IonKraft Drives Circular Economy with €3.5M Funding Boost
Deal News | Nov 18, 2024 | High-Tech Gruenderfonds Manage
IonKraft, an Aachen-based startup, has secured €3.5 million in its first equity financing round, co-led by M Ventures and TechVision Fund (TVF), with participation from High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF). The funds will be utilized to scale the production and sales of IonKraft's innovative plasma-based barrier coatings, which promote a circular economy in the packaging industry by replacing non-recyclable materials. Founded in 2021 and backed by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action's EXIST research transfer program, IonKraft aims to transform global packaging standards with its environmentally friendly solutions. The company is preparing for market entry with the first industrial coating system projected for customer deployment by year-end, and product launches scheduled for 2025. IonKraft's mission aligns with global demand for sustainable packaging, offering alternatives to PFAS and glass while enabling the use of recycled materials in sensitive product packaging.
Sectors
- Packaging
- Materials Science
- Venture Capital
Geography
- Germany – IonKraft is based in Aachen, Germany, with funding also involving German institutions like HTGF.
- Europe – European funding bodies, like the EIC Accelerator program, are involved in supporting IonKraft's technology development.
Industry
- Packaging – IonKraft's innovations are targeted towards the packaging industry, particularly focusing on creating recyclable and sustainable packaging solutions.
- Materials Science – IonKraft develops plasma-based barrier coatings, representing advancements in materials science to substitute non-recyclable packaging materials.
- Venture Capital – M Ventures, TVF, and HTGF, as venture capital entities, are key players in providing financial resources to IonKraft for scaling its operations.
Financials
- €3.5 million – The amount secured by IonKraft in their first equity financing round.
Participants
| Name | Role | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| IonKraft GmbH | Target Company | Company | A startup focusing on developing plasma-based barrier coatings to enable a circular economy in packaging. |
| M Ventures | Investor | Company | The strategic investment fund of Merck, co-leader of IonKraft's financing round. |
| TechVision Fund (TVF) | Investor | Company | An early-stage venture capital fund focusing on technology start-ups, co-leader of the financing round. |
| High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF) | Investor | Company | An early-stage investor in Europe supporting IonKraft's development and market entry. |
| Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK) | Supporter | Government | Supports IonKraft through the EXIST research transfer program. |
| Nils Lang | Investment Manager | Person | Investment Manager at HTGF, supporting IonKraft's market roll-out. |
| Björn Lang | Partner | Person | Partner at TVF Management, supporting IonKraft's expansion. |
| Benedikt Heuer | Co-Founder | Person | Co-Founder of IonKraft, involved in the company's strategic direction and growth. |
| Dr. Montgomery Jaritz | Co-Founder | Person | Co-Founder of IonKraft, identified market opportunities for plasma coatings. |