Participated · Debt Financing · Jun 2024

Aymium produces high‑purity, carbon‑negative biocarbon and biohydrogen via a non‑combustion process that converts sustainably sourced waste biomass. Its products are engineered to drop in for fossil coal without plant modifications and are powered by self‑generated renewable energy. The company’s technology is protected by more than 600 issued and pending patents. Aymium operates and is constructing multiple production facilities in North America and is headquartered in Minnesota. Current investors include Sandton Capital, Steel Dynamics, Rio Tinto, Nippon Steel Trading and Hokuriku Electric Power Company. The company recently completed a five‑year financing that refinanced existing debt and added liquidity to accelerate growth and development of new biocarbon and biohydrogen facilities. Aymium produces renewable biocarbon and biohydrogen products made from sustainably sourced biomass, primarily recovered and unusable wood. Its products are designed to replace emission-heavy fossil fuels such as coal and coke in metals production, energy, crop applications, and in the purification of water and air without modifications to existing equipment or processes. The company’s bioproducts are renewable and carbon-negative. Aymium is led by CEO James Mennell and its technology is supported by more than 500 issued or pending patents globally. The company closed a $50M debt financing and intends to use the proceeds to support continued capacity growth, research and development, and the expansion of its patent portfolio. Aymium manufactures high-purity biocarbon and biohydrogen using a patented, non-combustion integrated thermolysis process that converts sustainably sourced biomass into carbon-negative inputs. Its products are engineered to replace coal or coke in steel and metals production with no plant modifications. The company holds more than 250 issued and pending patents globally and operates the largest advanced biocarbon production facility in North America near Marquette, Michigan. Aymium is headquartered in Minnesota and produces bioproducts that recover and recycle water and are powered by self-generated renewable energy. The firm is expanding capacity with new facilities planned in Williams, California and the Pacific Northwest, projected to be operational in 2023 and employ over 125 people combined. Production from those plants is contracted through 2037 and is projected to reduce over 1.4 million tons of CO2 per year.

Participated · Series B · Jul 2022

Nanosys is a supplier of quantum dot (QDEF™, xQDEF™) and microLED/nanoLED technologies for the display industry. The company supplies quantum dot materials used in consumer electronics and operates the world’s largest quantum dot nanomaterials fab in Silicon Valley. As of the first half of 2022, brands have shipped more than 60 million devices in over 850 unique products using Nanosys’ quantum dot technology. Nanosys owns or has exclusive license rights to over 900 issued and pending patents worldwide. The company plans to expand development of its QDEF and xQDEF quantum dot technologies and to commercialize its microLED platform while developing next‑generation nanoLEDs. The recent financing positions Nanosys to accelerate those commercialization and development efforts. Nanosys supplies quantum dots and related materials for displays, with its technology found in more than 400 consumer device models across tablets, laptops, monitors and TVs in sizes from 13" to 98". The company owns or has exclusive license rights to more than 500 issued and pending patents worldwide. It has achieved more than $250M in lifetime revenues and recently reached several product development and customer milestones. Nanosys plans to use the financing to expand into new markets by adding supply chain capabilities and increasing its sales presence globally. The company has announced strategic relationships with Shoei Chemical and Nagase & Co., and has pursued partnerships to explore quantum-dot applications in agriculture. Founded in 2001 and led by President and CEO Jason Hartlove, Nanosys is based in Milpitas, California. Nanosys develops Nano Crystal technology to enable a new generation of energy-efficient displays and partners with leading display makers who create tablets, TVs and smartphones. The company said the new funds will be used to expand production capacity. Nanosys received a follow-on investment from Samsung Venture Investment Corporation; the amount was not disclosed. Founded in 2001 and led by CEO Jason Hartlove, Nanosys works with display manufacturers to integrate its technology into consumer devices. The company is based in Milpitas, California. Nanosys is a Palo Alto, CA-based advanced materials architect led by President and CEO Jason Hartlove. The company develops process-ready systems that integrate inorganic material properties into existing manufacturing for improved lighting, electronic displays and energy storage products. Its flagship product is Quantum Dot Enhancement Film (QDEF), which uses quantum dots to boost color performance and efficiency of LCDs. On November 27, 2012 Nanosys closed a $15M sixth funding round. The backers remained unnamed. The company said it will use the proceeds to expand its manufacturing capabilities. Nanosys is an advanced materials company based in Palo Alto, California, focused on nano-architected materials. The company develops materials for commercial applications in electronics and thin-film solar markets. It announced a strategic alliance and licensing arrangement with Samsung Electronics to accelerate those commercial applications. The partnership targets product development across solar, LED, memory, semiconductor and display markets. Financially, Nanosys raised $25M in venture capital financing to support its development and commercialization efforts. Samsung Venture Investment Corporation and several existing investors participated in the financing.