MassVentures

MassVentures is a venture capital firm based in Waltham, Massachusetts, established in 1978 as a quasi-public corporation by the Massachusetts Legislature. The firm focuses on providing seed and early-stage funding to high-growth startups, facilitating their transition from concept to commercialization. MassVentures invests primarily in sectors such as information technology, healthcare, cybersecurity, e-commerce, mobile, manufacturing, and robotics. With a governance structure that includes an independent Board of Directors and management by experienced venture capitalists, MassVentures leverages the state's entrepreneurial spirit and innovation centers to support the Massachusetts innovation economy. The firm also offers accelerator programs to further assist emerging companies in their growth journey.

Charles Hipwood

Founder President and CEO

Charlie Hipwood

President and CEO

Vinit Nijhawan

Managing Director

Nicholas A. Pappas

Vice President

Stacy Swider

Vice President, Investments

Priya Yadav

Vice President, Investments

Past deals in Nanotechnology

AeroShield

Seed Round in 2024
AeroShield specializes in the production of super-insulating, nanoporous glass materials designed for energy-efficient windows. Utilizing silica aerogel, AeroShield's products offer optical clarity akin to traditional glass while delivering superior insulation, making them 50% more effective than conventional double-pane windows. This innovative approach not only enhances thermal comfort but also significantly improves energy performance, allowing window manufacturers to meet sustainability and compliance objectives. Additionally, the payback period for AeroShield's materials is up to five times faster than that of similarly performing windows, making them a compelling choice for the modern market.

Advanced Silicon Group

Grant in 2024
Advanced Silicon Group is a nanotechnology company founded in 2015, focused on commercializing innovative silicon nanotechnology developed by its employees. The company specializes in measuring host cell proteins in biomanufacturing, utilizing its advanced technology to enhance various applications, including photovoltaics, lithium-ion batteries, microfluidics, and micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS). Advanced Silicon Group is also engaged in the development of next-generation biosensors, leveraging silicon to enable multiplexed measurements that allow for the simultaneous detection of multiple protein concentrations. This capability aids clients in improving performance and reducing costs by integrating silicon nanowire arrays into their products.

Guardion

Grant in 2024
Guardion is a technology company specializing in advanced sensor technology, particularly in the development of radiation detectors that utilize the quantum properties of nanomaterials. This innovative approach allows Guardion to create low-cost, highly sensitive, and energy-efficient detectors suitable for large-scale deployment, especially in urban environments. The company focuses on applications that demand high sensitivity and miniaturization, providing analytical instruments and chemical detectors that serve various industries, including aerospace, healthcare, and national security. Guardion has received recognition for its contributions to the field, winning multiple awards such as the MassChallenge Gold Prize and the Technology in Space Prize from CASIS and Boeing. Additionally, the company participated in the inaugural cohort of the Techstars Autonomous Tech Accelerator, which is sponsored by the Air Force.

AeroShield

Convertible Note in 2023
AeroShield specializes in the production of super-insulating, nanoporous glass materials designed for energy-efficient windows. Utilizing silica aerogel, AeroShield's products offer optical clarity akin to traditional glass while delivering superior insulation, making them 50% more effective than conventional double-pane windows. This innovative approach not only enhances thermal comfort but also significantly improves energy performance, allowing window manufacturers to meet sustainability and compliance objectives. Additionally, the payback period for AeroShield's materials is up to five times faster than that of similarly performing windows, making them a compelling choice for the modern market.

Advanced Silicon Group

Grant in 2023
Advanced Silicon Group is a nanotechnology company founded in 2015, focused on commercializing innovative silicon nanotechnology developed by its employees. The company specializes in measuring host cell proteins in biomanufacturing, utilizing its advanced technology to enhance various applications, including photovoltaics, lithium-ion batteries, microfluidics, and micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS). Advanced Silicon Group is also engaged in the development of next-generation biosensors, leveraging silicon to enable multiplexed measurements that allow for the simultaneous detection of multiple protein concentrations. This capability aids clients in improving performance and reducing costs by integrating silicon nanowire arrays into their products.

Irradiant Technologies

Grant in 2023
Irradiant Technologies, founded in 2020 and based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, specializes in advanced nanofabrication solutions. The company has developed a unique implosion fabrication lithography platform that facilitates the ultrafast three-dimensional assembly of various materials, including conductors, semiconductors, dielectrics, proteins, and DNA. This innovative technology enables the creation of complex geometries with nanoscale precision and gradient control. By providing these capabilities, Irradiant Technologies aims to empower the development of novel photonic and optical components, offering light-based alternatives for applications in telecommunications, computation, and sensing.

AeroShield

Grant in 2023
AeroShield specializes in the production of super-insulating, nanoporous glass materials designed for energy-efficient windows. Utilizing silica aerogel, AeroShield's products offer optical clarity akin to traditional glass while delivering superior insulation, making them 50% more effective than conventional double-pane windows. This innovative approach not only enhances thermal comfort but also significantly improves energy performance, allowing window manufacturers to meet sustainability and compliance objectives. Additionally, the payback period for AeroShield's materials is up to five times faster than that of similarly performing windows, making them a compelling choice for the modern market.

AeroShield

Grant in 2022
AeroShield specializes in the production of super-insulating, nanoporous glass materials designed for energy-efficient windows. Utilizing silica aerogel, AeroShield's products offer optical clarity akin to traditional glass while delivering superior insulation, making them 50% more effective than conventional double-pane windows. This innovative approach not only enhances thermal comfort but also significantly improves energy performance, allowing window manufacturers to meet sustainability and compliance objectives. Additionally, the payback period for AeroShield's materials is up to five times faster than that of similarly performing windows, making them a compelling choice for the modern market.

AeroShield

Seed Round in 2022
AeroShield specializes in the production of super-insulating, nanoporous glass materials designed for energy-efficient windows. Utilizing silica aerogel, AeroShield's products offer optical clarity akin to traditional glass while delivering superior insulation, making them 50% more effective than conventional double-pane windows. This innovative approach not only enhances thermal comfort but also significantly improves energy performance, allowing window manufacturers to meet sustainability and compliance objectives. Additionally, the payback period for AeroShield's materials is up to five times faster than that of similarly performing windows, making them a compelling choice for the modern market.

Metalmark Innovations

Grant in 2021
Metalmark Innovations, Inc. focuses on developing and delivering advanced 3D nanostructured coatings designed to treat airborne pollutants and toxins, enhancing indoor air quality. The company offers its innovative materials as additive coatings for various applications, including building materials and vehicle interiors, effectively addressing pollutants such as hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, ozone, PM2.5, volatile organic compounds, odors, and germs. Its air cleaning technology employs catalytic materials that filter air with nanoscale precision, contributing to solutions for air pollution and climate change challenges. Founded in 2017 and headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, Metalmark Innovations was previously known as Aircrew Technologies, Inc. before rebranding in January 2019.

Quantum Diamond Technologies

Grant in 2020
Quantum Diamond Technologies, located in Somerville, Massachusetts, is focused on translating advanced quantum science into practical applications. Founded by a team of prominent quantum scientists from Harvard University, the company specializes in the commercialization of nanoscale devices that leverage the principles of quantum mechanics. These innovations enable new possibilities in various fields, including sensing, metrology, and computing. Additionally, Quantum Diamond Technologies is developing an ultrasensitive biomaterial detection and diagnostics platform, further expanding its impact on technology and healthcare.

Pendar Technologies

Grant in 2020
Pendar Technologies is a privately held company focused on advancing intelligent chemistry systems by integrating innovative hardware with machine learning algorithms. The company has developed an autonomous chemistry system that utilizes a Raman platform alongside machine-learning techniques to quantify chemical reactants, products, and intermediates in real-time. This technology enables the discovery and scaling of new chemical processes, enhances response capabilities in emergency situations, and contributes to life-saving applications. Pendar's expertise in molecular spectroscopy underpins its efforts to revolutionize the field of chemistry through intelligent and automated solutions.

Pendar Technologies

Grant in 2019
Pendar Technologies is a privately held company focused on advancing intelligent chemistry systems by integrating innovative hardware with machine learning algorithms. The company has developed an autonomous chemistry system that utilizes a Raman platform alongside machine-learning techniques to quantify chemical reactants, products, and intermediates in real-time. This technology enables the discovery and scaling of new chemical processes, enhances response capabilities in emergency situations, and contributes to life-saving applications. Pendar's expertise in molecular spectroscopy underpins its efforts to revolutionize the field of chemistry through intelligent and automated solutions.

MicroContinuum

Grant in 2019
MicroContinuum offers precision micro-and nano-imprinting and patterning using patented roll-to-roll and batch manufacturing technologies. It y serves a range of clients, including Fortune 100 corporations, startups, and government labs, helping test and develop new nanostructured surfaces for the electronics, lighting, solar, energy harvesting, and health industries.

Spero Devices

Grant in 2018
Spero Devices, Inc. is an artificial intelligence company founded in 2015 and headquartered in Acton, Massachusetts. The company specializes in developing CMOS-based nanotechnology co-processors designed for mobile devices, focusing on real-time computation while adhering to mobile power budgets. Spero Devices creates hardware accelerators that enhance computational efficiency and are particularly suited for edge applications involving multi-object detection, tracking, and segmentation. Their innovative technology includes custom high-endurance memory cells tailored to meet specific application requirements. By transforming edge data into actionable insights, Spero Devices enables advanced services such as automated selection of AI training data, thereby expanding the potential of artificial intelligence in mobile contexts.

Uniqarta

Grant in 2018
Uniqarta specializes in the development of advanced technologies for the manufacture of flexible electronics, focusing on small, ultra-thin integrated circuits (ICs). The company has developed a proprietary laser-enabled assembly technology that significantly enhances the efficiency of chip placement by replacing traditional pick-and-place methods with a fast, massively parallel approach. This innovative technology allows for the seamless integration of ultra-thin ICs into everyday materials such as paper and plastic, resulting in Smart Materials that eliminate the need for additional RFID labels. By addressing critical integration challenges, Uniqarta empowers electronics manufacturers to create next-generation products that contribute to the evolution of the Internet of Things (IoT).

Metalmark Innovations

Grant in 2018
Metalmark Innovations, Inc. focuses on developing and delivering advanced 3D nanostructured coatings designed to treat airborne pollutants and toxins, enhancing indoor air quality. The company offers its innovative materials as additive coatings for various applications, including building materials and vehicle interiors, effectively addressing pollutants such as hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, ozone, PM2.5, volatile organic compounds, odors, and germs. Its air cleaning technology employs catalytic materials that filter air with nanoscale precision, contributing to solutions for air pollution and climate change challenges. Founded in 2017 and headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, Metalmark Innovations was previously known as Aircrew Technologies, Inc. before rebranding in January 2019.

ZwitterCo

Grant in 2018
ZwitterCo specializes in advanced membrane solutions for the treatment of highly impaired wastewater, enabling the reuse and recycling of water resources in industrial applications. The company's innovative reverse osmosis and nanofiltration technologies address the challenges of treating historically unfilterable streams by preventing fouling caused by organic molecules. ZwitterCo's membranes are chlorine-tolerant, back-washable, and resistant to irreversible fouling, which enhances their longevity and performance. By transforming wastewater from a liability into a valuable resource, ZwitterCo helps clients manage their water treatment needs more economically and sustainably, reducing chemical demands and improving operational efficiency.

Quantum Diamond Technologies

Grant in 2018
Quantum Diamond Technologies, located in Somerville, Massachusetts, is focused on translating advanced quantum science into practical applications. Founded by a team of prominent quantum scientists from Harvard University, the company specializes in the commercialization of nanoscale devices that leverage the principles of quantum mechanics. These innovations enable new possibilities in various fields, including sensing, metrology, and computing. Additionally, Quantum Diamond Technologies is developing an ultrasensitive biomaterial detection and diagnostics platform, further expanding its impact on technology and healthcare.

Optodot

Grant in 2017
Optodot Corporation is a Woburn, Massachusetts-based company established in 2000, specializing in the development of nanotechnology-based components for energy storage, conservation, and generation markets. The company is known for its NanoPore separator, which employs a patented coating process to create nanoporous ceramic membranes. Optodot also produces lithium-ion battery separators, secure infrared coated films for security applications, and various window films. Its focus extends to optical communications technologies, including optical switches, modulators, and photo detectors, aimed at enhancing optical transport networks. Additionally, Optodot offers intellectual property and product development services, while pursuing strategic partnerships and licensing opportunities to commercialize its innovations in energy, security, and communications. The company serves a diverse clientele, including start-ups, major corporations, and government agencies such as the Department of Defense and the Department of Energy.

Spero Devices

Grant in 2017
Spero Devices, Inc. is an artificial intelligence company founded in 2015 and headquartered in Acton, Massachusetts. The company specializes in developing CMOS-based nanotechnology co-processors designed for mobile devices, focusing on real-time computation while adhering to mobile power budgets. Spero Devices creates hardware accelerators that enhance computational efficiency and are particularly suited for edge applications involving multi-object detection, tracking, and segmentation. Their innovative technology includes custom high-endurance memory cells tailored to meet specific application requirements. By transforming edge data into actionable insights, Spero Devices enables advanced services such as automated selection of AI training data, thereby expanding the potential of artificial intelligence in mobile contexts.

AddiLat

Grant in 2015
AddiLat is an electronics process technology company specializing in nano-particle printed electronics. It has developed an innovative manufacturing process for touchscreen sensors that offers superior optical performance while being cost-effective. This technology streamlines the production of transparent conducting films by eliminating several processing steps, which helps companies reduce both production costs and development time. By focusing on enhancing manufacturing efficiency, AddiLat positions itself as a key player in the electronics industry, particularly in the sector of touchscreen technology.

Xtalic

Grant in 2014
Xtalic Corporation, founded in 2005 and based in Marlborough, Massachusetts, specializes in the development, manufacturing, and sale of corrosion-resistant metal alloys for both mobile and enterprise electronics applications. The company offers innovative nanostructured metal coatings that enhance performance through improved wear and corrosion resistance. Key products include XTRONIC, a barrier layer that enhances durability, and LUNA, a replacement for gold in electrical connectors. Xtalic’s proprietary electroplating process precisely controls metal structures at the nanometer scale, resulting in exceptional aesthetic and functional finishes. Additionally, their technology is environmentally friendly, as it avoids the use of hexavalent chromium, thereby reducing compliance costs and improving worker safety. Through its advanced coatings, Xtalic enables clients to minimize the use of high-cost raw materials and replace toxic substances in their manufacturing processes.

NBD Nanotechnologies

Grant in 2013
NBD Nanotechnologies, Inc. is a manufacturer of surface wettability coatings and additives designed to enhance the performance of various materials. Founded in 2012 and headquartered in Lexington, Massachusetts, the company offers a diverse product portfolio that includes RepelShell, RepelFlex Antimicrobial, RepelFlex Soft-Touch, NanoGlue, RepelFlex Hard-Coat, Invisiprint, and RepelFlex Leather. These products are engineered to modify surface properties, improving functionalities such as heat transfer, condensation control, fog capture, de-misting, and anti-scaling performance. NBD Nanotechnologies focuses on providing innovative solutions that create ultra-durable and functional surface characteristics for glass and plastic materials, catering to a range of commercial partners.

Polnox

Seed Round in 2005
Polnox is a company focused on the development of advanced antioxidants, specifically macromolecular antioxidants, aimed at significantly enhancing the longevity of various consumer products and materials. Utilizing its proprietary DT-mPM Antioxidants and eco-friendly McIn Corrosion Inhibitors, Polnox offers products that deliver performance levels that exceed those of traditional additives. The company's innovations provide robust resistance to the damaging effects of heat and oxygen, making its solutions particularly valuable in extending the service life of materials across multiple applications.

Eascra Biotech

Eascra Biotech specializes in developing DNA-inspired, nanoparticle-based delivery systems for targeted therapeutic treatment. Their platform, based on Janus base nanomaterials, encapsulates and stabilizes various therapeutic agents like mRNA, siRNA, proteins, and gene-editing tools, enabling precise delivery to hard-to-reach tissues such as cartilage, kidneys, and solid tumors. This approach enhances therapeutic efficacy, reduces systemic exposure, and preserves bioactivity, offering a low-cost, scalable alternative to existing treatments for chronic conditions.
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