed-uncrewed cooperation, with the first flight anticipated in the second quarter of 2023.

Carbon Upcycling is a carbon technology company focused on decarbonizing hard-to-abate industries through its patented technology. This innovation allows for the permanent storage of carbon dioxide in industrial byproducts and minerals, effectively transforming them into high-performance alternative materials for cement and concrete. By doing so, Carbon Upcycling aims to significantly reduce the carbon footprint of industrial processes while diverting materials from landfills, thereby supporting a circular economy. The company has garnered international recognition for its advancements, being awarded the Carbon XPrize’s X-Factor, named NRMCA’s 2023 Innovative Company, and included in Cleantech Group’s Global Cleantech 100 and Foresight 50’s Canada’s Most Investable Cleantech Ventures.

Umami Bioworks is a company focused on the discovery and development of a scalable platform for producing cultivated seafood, aiming to protect endangered marine species while providing consumers with sustainable seafood options. The company utilizes systems engineering to enhance the discovery and industrialization processes, facilitating local production that is both price competitive and environmentally responsible. Its innovative approach involves creating cell-based food products derived from fish cells and tissue, which are designed to be free from harmful substances such as mercury, antibiotics, microplastics, and ocean pollutants. By offering affordable, cell-cultured seafood and meat alternatives, Umami Bioworks addresses the growing demand for healthy and sustainable food choices.

Novoloop is an upcycling company focused on transforming plastic waste into high-performance materials through a circular approach. The company advances Lifecycling, a process that converts hard-to-recycle plastics into materials molecularly identical to conventional products, unlocking value from plastics that have little use today. By chemically modifying post-consumer polyethylene, Novoloop creates building blocks for thermoplastic polyurethane and other performance materials, enabling brands to meet sustainability goals while preserving material quality. The approach supports a circular economy by turning waste into market-ready materials with broad applicability across industries, reducing landfill waste and providing scalable, durable alternatives for manufacturers.

California Cultured is a food company that uses cellular agriculture to produce cocoa and coffee, with the aim of delivering sustainable, lab-grown ingredients. Its cocoa is described as less bitter and requiring less sugar to achieve flavor, enabling premium quality products with a smaller environmental footprint. The company seeks to address social and environmental concerns linked to traditional cocoa production by avoiding practices such as slavery, deforestation, and child labor. California Cultured was founded in 2020 and is based in Davis, California.

Carbix develops weathering technologies that convert CO2 emissions into building materials. It uses a bioreactor to capture CO2 from industrial plant flue gas and combines it with mineral inputs and energy from renewable sources or energy-from-waste to accelerate sequestration and form carbonates that serve as raw materials for construction products and other industrial applications.

6K is a company that specializes in advanced microwave plasma technology, focusing on the development of engineered materials for diverse industries such as additive manufacturing, renewable energy, aerospace, and consumer electronics. Founded in 2014 and headquartered in North Andover, Massachusetts, 6K utilizes its proprietary Unimelt systems to produce high-purity materials rapidly, significantly reducing production time from days to seconds while cutting energy consumption by two-thirds and eliminating wastewater. The company's innovative approach allows for the creation of premium powders and battery cathode materials tailored to specific industry needs, emphasizing sustainability throughout its processes. By leveraging sustainable input streams and precise manufacturing techniques, 6K aims to minimize waste and enhance the quality and performance of the materials it produces, thereby advancing various sectors in the materials engineering landscape.

Electra Vehicles, Inc. is a Boston-based company founded in 2015 that specializes in developing advanced battery design and control software for the electric vehicle and electric fleet industries. Its primary offerings include EVE.Ai 360 Adaptive Controls, which leverage artificial intelligence to optimize battery pack management through machine learning predictive algorithms. This technology is embedded in electric vehicles and connects to the Cloud to enhance charging performance, range, and overall battery lifespan. Additionally, Electra's EnPower Design Suite provides battery engineers with access to a comprehensive database of over 300 cell options, facilitating early-stage cell selection and rapid simulation. The company's solutions aim to address critical design and performance challenges within the electric vehicle sector, ultimately supporting the acceleration of global electrification efforts.

Odys Aviation develops hybrid-electric vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft for regional mobility, aiming to reduce travel time and emissions on busy corridors. Their electric VTOL technology offers quiet operation, extended range, and lower carbon emissions, enabling efficient and sustainable urban air mobility.

Orbillion Bio, Inc. is a food-tech company based in Fremont, California, focused on developing cultured meat products derived from heritage cattle breeds. Founded in 2019, the company utilizes small tissue samples from high-quality heritage animals to produce premium cell-based meat products. Orbillion Bio aims to harness the potential of cell-cultured meat to provide delicious and nutritious food that is sustainable and accessible. By sourcing heritage cell lines directly from farmers, the company emphasizes a commitment to quality and sustainability in its production processes.

Mission Barns, Inc. is a biotechnology company based in Berkeley, California, founded in 2018. It specializes in the production of cell-cultured meat by cultivating animal cells in a nutrient-rich environment. By utilizing cellular agriculture techniques, Mission Barns aims to create sustainable meat products that minimize the negative impacts associated with traditional intensive animal farming. The company focuses on growing meat in a way that is efficient and environmentally friendly, allowing consumers to enjoy juicy and savory meats while contributing to a more sustainable food system.

Amprius Technologies designs and manufactures lithium-ion batteries that use silicon anodes to deliver higher energy density for mobility applications. The company develops, produces, and markets lithium-ion cells for aviation, electric vehicles, and light electric vehicles, as well as related aerospace and consumer electronics markets. Its silicon-anode technology enables dramatic improvements in energy density and specific energy over conventional cells, supporting longer range and lighter, more powerful batteries for drones, unmanned aerial systems, EVs, and other mobility platforms. Based in California, Amprius Technologies focuses on high-energy-density storage solutions for current and emerging applications in aviation and transportation.

Founded in 2005, Natel Energy designs, builds, and sells restoration hydro turbines for generating renewable electricity from moving water across drops. Its turbines can be installed in various settings, including retrofit of existing turbines, non-power dams, irrigation canals, and new stream reach developments. The company also offers digital services like HydroForecast, which uses satellite imagery and machine learning for hydrologic modeling and power generation forecasting.

Kiverdi, Inc. is a biotechnology company based in Berkeley, California, founded in 2008. It specializes in the development of bioprocessing technology that transforms carbon dioxide and other gases into valuable bio-based products. Kiverdi offers a range of oil-based products and chemicals, including fatty acids, fatty alcohols, and triacylglycerides, which are utilized in consumer goods such as soaps, shampoos, skin creams, and detergents. The company also produces biomaterials for the synthesis of bioplastics, nylons, and other polymers, as well as drop-in fuels applicable in vehicle and jet engines. Additionally, Kiverdi's innovative technology allows for the creation of protein directly from carbon dioxide, providing a protein source with a superior amino acid profile compared to soybean meal, thus addressing the growing demand for sustainable food options.

Founded in 2018, Boundary Layer Technologies specializes in constructing high-speed container ships that utilize hydrofoil technology. This innovative approach generates lift and propels the vessel's hull out of the water, significantly reducing drag and enabling faster ocean freight delivery.