What counts as advanced materials and composites here
Any company developing novel materials rather than applying existing ones – battery and energy-storage materials, structural composites for aerospace and automotive, recycled and bio-based materials, technical textiles, and metals or polymers engineered for additive manufacturing. This vertical sits close to Cleantech (many materials companies decarbonise a hard-to-abate process) and to Industrial automation and IoT (several rounds here carry both tags). We exclude companies whose product is a finished good made from conventional materials – that sits in the relevant application vertical instead.
- Family
- Deep tech
- Coverage since
- 2020
- Desks
- 3 of 4
- Reviewed
- 21 Sep 2026
The desks
Three are live. Only 3 funds on Sesamers name this vertical explicitly – too thin for a ranked desk, so they are covered below instead
The three funds active here
Not enough for a ranked desk yet, but each is a real, deep-pocketed specialist
The debate
One question the data raises directly – with a verdict
Is UK public capital replacing venture capital for advanced materials?
The two largest fresh rounds on this desk – Nexeon's €116.7M and iGii's €26.6M – were both led by UK public investment institutions (the National Wealth Fund and the Scottish National Investment Bank), not venture funds. Only 3 funds on Sesamers name this vertical explicitly, all generalist deep-tech or climate investors rather than materials specialists.
The case forMaterials science has long development timelines, capital-intensive scale-up, and strategic value that private venture capital often cannot underwrite alone. Public investment banks exist precisely to fund this kind of patient, nationally important industrial capacity – and both deals are genuinely large by European standards.
The case againstA vertical this dependent on two public institutions for its largest deals lacks a private capital base that can price risk, move fast and follow on repeatedly the way a dedicated venture fund would. If public appetite shifts, the vertical has few private alternatives ready to step in.
Where we land: Right now, yes – UK public capital is doing the heavy lifting on the largest rounds this vertical has seen recently. That is a genuine finding, not just a data gap: unlike govtech's empty investors desk, three real funds do exist here, but none of them are materials specialists, and none led September's two largest rounds. A dedicated European materials-science fund is a real gap worth watching for.
Who to know
Start on these records
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Frequently asked
About this vertical and how we cover it
Why is there no investors desk for advanced materials?
Only 3 funds on Sesamers explicitly name this vertical in their thesis – too few for a ranked desk, though each is a real, well-capitalised deep-tech or climate fund. They are listed on this page instead. A dedicated materials-science specialist fund would be a valuable addition to the database.
What is the largest recent round in this vertical?
Nexeon's €116.7M growth financing from the UK's National Wealth Fund on 31 August 2026, for silicon-based battery materials – followed weeks later by iGii's €26.6M Series B from the Scottish National Investment Bank.
Is Sesamers involved in any events in this vertical?
Yes – JEC Investor Day 2027 is co-run by JEC Group and Sesamers, held alongside JEC World specifically to connect composites founders with investors.
Which is the largest advanced materials event in Europe?
JEC World in Paris at 45,000 attendees, the global reference show for composites across aerospace, automotive, wind and construction.
How often does this page change?
The three live desks refresh weekly from the live database. The editorial sections are reviewed quarterly or when a major round changes the picture.
Can I suggest a company, fund or event?
Yes – and for this vertical, materials-specialist fund suggestions are especially useful. Use the suggest links on each desk. We verify before publishing.