Copernic Catalysts, a Cambridge, MA-based developer of novel catalysts for sustainable chemicals and e-fuels, raised $8M in Series Seed Prime funding.
The round was led by Breakout Ventures with participation from existing investors Future Ventures and Engine Ventures and new investors, including Innospark Ventures, New Climate Ventures, and Impact Science Ventures.
The company intends to use the funds to scale its ammonia synthesis catalyst to the kg-scale and to expand beyond that work with its exclusive research partner, Schrödinger, to develop a second catalyst target for the Fischer-Tropsch syngas-to-sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), thereby improving the carbon footprint of the aviation industry.
Led by CEO Dr. Jacob Grose and CTO Dr. Aruna Ramkrishnan, Copernic uses computational design and high-throughput experimentation to develop catalysts for sustainable e-fuels and bulk chemicals. Its first target is an improved catalyst for ammonia synthesis, designed to be a drop-in replacement for existing catalysts that will operate at lower temperatures and pressures, thereby reducing both the Capex and Opex for all colors of ammonia.
Future catalyst targets will be selected to optimize economic and environmental impacts.