Key facts
- Foundation Alloy uses a solid-state process to create metal alloys by smashing powders together, rather than melting them.
- This technique allows for the creation of materials with properties unattainable through traditional melting methods, such as resistance to both heat and mechanical stress.
- The company is targeting industries including automotive, aerospace, defense, luxury watches, and chef's knives.
- Foundation Alloy has secured $22 million in Series A funding to scale production to several tons per week by 2027.
- The technology is based on 20 years of scientific research into metals at the nanometer scale.
Foundation Alloy, an early-stage startup, has developed a novel solid-state alloying technique that creates superior metal properties by smashing metal powder particles together rather than melting them. This method, which uses significantly less energy than traditional processes, allows for the creation of materials that can withstand both high heat and mechanical stress, overcoming limitations of conventional alloying.
The company is currently selling its bespoke metals in small batches and is experiencing demand from various sectors, including automotive, aerospace, semiconductor, defense, luxury watches, and chef's knives. Jake Guglin, co-founder and CEO, stated that the company's growth is constrained by production capacity rather than demand.
To scale its operations, Foundation Alloy has raised $22 million in a Series A funding round led by Voyager Ventures. Other participants include Trust Ventures, Yamaha Motors, America’s Frontier Fund, Overlap Holdings, Material Impact, Engine Ventures, El Cap, and Kanematsu Corporation. Kanematsu Corporation will also assist in distributing the startup's metals in Japan and Southeast Asia.
The technology is rooted in 20 years of scientific research led by Tim Rupert and Chris Schuh, focusing on nanoscale metal behavior. Schuh's previous entrepreneurial experience includes co-founding Desktop Metal and Xtalic.