Nascent Materials
Advanced manufacturing for next-gen cathode materials.
| Date | Investors | Amount | Round |
|---|---|---|---|
* | $2.3m | Seed | |
| Total Funding | 000k | ||
Nascent Materials, Inc. is an advanced battery materials manufacturer developing technologies to produce cost-effective, high-performance cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries. Founded in 2024 by CEO Chaitanya Sharma, a cleantech veteran with experience in gigafactory construction for companies like Tesla, the startup aims to address critical bottlenecks in the U.S. battery supply chain. Sharma's background includes building and commissioning Tesla's first Gigafactory and later leading the launch of a second for iM3NY, providing him with deep operational expertise in cell manufacturing and supply chain design.
The company's core innovation is a proprietary, pCAM-free (precursor cathode active materials) thermo-fusion synthesis method. This flexible and modular process is designed to reduce dependence on imported raw materials from Asia, lower production costs, and decrease energy consumption compared to traditional cathode manufacturing. Nascent Materials focuses on producing the next generation of LFP (Lithium Iron Phosphate) and LMFP (Lithium Manganese Iron Phosphate) cathode materials, which are critical components in lithium-ion batteries. The technology enables the use of various raw material inputs based on availability, enhancing supply chain resilience.
Headquartered in Newark, New Jersey, Nascent Materials emerged from stealth in June 2025, announcing a $2.3 million seed funding round led by SOSV, with participation from the New Jersey Innovation Evergreen Fund (NJIEF) and UM6P Ventures. The company operates out of HAX, a Strategic Innovation Center in Newark powered by the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA). The firm serves U.S.-based battery manufacturers seeking domestic and cost-efficient alternatives to the Asian-dominated market. As of mid-2025, Nascent Materials has shipped product samples for customer qualification and is building a bench-scale manufacturing line capable of producing multiple kilograms of material per batch.
Keywords: cathode manufacturing, LFP batteries, LMFP cathodes, pCAM-free technology, battery materials, lithium-ion batteries, energy storage solutions, domestic battery supply chain, thermo-fusion synthesis, advanced manufacturing, cleantech, gigafactory technology, cell manufacturing, US electrification, supply chain resilience, battery innovation, sustainable manufacturing, New Jersey startup