INAM unveils Advanced Materials Competition 2025 winners: the deep tech startups with breakthrough technologies.
About Advanced Materials Competition
The Advanced Materials Competition (AdMaCom) is a specialised three-week program for deep tech startups pushing the boundaries of materials science. Each year, selected startups pitch their solutions at Demo Day, one of INAM’s highlight events. We put the spotlight on breakthrough technologies with credible commercial applications.
Here, the 10 startups showcased their innovations to an engaged audience of potential investors and industry experts. Following careful deliberation, the winners of this year's competition emerged.
Overall Winner: Astracite
Location: Leuven, Belgium
Founders: Christian Fink and Sander Arnout
astracite.com
Astracite is transforming lithium-ion batteries by creating high-performing anode materials from CO2 and recycled batteries. Their process is simpler, greener, and cheaper than conventional graphite production and delivers an estimated 20% higher capacity at price parity while being carbon negative. Astracite’s innovation addresses supply-chain risks and brings a sustainable alternative to battery makers across Europe.
Mentor's Choice: Circular Silicon
Based in: Braunschweig, Germany
Founders: Jonas Wachtel and Lars Krüger
circularsilicon.com
Circular Silicon Europe develops sustainable recycling solutions for high-purity silicon from photovoltaic modules and production scrap. Their patented thermo-mechanical process recovers high-quality silicon from a wide range of waste streams and is fully scalable, enabling a circular and resource-efficient use of silicon while tackling growing PV waste challenges.
Crowd Favorite: T-phite
Based in: Valparaiso, Chile
Founders: Bernardita José Díaz Soto and German Brito Saavedra
t-phite.com
T-Phite transforms end-of-life tires into high-performance anode materials for lithium and sodium-ion batteries. Their patented electrochemical process reduces carbon footprint, consumes less energy than synthetic graphite, and increases storage capacity, providing a circular, low-emission solution to battery material supply challenges.
Astracite’s success underscores their innovative approach. We're just as excited to applaud the exceptional accomplishments of every participant from the Advanced Materials Competition 2025 Cohort.
Glaide Data GmbH
Based in: Berlin, Germany
Founder: Sebastian Brückner
glaidedata.com
Glaide Data helps research organizations manage complex datasets with FAIR and AI-ready data solutions. As a spin-off of the FAIRmat consortium, they combine open-source expertise with professional services to deliver customized workflows, seamless integration, and AI/ML-ready infrastructure, letting scientists focus on discoveries instead of data management.
Metadyna Engineering
From: İzmir, Turkey
Founder: Abdullah Seçgin
metadyna.com
Metadyna Engineering designs proprietary metamaterials that solve acoustic, vibration, and shock problems. Their thin, tunable materials offer wide-frequency performance, cost-effective scalability, and high adaptability, providing industries with efficient solutions that outperform conventional materials.
NaionX
Based in: Riga, Latvia
Founders: Panagiotis Dimas and Michael Pankovets
naionx.eu
NaionX is developing sodium-based battery technologies to reduce reliance on lithium while making energy storage cheaper and more efficient. By improving the synthesis of key cathode materials, NaionX lowers costs, increases efficiency, and provides a more sustainable approach to battery production in Europe.
Nuvola Technology
Operating from: Los Angeles, California, USA
Founders: Janet Hur and Leland Smith
nuvola.tech
Nuvola is reinventing battery manufacturing to cut billions in annual losses from separator defects. Their SafeCoat technology applies a spray-on nanoporous polymer directly onto electrodes, reducing fire risk, scrap, and material thickness while enabling rapid, capital-light manufacturing and broad adoption across formats and chemistries.
ParadOxy Particles
Based in: Albuquerque, USA,
Founders: Kyle O'Malley and Rajan Desai
paradoxyparticles.com
ParadOxy Particles develops chemical looping technologies that improve carbon capture and industrial efficiency. Their oxygen sorbent material uses selective adsorption in chemical looping for enhanced durability and performance, allowing lower-cost reactor designs and long-term reductions in carbon capture costs.
PigmentOCO
From: Tunis, Tunisia
Founders: Amal Chebbi
pigmentoco.com
PigmentOCO pioneers a 100% water-free CO2 dyeing process for natural fibers such as cotton. Their technology reduces chemical use, energy consumption, and environmental impact while enabling scalable industrial adoption, offering a sustainable alternative to traditional textile dyeing and extending supercritical CO2 dyeing beyond synthetics.
Xemx
Operating from: Bochum, Germany
Founders: Sven Maihöfer and Lars Banko
xemx.space
Xemx develops tailored high-performance materials for industries from architecture to aerospace. Their two-step approach combines data-driven material screening with scalable production, delivering application-specific solutions quickly and efficiently. Xemx enables rapid prototyping and large-scale manufacturing of advanced materials to meet precise industry demands.
A big thank you to our jury and guests for making Demo Day such a warm and memorable event. See the highlights from Demo Day in our Gallery.
Are You Next?
Are you an ambitious startup in advanced materials or deep tech? INAM’s programs provide support, mentorship and connections to industry leaders and investors. If you want to learn about any of the startup programs we manage find out more here.
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