Berlin-based Level Nine, a
deeptech company developing next-generation catalysts for more sustainable
chemical production, has raised €4 million in a seed round led by Visionaries Tomorrow, bringing its total funding to €6.5 million.
Founded in 2023, the company
combines bio-nanotechnology, quantum chemistry, and computational science to
design synthetic catalysts, or nanozymes, that aim to overcome the limitations
of both traditional catalysts and enzymes. By building catalysts from first
principles, Level Nine seeks to deliver the precision of biological systems
alongside the robustness required for industrial-scale use.
Its technology is focused on
enabling the conversion of biomass and waste streams into renewable chemical
building blocks, supporting a shift away from fossil-based inputs. The approach
is designed to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and operate under milder
conditions, making it better suited to complex, bio-based feedstocks.
Level Nine is positioning its
platform to address structural challenges in the chemical industry, where
legacy processes often struggle to adapt to alternative inputs. By developing
catalysts that can process locally available, lower-cost feedstocks, the
company aims to support more resilient and sustainable production across
sectors such as materials, fuels, and consumer goods.
Beyond catalyst discovery, the
company is building an integrated platform that takes technologies from
research through to industrial deployment, working with partners to scale
applications. This model is intended to bridge the gap between early-stage innovation
and commercial adoption, enabling broader use of next-generation chemical
processes.
Looking ahead, Level Nine plans to expand its catalyst platform across a wider range of industrial applications and further advance its technology from lab to industrial scale. The company also aims to partner with industry players to accelerate commercialisation, with a continued focus on enabling the use of biomass and waste streams in more sustainable chemical production.