Delft-based nanotechnology research startup VSParticle, which enables customers to produce desired nanoparticles on location and integrate them directly into the final product, has raised a €6.5 million A2 extension led by NordicNinja, with participation from Plural. The fresh funding will enable the startup to further develop its technology and expand its operations into Japan, the US, and Europe.
- Founded in 2014 by Aaike van Vugt, Andreas Schmidt-Ott, and Tobias Pfeiffer, VSParticle develops the VSP-G1 platform, which offers exceptional flexibility and precision in nanoparticle synthesis.
- The platform accelerates prototyping and the development of new materials by simplifying the complex processes involved in nanoparticle creation. By enabling clients to produce customized nanoparticles on demand, VSParticle effectively lowers innovation barriers across various industries, including electronics and renewable energy.
- VSParticle's VSP-P1 Nanoprinter has been shipped to universities and labs around the world, including Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in San Francisco. This device helps speed up material development, supporting innovative industrial research in regions like Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and North America.
"The collaboration with VSParticle aligns perfectly with DIFFER’s strategy to extend its national role in building the infrastructure ‘materials4energy’. With VSP-P1 Nanoprinter, we aim to accelerate material development for energy applications and reinforce the Netherlands' leadership in sustainable energy research," Department Head and Group Leader at DIFFER, Süleyman Er, stated.
Details of the deal
- The investment was supported by NordicNinja, a Japanese-European joint venture that backs startups in deep tech, climate tech, and digital society. It was also backed by Hermann Hauser Investment and Plural, a European early-stage investment fund that raised €400 million for its second fund in 2023. Plural's portfolio includes 21 startups, such as Scaler, Arbonics, Certific, Feather, and Koos.
“VSParticle’s technology is transforming material innovation and, combined with AI, this will be the basis of world-changing discovery and synthesis over the next decades. We’re delighted to be supporting the impressive VSP team in this extension round, particularly with their Japanese expansion plans to capitalize on the drive to scale the development of green hydrogen. We can’t wait to see what they achieve next," Partner at NordicNinja, Rainer Sternfeld, commented.
- With the capital raised, VSParticle plans to advance its technology to achieve up to 100 times higher output with its next-generation printers. The funds will also support their expansion into Japan and bolster their presence in the US and Europe.
