We help entrepreneurs build companies. Derived from novel scientific breakthroughs and tackling global challenges in energy, technology and healthcare, our portfolio companies are pursuing a future of energy independence, technology innovations, and longer, healthier lives.
Accelergy is a global leader in producing direct replacement, low carbon synthetic transportation fuels at less cost both to the environment and to customers. Accelergy uses domestic resources such as natural gas, biomass and coal to produce cost-competitive fuels with a reduced CO2 footprint compared to traditional petroleum-based fuels. Accelergy's unique process schemes and proprietary catalysts can be used within existing infrastructures.
PHOTO: Tim Vail, CEO
Angstrom Publishing has an exclusive joint venture with Forbes Inc. that owns and operates leading media properties covering emerging technologies. The company publishes the monthly Forbes/Wolfe Emerging Tech Report, Forbes Weekly Insider e-letter, www.forbeswolfe.com and regularly contributes to Forbes.com, Forbes Video Network and Forbes iConferences.
Cambrios is commercializing ClearOhm™ transparent conductive films for applications in touch screens, LCDs and thin-film solar PV. The company's proprietary nanostructured materials can be deposited using existing production equipment to achieve enhanced performance of display devices and components at lower manufacturing cost.
PHOTO: Mike Knapp, CEO
Cerulean is focused on significantly improving the efficacy and safety profile of existing and new drugs employing advances in nanotechnology. Cerulean’s nanoparticle-based therapeutics allow for enhanced delivery of drugs, optimizing the location and release while minimizing toxicities. The company is currently targeting applications in oncology, with a lead compound in Phase II clinical trials.
PHOTO: Oliver Fetzer, CEO
Crystal IS is the market leader in the commercialization of ultraviolet light emitting diodes (UV LEDs) for the cost-effective production of long lasting, energy-efficient water and air purification devices. The company was acquired by Asahi Kasei in 2011.
Everspin is the global leader in developing and manufacturing magnetic-based memory (MRAM). A growing number of leading corporations have adopted Everspin MRAM to enable their most advanced products. Lux ideated and helped lead the spinout of Everspin from Freescale Semiconductor.
Genocea was founded by Lux in 2006 as a spin-out of Harvard Medical School to commercialize key breakthroughs in vaccine discovery and development. Genocea has built a rapid screening platform that mimics the human immune system to identify antigens with the highest probability of generating protective immunity.
PHOTO: Chip Clark, CEO
Founded in 2010, Gridco Systems is introducing a new class of advanced power distribution solutions that help utilities meet the evolving demands of the 21st century electric grid, including integration of distributed generation, enhanced reliability, increased system efficiency, and changing energy consumption patterns.
Kala Pharmaceuticals was founded by Lux as a spin-out of Johns Hopkins University to commercialize a proprietary drug delivery technology for penetrating mucus using nanotechnology. By utilizing this unique technology, Kala aims to address unmet therapeutic needs of various diseases and conditions in a fundamentally novel way.
Kereos develops molecular imaging agents and targeted therapeutics that identify and attack cancer and cardiovascular disease earlier and more specifically than conventional methods. The company has been supported by over $15 million in government grants and is currently partnered with Bristol Myers Squibb, Dow Chemical, and Philips Medical Imaging.
Kurion was founded by Lux as an advanced materials and technology company specifically solving the problems of nuclear waste. Kurion was the only U.S. company selected to participate in the unprecedented cleanup efforts in Fukushima, Japan.
PHOTO: John Raymont, Co-Founder & CEO
Kymeta is leveraging a new class of synthetic light-bending materials called metamaterials to develop satellite communication technologies that were never before possible.
Kyruus is a leading Big Data company that enables hospitals and health systems to take a data-driven approach to building, operating, and optimizing their physician networks.
PHOTO: Graham Gardner, CEO
Lux Research is the leading market intelligence and strategic advisory firm for energy, cleantech, and science-driven innovation. The company helps leaders in business, finance, and government make better informed strategic decisions. Through its proprietary methodologies and global network of innovators, Lux Research clients uncover opportunities and gain competitive advantage.
Luxtera has pioneered CMOS Photonics, which for the first time allows the construction of advanced optical systems in standard semiconductor manufacturing processes. Silicon photonics promises to enable the next-generation of data-networking, computer and consumer electronics products—helping to overcome the bottlenecks posed by copper's inability to move information quickly between components and chips.
PHOTO: Greg Young, CEO
Magen Biosciences was focused on improving the health and appearance of human skin. The company was acquired by PPD, Inc [PPDI].
Matterport is building a revolutionary, low-cost 3D scanning platform that allows anyone to create and share accurate 3D models of indoor spaces.
Picture: Co-Founders Dave Gausebeck, Matt Bell, Mike Beebe and VP Sales & Marketing Florence Shaffer with a Matterport scanner.
Molecular Imprints is the technology leader for high-resolution, low cost-of-ownership nanopatterning systems and solutions in the hard disk drive and semiconductor industries.
Nanosys is an industry-leading nanotechnology company developing, manufacturing and selling products based on a technology platform of high performance inorganic nanostructures. Nanosys' technology is covered by a portfolio of over 500 patents and applications that is currently being applied to multiple industries including flat-panel displays and batteries.
PHOTO: Jason Hartlove, CEO
Shapeways is the world's largest marketplace for 3D printed objects - enabling anyone to create, customize, and buy incredibly personal products that were never before possible. It's powered by the world's most sophisticated 3D fulfillment engine, printing products in over 30 materials and delivering them to your doorstep.
PHOTO: Peter Weijmarshausen, CEO and co-founder
SiBEAM was the leading developer of high-speed wireless communications technologies and the first company to build 60 GHz chipsets using standard CMOS technology. A founding member of the WirelessHD Consortium, SiBEAM's products have been adopted by the leading global consumer electronics brands to provide wireless high-definition digital video display, without compromise. The company was acquired by Silicon Image [NASDAQ: SIMG].
PHOTO: John LeMoncheck, CEO
Silicon Clocks was a fabless semiconductor electronics company developing timing chips for hard disk drives, disk controllers, communications devices, and other consumer electronics. The technology eliminated the need for off-chip quartz crystal resonators, which results in cost reduction and up to a 10x decrease in power dissipation for the timing component. The company was acquired by Silicon Labs [NASDAQ: SLAB].
Siluria is based on groundbreaking MIT technology that combines nanotechnology, biotechnology and chemical engineering to create new catalysts that convert natural gas into valuable fuels and chemicals. Siluria’s technology will allow natural gas providers to enter new multi-billion dollar markets.
PHOTO: Co-Founders Alex Tkachenko & Erik Scher
Transphorm is redefining power conversion. Leveraging the latest advances in modern materials and unmatched expertise, Transphorm's ultra-efficient power modules eliminate up to 90% of all electric conversion losses. From HVACs to hybrids; servers to solar panels - Transphorm enables significant energy savings across the grid.
PHOTO: Co-Founders Primit Parikh & Umesh Mishra
Visterra rationally designs more effective therapeutics and vaccines based on a groundbreaking technology platform built around a unique structural understanding of how a virus interacts with human cells. The company has established proof of concept with a number of infectious diseases, including influenza.
Case Study
Shapeways sits at the forefront 3D printing technology - enabling individuals and small businesses for the first time to have access to real production capability to create and sell their own products. The company operates the world's largest marketplace and fulfillment engine for 3D printed goods. With over half a million unique products for sale in its marketplace, Shapeways leverages sophisticated software and state-of-the-art 3D printing facilities to efficiently produce objects on-demand.
When we first learned of Shapeways, we saw a company well positioned to succeed in a rapidly-evolving industry. Lux led a financing for the company and helped advise founders on strategy, marketing and business development as Shapeways prepared to launch its Factory of the Future in NYC. As 3D printing technology continues to become less expensive, more capable, and more accessible, Shapeways and its community will benefit from the ability to offer more products, in more materials, at better prices. The Shapeways team is pioneering a transformative opportunity to make products (and production) personal.
WATCH: Shapeways video
READ: Our white paper on 3D printing
Case Study
During the financial crisis, when others became inactive, Lux became active. We had closely followed a valuable technology program within Freescale Semiconductor, that in 10 years, had successfully progressed from DARPA-funded science to a commercial product. Based on spintronics (the spin of individual electrons), this novel non-volatile memory technology would enable instant-on computing. The effort had attracted significant investment from both Motorola and Freescale, with a leading 50-person development team boasting more than 350 foundational patents and millions of dollars in capital equipment. Lux helped lead the spin-out of the unit from Freescale into a new venture called Everspin, constructing an investment thesis, forming the investor syndicate and negotiating the transfer of products, assets and intellectual property. Today, the company is dramatically ramping operations, growing sales by more than 200% in the last year alone.
Case Study
Using the science of nanotechnology, Cerulean is developing a platform of potent new cancer drugs that selectively target tumors, burrowing their way into cancer cells while leaving the rest of the body unscathed. Early clinical results indicate the drugs have the potential to be effective across numerous cancer types, while improving both safety and quality-of-life for patients. The company’s lead drug is currently being evaluated in Phase II clinical trials for patients with advanced cases of lung cancer. The platform has also shown promise in delivering gene therapy to cancer cells.
Case Study
While most investors looked toward solar and biofuels, Lux sought what they didn’t. We researched and developed a variant perception around nuclear power. After studying every part of the fuel cycle, from uranium mining to new modular reactors, we identified the biggest unsolved problem: what to do with the waste? Huge problems mean huge opportunities.
Born in this contrarian view, we founded and funded Kurion alongside a team of extraordinary industry talent and with a set of advanced technologies to solve the single biggest known—but neglected problem—in energy and environment. Just one year after Lux led the company's seed financing, Kurion won a transformative contract from TEPCO to use its technology for the Fukushima nuclear plant cleanup. The Kurion system has been successfully working to remove over 99% of the radioactivity from the contaminated water it is treating- not only making for a great business, but also helping to avert a nuclear meltdown.
Case Study
Umesh Mishra was a Cornell graduate student who found a mentor in Lux Venture Partner Herb Goronkin more than two decades ago. Ten years ago, Umesh successfully started and sold his first company (Nitres) to Cree for nearly a quarter billion dollars. Fast forward to the present: Lux helped, as founding investors with Kleiner Perkins, to launch his next and most promising company Transphorm. Since being formed in 2007, Umesh and his co-founder Primit Parikh have led the company to success - demonstrating world record efficiency in electric power conversion and unveiling breakthrough products to the world. Transphorm promises to redefine energy efficiency, offering tremendous savings potential across the grid.
